Soren’s hands keep roaming in slow, possessive strokes under the oversized shirt I’m wearing. I close my eyes, feeling way too much like the centre of attention right now. My heart is racing stupidly fast and those butterflies are back, making my cheeks burn hot. I don’t know how to cope with Soren touching me like this in front of people. It feels too public, too real.
Armen walks in at that exact moment. “Where’s everyone gone?”
Soren kisses my neck again, slower this time, and says casually, “Armen, show them your impression of Ray.”
Armen barks out a loud laugh and immediately launches into it… shoulders hunched; face pulled into the most comically irritated expression. “Iswearto God, ifonemorepersonasks me a stupid question today, I’m going to lose my shit,” he grumbles in Ray’s exact tone, pacing like he’s about to snap at someone.
It’s so spot-on that the whole kitchen erupts in laughter. Soren lets out a deep, genuine laugh. Scarlet sighs in obvious relief, clearly realising Soren isn’t mad at all.
Then Soren’s chin comes to rest on top of my head as one of his large, warm hands slides under the hem of the shirt I’m wearing, palm gliding over my bare stomach. I hide my face in my arms, hoping it looks like I’m just relaxing, only letting the good side of my forehead rest against my forearms.
Just then Ray walks in. “Boss, we’ve got a problem.”
We all look up at him and immediately burst into laughter again because of the fresh impersonations still hanging in the air.
Ray deadpans, eyes narrowing straight at Armen. “You’ve been doing your stupid impression again, haven’t you?”
Armen grins, hands up in mock surrender.
Ray rolls his eyes, then they flick to me, then to Soren, and his expression turns serious. “It’s about… uh…themen.”
Soren’s hand stills on my stomach. “The men? Spit it out, Ray.”
Ray points downward, toward the floor. “You know who.”
I frown, confused why Ray is pointing at the floor, but Soren seems to understand instantly and grunts. “Let’s go.”
Soren’s arms slip free from around me. I think that’s it, but he suddenly spins me on the stool, drops down to my height, and whispers low, “I don’t know how long I’ll be, but you better be in our bed later.” Then he grabs my chin gently and presses a firm kiss to my lips. “Love you, kitten.”
He stands up, and just like that, his boss face is back, cold, sharp, and in control, like someone flipped a switch. He strides toward the door and barks, “Armen, come!”
Armen scrambles after him and Ray, calling out, “Yes, boss!”
The kitchen falls quiet for a beat before Lorraine laughs warmly. “Well… that is something, huh?”
Scarlet grins. “Aww, that was easily thecutestthing ever!”
Summer hugs my side playfully. “CanIcall you kitten?”
I laugh, a little overwhelmed. “Oh my god… what is happening?”
Because seriously… what is actually happening? Soren must be possessed or something. That whole interaction from start to finish was a lot.
Scarlet leans in. “I’ve never seen the boss like that with anyone.”
Lorraine hums thoughtfully and looks straight at me. “So, Christopher?”
I turn to her. “Yeah?”
She grins, eyes twinkling. “Doyoulovehim?”
My eyes go wide. I make a tiny, mortified noise before bolting out of the kitchen as fast as my still-weak legs will carry me. The girls’ laughter follows me down the hall. I’m grinning despite myself, but inside my head is spinning… I can’t answer that question, not right now.
For two years I felt like a prisoner here, lonely, used for sex, barely existing. And now…? What? Soren wants some kind ofrealrelationship? With touching and possessive grunting and “Love you, kitten”?
I need to think. I need space to figure out how I’m even supposed to have a conversation with someone like Soren.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
