Page 123 of Holy Hearts
The warning doesn’t scare me. Instead, I pull my lower lip between my teeth, ignoring the low swoop of something heavy dropping down between my legs. Just as I open my mouth to reply with something bratty, I hear Julian’s footsteps just outside the door. Looking up at Kai, I see the flicker ofanticipation as my husband gets closer. Having spent enough time with Kai, I recognize the subtle shift in his demeanor.
He’s torn, I think, between wanting to keep the upper hand with me and whatever uncertainty or curiosity that Julian sparks in him.
Julian’s voice carries into the room as he enters. “Am I interrupting?”
I turn my head to see him holding a condom in one hand, his expression both amused and knowing. His hair is slightly mussed, like he’s deliberately trying to look casual and failing spectacularly. Julian always has an air of control about him, even when he’s trying to let loose.
Kai straightens slightly, though he doesn’t step back. His body language changes almost imperceptibly, shifting into something more neutral. I file the observation away, knowing it’s something I’ll want to poke at later.
“No,” I say, my voice light. “Kai was just about to show me if he knows how to work a belt better than I do.”
Kai’s gaze flicks to me, and there it is, that sharp tension, the push-and-pull that keeps us both on edge. He doesn’t respond right away, instead turning his attention to Julian, who has moved closer.
Julian’s eyes sweep over the scene, and a faint smile tugs at his lips. “I leave for five minutes, and you’re already causing trouble,” he says, his tone teasing but warm. It’s hard to tell if he’s talking to me or Kai, or both of us.
Kai exhales a laugh, low and quiet. “She has a talent for it.”
Julian steps into the space between us, close enough that I can feel the heat of his body. His hand brushes my shoulder, and I feel a strange thrill at the way Kai watches him, something unspoken passing between them.
“Is that true?” Julian asks me, his voice dropping a little. “Are you causing trouble?”
Fuck.
I look up at him, wide-eyed and feigning innocence, though I know I’m not fooling my husband. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Kai huffs a soft laugh as his hand brushes my cheek.
“Well,” Julian says, holding up the condom with a smirk. “I think we’ve waited long enough, don’t you?”
Kai’s gaze flicks to mine briefly before moving back to Julian. There’s a hesitation in his expression—subtle, but there. I wonder if Julian sees it too, the way Kai’s confidence falters ever so slightly when he’s the one being scrutinized.
I reach for Kai’s waistband again, a quiet reassurance, and feel his breath hitch as I tug him forward just a little. “What do you say, Kai?” I ask, letting my voice dip low. “Are you ready?”
For a heartbeat, he doesn’t answer, his gaze darting between us. And then he nods, the tension easing just enough to remind me that this is new for him—being seen, being wanted, being caught in this pull between submission and control.
“Yeah,” he says finally, his voice low and rough. “I’m ready.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
THE TABLE
Julian
It’s truly captivating to see someone so typically in control embrace vulnerability. Knowing that I’m the one he willingly turns to fills me with appreciation for that trust. It’s clear that he’s not accustomed to being teased. It seems he’s holding on by a thread with my wife. I mean, Sophie has always had an ornery side, but watching how much it gets under Kai’s skin? That’s a new kind of entertainment.
“How is this going to work?” Sophie asks, eyes shifting between Kai and me.
I step closer, watching how each of them reacts to my presence. A multitude of scenarios flash through my mind, one of which is using my dear wife like a spit roast. But tonight, I think we need to figure out what we each want out of this. Kai especially, since he’s hovering between indulgence and restraint, like he’s not sure which part of himself he wants to lean into tonight.
Such a gorgeous switch,I think.
“Well, the two of you look comfortable,” I start, my tone light. Sophie smirks up at me, and Kai, for all his bravado, watches me carefully, like he’s waiting for his cue.
Yeah, I could really fucking get used to this.
My eyes travel back to my wife, and her eyes spark with something mischievous.
“You’re so good at getting him worked up,” I tell her, running a hand through her hair to her ponytail. Removing her hairband slowly, I toss it to the side and let her golden hair fall onto her bare shoulders. When my eyes meet hers again, she’s watching me with hooded eyes. She likes this. She likes when I’m in control and when I acknowledge her.
