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Rhenn’s eyes flash between mine, placing his hand around the side of my face. “You’re going to go to bed and you’re not going to think of my brother. You’re not going to continue to create these little scenarios of what didn’t happen, and you’re not to let him touch you. Got it?”
My heart pounds while I look up at him. It slingshots rapidly through my chest. I can’t think straight when he hovers over me like this, when his strong fingers find the vulnerability of my aching skin, and without realizing what I’m doing, I find myself nodding along to his request.
Breathing in, Rhenn glances over me once more before lowering his arm and stepping out to the dark yard.
What. The. Fuck.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
RHENN
After tossing another log under the flame grate, I flip the steak, then finish chopping the veggies. Ashen and Cedric are wrestling near the shed, and I haven’t felt a single stir from the shadow.
It’s a good day.
Sumner steps through the backyard, clearly trying to ignore us as she hurries to her house. Probably off a shift from the diner. The pay is bad and the hours they give her are shit, but hey, if she wants to try to work her way to freedom, so be it. She’ll never make enough to actually leave, and the time she’s there means I get a break from her here.
“Hey, girl. Where you goin’?” Cedric calls through the armbar Ashen has him in. “Eat with us.”
“Yeah, stay a while,” Ashen agrees, tightening his hold on Cedric and forcing him to tap out.
She glances at me. I’m not sure if it’s for approval, or to gauge my opinion on her being a part of this. Sure, I’d rather they didn’t invite her, but hey, fuck it. It’s a great day and I’m feelin’ generous.
I nod at the table, watching her debate it for all of three seconds before pulling out a seat.
“Your chair’s right here, sweetheart,” Ashen jokes, patting his lap. Cedric uses the distraction to tackle him even though he’s already posted on the ground.
I can literally feel Sumner’s eyeroll and can’t help but chuckle, then alert the group that the food is done.
Cedric is first to plate up. He rushes toward Sumner, who sits waiting patiently for the swarm to die down before getting her own food. Either that, or she knew she wouldn’t need to, because Cedric offers up his full plate, grinning like this gets him points or something.
Sumner eyes it. “Is that steak well done?”
“Sure is,” he answers proudly.
“Thanks.” She stands, moving around him and stopping right in front of Ashen. “I prefer rare though.” With no question, Sumner takes Ashen’s plate, offering a smile as he stands there chewing on a bell pepper.
Interesting.
“A girl after my own heart,” my brother teases, taking another pepper from the tray.
Sumner doesn’t wait to dig in, devouring the bread in just a few bites. She lets out a little moan, licking the butter from her lips. Both of the guys are watching her, hungry now for something not on the menu. I’m not sure if that’s what pisses me off, or the fact that she’s eating her food like she’s having sex with it.
“This is so good,” Sumner hums, sucking the sauce from her pointer finger.
Fuck. Just eat normal.
My eyes flash over the group, annoyed with the amount of ogling happening right now.
Luckily, it doesn’t last for long, not once everyone’s sitting down and casual banter replaces the show she didn’t even realize she was putting on. Annoying.
She ignores me as I plop down into the seat next to her, continuing to dig into her steak like a starved minx.
My own meal rests in front of me. I pick at it with one hand, letting the other fall to Sumner’s knee. She tenses, then moves her leg away. Smirking, I grab her chair and pull her closer. When I have her positioned where I want her, I let my palm find the curve of her knee once again, feeling her smoothness beneath my fingers. She straightens her back, trying to focus on her food and not on the way my fingers begin to trail over her skin.
If she wanted to draw attention to herself, she’s done it, but she wouldn’t dare let out another satisfied mewl with my teasing touches happening under the table. No. She wouldn’t want anyone to notice that.
Her chewing slows, eyes fixed on the plate in front of her. That’s when I exchange my fingers for something more fun.
