Page 13 of Keeper

I should be seen, not heard.

It’s safer this way anyway. Draven’s presence and the truth behind his identity has me feeling off-kilter, shaky. Like I’m going to open my mouth to say something normal and instead comment on the way his cum tasted or how heavy his cock felt in my hand.

Or the way it sounded when he snapped my former fiancés neck.

Alex eats quietly next to me, giving me something to emulate. He may be cold and distant, but it’s graceful here. Demure. Easy for me to copy, right up until Draven sets his fork aside and takes a sip of my spiked tea.

The knowing look he gives me after has my gaze falling to my plate, but based on the way the conversation around us continues, I don’t think anyone noticed. I’m glad for it when Draven leans in to whisper into my ear, “How does it feel to know I had you first?”

The brush of his fingers against my thigh sends lightning through my system that I barely conceal.

Holy fuck.

My cheeks heat further as Verna says coldly, “Something you’d like to share?”

Draven looks behind him like she might be talking to someone else, then tosses her an incredulous expression. “Did you just acknowledge me? Holy shit, are pigs flying outside?”

“Enough,” Ephraim growls as Verna’s lips grow thinner and thinner, until they’re nothing but a drawn-on, pencil thin line of disappointment. “This is Miss Harbough’s first dinner with us. Her introduction. Try to have at least a little decorum.”

“My apologies, future Mrs. Creed. You may punish me however you see fit.”

“Draven,” Alexander chides. “You will be respectful to my fiancé.”

If he was talking to anyone else, I know they’d take his tone as a threat. Draven simply laughs. “Lighten up. This is her first family dinner of many. I thought I should try and make her smile, but fine. Let’s talk about St. Andrew’s instead, yeah? Was that your choice or daddy’s decision?”

“Mine,” I say firmly. It was the last decision I was allowed to make for myself. It seems counterintuitive now, but at the time, I was following my gut.

And my pussy, but that isn’t the point.

“I see.”

His bottom lip disappears between his teeth before he turns away entirely, but with how he’s staring down at his plate I can tell he’s still thinking about my response.

Luckily for everyone here, Ephraim cuts into the silence. “How about some dessert?”

Verna still looks as if she’s sucking on something sour, but nods in agreement just before Madeline comes up behind me to set a hand on my shoulder. “What flavor for you, dear? We have chocolate, lemon or pineapple.”

The side of Draven’s lips curve at the mention of the fruit, so I take the opportunity to be a little petty. “Lemon, please. Pineapple doesn’t do it for me.”

“I’ll ensure Leo makes a note of that.”

She bows slightly and disappears through the kitchen doors as Verna tosses me a fake smile. “Match made in heaven. Lemon is Alexander’s favorite.”

It makes me laugh, I can’t help it. I’d take chocolate over both, but this’ll do. “That’s a good sign. What else do you like, Alex?”

“I uh...” He clears his throat like he doesn’t know how to answer that, and when he finds the words and begins speaking, Draven’s fingers return to my thigh. “I like watching baseball, playing golf, spending time with family...”

He goes on a little longer, though I can’t seem to focus on anything he’s saying. Draven’s slowly lifting my dress in search of more skin, more ways to make my heart stop. As his fingers brush my panty line, I think he succeeds.

Alex seems lost in thought when I finally manage to tune back in.

“... but I think my favorite thing in the world has to be the smell of fresh soil.” A faint blush dusts his cheeks as he reaches for a glass of water. “How about you?”

Fresh fucking soil?

I’d think it was a cleverly veiled threat about burying me as if he knew what his brother was doing, but Alex isn’t looking at me at all.

Why isn’t he looking at me?

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