Ensnared (Brutes of Bristlebrook, #1)(83)

“Look, we have bigger priorities than licking your pussy. But if you stay on your knees and beg, one of the others might oblige—makes no difference who does it, right?” As soon as the crude, stupid words leave my mouth, I want to reel them back in.

Beau tenses again, and I just stop myself from grimacing.

This isn’t how I do things. She’s just a girl. A civilian. An ungrateful one, sure, but what else is new? I’m here to keep her safe and to get on with my life.

I don’t need to resort to this kind of petty bullshit.

I don’t know why she’s getting under my skin like this. It must be Beau. She’s causing problems between us and that’s why she’s pissing me the hell off.

Eden’s nostrils flare delicately at my insult, her lips pulling in like she’s biting back her words again. She did not like that.

Not one bit. The tiniest twist of curiosity tugs at me. I wonder if I can make the little librarian snap at me properly.

I wonder if she ever feels rage like mine under all that politeness.

I rake my eyes over her, then shrug one shoulder dismissively. “Though it’s only Beau you’ll really be missing—I wouldn’t have touched you either way.”

“Oh, fuck you,” she hisses.

There it is.

Lucky whistles.

“Dominic,” Beau warns again.

“Beaumont,” I mimic. My eyes are locked on Eden.

One hand flies to her mouth, like she’s shocked herself. Her eyes flicker to Beau then, looking for help.

Mistake.

In moments, I have both her tiny wrists trapped in my grip, and I’m dragging her to her feet, careful not to strain her arms.

Eden yelps, then struggles, lighting my blood with the desire to trap. To subdue. I grab her around the waist and haul her against me, her back to my chest, her weight nothing at all. Running on instinct, I pass her wrists to Beau.

When he doesn’t take them, I look up.

His jaw flexes in indecision. No surprise. He’s never liked the discipline aspect of topping.

It’s why he needs me.

I raise a brow at him. “She was specifically told to stay out of it. Instead, she broke into our private rooms and tried to spy on us. You okay with that? What did she say to you before you came up here?”

From his wince, I’m guessing the brat wasn’t too honest about her intentions.

Eden kicks my shin, and I grunt. In her ear, I snarl, “Try that again, subbie. I dare you.”

“I agree with Dominic.” Jasper links his fingers, leaning on one arm of his chair. “She can’t disobey orders like this. It’s not safe, particularly given the circumstances. She’s earned her punishment.” He hesitates, then adds with a hint of frost, “Within reason, of course.”

I shrug. “I’m reasonable.”

Lucky’s lower lip is trapped between his teeth, and he’s staring at Eden squirming in my grip. Poor librarian—even Lucky seems more intrigued than inclined to help her. Jaykob is the only one looking at me, more direct and assessing than usual. But, after a long moment, he settles back against the wall, his attention flicking back to her.

Giving in, Beau sighs. “Sorry, darlin’, the mob has spoken.”

At that, Eden starts squirming in earnest, and I’m grateful Beau takes her wrists so that I can hold the rest of her.

“Wait!” She throws her head back, and I get an arm behind her back, bending her over at the waist toward Beau. He takes a seat beside Jasper and, holding her wrists, yanks her into place over his lap.

“I don’t want to be punished!” she squeals.

That actually startles a real snort of laughter out of me. “People usually don’t.”

She’s barefoot and still wearing the little sundress—the short, flippy skirt annoyed me all through dinner. The sight of her bent over and waiting is like a promise. A prayer.

I stretch my neck, eagerness thrumming through my veins. “What’s your safeword, little librarian?”

“My— My what?” she stutters, squirming over Beau’s lap again to get away from me. Then she freezes, looking up at him.

“You’re hard right now?”

The outraged offense in her tone has me biting back another laugh.

Beau doesn’t bother to hide his, but when she twists again, he lets out a strangled groan. “Is this a punishment for her or me?”

I share a small smile with him, glad for the warmth back in his face. Then my brain catches up to what she said, and I snap around to look at Jayk, at Lucky, at Jasper.

“You didn’t cover safewords?”

Jaykob gives me a lazy smirk. “We got to non-verbals.”

Jasper hums in displeasure.

“What?” Jaykob’s smirk takes on an innocent curve that looks profoundly wrong on his rough features. “Her mouth was full.”

I turn my attention on Lucky, whose shoulders cave. He clears his throat, looking so carefully anywhere but at Jasper that it’s painfully clear who he’s trying to avoid.

“We kept it light,” he says evasively.

Jasper is staring at him with unnerving intensity, then shakes his head and adds, “Eden and I didn’t engage in a scene.”

I kneel beside her head and despite the awkward angle, she looks up to glare at me. Reluctantly, I have to admire the courage that takes.