Page 20 of Echoes of Desire
Raven blinks, caught off guard. “I’ve caught your attention?”
“Absolutely,” Blaze says without hesitation. “You’re strong, resilient, and you’ve got this quiet confidence that’s... well, let’s just say it’s hard to ignore.”
“And that’s rare,” I add, my voice steady. “You don’t see that kind of strength in people every day.”
Raven looks between us, her cheeks still pink. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Blaze says with a grin. “Just take it as the truth.”
She fidgets with the water bottle again, her gaze dropping. “I don’t know if I’m as strong as you think I am.”
“You are,” I say firmly, leaving no room for doubt. “You just don’t see it yet.”
Her lips part slightly, as if she’s about to argue, but she stops herself. Instead, she looks at me, her gray eyes searching mine. “Why does that matter to you?”
“Because strength like yours deserves to be recognized,” I say simply.
Blaze nods, his grin softening into something more genuine. “And because we’re drawn to it. To you.”
Raven’s breath hitches, and she stares at us as if she doesn’t quite believe what she’s hearing. “You’re drawn to me?”
I nod, my gaze steady. “Yes, Pet. We are.”
Blaze leans back, his expression relaxed but his eyes sharp. “But we’re not going to push you into anything. This isn’t a game to us, Raven. If you decide to stick around, it’ll be because you want to. Not because we’ve convinced you to.”
“Wait, both of you?”
I can’t help but laugh as she finally realizes what we’ve been talking about. Not just one of us being interested. But both of us.
“Oh, yes, Pet,” I say. “Both of us.”
Raven’s cheeks flush a deep crimson, and she grips the water bottle tighter as if it’s the only thing grounding her in the moment. Her gaze flicks between Blaze and me, her lips parting as though she’s searching for words but coming up empty.
“Both of you,” she finally whispers, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Blaze chuckles, leaning forward with an easy grin. “Is that so hard to believe, sweetheart?”
Her wide eyes snap to him. “Well... yeah! I mean... this isn’t exactly a normal conversation.”
“Normal is overrated,” I say, my tone calm but firm. “We’re not exactly normal men, Raven. And this isn’t a normal place.”
Blaze nods, his grin softening into something more thoughtful. “What Steel means is we don’t do things halfway. Not in business, not in life, and definitely not when it comes to the people we care about.”
“Care about?” she repeats, her voice barely above a whisper.
I lean forward, resting my forearms on my knees as I hold her gaze. “Yes, Pet. Care about. We’re not blind. We see what’s in front of us. And you? You’re something worth paying attention to.”
“Oh. My. Stars.”
“Looky there, brother,” Blaze smiles gleefully. “She wants to see stars. One day, sweetheart, we’ll take you so high that you can touch them.”
“Let’s back off before she truly does spontaneously combust,” I laugh. “Remember that our interest in you romantically and our interest in you professionally are not connected in any way. And no matter how one works out, in the end, it won’t affect the other. Understand?”
“Romantically. Professionally. Yes, sir.”
“Careful, Pet,” I warn lightly. “That three-letter word means far more than you realize inside these walls.”
“Oh. My. Stars.”