Bloodshed (Order of the Unseen, #1)(29)

We were given firm orders.

Watch from a distance. Keep her safe. Do not engage…

From her cries of passion from the bathroom, even over the loud music of the party, it’s evident we’ve crossed all those lines.

Jensen stiffens beside me once his shoulder brushes mine.

I turn to look at him briefly. It’s a damn shame his handsome face is covered by the Jason mask. But tonight, we’re different. We can be whoever we want to be.

Our true identities are hidden.

He looks at me unexpectedly, his hazel eyes burning into mine. “What?” he asks.

“Are we going to do something about this?” I question, gesturing to the door behind us with my thumb.

He simply shrugs.

“Does the oath we took five years ago mean nothing to you?”

“We’re all in costume,” he counters. “She doesn’t even know who we are, Micah.”

“Maybe not yet,” I counter, shifting my stance onto my right heel, leaning my arm against the doorway. “But you and I both know Damien is irrational.”

He scans the room before grabbing hold of my wrist, pulling me along to the back door. We make our way into the backyard, greeted by the bitter autumn air, and he casually hands me a cigarette. We both ensure we’re alone before pulling off our Halloween masks.

“Damien is going to do what Damien wants to do,” Jensen lets out with a sharp breath, sparking his cig before handing me the lighter. “As long as he doesn’t take off his mask, I don’t see the issue.”

“We’ve all been following her,” I press. “For years.” He says nothing. “If he does take off his mask, or she sees any of our faces, I’m sure she would probably recognize us by now.”

“Maybe,” he replies, stepping toward me.

My heart rate accelerates at his close proximity. “So, we should just go with it, then?” I ask, breathing in the heady scent of his cologne.

His signature scent.

“I see the way you look at her, Micah,” he quietly says, exhaling a small cloud of smoke in my face. I swallow hard. “Damien might be the most obsessed one of all, but I see the way you look at her. You want her, too.”

“You’re right,” I tell him. “I do. She’s beautiful. Breathtaking, really.” I hesitate for a moment, studying his face. “You look at her the same exact way.”

His face hardens. “How could I not?” he challenges. “She’s perfect in every sense of the word.” He becomes silent, and suddenly, his eyes darken. “I also see the way you look at me.”

I blink at him, unsure if I’ve just heard him correctly. “What?”

He inches closer, bringing the filter between his lips, taking in a small drag. “I don’t swing that way, man,” he breathes out, his voice low.

“No?” I retort, eyes narrowed.

“No,” he confirms, but there’s this look in his eye.

Temptation.

“Even though I’m not as vocal about it as the two of you are, I care about Quinn,” he says. “I have since the beginning.”

“Who’s to say you can’t have feelings for more than one person?” I test. “I get it, man. She’s been a huge part of our lives. We’ve dedicated practically all of our time to her, and she doesn’t even have a clue.”

“And as long as it stays that way, I don’t see why we should have to fight our urges,” Jensen says.

Fight our urges…

Like the urge to toss him against the side of the house? To rub the massive cock he’s packing beneath his pants? To drop to my knees and take him deep in the back of my throat?

“Damien fucking her, I mean,” he quickly clarifies.

My dick hardens, uncomfortably straining against the zipper of my pants.

He drops his gaze to the growing bulge below my pelvis, and he traces the tip of his tongue over the seam of his lips.

“See something you like?” I smugly ask, cocking my head to the side, noticing the way his body tenses with uncertainty.

“We should head back inside,” he dismissively says, stomping out the lit cigarette with his boot. “Make sure Damien doesn’t do anything reckless.”

“Ha.” I force a laugh. “Damien? Not being reckless?”

He chuckles. “You should talk.”

“Get fucked,” I grit out, reaching down and adjusting myself between my legs.

“By who? You?”

I snort. “You couldn’t handle me even if you tried.”

He takes my jaw in his hand without warning, his eyes burning fiercely into mine. “Is that a challenge, Micah?” he asks, his eyes darkening. “Such a smart mouth you’ve got there.”

“You going to put it to good use?” I taunt.

He stares at me with a crooked smile, tightening his grasp. “You fucking wish,” he cautiously lets out.

Over the last few years, there’s been this playful, sexual tension building between us. But it’s gotten to the point where I can’t take it anymore.

For me, my feelings for him are real.

And I’m done playing games.

“When are you going to quit lying to yourself?” I ask.

Releasing me with a snap of his wrist, he steps back, shooting me an irritated stare. “Can’t you take a joke? I’m fucking with you, man.”