Page 261 of Stay Scared

“I understood the context.”

“You still hated it.”

Ash looks at my mouth. “Yes, I did.”

Heat rolls low through me. I pull him closer until his forehead touches mine.

The door opens behind us.

Ash closes his eyes for one furious second.

Cade steps inside. He has removed the skull mask, but the black paint around his eyes remains. His shirt is streaked with dust from the wall he demolished. He looks at Ash’s hand on my hip, then at me.

“Am I interrupting?”

Ash holds his ground. “Yes, you are.”

Cade shuts the door behind him. “Good.”

I laugh once.

Ash’s fingers dig harder into my side. “You encouraged him.”

“I did nothing.”

“That has never protected anyone.”

Cade comes closer, taking in my mouth, Ash’s hand, and the pulse at my throat without pretending otherwise. He has never learned how to look at me without making possession feel physical.

I stopped asking him to.

Cade reaches us and lifts one hand toward the back of my neck. Ash catches his wrist before he touches me.

Cade looks down at Ash’s fingers.

Ash looks at Cade.

Neither lets go.

I sigh. “You lasted almost thirty seconds.”

Cade’s mouth twitches. “A personal record.”

Ash says nothing, which is more dangerous.

I put my palm on his chest. He releases Cade slowly, and Cade touches me immediately.

Of course he does.

His hand settles at my neck while Ash remains pressed against my side. I look toward the doorway.

“Owen?”

Nothing answers.

Cade glances over his shoulder. “He was behind me.”

Ash looks irritated. “He usually is.”