Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

My eyebrows scrunched together. I didn’t know this man, but I couldn’t help the way that my heart did a funny little jump as his eyes moved over my face, drinking me in. He rested an elbow on the table, his hand cradling his chin, “Good morning?”

“Such a pretty voice, little kitten.” His words were almost a purr, tugging at something inside of me. 

“Bash,” a deep voice called out, and I looked away from him. My throat tightened and I knew that I was talking to Lucian’s brother. He looked so much like him, only younger. His dark hair was longer than his older brother's, eyes that didn’t seem to hold the same anger. “Let her be.”

“I’m just saying hello, Oliver.”

“Sure you are.” 

“Hello, gentleman,” Kaida said, sitting down a tray in front of us. 

Bash stole a blueberry, popping it in between his full lips as he sat up, dragging a hand through his long auburn hair. “Kaida, thank you for taking care of her.” He said as he chewed up the berry.

“Of course,” she said, giving him a smile that was different from the ones I’d seen before. He picked up a strawberry. Holding it to my lips, I froze. I didn’t know what to do. Was this one of the ‘they’ that Dominic had mentioned? Kaida didn’t say anything about how he was behaving towards me. Instead, she had picked up her fork digging into her eggs.

“Eat up, kitten, you’ll need it.” His voice was that same low purr as he painted the berry over my lips. I opened my mouth, biting into the strawberry. His lips split into a grin and he picked up another berry. “Good girl.”

“Bash, stop playing with her,” Oliver said, and Bash frowned at him. 

I looked between the two men, Bash painted the berries juices over my lips. I parted them, biting into the sweet fruit as my cheeks flamed. 

“Bash,” Oliver said in that same commanding tone that Lucian had used with me last night. I felt the pangs of desire clench up low in the pit of my stomach.

What was wrong with me?

His dark eyes so much like his brother’s met mine and his eyebrow rose just the slightest. Nostrils flaring as his next words hit me like a ton of bricks, “I’d be careful, smelling like that in here. Never know who will eat you up.”

I swallowed hard as Bash let out a bark of laughter, “Warn me away and then you give her an offer like that?”

“Boys,” Kaida said. pointing to our breakfast, “Let her eat first.”

“I’d rather eat her,” Oliver said, and my blush spread further.

“Me too, but in front of the thrall isn’t the place to take care of our kitten.”

I didn’t say anything, I didn’t know what to do. Instead, I picked up the glass of water and took a sip. I wasn’t hungry anymore but I knew that Bash was right. I’d need the energy that the food would give me for whatever Lucian would ask of me. 

Sitting the drink down, I picked up the fork, taking in the bacon and eggs on the plate white porcelain plate in front of me. A small bowl of mixed berries sat off to the side beside a glass of water. I longed for coffee, wishing for my favorite morning beverage for just a moment longer before I let the wish go. I stabbed at the fluffy scrambled eggs, listening as the two men made small talk. Kaida occasionally joined them in between talking to Cora and eating. Beside me, Bash wrapped his arm around the back of my chair. I could feel the heat of his body against my side and back through the thin cotton slip.

My head felt floaty like I wasn’t really here, but I knew that I was. My body was responding to his nearness and I hated it, the way my nipples were hard points against the smooth silk. Why was he sitting so close to me, feeding me berries?

Why was I like this? Did it have to do with Lucian claiming me, was that why I was responding to these two men as I had him?

“Kitten, you need to eat something.” Bash said, and I realized that I’d been zoned out and been staring at the plate.

I sat my fork down, picking up a slice of bacon, forcing myself to take a bite. I didn’t taste anything as I methodically ate. He didn’t touch me, but he didn’t need to. Oliver let out a sigh and I looked up. He leaned his elbows on the table, “You um, you look pretty.” His words were different from before, almost as if he were nervous.

“Thank you,” I said, looking away from his piercing obsidian gaze. 

“Real smooth,” Bash laughed, his fingers brushing against my arm.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Oliver growled out through clenched teeth. My eyes shot up to meet his and I could see the frustration there. 

“I should hope you weren’t. I am pretty tough.” Bash shook his hair out behind his shoulders, and I looked up at him. He winked at me before taking another berry off my plate and tossing it into his mouth. Oliver let out a growl before placing his hands flat on the table and pushing to stand up, the chair clattering to the floor behind him as he stormed off. 

It made me wonder just how young Oliver was. His actions reminded me of a teenager, but if I had to guess his age, he looked to be just a few years older than me. Bash let out a sigh, shaking his head.

“Don’t let Oliver’s attitude bother you,” Kaida said, finishing her breakfast. “He’s still young and it’s hard for us at that age. Especially when we want someone.”

Bash nodded, his fingers still moving up and down my arm. Just the barest hints of a touch as if he couldn’t keep his hands away from me. His eyes held a sadness before he closed them, seeming to shake away the feeling before he smiled at me with that same charming smile as before. “Finish up your meal and I’ll take you to Lucian.” 

I looked over at Kaida as she stood, taking her plate and Cora’s back further into the kitchen. My sister watched her go, her eyes following her every movement. I took another bite before pushing my plate away, I needed to get us out of here before something happened to her. “I’m done.” 

“One more bite, kitten.” Bash said, pushing my plate closer with a single finger. “Please.” The word was forced through clenched teeth, almost as if he weren’t used to having to use it. 

Picking up my fork, I stabbed it into a plump strawberry before biting into it, slowly chewing it before swallowing. When I was done I stood up, picking up my plate, Bash stood beside me, his hand grabbing my wrist as he took the plate from my hand, his fingers brushed against mine. My breath caught in my throat at his touch. It was like sparks of electricity. His eyes widened, a slow smile spreading across his lips. His golden eyes sparkling, “Let me get that for you.”

Nodding, I released the plate. Watching as he headed off in the same direction that Kaida was coming back from. 

“He’s different,” Cora said and I bit my lower lip, nodding my head. 

“He’s a flirt.” 

“He’s pretty.” She said, moving to stand beside me.

“Pretty things can kill you.” I crossed my arms over my chest as Kaida came closer. 

“How about we go watch a movie?” Kaida asked Cora. My sister nodded and I watched the two of them walk out of the room. I wanted to tell her to be careful, not to trust Kaida, but I knew that my words would fall on deaf ears. 

“Such troubling thoughts racing through your head.” He said, wrapping an arm around my waist. I jumped, startled that I hadn’t heard him coming close. 

“I don’t know about that.”

“I do, I can see them painted across your face.” My body tensed. How could he tell what I was thinking, he didn’t know me? “Lucian told me your face was expressive, but I didn’t realize it would be the same outside of the bedroom.”

I felt the warmth of my blush flaring up my neck, it was never going to go away at this point. Lucian had talked about me with this man. Did Bash know about the things that we had done? How I had enjoyed what Lucian did to me, begged him for more.

“Let’s get you to my brother.” Bash said, leading me to a different hallway than the one that Kaida had taken Cora down. “He’s got a job for you.” 

I shivered, what kind of job did Lucian have for me? What did he expect me to do?