Page 130 of What Remains

That’s the last thing I expected for him to say.

“I need to talk to my brother, be in touch if I learn anything new.” The line dies.

Gwen doesn’t let the quiet sit between us for more than a second. “What was he talking about?”

I flex out my cramped hands before resting my forearms on the table. “Julian has feelings for you.” This should be fun. “He didn’t specifically say that, but he implied it. And after that call, you can’t deny it, either.” Chills fly down my spine as I force my way through this. “He told me he had no intention of crossing the line with you out of respect for me.” I scrub a hand down my face and sigh. “He’s a good guy.”

She stares at me for a beat before standing, then slowly rounds the table.

I rise and push the chair back, turning to face her. And when she reaches for my hand, I meet her halfway and clasp hers.

“But you still wanna kill him, don’t you?”

“More like buy him a bottle of decent bourbon so he can nurse away his heartbreak.” I lift one shoulder. “Feel bad for the guy.”

She chews on her lip, continuing to study me like I’m a line of code. “Well, you’re ridiculously sweet, aren’t you?” She gives me a partial smile. “And you’re right. He is a good guy.” She lifts our clasped hands and presses her lips to my knuckles. “But, E?”

“Yeah?” I breathe out as her eyes land on mine.

“He’s not my guy.”

CHAPTER 45

Gwen

Easton cups my chin with his free hand, urging my eyes on his. “I’m going to kiss you now.”

I love how this man always narrates his intentions, and I’m completely obsessed.

He leans in, his hot breath brushing my mouth as he murmurs, “But it’s going to be in one of our rooms this time, with the deadbolt in place.” His voice drops deeper and darker, setting me on fire. “No interruptions when my mouth is on yours.”

A rush of heat heads south of my belly. “What about work? I have to upload Jezebel’s photo into my program, and⁠—”

“That’ll take you all of two seconds, and you know it.”

He has me there.

“I feel like we could use a break from the heavy.”

“Gotta find a balance between work and play?” I tease.

“Abso-fucking-lutely.” He brings his face closer and nudges his nose lightly against mine. “These assholes have taken a lot from us.” His hand slides to my cheek. “I’m done giving them our time.”

“Time,” I echo, and my thoughts begin to circle around an idea. The missing piece to my original plan, and it no longer has to be a backup one, but⁠—

“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” He kisses his way from my cheek up to my temple, before his lips take a journey back down. But he doesn’t give me his mouth yet.

I’m torn between telling him now and waiting until after the kiss I desperately need.

“I’ll tell you what I’m thinking about if you kiss me here,” I say, making up my mind. “I don’t want to wait.” I drag my tongue over the front of my teeth. He’s acting like I don’t know how to play this game.

He pulls his face back, jaw tightening under stubble that’s drifting into beard territory—my favorite look on him. “Oh, is that so?”

“That’s s⁠—”

His mouth covers mine, hands holding my cheeks captive. He kisses me like it’s necessary for survival. Not just his, but ours.

“I can’t think around you,” he says huskily between slow, closed-mouth kisses. “Not when we’re alone. Not after⁠—”