Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
He turns the hot water off and starts the cold. “You just dozed off…”
“Oh…” I watch as he tosses an empty bottle of oil onto the basin, shoving his jeans farther down his legs and removing his shirt. How did he manage to do all of that without even removing his shirt? “What were you saying?” I turn sideways and slide my toes into the bubbles, holding my breath until I finally hit the surface of the water.
Keaton turns off the cold water and slides in behind, splashing me as he rests backward where the tub claws upward. “I was saying whatever secret you are hiding, by the time we leave, I’ll know what it is.” His eyes are closed so he can’t see me once again scanning him in a way that I’ve never done before. Why does he have to be literal perfection? It isn’t fair. It really isn’t. People this good looking should have a personality like Kill. Funny, light-hearted… Funny.
Keaton is none of those things.
“Get in the fucking tub, Cartier. It’s getting cold.”
Case in point.
I roll my eyes since I know he can’t see me and drop my foot into the water. It’s risky business us both being here in this moment. Kyrin could be trying to find him, or worse, put two and two together, but when it’s just he and I, I don’t see much of anything else that is going on around me. I know that I love Keaton. I love him just like I love all of them, but I’m starting to notice that the love I have for him gives me tunnel vision and… well… a sore ass.
“I’m not hiding anything from you.” The lie is too easy. I play with the bubbles that hug my body, grateful for my back being turned to him even if his eyes are closed.
He slides forward, his arm wrapping around my belly to pull me farther into his chest. My muscles throb as if all my secrets display over them and he can read every single one.
“Relax…” he whispers into my ear, and my blood turns hot when I feel his lips graze my ear slightly. “I’ll play the game you’re playing, but you and I both know that I don’t play to lose.”
“Mmhmm,” I murmur sleepily, finally relaxing against him. My finger circles the tattoos over his forearm, and I stop when I see two cherries. “When did you get this one?” It’s simple, but the color is a lot richer than the usual red.
“We ain’t talking about me, Tigger.”
I shove Keaton out of my room just in time for Maya and Val to drop their shit all over my floor and fill it with sweet marijuana smoke. It’s not uncommon for us three to be together, because we usually are for all family and Mayhem events, but this is the first time I’ve seen them while one, not being able to tell them that I’m getting thoroughly fucked by Keaton, and two… well, the biggest secret of all.
“You know, I actually kind of like recruits. It’s all creepy, dark, and sexy…” Val says, swiping the tip of her lipstick over her bottom lip. She went with red—shocker, she always does. Val, Maya, and I have known each other all our lives. Maya and Killian are closer, but we’re still sisters. We all fight as much as we love. Mainly because of something Val said and something Maya does.
Maya spins around to face me, her tight curls falling over one slender shoulder and her bright green eyes landing on mine. “I think tonight is going to be different, because well…” She tilts her head and I know what she’s thinking. “Cartier is finally allowed out of her box to play.”
“Aww.” Val slips her shoes onto her feet, and I zone out on them both as I finish fixing my hair. I can’t decide whether I want it out or up, so I do both. I loosely French braid one side and leave the other out in soft waves, curling down my back. My makeup is not my style at all, but after Kyrin threw his toys out of the cot about me coming tonight, I felt chaos deep in my bones wanting to play. My lips are beige, but my eyes are lined thick and dark, smudged on the outer edges. I’ve been contoured, colored in, and crimped to perfection thanks to the makeup and hair team, but the dress… the dress is something I need to thank my mom for. The nude mesh material clings to my curves, giving the illusion that I’m naked, but over my breasts there are little black lace patterns that cover my nipples. It flows to the floor, swaying around my ankles every time I take a step.