Page 33 of Echoes of Desire
I swallow hard, the truth of his words making my chest tighten. “I wasn’t—”
Jasper cuts me off, his voice low and steady. “You don’t have to explain yourself, Pet. It’s okay to be turned on by what you see here. This is a safe place to explore, to learn. And Blaze is right. Curiosity is a good thing.”
I glance between them, my heart racing. Their expressions are open, honest, and completely without judgment. It’s disarming, and for a moment, I feel like maybe it’s okay to let myself feel this way.
But the vulnerability is too much. I shake my head, forcing a laugh. “I think I’ll stick to bartending, thanks. You guys can keep the scenes and the squirming to yourselves.”
Jasper chuckles, his gaze lingering on me as I turn back to the bar. “We’ll see about that, Pet.”
Jaxon laughs, and as I turn to walk away, I can still feel their eyes on me, watching, waiting.
I glance back over at the scene before shaking my head and getting back to work.
I wasn’t squirming…jerks.
***
It’s 3 AM, and the club is closed. I’m ready to go home and regroup after tonight. I think some ice cream and a cold shower will work just fine.
“Come with us, Pet,” Jasper says, his voice calm but insistent.
“I have to take inventory,” I say, holding up my clipboard like a shield, hoping it’ll buy me an excuse to avoid whatever this is.
“Inventory can wait until tomorrow,” Jasper smiles, holding out his hand. “Come with us.”
“What’s this about? Am I fired?” I blurt out, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.
“No, sweetheart,” Jaxon says, a soft laugh in his voice as he steps closer. “This is about you and that little problem you’ve been trying to ignore all night.”
“What little problem? I don’t have a little problem,” I say, the defensive edge in my voice making Jaxon smirk.
“Trust us, baby,” Jasper says, his green eyes steady and warm as he waits, his hand still extended.
They’re asking for my trust. For my decision about... us.
What is my decision?
I look at the two men, trying to memorize their faces, knowing deep down that it’s a useless effort. My mind doesn’t work like that. Their features will blur in my memory like every other face in my life. But I try anyway because this moment feels like it matters. Like it’s a crossroads.
This is too much. They’re too much. And yet...
Placing the clipboard down, I take a deep breath. My heart pounds as I reach out and slip my hand into Jasper’s.
His fingers close around mine, warm and firm. He smiles, his expression soft but victorious, like he’d known I’d make this choice all along.
“Good girl,” he murmurs, his words sending a shiver down my spine.
“Come on,” Jaxon says, motioning toward the office.
I let them guide me through the quiet club, my pulse thrumming in my ears. The weight of what I’ve just agreed to and what it might mean settles over me like a heavy blanket.
Inside the office, the atmosphere shifts. It feels smaller, more intimate, the air humming with an unspoken tension.
Jasper closes the door behind us, and Jaxon gestures to the couch. “Sit.”
I do as I’m told, my hands fidgeting in my lap. “What’s this about?”
Jaxon sits on the edge of the desk, his green eyes locked on mine. “This is about you, sweetheart. About exploring what’s been stirring inside you tonight.”