Page 132 of Illusory

I could hear the smile behind Dominic’s words when heanswered, “I’m sure you do, angel, but I wouldn’t want to risk it. If something is wrong with our bonds, then we should get to the bottom of it immediately.”

I knewhe knewI was lying through my teeth and that he could feel the truth behind my sudden need to vacate their company. He was going to drag this out into a game I was surely going to lose. I knew that and yet my legs didn’t budge an inch when Dominic strolled back over and handed each of us a drink.

“Let’s sit, shall we?”

Trace nodded and made his way over to the couch, his eyes only momentarily lifting from my dress to make sure I was following him. Which, I was.

So much for being the level-headed one.

I sat down in between the two of them with the glass in my hand and not a lick of personal space to my name, and as usual, I really didn’t hate it at all. In fact, physically speaking, being smooshed between the two of them was probably the best I’d felt in weeks.

One drink, I told myself firmly, and then I was going to bed whetherweliked it or not.

“Why don’t we start at the beginning and work our way backwards,” suggested Dominic as he relaxed back on the sofa and stretched his arm along the backrest behind me. “Tell us about your night.”

Both their gazes were heavy on me then and I couldn’t help but feel like I was being tested on a subject I hadn’t studied for.

“My night?” I echoed, stalling as my eyes darted between them. “It was…fine. I mean, it was nice to be able to hang out with my sister and be normal for a little while,” I answered, trying to keep my response light and casual. It was the truth anyway. At least it had been, up until she got obliterated andstarted making out with Alpha werewolves like it was her job.

“That’s nice. And your new friend?” he pressed as he took a sip of his drink, his dark eyes trained on me and giving nothing away. “Nothing to report there I imagine?”

I swallowed roughly, knowing he was referring to Aemon. “Nope. Not a thing.Everyonewas really nice and welcoming,” I said, choosing my words extra carefully.

I wasn’t sure how much they had seen of my exchange with Aemon, and I really didn’t want to open that can of worms if I didn’t have to. Besides, it was all just innocent fun anyway. My heart only belonged to the two men sitting on either side of me, no matter how much easier it would be if that weren’t so.

“Fuck, you look really good tonight,” said Trace, his voice suddenly close to my ear and coaxing shivers from my skin.

I turned and met his eyes, noting the way his pupils were dilating, as though he was having a hard time keeping himself in check. As though he hadn’t heard a single word of the conversation we’d just had and was focused on something else entirely.

It was clear that Trace had one thing on his mind, and it had nothing to do with how my night had gone.

“T-thanks.” I took a sip of my drink, the ice clinking softly against the glass as I plastered my eyes to the wall, willing myself not to get swept up in the fire raging in his eyes.

As long as I avoided that fire, I’d be fine. I could resist him—both of them. Because that was what I had decided to do. Because it was therightthing to do.

“Jemma?” he whispered huskily, pulling my attention right back to him.

I turned and met his eyes, staring into the fire like it was the sun to my frozen wasteland. “Hm?”

“Did you change your mind yet?” he asked, his gazedropping down to my lips for a long beat before meeting my eyes again. “About what we talked about earlier?”

My mouth went bone-dry. I wasn’t even sure I remembered how to talk anymore.

“About things going back to the way they were before,” continued Trace, when I failed to produce words.

Dominic shifted on the couch beside me, his hand coming down from the backrest to sweep my hair off my shoulder. The small gesture sent a thrilling wave of warmth through me, making it even harder for me to think clearly.

Slowly, I shook my head.

Trace’s eyes darkened as he tipped in closer to me, his cool breath fluttering against my neck and sending tingles down my spine. “I thinknowmight be a good time to do that,” he murmured, his voice a low thrum against the charged silence.

My stomach pinched as I bounced a desperate glance at Dominic, but he was just sitting there quietly, watching us with half-lidded eyes and that signature smirk on his face.

“Why?” I rasped and then licked my lips, watching as Trace’s eyes dove back down to my mouth and stayed there.

“Because I really want to kiss you right now.”

Warmth scattered across my body as though I’d just slipped into a hot bath. All I could do was hold my breath and watch as he edged closer to me, his eyes locked on my mouth as if to tell me exactly where he was heading.

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