Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
His brows shoot up, and then he bolts into action, crawling from where he was lounging with his back against the tent’s pole near the opening. His blood-stained shirt is already gone, and his skin is clean again as if he washed up in the lake.
When Thorin rolled over, he left a spot open that was just big enough for Khalil to fit. He slots right in, and I try to remember not to act jealous and possessive when he takes Aurelia in his arms, and she rolls right over to him.
Like the handsy asshole he is, Khalil starts rubbing on her ass even though he’d just told me to keep my hands to myself.
Rolling onto my back, I stare up at the ceiling. It’s not dark yet, but it will be soon. Khalil’s already set up a few chem lights around the tent so that I don’t wake up in the dark and lose my shit again.
“Seth?” Aurelia asks. I can tell by her groggy tone that she’s finally falling asleep after only a few minutes of Khalil massaging her butt.
Noted.
“Yeah, babe?”
“Are you okay now?” she asks in a tone that isn’t mockingly sweet like she’s taunted us with before. It’s genuine.
Rolling over until I’m pressed against her backside, Khalil hisses and yanks his hand away when I inadvertently trap it between Aurelia’s ass and my cock. Ignoring him, I kiss her bare arm. “Perfect,” I answer just as earnestly.
“What happened?”
“Cages trigger him,” Khalil answers because he knows I won’t.
I can’t.
My gaze travels from Aurelia to Khalil in silent thanks.
Aurelia stiffens at the answer, and when she speaks, I rub my eyes tiredly because fuck me, she’s sounding wide awake again. None of us are going to sleep until we’re sure she’s out cold, and I’m tired as fuck. “Where did you find a cage?”
“Inside the van. I’m guessing it was for you.”
Her head lifts from Khalil’s arm where it had been resting, and she frowns. “Why would they have a cage for me? They couldn’t have known we’d cross paths.”
“Judging by the filthy blood and semen-stained mattress I also found inside, you weren’t the first girl they drugged.”
“And they live on this mountain?”
I can hear the fear in her voice, so I roll over to mold myself against her back before pressing a kiss to her shoulder.
“No. We’re the only ones who live on this mountain, Sunshine.”
“They’re drifters,” Khalil answers. “They were just passing through.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“By the way, we’re never getting a dog,” Thorin grumbles out of the fucking blue.
“I’m confused,” Khalil snaps. “Are you sleeping or just being a dick pretending to?”
Thorin makes over-the-top snoring noises.
Aurelia’s the only one who laughs, but I do crack a strained smile while Khalil rolls his eyes.
“Dick,” he grumbles.
“Been a long time since we’ve snuggled for warmth, eh, Thor?”
“Shut up.”
Aurelia giggles again. “You three are awfully close. Have you ever—”
“No,” we all say at the same time.
“Well, there was that one time Thor lost a bet to Khalil.” Which I only know because Zeke told me.
Aurelia gasps and sits up. “No way!”
“Yeah, well, sorry to disappoint you, but forget it,” Thor snaps. “We’re not talking about this. And as far as I’m concerned, it never happened. End of discussion.”
“Wow,” Aurelia dryly teases as she lies back down. “Touchy.”
“It was a handjob,” I blab. “Thor gave. Khalil received.”
“Seth!” Thorin and Khalil bark.
I roll my eyes. “Big deal.”
“How the hell do you know that anyway? Zeke was awake when it happened.”
“He told me.”
“Of all the things he could have shared, that was most important?”
“I don’t write the reports, Khalil. I just read them.”
“So, what was the bet?” Aurelia asks curiously.
“I bet him that I could hit a bullseye from a thousand feet away.”
“All those years spent hunting for our food, and Khalil can’t hit shit but put a hand job on the table, and suddenly he’s Chris Kyle.”
Snorting, I roll over onto my back and tuck my hands under my head. “Khalil reciprocated,” I say.
He reaches over our girl and punches me hard as fuck in the stomach. I groan and curse as I roll over away from Aurelia and fold into the fetal position.
“So, I take that to mean it’s not something you’re interested in repeating?”
“Sorry, Goldilocks. It wasn’t for me.”
“Yeah, whatever. You liked it,” Thorin taunts.
Khalil ignores him. “Anyway. We have you now. I don’t have to settle for rough palms and no eye contact over there.” He tosses a thumb toward Thorin, who flips him off.
“What about you, Seth?”
I let my eyes drift closed as I get comfortable again. “Pass.”
“How do you know if you’ve never tried it?”
“Aurelia, baby, gorgeous, light of my life…go the fuck to sleep.”
My eyes are closed, but I can hear her pouting when she grumbles, “Fine.”
I can tell it’s morning by how unbearably goddamn cold it is.