Chapter 38 38.Enjoying yourselves
Tabitha’s POV
“I sure have some shit luck today,” I mutter under my breath.
Sweats boil on my forehead as I struggle to zip it up. After a few more attempts, I decide to give up and push the cubicle door open. Outside, my stepbrothers are no longer lounging on the couch. They are also trying on their tuxedos.
Evren and Reed are both topless, dressed only in black dress pants. Evren is fastening his belt, while Reed is combing through his hair while inspecting his shirt displayed on a hanger. On the other hand, Luca stands before the mirror, fixing the knot of his bow tie, while Jace is fastening the buttons of his shirt.
Damn do they all look hot. Even I can’t ignore the perfectness of their well-toned bodies. It doesn’t help that two of them have their abs in full-display. I clear my throat as I avoid my gaze from Evren’s exquisite physique, especially the tempting way of how his v-line—shit. Am I checking his out? Yeah, I am.
I should really look away.
I turn around, debating if I should return back to the fitting area and continue my pitiful attempt to wrestle with this dress’ zipper.
“You having a hard time there, princess?” Reed asks. He is looking at me this time—on the expose zipper of my dress, specifically.
“I, uhm… it won’t go down. I think it’s stuck,” I admit sheepishly, trying to avert my eyes from the fine lines of his naked torso.
“Here, let me help you…” he move behind me. I observe his towering frame through the mirror in front of us. “Yeah, it’s definitely stuck.”
My skin tingle at the light touch of his finger against my bare back. His right hand rests on my waist while his left hand firmly pinches the zipper and slide it up to where it belongs. The thing glides like butter as if it didn’t just give me a hard time back in the fitting room earlier.
“Thanks,” I say gingerly.
Reed doesn’t move away right away. Instead, his hand lingers at my waist, his thumb brushing the edge of the satin. Our eyes meet in the mirror, and his smirk deepens.
“You clean up nice,” he says, his voice low enough that it feels meant for me alone.
Before I can answer, Luca’s reflection appears beside us. “Are you going to hog her all to yourself?” His tone is teasing, but there’s an unmistakable glint in his gaze as it trails over the dress.
I step sideways, but not far enough to break the closeness. My shoulder brushes Luca’s arm, and I catch the faint scent of his cologne.
“Turn around for me,” Luca says casually, as if it’s nothing, but the command leaves little room for argument. I do, and now all three—Reed, Luca, and Jace—are watching.
Evren is still across the room, but I can feel his eyes on me like a pair of hot coals.
The mirror catches every angle—my flushed cheeks, the way Reed’s hand still rests lightly at the small of my back, the almost imperceptible way Luca’s fingers graze my bare arm as he pretends to straighten an imaginary crease in the dress.
“You’re making her nervous,” Jace says, though his voice holds more amusement than warning. He moves closer, his shirt now fully buttoned, his tie hanging loose around his neck. “Or maybe you’re not nervous at all.”
My throat tightens, but I manage to look at him and equal his bold stare. “I think you all just like watching me squirm.”
Reed chuckles behind me, his breath warm against my ear. “You have no idea.”
Reed finally lets go, but not without brushing his knuckles along my spine before stepping back. I take one careful step forward, but Luca blocks my way, still standing close enough that I can see the faint shadow of stubble on his jaw.
“You know,” he says, tilting his head, “the dress would sit better if the straps were adjusted.”
My lips part. “They’re fine—”
“Not from where I’m standing.” He lifts a hand before I can protest, his fingers brushing my shoulder as he slides one strap into place. His touch is light, almost too light, and my skin prickles under the glide of his knuckle.
“Better,” he murmurs.
I glance at the mirror and catch Evren watching—still half-dressed, belt now buckled, one hand resting on his hip. His gaze isn’t casual; it’s locked on me.
“Lift your arms,” Jace says from behind me.
“Why?”
“Humor me.”
I do, and suddenly he’s at my back, tugging at the waist of the dress. “It’s too loose here. You’ll spend the whole night pulling it up.” His voice is smooth, but his hands are warm as they skim my sides, adjusting the fabric.
“I’m starting to think you guys just wanted an excuse to touch me,” I say before I can stop myself. My tone is playful, but my pulse betrays me.
Reed grins, leaning against the wall. “Would that be such a bad thing?”
“I suppose that depends,” I answer, pretending to inspect my reflection. “On whether you’re actually helping… or just enjoying yourselves.”
“Oh, we’re definitely enjoying ourselves,” Luca says, stepping back with a satisfied smirk. “But helping? That’s debatable.”
Evren finally moves, crossing the room with slow, deliberate steps. When he stops in front of me, I’m suddenly very aware of how tall he is, how close.
“You’re standing wrong,” he says simply.
“Standing… wrong?”
He nods. “Here.” His hands settle lightly at my hips, turning me toward the mirror. “Shoulders back. Chin up.” He leans in, his breath grazing my ear. “Own it, Tabi. You look… dangerous.”
My cheeks burn, but I let my gaze meet his in the mirror. “Dangerous, huh? That’s a new one.”
“Trust me,” he says, his mouth curling into the faintest hint of a smile. “It fits.”