Page 74 of King of Desire

“Mother sent it with me. I thought she was being ridiculous, and I still do, but it was her request that I deliver this, and I won’t go back without having fulfilled it.”

I pick it up, my brows lifting at the sight of a clear blue sapphire winking up at me. “What’s this for?”

“You tell me.” Win cuts his hand through the air before he turns and disappears again.

Killian slaps my back. “She gave me Chloe’s ring too.”

I snap the box shut. “I didn’t ask for a ring.” But it begs the question. How deep am I going here?

“But now that you’ve got it,” Killian starts. “What are you doing with it?

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Honeyeh

I sitin Darius’s room as he shows me the third game from his new game console.

I’ve never been interested in video games, but I nod and smile for his sake. I love that Triston has given him this chance to do something that excites him. There’s been so little of that in Darius’s life lately.

He finally puts the controller down and turns to me. “So, when did your boss become your boyfriend?”

“What?” My heart jumps into my throat. Darius must have realized I slept in Triston’s room last night.

“That’s what he told his brothers. That you were his girlfriend.”

My mouth opens and closes, my heart beginning to pound in my chest. I never asked Triston to put a label on what we’re doing. In fact, I really dislike that he did.

It’s not that I wanted to be his paid bedmate. It’s just…

As much as I like Triston’s assertiveness, enjoy how he eases the burdens of my life, and I find him wildly attractive, I cannot afford to have feelings for him.

Because what I need even more than I need help with Darius, is a person who wants to stick around in my life.

My father just up and left…and when he did, our lives fell apart. I’m still picking up the pieces.

I think about Triston’s promise to make my life better no matter how long he’s in it. But leaving, that always destroys. It doesn’t cure.

And everyone knows that Triston doesn’t keep a woman around for long once he’s romantically involved. I cringe, trying to decide what to say to Darius. “Listen. I know how that sounds but he’s the kind of guy who has a lot of girlfriends. We probably shouldn’t get too comfortable.”

Darius gives me a skeptical look. “He packed up all our clothes. Seems like he plans to have us stay for a while anyway.”

My heart twists. Because I’m just realizing that Darius will have to break up with Triston too. It isn’t just me.

I should have thought about that before. It’s just been so crazy the past few days and I wanted to hide in Triston, take a break from the burdens. Not that I’m making excuses. I got caught up in Triston’s magnetism. And I can add this whole thing to my list of failures.

But right now, I have to think about what’s best for Darius.

Triston appears in the doorway. “What are you two up to?”

“I’m showing her some of the games I’ve been learning,” Darius calls over his shoulder as he fires the console back up.

My hands press together, my eyes casting down. What do I say?

“I’ve got a call to make and then how about the three of us head out to the pool?”

“Awesome!” Darius answers before I can.

I stand, smoothing the skirt over my hips. “You don’t have to come out with us if you’ve got other things you need to do.”

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