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And yet I spend my time either salivating over her or throwing teasing remarks her way just to see how she reacts. Sometimes the words even slip into something darker, more suggestive, and I can’t stop myself.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
“Yeah, all good. Just tired.”
A lie.
Sure, I should be tired after a week crammed with back-to-back business meetings, flights across continents, and site visits for construction projects. But that’s not why I was drifting off just now.
How the hell am I supposed to tell Theo that in my head I was imagining Thalia—dressed like that—in my bed?
My gaze slips again toward the kitchen.
Thalia’s laughing, talking animatedly with Sierra, light catching on her skin, her ponytail swaying as she gestures.
I can’t take another second of this.
“I think I’m gonna head up,” I announce, already pushing myself to my feet.
“You haven’t even eaten yet, man. Five more minutes,” Kai calls out.
“Not hungry,”
And for once, it’s not a lie. Food is the last thing on my mind.
“I’ll be out cold the second my head hits the pillow.”
No one questions it. No suspicious looks.
Good.
“See you tomorrow, man,” Theo says casually.
The sound of his voice makes me feel even worse than before. Here I am, entertaining thoughts I shouldn’t even be having.
I need to do something—anything—to shut them down. Thalia’s beautiful, sure. But that doesn’t mean I get to want her.
I’ve never crossed this line before. Never wanted another man’s woman, and sure as hell not one who belongs to a brother.
The kitchen door creaks as I push it open. All three women turn their heads at once.
“Already done?” Irina asks.
“No. Food’s still a while,” I answer, keeping my tone flat. “I’m heading upstairs. I’ll wait for you after you eat.”
The words slip out before I can stop them. Why the hell did I say that?
To make it obvious in front of Thalia that Irina’s staying in my room? What’s the point?
Jesus, Ethan. You’re acting like a teenager.
If she weren’t Theo’s, maybe I could just fuck her out of my system and move on.
I’m sure of it. This pull I feel, this heat—it’s only because she’s off-limits.
That’s the only reason.
And still… that excuse doesn’t make me feel any less like shit.
