Jaxon’s POV
The second Elias leaned close to Vesper, I wanted to punch him.
Instead, I stood there smiling like I wasn’t imagining dragging my brother out of the house by his throat.
“You’re only with him to get back at me, aren’t you?”
Vesper goes still for half a second.
I moved before I even thought about it.
My arm slid around her waist, pulled her back against my chest.
Vesper stiffened slightly, but I barely noticed because Elias’s expression finally cracked.
Good.
“She usually hates people standing this close to her,” I said lazily, tightening my grip.
“You’re making her irritated.”
Vesper elbowed me immediately, but I held fast.
Elias’s eyes dropped to my hand on her waist, then slowly lifted back to mine.
The air between us turned sharp enough to cut.
“You’re enjoying this too much,” he said coldly.
“Oh, immensely.
She’s my wife.”
”Jaxon,” Vesper warned under her breath.
I ignored her.
All I could see was Elias staring at her like he was trying to figure out whether she’d actually moved on.
But it wasn’t when part of me still wondered if she looked at him differently when I wasn’t around.
“You’ve been staring at my wife since you got here,” I said calmly.
“Didn’t you come here for work?”
Elias let out a short laugh without humor.
Vesper looked between us with growing irritation.
“Why does this feel like unresolved childhood trauma?”
I smiled slowly.
“Look at us bonding already, sweetheart.”
Elias’s attention shifted back to her.
“You really expect me to believe this marriage?” he asked her quietly.
“Yet somehow still less embarrassing than proposing I become your side chick during your engagement dinner,” Vesper countered, crossing her arms.
Elias went still.
Vesper smiled sweetly.
“Cat got your tongue?”
God…I almost laughed.
That sharp mouth of hers was lethal.
The more I watched him look at Vesper, the more something possessive twisted hard inside my chest.
Years ago, I watched Elias walk around with her like he didn’t understand what he had.
I remembered sitting downstairs listening to her laugh in Elias’s apartment.
Remembered thinking she sounded too alive for someone like him.
Years later, I found her crying in the street after he destroyed her.
And all I could think was—He didn’t deserve her, he never did.
Elias suddenly stepped closer.
“Whatever this is, it won’t hold up in court.”
I pulled her tighter against me.
Her back pressed fully against my chest now.
She’s mine now.
Since he couldn’t keep her, then he sure as hell wasn’t getting her back.
Vesper shot me a look over her shoulder.
“You’re crushing my organs.”
”You’ll survive little chaos.”
Elias stared at the two of us, then his gaze hardened.
“I’ll be staying nearby during the investigation.”
Vesper looked irritated.
“That sounds horrifying.”
”It’s temporary.
What are you scared I’ll find out all this fake charade is just to get my attention?”
”Come on, Elias, you flatter yourself too much, you’re food poisoning, and nobody wants it around.”
I almost laughed again, but Elias ignored the comment completely.
His eyes moved to me instead and smirked.
“This marriage won’t last, I know her better than you do.”
Something dark slid low in my chest.
I stepped forward slightly, forcing Vesper to move with me until she was tucked fully against my side.
Then I looked straight at him and smiled.
“It’s going to last enough to piss you off, apparently.”
That one hit perfectly, and Elias’s jaw flexed once.
God, that felt good.
It’s been years of standing in his shadow.
Years of hearing his name carry more weight than mine.
And now?
Now his ex-fiancée was standing in my arms inside my house while he watched.
Petty satisfaction burned through me instantly.
It turned me on; I wanted to kiss Vesper before him and tell him to fuck off.
It should’ve been enough, but then Elias looked at Vesper one last time, and suddenly the satisfaction disappeared completely because I still hated how familiar they still looked standing near each other and the history they had.
I still wondered if she loved him.
Elias finally left a second later, and the door shut behind him heavily.
Silence filled the villa.
Vesper immediately stepped away from me and dragged a hand through her hair.
“What the hell is wrong with both of you?”
”A lot,” I answered honestly.
“You could’ve told me you were brothers!” She sounded exasperated, and I shrugged”You didn’t ask.”
Her eyes widened.
“Who asks that?!”
She started pacing across the living room angrily while I watched her, looking flustered, irritated, and beautiful without any single stress, and maybe I should’ve stopped staring. Read this novel at novelping.com for the best experience.
Instead, I stood up slowly.
Vesper noticed immediately, and her pacing stopped.
I walked toward her without saying anything.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
”Like what?”
”Like you’re planning something illegal.”
I stopped directly in front of her, close enough to feel her breathing hitch slightly.
“You got quiet when he touched you,” I said softly, and hated the irritation that spread throughout my entire body.
Her brows pulled together instantly.
“Excuse me?”
”You heard me.”
”That’s what you’re worried about right now?
You think I’ll let that psycho touch me?”
”Yes.”
The honesty surprised even me.
Vesper stared at me for a second before scoffing.
“You’re insane.”
I backed her slowly toward the sofa until the back of her knees hit the edge.
Then my hand landed beside her head, trapping her there.
Her breath caught softly, and her lips trembled.
There it was again with that reaction.
That awareness between us kept getting worse every time I touched her.
“You still care about him?” I asked quietly, not knowing how the question slipped out before I could stop it.
Vesper blinked at me like she couldn’t believe I actually said it.
Then her expression sharpened instantly.
“That’s none of your business.”
”That’s the wrong answer.”
Something jealous and ugly twisted hard inside me.
I leaned closer.
Close enough that her breath mixed with mine.
Her pulse jumped visibly in her throat, and I watched it for a second too long, then her voice came out softer than before.
“You’re jealous.”
I smiled slowly.
“You sound pleased about it.”
”I sound concerned for your mental health.”
I leaned even closer now that her mouth was right there.
One more inch…fuck!
“That’s not denial, sweetheart.”
Vesper swallowed, and her eyes flicked briefly to my lips before darting away again; that tiny movement nearly destroyed my self-control.
Because suddenly I wasn’t thinking about Elias anymore.
I was thinking about kissing her until she forgot his name completely.
My hand slid against her waist again, and the thought came back harder this time, and I leaned in to crash my lips when the doorbell rang.
I closed my eyes immediately and cursed hard!