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Instead of wallowing, I head down to my workroom and sharpen my knives, then work out on my heavy bag until my arms feel like limp noodles and I’m breathing in sweat. The sun’s so low on the horizon it’s almost dark, and I glance up to see Phoenix leaning against the doorway, listening to me.
Unbinding my hands, I drop the wraps on the table, then cross the room and tug him close by his belt loops before bringing my fingers to his neck. ‘Stalker.’
He laughs and shakes his head before finding my lips for a kiss. “James sent me to fetch you for dinner.”
I wrinkle my nose. I don’t eat around anyone because eating has always been difficult, but I’m always expected to participate. Especially when we have guests. ‘Are you coming?’
He pulls back so I can see the incredulous look on his face at the stupid question because of course he gets a pass. Kane allows him to get away with everything. “I’m sure you’ll keep her plenty entertained.”
‘You mean terrifying her,’ I tap out on the back of his neck.
He growls and kisses me again. My work always gets him hot and bothered—whether it’s gently tormenting information out of someone or stripping the skin from their bodies. I think what he likes most of all is that I live for it—thrive on it. That I could turn on any of them at any moment, but I never will because what’s left of my shriveled heart belongs to them.
He has so little control over his life, so I can give him this. I can give him the remaining parts of me that are still human.
‘You’ll have to meet her eventually,’ I remind him, then stroke my fingers down the back of his neck.
He sighs, then turns and grabs his cane from where he left it resting against the doorjamb. He doesn’t usually have it, but it makes sense now that there’s a stranger in the house. Even though Alice isn’t quite that.
‘Did you enjoy the show?’
He scoffs as we head toward the house. Instead of speaking, he taps his response against my palm. ‘She liked it.’
My shoulders shake with laughter. ‘She more than liked it. She was ready to beg for it. He should have let her.’
‘He will.’
I shudder, thinking about how James tried to threaten her with me and how her pupils dilated, and she suddenly looked like just the thought of me joining them was going to make her come. I know James has a plan to convince Kane to let us keep her, and I’m not against the idea.
‘She might become our next misfit,’ I remind him.
Phoenix says nothing, but he always needs more time to adjust than the rest of us. We step up to the back door, and then he kisses me before heading up the stairs, and I feel a slight pang because I was hoping that he might give in just this once.
In truth, Alice will probably have to force it. She’ll have to be driven mad by the ghost of his presence long enough that she cracks. When that happens—when she forces her way into Phoenix’s little bubble—all hell will break loose. I just want to make sure I’m home to see it.
Grinning to myself, I pull out my pack of cloves and light one up as I make my way to the dining room. I can already hear voices—Kane’s low rumble and James’ lilting answer. There are awkward pauses which also tells me that Alice has joined them, and it makes me grin even harder.
I take a deep breath of the spiced cigarette, then blow out a puff of smoke before pushing the swinging door open and strolling over to take my seat across from James. He’s got Alice at his elbow, and I can feel her gaze on me, but I don’t give her more than a passing glance as I turn my attention to Kane.
He’s scowling because I’ve broken his no smoking at the table rule, and I don’t complain when he shoves a crystal ashtray at me.
“If you think I won’t fucking punish you for that in front of our guest, you have another thing coming,” he warns.
I laugh again and shake my head before lifting my hand. ‘I dare you.’
He meets my gaze with a warning, and I’m not sure how far I want to push it tonight. Maybe it’s the fact that he left me horny and needy after watching James and Alice that has me on edge. Maybe it’s knowing that things are changing, and no matter what we all might want, we might not get it. Alice is here, and I think she’d fit—the pretty little broken thing that she is—but it might not last.
She might give in to the foolish side of her brain that still wants to try and escape, and instead of having her scream in pleasure, I’ll be forced to give her that other side of me.
And I won’t lose sleep if it comes to that.
I glance at her again, and her gaze is wary, but she’s smart enough not to engage me just yet. My tension is probably visible, and I’ve just been chastised in front of her. She has no idea just yet how that little bit of humiliation can go a long way in getting me off.
If I wanted to scare her off immediately, I’d take out my cock and stroke it right there at the table, but I can see she’s not ready for that. But she will be. There’s fire in her, and need. There’s a willing soul beneath her skin that will have her on her knees.
I let myself indulge in the vision of spreading her out as our dinner, each of us taking turns with her, and her pretty little mouth begging for more. I adjust myself and don’t miss when Kane catches my eye, his own narrow.
Yeah, I’m going to be in trouble later, and I’m itching for it.
