Page 179 of Carnal Games

“No, thank you. I’m good.”

I steal her focus before she tries again. “Rainbow, sit. The tea’s getting cold.”

“Oops, sorry.” Dropping into the chair I pull out for her, she peers at me. “Where’s your salad? Want me to make it?”

I tug her back down as she rises. “I’ll have it at the office.” Pointing at the cup, I order, “Drink.”

Rolling her eyes at my bossy tone, she obeys. I pass her the plate with the rusks and biscuits. Perking up, she grabs it and eats them with a satisfied hum.

Once we’re done, I leave the dishes in the sink and wash my hands. At the front door, Iris meets me with her purse hefted on her shoulder. Lacing her fingers with my outstretched hand, we walk out of the apartment and to the elevator.

I push the button for the car.

Gazing down at her, I rasp, “I could get used to this.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Biting her lip, she lights up my soul by saying, “Me too.”

The elevator swings open, causing her head to turn. I watch her face turn pale in slow motion.

“Nathan?” She gasps, ripping her hand from mine like I burned her.

Like us holding hands is a crime.

Jerking my gaze away from my empty palm, I look ahead and straight into the eyes of my younger brother. Not sparing me a glance, he stares at his fiancée. Happiness mixed with relief, unlike I’ve ever seen, blooms across his face.

He reaches for her.

My feet move of their own accord to intervene before he dares to touchmygirl, when from the corner of my eye, I catch Iris take a step toward him.

I freeze, watching her allow his arms to wrap around her in a hug.

The second she melts against him trustingly, I’m thrust back into my prison.

Only this time,she’sthe one sentencing me to it.

“Fuck, Iris,” Nathan exhales, crushing her small body against his. “You scared me yesterday.”

Pulling back, he cups her face, which I had pressed against me all night, and checks her over from head to toe. My hands curl into fists as he skims his all over her curves with a familiarity that sets my insides on fire.

But nothing rips me apart worse than seeing her let him.

“Tell me you aren’t hurt,” he demands raggedly.

“I’m okay, Nathan,” she answers him, then frowns in confusion. “I thought you weren’t coming back for months.”

“I flew to see you.”

She reels back in shock. “For me?”

“I had to see you were okay and safe for myself,” he softly utters, grabbing the back of her neck. “A phone call wasn’t enough.”

I listen and look for signs of disingenuousness in Nathan, but I find none.

Seeing them together, their bond is unmistakable. If he didn’t love her, he wouldn’t fly halfway across the ocean overnight.

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