Page 54 of Devour

Kynlee and I both look at each other in utter disbelief. We’ve heard rumors that they tag-teamed women, but to actually see it makes me wonder how many times they’ve done this. Whatever gets them off, I guess.

Tracy passes beside me. “Enjoy him while you can.” She winks at me before she saunters away.

“I fucking hate that bitch,” Kynlee says, leaning closer to me.

“Same.” I watch Tracy disappear around the corner and make a mental note to never let her anywhere near Axl. Part of me wonders if my brother is fucking her too, and if that’s what’s going on with him and Kyns. Or he could be fucking someone else now that he can. These Talons aren’t required to remain faithful to their Doves.

If I find out that’s the case, I’m going to beat the shit out of him. I won’t let him make Kyns look like an idiot.

Kase and Crew nod to us as they leave the room. Axl turns to me and tips my chin up with his finger. “Keep your phone on you. Respond to me immediately if I text. And stay with Kynlee.”

He presses his lips to mine in a soft kiss and then bites my lower lip hard enough that I feel it after he pulls away. Then he’s walking down the corridor, and I watch him walk away, mad at my dumb ass for feeling sad that he’s leaving.

Get a fucking grip, Saylor.

Kynlee loops her arm through mine and steers me down the hall in the opposite direction. Veronica purrs against her chest.

“So.” Kynlee readjusts Veronica. “This is worse than some kind of reality TV show.”

I laugh and we make our way back the way we came. “Did you see they have a library?”

“Oh good. I’m sure they’re all well-read. That’ll be the safest room to be.” She rolls her eyes, and we wander back through the main corridor. It’s quieter now that the guys are gone. A few Talons pass us in the hallway. Their eyes linger long enough that I understand why Axl is protective and wants Kynlee and me to stay together.

“Do you want to talk about you and Justin?” I wince saying the words, but she’s my best friend, and if she needs to talk, I’m the one she has always been able to tell anything to.

Kynlee is quiet for a few steps. She scratches Veronica’s head and stares straight ahead.

“There’s nothing to talk about.” She says it too fast. “I don’t think he’s that into me in that way. Like he doesn’t find me attractive or something.”

“Kyns, you’re gorgeous. That isn’t the problem.”

“I don’t know that I’m all that into him, either.” She gives me a look. “But for a guy who hasn’t fucked in years, he hasn’t wanted to actually have sex since the claiming. I’ve sucked him off a couple times, and at least he knows how to go down.”

I cringe. “Okay, I didn’t need that much detail about my brother.”

“You asked.” She shrugs. “I’m just saying, he’s not exactly how I thought he’d be. We each keep to our side of the bed, and I refuse to make a move on him if that’s what he’s expecting.” She pets Veronica. “Meanwhile, I can hear you and Axl going at it through the walls, and I’m lying there next to your brother, staring at the ceiling, wondering if each day will feel this long. I don’t even feel like I want to fuck him anyway.”

Damn. The walls aren’t as soundproof as I hoped.

“What changed? Wasn’t that the point? You’re hot and you think he’s hot, so the sex would be hot.” I repeat her words back to her. I might not want to hear about it, but she might as well get off.

She looks at me, and for the first time since I’ve known her, Kynlee looks unsure of herself. “I don’t know.” She waves me off. “It doesn’t matter. This is only for a year, right? And at least he doesn’t seem to give a shit what I do. Axl has you on a short leash.”

“It’s not a leash. It’s . . .” I trail off because I don’t actually have a good argument for that. He tracks my phone, makes me crawl to him, dominates me, bends me to his every will, and makes me crave it. “Okay, it’s a little bit of a leash.”

“It’s a choke chain, babe.” Kynlee grins and some of the light comes back to her face. “But you like that, so I’ll live vicariously through you and hot psycho guy.”

I do like it. That’s the problem.

“At least Veronica is adjusting well.” I scratch behind the cat’s ears, and she purrs louder.

“Veronica is the only one in that suite that seems happy to be here.” Kynlee kisses the top of her head. “Although she doesn’t care for your brother. She hissed at him this morning, and I’ve never been more proud.”

I laugh and she laughs, and for a second, life almost feels normal. Like we’re back at my house, sprawled across my bed talking shit, instead of standing in the middle of whatever fucked-up bachelor pad we now live in.

“Come on. At least we have each other.” I pull her toward the kitchen. “Let’s get a ton of snacks, pop some pills, and watch a bunch of scary movies.”

CHAPTER 23