Page 42 of Possessive Ink

“Seriously?” Lemon gasps.

“Seriously.” Tori nods. “When can you start?”

“Monday,” I say, talking over them both before Lemon offers to start any sooner.

“Monday works for me. I have staff already scheduled for this weekend, and then you’ll work with Daniel until Thursday. He’s great. He’s my other full-time staffer, and one or both of you will be there at all times, with the part-time staff scheduled on to help you.”

“This is unbelievable,” Lemon says with a wide smile spread over her full lips.

When the door to the apartment pushes open, both Lemon and Tori turn to watch Felix step into the apartment. His hands and the front of his white shirt are black with charcoal.

“Hey, Felix,” Tori says, jumping off her stool and rushing over to give our brother a hug.

Just like I knew he would, Felix hugs her back, closing his eyes as he buries his face into her shoulder.

“I called out to you when I got here, but you were busy drawing, and the music was so loud you didn’t hear me,” Tori says, smiling widely at Felix as he lets her go and takes a step back.

“Did you see the light in my studio? It’s perfect. I’m so inspired I’ve already got sketches for two collections,” Felix says excitedly.

“Two?” I question.

“Maybe three,” Felix says.

“What are they going to be this time? Mermaids again?” Tori asks.

“Angels in white marble,” Felix says, already sounding distracted as his mind wanders back to his work.

“Go take a shower, bro. Dinner is only going to be a few minutes.”

Nodding, Felix turns and heads for his room, not bothering to close his door as he strips out of his clothes and walks naked into his bathroom.

“Oh, wow,” Lemon says beneath her breath, and I snap my head in her direction, hoping I did not just hear what I think I heard.

“Princess,” I growl, stomping to the other side of the counter and slipping a hand around the nape of her neck. Tangling my fingers underneath her bouncy hair, I tug her head back enough that she’s forced to look up at me. “I don’t want your eyes on my brother,” I snarl, low and rough and quiet.

“I—” she starts, but I bend down and kiss her, making sure that she knows exactly who she belongs to.

Tori clears her throat, trying to interrupt us, but I ignore her and Lemon’s attempts to pull away from my lips. I’ll let her go when I decide I’m done and not before. I don’t stop kissing her until she stops trying to push me away. “Your eyes on my brother or any other man is a hard limit for me, Princess.”

“Okay,” she says, her kiss-swollen lips damp.

“Thank you,” I tell her, dropping a soft kiss to the top of her head as I step away, returning to where the pan of chili is bubbling on the stove.

“I thought you wanted steak for dinner?” Lemon asks meekly.

“I forgot about the steak. We can have it tomorrow night,” I tell her, not bothering to explain that I spent too long watching her get dressed, so I didn’t have time to prep the baked potatoes or marinate the veggies to have with the steaks.

“Okay,” she says easily.

“Are you pair finished mouth fucking?” Tori asks, amusement etched across her face.

“Has Nero got you wearing that butt plug again?” I ask, arching an eyebrow at my sister in challenge. Later, I’m sure I’ll feel bad about mentioning the sex toy she confided to me that she and Nero sometimes play with, but I don’t want her to make Lemon feel embarrassed.

“Not tonight, asshole,” Tori snaps, her lips pursed into an angry line.

“Butt plug?” Lemon chokes, her eyes wide as she looks between my sister and me.

Felix meanders out of his bedroom at the perfect moment, his chest bare and his shorts hanging low on his narrow hips. Unlike me, my brother is slim and built more like a long-distance runner, where I have more of a gym rat physique. Although his arms, chest, and stomach are still toned from hours and hours of using hammers, chisels, and other tools that make blocks of rock become stunning works of art.