Page 119 of Twisted Violet

My mouth goes dry, and my eyes drag over every inch of her.

She tilts her head, gaze cutting across all three of us with a mischievous edge.

“I figured if I wore something youallliked… I wouldn’t have to choose just one of you.”

There’s a girl we’d burn the world for, wrapped in a bow, and not a single doubt left in our minds.

Happy fucking birthday to us.

FORTY-FIVE

VIOLET

There’sa moment after I blow out the candles when no one moves.

The three of them just stand there frozen in the hallway, like they’ve forgotten how to breathe.

Dallas stares like he’s memorizing every inch of me. Rome looks like he’s seconds from pinning me to the wall. And Niko’s gaze is fire and shadow, flickering like he’s trying to decide whether to worship me or destroy me.

I lick the frosting off my finger. Slowly. Deliberately. And lock my eyes on Dallas.

“I figured if I wore something you all liked…” I trail off, gaze flicking to Rome, then Niko. “I wouldn’t have to choose just one of you.”

The air crackles.

Then Rome moves.

He doesn’t rush me this time. He stalks. Like a storm made of restraint worn too thin. He steps behind me, and his fingers graze the bow at thesmall of my back.

“You sure?” He asks, his voice is low, dangerous.

I nod. “I’ve never been more sure.”

He tugs the ribbon loose.

The apron flutters to the floor.

Dallas swears under his breath and crosses the room like gravity’s pulling him. His hands are warm when they cup my jaw, and he kisses me with open-mouthed reverence.

“You’re insane,” he whispers, biting my bottom lip. “You know that, right?”

I smile. “But you love it.”

Niko’s the last to move. His steps are silent, measured. But when he steps up and presses a kiss to my shoulder, the feeling of his breath skittering across my skin makes my knees go weak.

Three men.

All of them surrounding me like I’m something holy.

Dallas cradles my face, kissing me deep and slow. Rome’s hands skim my hips, dragging me back against him as his mouth finds the shell of my ear. Niko kneels in front of me, trailing kisses down my stomach like he’s tasting devotion.

I moan when he bites the inside of my thigh.

“Fuck,” Dallas growls, pulling back just enough to look me in the eye. “You have no idea what you do to us.”

They don’t ask me to pick.

They just give me everything.