Page 131 of Illusory

What in the world was I thinking going out in something like this?

His gaze flicked to Trace and then back to me. Something about the exchange felt purposeful…dangerous, like an unspoken plan had been laid out between them. Then again, it may have just been my own paranoia working overtime, but I wasn’t planning on sticking around to find out.

“Well, I think I’m going to call it a night, too,” I announced, knowing that being in the room alone with the two of them was a recipe for disaster. Especially after having spent the better part of the night indulging in cheap tavernliquor.

While I wasn’t on Tessa’s level of incapacity, I certainly didn’t have all my wits about me at the moment. Not enough to deal with the two of them anyway.

“Why don’t you stay and have a drink with us first,” suggested Dominic, his voice velvety smooth as he took a languid stride toward me. “You can tell us about your night.”

It was a loaded offer, and I could practically feel the predatory nature behind it.

Instinctively, I stepped back, needing to keep the space between us nice and wide for my own mental clarity, but that only put me directly back into Trace’s arms.

“I could go for a drink. It’s been a long night,” said Trace, his hands gripping my hips as he pressed against me, his deep voice fluttering over my skin as though it, too, were touching me.

Embers of heat exploded low in my belly, and I immediately shook my head. This was precisely the reason I needed to leave. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

In fact, it was a very,verybad idea.

“Why is it a bad idea?” asked Trace, having heard my thoughts on account of his hands still clutching my hips.

“Well, for one, I already had too much to drink. And two, this dress is way too short for a casual conversation with the likes of you two. And three—” I paused, examining both of their heated gazes— “the way you’re both staring at me makes me think that having a drink is the last thing on either one of your minds.”

“That’s not true,” said Trace and my eyebrows shot all the way up into my hairline as if to callbullshit. “I think the length of your dress is perfect,” he clarified without even bothering to deny the other parts. His hands wandered down my thighs, his fingers suddenly playing with the hem of my dress, asthough he were considering doing something crazy with it—like lifting it.

Dominic’s hungry gaze dove down to where Trace’s hands were, and he wet his lips. “Yes, I happen to concur.”

The heat was suddenly all around me, fogging up my mind like a thick haze I couldn’t break away from. They were standing much too close to me, and I was far too weak and in love with both of them to fight off their advances, especially when they were working together—which they clearly were.

If I didn’t figure out a way to put a huge amount of space between the three of us within the next thirty seconds, I was surely going to fall victim to my own bad judgement and do something we’d all regret come daybreak.

“You know, as much as I’d love to sit and chat, I’m actually pretty tired myself. I think I’m going to turn in and get some much-needed shuteye,” I lied and then fake-yawned into my hand for good measure. “Raincheck for the drink?” I asked from over my shoulder as I tried to scurry out of the room.

Dominic promptly snagged my elbow and steered me right back between the two of them. “Funny you should say that, angel, because I don’t seem to be feeling any fatigue through our bond,” he mused, his eyes darkening as he leaned in closer to me and dropped his voice. “In fact, I seem to be sensing the complete opposite of that.”

“Same,” said Trace, his voice low and gravelly.

My entire face flared with heat. Oh, my god. What the hell were theysensing? Was my freaking vagina throwing off heat flares?Fuck. Knowing my luck, it probably was.

“Really?” I croaked out and then cleared my throat. “Gosh. That’s so strange. Must be some kind of glitch in the bond. We’ll definitely have to dive deeper into that tomorrow,” I said speedily and then tried for the hallway again, though this time, both of them grabbed out at me—one at my arm,and one at my waist—before setting me right back where they wanted me.

Between the two of them.

“A glitch you say? Sounds like a pressing matter.” Dominic smirked and then eyed Trace, having that silent conversation with their eyesthingagain before turning for the bar cart. “Why don’t I pour us all a drink so we can sit down and get to the bottom of it.”

Even though it sounded like he was suggesting we sit down and have some sort of scholarly meeting of the minds, I knew that wasn’t what he had planned at all, nor could I stop the slew of inappropriate thoughts that were flashing through my own mind then, making my body warm in all the wrong places.

Very, very wrong places.

Nervously, I glanced back at Trace, worried that he had seenorsensed where my mind had gone, but luckily, he appeared to be far too preoccupied with my miniskirt and thighs to have noticed.

Not that his preoccupation was any better, judging from the lustful look in his eyes.

This was really bad. No good was going to come of this. We were all clearly much too sexually deprived and way too overcharged to sit around and pretend to be casual friends. We were not friends. The knot in my chest and heat between my thighs proved it.

I needed to be the strong one here—the levelheaded one—and break up this little soiree before it had a chance to turn into the disaster it was bound to be.

“Don’t you think we’d be better off discussing this in the morning?” I asked, my voice strained and pitchy. “I mean, I for one work much better after a good night of sleep.”

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