Page 17 of Taken By the Twins

For a second, I think he’s about to leave without a word, but when he does speak, it only twists the knife of rejection to make sure that it really fucking hurts.

“Lucian will bring up your supper,” he mutters, and then he’s gone, closing the door firmly closed behind him.

I stare at for a few moments, then wipe my mouth with the back of his hand. That was my fault. Lucian wants me. His twin obviously doesn’t, and I’ll have to remember that.

Stalking over to the tray he brought up to me, I zero in on the wine bottle.

“Happy New Year, Tandy,” I say, grabbing the bottle by the next.

In Sombra or in New York, it looks like this year might be just like the last few after all.

“Tandy?”ANother knock knock. “Are you awake?”

I almost tell him to go away. The bread and cheese from before have barely been touched; rejection has always managed to turn my stomach and earlier today was no different. On the plus side, since I couldn’t eat, I thought better about drinking that demon wine after all because, trust me, drinking on an empty stomach is no good for Tandy.

Instead, I curled up on the bean bag chair, feeling like a fucking idiot for making a move on Damien.

But that’s not Damien out there, and as if his twin thinks I can’t tell their voices apart yet, he tells me, “Dear one, it is I. Lucian.”

I’d been expecting this. Not only because Damien made that parting shot about Lucian bringing me up dinner later, but because this nice twin can never stay away from me for long.

Add in my shitty mood, and if they really can sense my emotions, he’d have no choice but to check on me before long.

I’d been expecting this, and though I’d run the scenario through my head countless times since Damien left the room, about how I would confront Lucian, about how I would ask him what the hell his twin’s problem is, about how I would tell him that I need to know precisely what they expect from me… I don’t do any of that.

Instead, as though I can’t help myself, I’m already back on my feet by the time Lucian pushes the door inward.

The first thing I notice is that his hands are empty. I guess he decided to come talk to me without using supper as an excuse. Without the tray, he has a reason to come back up here later, and you know what?

I don’t care.

His hands are empty, and before he can push me away like Damein did, I do the same thing I did earlier: I brace myself on Lucian’s shoulders, shove down until he gets the hint, go up on my ties, and kiss him.

And Lucian?

Though it’s obvious he’s inexperienced and doesn’t quite know what he’s doing, this twin kisses me back.

A sense of triumph rushes through me as I enjoy the sensation of his tongue in my mouth. I probably feel like licking an ice cube to him, considering how different our body tempsare, but Lucian mentioned once in passing that, as soon as our bond is finalized, we’ll match.

I’ll miss the sensation that I’m tonguing fire, so for as long as I can, I enjoy it.

I do have to breathe, though, and maybe immortal demons don’t because I end up having to break the kiss first.

I curl my fingers into his chest, though, and pant softly while keeping the connection. “Thanks,” I whisper. “I needed that.”

His eyes are impossibly bright. “I have long wondered what it would be like to kiss our mate once I discovered that was something that was done. For you to use your tongue against mine… I thankyou, dear one.”

But then his mismatched gaze flickers over to the table. To my barely touched tray—and to the bottle of untouched demon wine.

Lucian frowns. “Tandy? How much demon wine did you drink?”

Oh, sweet, sweet Lucian. “If you’re asking me if I only kissed you because I’m drunk, don’t worry about it. I didn’t touch a drop. Maybe later, I might, but for now… I’m perfectly sober. I kissed you because I wanted to.”

Just like I wanted to kiss Damien…

Did his twin tell him about what happened? I want to know, but I can’t bring myself to ask. Instead, swallowing the slight lump in my throat, I ask Lucian, “Did you want me to kiss you?”

To my delight, the big demon’s body shudders. “Yes,” he grates out, voice gone raspy. “I told you, Tandy. I’ve dreamed up kissing our mate for so many lonely nights. To know your taste… it would be the greatest gift you gave your males.”