Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“Do I have to take it back?” Qin asked, still glaring at the traitorous device.
Ming Tao placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Think of it as being a spy for the crown.”
Qin did not look mollified.
The next couple of hours passed in this same fashion. They worked their way through the list of people who were the closest to Jin: people who most likely knew the crown prince’s schedule or possibly had something to gain by getting rid of him. Most turned up nothing questionable, but they added a few names to the list along with Cai Li Na, such as the ministers of finance and defense.
Regardless of what was uncovered, each name they discussed tore away a little piece of Jin’s soul. These were all people he trusted, people he thought he believed in the sanctity of Gaoxing. How could they love their country and want to see its crown prince murdered? Even if it was for money.
Before they were to return to the palace, Jin excused himself to use the restroom.
And West followed him.
When they were away from the rest of the group, Jin chuckled. “I’m pretty sure your friends have examined the house and grounds. There’s no one here who will hurt me.”
“Yes, but now I have you alone. Who’s going to protect you from me?”
“What—” Jin didn’t even get the question out as it was lost to a gasp as West grabbed his arm, spun him, and pinned him to the wall in a shadowy nook. West captured his mouth in a searing kiss while pressing their bodies together.
This was heaven. Jin wrapped his arms around West’s neck, stretching his body so that every single centimeter touched this man while he got lost in the stroke of his tongue, the soft murmurs of pleasure and need. How long had it been since they’d last stolen a moment like this? Everything had been so chaotic, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d slowed enough to kiss this man. That was a genuine tragedy.
“Will you forgive me?” West whispered against his lips. He slid his mouth to press a series of kisses along his jaw to his ear.
“Forgive you for what?” Jin squeezed out, struggling to even form the words when West was licking and sucking on his earlobe.
“I couldn’t control myself. I needed to kiss you.”
“I can only forgive you if we leave now and you show me how badly you want me in my apartment.”
A low growl of happiness rumbled up West’s chest, and Jin wondered if that sound alone could make him come. He loved all of West’s noises. They went so well with his kisses and his amazing hands as they kneaded the tense muscles that filled his body.
“That is an excellent idea,” West agreed before seizing his mouth in another blistering kiss.
“Whoops!”
They broke apart to see a blushing Isidore bowing and hurrying away, heading back toward the rest of the group.
West groaned and tipped his head to the ceiling. “Fuck me.”
Jin’s heart squeezed. “Would you rather your friends didn’t know?”
“What?” West gasped, jerking his eyes to him.
“Would you rather they didn’t know we…” he paused, struggling for the right word. It wasn’t like he could say they were dating. “That we are fooling around?”
“No, baby. No!” Jin’s brain barely registered that West had called him an endearment for the first time when his mouth slammed down over his own. His tongue plunged into his mouth, stroking and claiming him. The kiss worked wonders for wiping away all his fears and sapping his ability to even stand without help.
“I don’t mind them knowing at all. I’m proud that you’re mine, even if it’s only for a little while.” West peppered his face with more tender kisses. “I was trying to avoid their meddling. My friends love to pry into each other’s love lives. They specialize in shooting, hacking, blowing shit up, and meddling.”
Jin huffed a laugh. “Those are unique specialties.”
“Oh, my God! I saw them kissing!” Isidore’s voice echoed through the house in what could only be called a loud whisper.
“Shit,” West muttered, which made Jin giggle.
“Good job, son! Was it a little kiss or a serious, ‘I want to fuck you’ kiss?” Alexei demanded. His voice was loud enough to make it clear he wasn’t even attempting to hide his interest.
Jin looked at West and mouthed, Son?
West groaned. “It’s a long, weird story, but the short of it is that Alexei adopted Izzie because Izzie is too nice to survive in this world on his own. Izzie just rolls with it.”
“Ah.” Yes, rolling with it seemed the safer option.
“Definitely the latter,” Isidore replied.
“Were they still dressed?” This time it was Jin’s turn to roll his eyes and sigh because that was his brother.
“You saw them together naked?” Jin wasn’t sure who this voice belonged to. Maybe Soren. Maybe Will. He was still learning them. It didn’t matter because his face was now burning.