Chapter 23
“This place is so fancy.” Neve linked her arm through Nuri’s, gaze sweeping up at the domed ceiling and the sparkling crystal chandelier. “Like, I get it, but I still wish you’d come home and stay with us.”
Silver had booked them a room at Concealed originally, a somewhat taboo hotel that Nuri had absolutely refused to step foot into.
They’d ended up somewhere else, but the place was no less befitting someone of the Emperor’s station.
When Nuri had suggested Silver stay there, and he go to his siblings’ house alone, he’d almost found himself chained up again.
So he’d conceded.
But that didn’t mean he was any happier about it than his siblings were.
Since he was there later than originally planned, neither of them had time off.
Neve was settling into her new internship at a medical facility located at a hospital, and the auto shop Nate worked for was apparently booked solid for the next few weeks.
The past two days, they’d done their best to make time for Nuri, but it was harder to do with him staying halfway across the city.
“Next time,” Nuri found himself promising his sister as the four of them were led through the restaurant to a table tucked into the corner of the second level. It overlooked the floor, and gave them a fantastic view of the bustling city below.
Vitality was known for its long-lasting rainy season, and it was currently pouring out. Water cascaded down the side of the glass window, causing the neon lights from nearby buildings to warp and seemingly glow more brightly.
“If the weather were nicer,” Neve noticed where he was looking, “I would suggest going to the park afterward. You’d really like it. They’ve brought in trees from several galaxies.”
“He’s probably just happy to be away from the snow.” Nate frowned slightly when Silver, who’d been at the back of their little group, stepped around him and placed a hand on the the chair next to Nuri, completely blocking Neve from taking the seat herself.
Nuri glared, but Silver ignored him, settling in, and effectively blocking Nuri’s path in the process. If he wanted to leave for any reason, he was going to have to ask Silver to move first.
It’d only been a couple of days since he’d learned about the Swiftbond, during which, the Emperor had been acting…oddly.
Though he’d booked them a shared hotel room, with only a single bed, he hadn’t initiated sex again. The blinds had been kept closed against the moonlight, and their clothes had remained on.
But he’d held Nuri tightly all through the night.
Who would have guessed the stoic Emperor of Ignite was big on cuddling?
Nuri certainly hadn’t.
Beneath the table, Silver’s left hand moved to rest possessively over his knee, but Nuri didn’t do anything about it.
Whenever they were around his siblings, he tried his best to act normal.
The last thing he wanted was to worry them, and if either discovered that he’d formed a Swiftbond with Silver…
They’d both worked so hard to make something of themselves here on Vitality. Nuri couldn’t be the one who ruined that by becoming a distraction when they were so busy.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t leave the shop earlier today,” Nate said then, as if reading Nuri’s mind.
He’d taken the seat across from Silver, but pointedly ignored the Emperor.
Instead, he handed out the old-fashioned paper menus between the three of them, leaving the fourth one lying in the center of the table.
“It’s fine,” Nuri reassured.
“It’s not fine,” Neve disagreed with a pout. “You’re finally here, but we can only see you for a few hours every day. It sucks.”
“This won’t be the only trip I make,” Nuri said, pretending to read the menu while he held his breath to see what Silver would do.
Would he interject? Technically, neither of them knew the future.
With four rounds of their game left to go, it was anyone’s guess what next week could look like, let alone next month.
If Nuri did win, what would he do?
He’d struggled not to dwell on it, to push the Swiftbond to the corner of his mind. Now wasn’t the time to unpack something so heavy, and he didn’t want to lose focus and miss out on this rare opportunity to be with his siblings.
But the anxiety was constantly there, bubbling just beneath the surface.
Before this, Nuri would have said with utmost confidence that he could more than happily live without orgasms or sex or any contact of the sort at all.
Of course he’d always wondered what Silver was like in bed, and he’d hoped this strange reluctance to give up on future experiences was due to that fact.
A result of his inappropriate crush that had spanned near a decade.
It’d been easy enough to blame the bond initially, but Silver had successfully stripped Nuri of even that comfort when he’d ordered him to fuck him in broad daylight.
There was no denying that Nuri enjoyed sleeping with him.
It was aggressive and controlling, and half the time, he felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest. But it was also thrilling, and euphoric.
He’d inadvertently found with Silver the thing that had been lacking with all other sexual partners.
Did that mean it was enough for him to throw his plans away?
Was he really sitting here, across from his family, considering, even for a second, staying with Silver Rein? And all for something as unimportant as sexual chemistry?
No, he needed to wake up and remember who he was dealing with. If Nuri fell into this trap, he’d find himself right back in the perpetual cycle. His life as Royal Secretary arguably wasn’t a bad one, but…If only to himself, Nuri could finally admit that he was perhaps a bit lonely.
If he stayed, nothing would change. Even if Silver was telling the truth about physically wanting him. That just meant warming CEO Rein’s bed would be added to the list of tasks Nuri was expected to perform. And if that ever got out…
The press would have a field day.
His siblings would panic.
And he’d feel more trapped than ever before.
Nuri had always known exactly what this was. He was the employee, the subject. Silver was the employer and the regent. Just because Silver had suddenly decided to flip the script did not mean Nuri could be expected to go along with it without complaint.
“You’ve had that three times already this week,” Nate was scolding Neve, flipping the page of her menu and pointing at a different section. “Choose from here.”
“Fine. But then you,” she pushed his copy of the menu onto the table, “have to stick to this selection as well.”
“Fine.” Nate didn’t so much as bat an eye lash, making Nuri wonder how often the two of them played like this. “I’ll get the roast duck.”
“I wanted that.”
“Then I’ll get the l’eak.” He shrugged and picked up his water to take a sip, catching Nuri’s gaze. “What are you getting, brother?”
“He’ll have the truffle pasta,” Silver replied for him, but not to Nate. The waitress had arrived. He took Nuri’s menu and handed her both of theirs. “I’ll have the strip steak.”
Neve scowled. “He has a mouth of his own you know? He can use it.”
“Neve.” Nuri gave a curt shake of his head, but that only spurred her on.
“Why are you defending him?”
“He isn’t,” Silver said. “He’s worried you’ll insult me and I’ll retaliate.
He’s defending you.” Before Nuri could get worried, he continued.
“There’s no cause for alarm. I came here as a guest of your brother’s, not as your emperor.
You may both speak freely around me. Even if it’s something I don’t want to hear, I won’t harm you. ”
“Yeah? In that case—”
Nate pulled her back into her chair and smiled politely at the now visibly uncomfortable waitress. “She’ll have the duck and I’ll have the l’eak, thank you. I love your broach, by the way. It’s from Guest Fine Art Academy’s recent showcase, right?”
“Yes.” The waitress fingered the small ruby rose pinned over her heart. “There were so many wonderful pieces this year, I almost didn’t know what to choose.”
“I know,” Nate chuckled. “I left with a handful of stuff. I’m still trying to figure out where to display it all.”
“You’re friends with Madden, aren’t you? I think I’ve seen you around.”
“We’re on friendly terms.” Nate handed her the last two menus, still smiling. “Oh, can we also get four bubble brews?”
“Of course. Coming right up.” She left their table having completely forgotten all about the awkwardness.
“You’re such a flirt,” Neve teased.
“It’s called being nice,” Nate corrected. “You should try it sometime.”
She stuck her tongue out at him.
“I’m serious. I’m not always going to be around to fill your boring Friday nights.”
“Wow.” She rolled her eyes. “I have friends, you dick.”
“Language,” Nuri chided out of habit, but she merely laughed. He turned to Nate. “Who’s Madden?”
“Nobody,” he was quick to make light of it. “Just a guy I know.” His eyes flicked to Silver and quickly away.
Nuri frowned. “Is that so?”
“Seriously.” He pointed to Neve. “Why are you looking at me like that? You think I have time to get into trouble while taking care of this one? Brother, you left me with such a handful. In fact, here,” he grabbed onto her shoulders and jokingly pushed her closer to the table, “take her back. She’s your mess now. I quit.”
“Ha ha.” Neve shook herself free and crossed her arms. “You’re both di—”
“Language,” Nuri and Nate said at the same time.
* * *
“You’re going to be late for the staff meeting,” Nate warned the next day. They’d met up at a sandwich shop in town, the four of them squeezing in lunch during the measly hour that Neve got before she had to return to the hospital.
“I don’t want to go.” She rested her head on Nuri’s shoulder and clung to him.
Across the room, Silver was busy ordering another brownie, which was the only reason she’d been able to snag his seat and steal a moment of skinship with her oldest brother.