Page 149 of Merciless

His darkened gaze rakes down my body, as if he’s seeing me naked. When he lifts his eyes to my face, he smirks.

“I’ve been following you since you got out of bed.” He tuts. “You’re very unaware of your surroundings, baby. We’ve got to work on that.”

I back away from him, putting more space between us. “You’re going to stop me, aren’t you?”

He slowly nods.

“Are you going to tie me up again?”

He nods again.

I swallow hard and take another step.

He eases forward, his stride light and smooth. “Elijah loves you. I love you. We don’t want to keep you caged up like a little bird, but we also don’t want to let you go.”

“You don’t actually love me.” I shake my head, tears stinging my eyes. “You love the idea of loving me.”

He takes another fluid step toward me. “You don’t know how we feel. We’re not as cold and merciless as you make us out to be.”

“Where’s my snake, then?” I lift my chin and hold back the tears. “You guys destroyed my room, and now my snake is missing.”

Asher moves in a blink. He grabs my wrist and jerks me toward him until my breasts press firmly against his chest.

“She’s safe.” He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear with his other hand.

I shake my head to get rid of his touch. I can’t think clearly with either of the twins touching me.

Hurt flares in Asher’s gaze, and he pulls away, still holding my wrist. He tugs me behind him and walks down the hallway to his bedroom. I hold my breath as Asher opens the door and leads me into his room.

A tank sits by the window, the setup exactly like the one I had for Lavender.

My heart jumps into my throat, and I push past Asher to rush to the tank. “Lavender?”

I peer through the glass, searching for my snake. I let out a shaky breath. She’s curled beneath the rock cave, her little white head poking out, eyes on me.

“She’s okay,” I whisper.

“We may be cruel, little ghost, but not heartless enough to hurt a pet,” Asher murmurs behind me.

Slowly, I face him. His expression is hard to read, but his eyes are soft as he looks at me. I rise onto the tips of my toes and steady myself by placing my hands on his shoulders.

Knowing what I want to do, Asher bends down and closes the space between our lips. His mouth presses against mine in a soft, barely there kiss that I deepen by cupping the back of his head and bringing him in.

I shouldn’t kiss him—he and Elijah did all of these cruel things to me—but for a moment, I just want to pretend that it never happened.

Asher’s tongue spears into my mouth and thrusts in and out as if it were his cock, and I know the night isn’t over.

I’m screwed.

I want them so much. I don’t want to be angry at them, but I can’t trust them that they mean it when they say they’re in love with me.

“Prove to me that this isn’t over,” I breathe between kisses.

“How?” Asher cups my nape and draws me in until I’m flat against his chest. His other hand rests on my hip, and he squeezes my love handle.

I bite my bottom lip and avert my gaze. “You’re supposed to grovel. Not ask me how to grovel.”

Asher shrugs and steps back.