Page 46 of Beautiful Sin
Lan glanced between his brothers, looking bewildered.
Jaxson, who’d been quietly observing this territorial display with growing irritation, finally spoke, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Lan can share my room. The bed’s big enough.” His casual tone didn’t match the way his eyes locked with first Colt’s, then Xander’s, like a silent showdown. The challenge was clear:Mine.
Colt’s jaw clenched so hard it could’ve cracked walnuts. “That’s hardly?—”
“It’s fine,” Lan interrupted, face pink but determined. “Better than making anyone sleep on the couch.”
Xander’s smile looked like it might shatter. “But?—”
“Perfect!” Bree beamed, shooting Wei a triumphant look before practically skipping away, humming what suspiciously sounded like a wedding march.
“That girl.” Wei shook his head, though his expression was more amused than disapproving. “She has more schemes than Nico has gaming consoles—and that’s saying something.”
“And you’re always onto her little plots,” Colt bit out, his knuckles white around the poor dish towel he was mangling. “Better watch out, Wei. Keep calling her out, and she might stop visiting. Then who’ll entertain you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Wei’s eyebrows shot up, though his attention was more on how Colt’s entire body had gone rigid with tension.
Xander’s smile could’ve cut glass. “Yeah, Lan would be devastated if his best friend stopped coming around. But you’d be absolutelycrushed, wouldn’t you, Wei?”
Before Wei could fire back a suitably scathing response, Chris’ voice drifted in from the living room like a well-timed distraction. “Hey, can we crash here tonight? The buses are done and Ubers are surging.”
“Yeah!” Nico perked up like someone had announced a gaming marathon. “Slumber party!”
Colt’s expression suggested he’d rather drink straight lemon juice. “One of us can drive you home.”
“But we want to stay.” Chris unleashed his weaponized puppy eyes. “Please?”
“They’ve been drinking,” Xander pointed out, perhaps sensing an opportunity to diffuse the tension crackling through the kitchen. “Let them stay, Colt. What’s a few more people?” His eyes flickered briefly to where Jaxson stood hovering near Lan like a particularly protective shadow.
Colt released a sigh that could’ve powered a wind turbine. “Fine. But keep it down. Some of us actually sleep at night.”
“Unlike you and your three a.m. marketing presentations?” Xander’s teasing had an edge sharper than their good kitchen knives. “Pretty sure your laptop’s got a permanent imprint of your face by now.”
“Or Jaxson’s midnight spreadsheet adventures?” Nico chimed in, still completely missing the undercurrents of tension.
“Says the guy who raids the fridge at two a.m. like a ninja in designer sweats,” Lan muttered.
“Hey!” Nico clutched his chest in mock offense. “Gaming burns calories!”
“Only if you’re actually moving,” Colt rolled his eyes, but his lips twitched slightly. Some of the earlier tension leaked from his shoulders, though his gaze kept tracking Lan’s movements like a hawk watching its prey.
Chris whooped in victory, already planning their late-night gaming session. But Jaxson noticed how Colt’s eyes kept drifting toward the hallway, no doubt thinking about Lan sleeping in his room tonight. Xander wasn’t any better; his usual easy smile had vanished faster than Nico’s gaming snacks.
Well, Jaxson thought, watching his brothers’ barely concealed reactions,this should be an interesting night.
As the kitchen emptied, leaving him alone with his thoughts, Jaxson found himself both dreading and anticipating the hours ahead. Lan. In his room. In his bed. After what had happened between them last night…
The possessive beast in his chest purred with satisfaction. Tonight, Lan would be his.His.
Thirteen
LAN
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” I accused, closing my bedroom door with enough drama to make a soap opera director proud. My heart was performing an entire gymnastics routine in my chest—backflips, somersaults, and possibly a few moves that hadn’t been invented yet.
Bree turned around, pajamas in hand, looking about as innocent as Nico claiming he didn’t steal the last cookie. The gleam in her eyes practically screamed “matchmaker on a mission.”
“Oh shit!” Her eyes went wide with practiced concern that wouldn’t fool a toddler. “I’ve upset you, haven’t I? I’m so sorry, Lan. I honestly didn’t mean to—” She paused at my raised eyebrow, which was currently attempting to merge with my hairline. “Okay, maybe I meant to a little bit. But I can take a taxi home!”
