Page 6 of Fractured Constellations
My heart, which is beating way too fast, gives an uneven jump as my eyes trace his features. His posture is relaxed, and he’s leaning on the wall behind us like he’s not got a care in the world. His green eyes are bright, a vibrant color that is hard to describe but makes me feel like he finds amusement in most situations. Thick brown hair, which is in a surfer style and looks tousled, like he’s just rolled out of bed, falls over his forehead, almost covering one eye.
He’s wearing a vest in neon colors that are actually kinda hurting my eyes, bright coral colored shorts that should clash but somehow don’t, and red high-tops. His outfit showcases defined muscles that are covered in a riot of color, one design blending seamlessly into the next until it’s hard to see where onestarts and the other ends. They’re stunning, and my fingers itch to trace them, study them.
My gaze snaps back to his when he makes a small cough sound, finding his plush lips lifted in a smile. Holy fuck, there are dimples.
“If you took a picture, Goldie, it would last longer,” he teases, and I feel my cheeks heat, hating that because of how pale I am, he’ll see my blush instantly. His smile grows wider as he takes the few steps that separate us, clearly ignoring that little thing called personal space. Though I guess to be fair, I just stuck my finger in his porridge, so I’m in no position to criticize.
I take a deep inhale, his amber and dark rum scent making me think of the too soft bed, the room full of color and knickknacks.
“Hi,” I squeak, inwardly cursing the awkward bitch that I am. “I’m Luna.”
“Oh, I know you are, pretty stepsis,” he purrs, his voice low, and I really wish it wasn’t doing the things to me it is. I blame the cancer; it’s clearly messed with my mind if I’m lusting after one of my new stepbrothers. “Name is Thorn. Do you like taking what’s not yours?”
CHAPTER THREE
“GOLDILOCKS” BY ELLETTE
LUNA
My brows drop, trying to match the meaning of his words with the caressing tone of them.
“I didn’t?—”
“But I saw you, Goldie. Watched you as you tried each of our breakfasts. Stuck that gold digging finger into each of our bowls to see whose you liked best,” he cuts me off, and my heart rate picks up at having been caught.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my cheeks heating further as he just stares at me, that damn smile way too pretty.
“You will be,” he whispers, his fingers reaching out and barely making contact with my cheek as he glides them down my skin. “Of that, I can promise you.”
Just as suddenly as he touches me, he steps away, leaving me cold and tampering down the shivers that want to erupt over me. His words swirl around in my head, like butterflies, flying awaybefore I can properly catch them. But I’m left with a feeling of unease, my muscles tense like I may need to run at any moment.
“Good morning, Miss. Wilder,” Jerry’s sweet voice says as he comes into the room carrying a tray with what looks like a coffee pot, a teapot, a mug of something which smells like hot chocolate, and a glass of the juice I love. “I trust you slept well?”
“Um, yes, thank you, Jerry,” I stammer, taking my seat next to what is clearly Thorn’s place.Great.
“Let me take that, Jerr,” Thorn offers, rushing over and taking the tray from the older man.
“Thank you, Master Thorn. Will the others be down soon? I’d hate for Master Blade’s porridge to get cold.” I snort a laugh, realizing he’s talking about the too hot porridge. I think it’ll be good for the next few hours with how hot it was a minute ago.
“Yep, they’re on their way,” Thorn answers, setting the coffee pot in front of said hot porridge, the hot chocolate in front of the dreaded cold porridge, and then teapot in front of him. He places my glass in front of my plate, not looking at me. “And tomorrow, our dear stepsis would like the same as me for breakfast please.”
My mouth opens to say something, but nothing comes out. I mean, who just goes around ordering food for someone else? Especially someone they just met? He doesn’t know that I liked his porridge, though maybe if he saw me taste all of theirs, he also caught my appreciation of his Nutella goodness.
“Righto, Master Thorn,” Jerry says, striding from the room just as two other men walk in.
My eyes blink rapidly as it really feels like I’m seeing triple. I knew they were identical, but this really takes the piss. Although, I guess by the way they dress and their hairstyles, you can tell the difference.
“Good morning, brother, look what was waiting for me when I arrived,” Thorn states casually, taking the Nutella and emptying the entire jar into his bowl. Good man.
“Good morning, Luna,” the one who’s in business casual dress greets, his voice almost cold, measured in a way that makes goosebumps erupt all over my skin. “I trust you enjoyed your stay in my room?”
“Oh,” I murmur, studying him as he sits opposite me. His hair is slicked back in a classic style, his button-up looks like linen, and with the top three buttons undone, I can see ink covering his chest that is all black, but what surprises me is the artistic nature of it. Everything looks so real, almost like it’s jumping out of his skin, each design a masterpiece in its own right. He has more up both forearms, which are exposed by his rolled sleeves.
“You really can’t stop staring this morning, can you, Goldie?” Thorn whispers in my ear, and I jump, licking my lips as I glare at him. He chuckles, turning back to his porridge and swirling the massive amount of Nutella in.
“I’ll ask Father what is happening with your room. We can’t have you taking any more than you already have now, can we?” the brother across from me questions, picking up his no doubt silver fucking spoon and dipping it into his cold porridge. My jaw grinds as the meaning of his words sink in.
“What do you mean, what I already have taken?” I ask in a harsh tone, my hands clenched into fists on the table. “And which one are you?”
