Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Naw, man. It’s all yours.” I undress quickly before falling into bed, praying that he doesn’t kill me in my sleep.
Chapter 21
Molly
“I still don’t think this is a good idea,” Zoe mumbles as we pull up to the closed gate. “Pete’s not going to let us out.”
“There’s one thing you need to know about Pete,” I begin as I roll down the window.
“A little late to be heading out, don’t you think?” Pete crouches down, frowning when he sees it’s only the two of us.
“Tampons.”
“What?” He cringes, his nose scrunching up as if he smells something foul, and I’m barely able to hold back a laugh.
“We’re out of tampons.” I bite my lip until the urge to grin ceases. “There are five of us that are flowin’ big time, and we need tam—”
“Fine,” he grunts. “Fuck. Quit talking about it.”
“Hush,” I hiss when the blanketed form in the backseat giggles.
Pete opens the gate, and even in the dim moonlight, he looks green. After waving us through without any more trouble, he closes the gate right behind us.
“See? The one thing you need to know about Pete is the mention of any bodily function grosses him out.”
“Good to know,” Kai says as he pops up in the backseat. Smiling at me in the rearview mirror, he has a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Lynch is going to kill me,” Zoe mutters.
“You’re the one who wanted to do this in the first place,” I remind her.
“I mentioned it in passing,” she clarifies. “I didn’t mean right this second.”
“No time like the present.”
“Lynch is going to nut his jeans when he sees his mark on you,” Kai adds.
“And what is Professor going to do when he finds you gone?” Zoe turns in her seat to look back at our partner in crime.
“Delicious things, sweetheart. Filthy, devious things.” He sighs loudly. “I can’t fucking wait.”
Zoe and I both chuckle.
“Are you getting a tattoo tonight as well?” Zoe already knows my answer, so I wait for Kai to respond.
“Not a damn chance,” he responds indignantly. “I know which buttons to push with Professor. He’s adamant about being the only one to mark my skin.”
“He does tattoos?” Zoe asks with the innocence my deviant brother still hasn’t managed to fuck out of her.
I don’t know what look Kai is giving my best friend because I’m pulling up to a stop sign, but it’s enough to make her gasp when she realizes what he’s talking about.
“He hurts you?” Kai doesn’t respond. “You like it?”
“Why do you think I’m so naughty all the time? Don’t look at me like that, Zoe. Pain can be pleasurable.”
“Really?” The curiosity in her voice surprises me. “Maybe Ly—”
“Nope.” My hand shoots up between us. “We are not talking about my brother spanking you, whipping you, or any other form of sexual activity. Hard limit.”
“Maybe Br—”
“Not another word.” I glare at Kai in the rearview mirror.
“What do you think he’s going to do when he sees your tattoo?” Zoe asks softly, only partially changing the subject.
“Can we not talk about our guys—” I grit my teeth before continuing. “The guys. Tonight is supposed to be fun.”
Tension hangs in the air for the rest of the drive into Worcester, and I feel like an asshole for snapping at them. My confusion and uncertainty about my situation isn’t their fault.
“Look, guys—” I begin when I pull up to the tattoo shop and put the car in park.
“Don’t worry about it,” Kai interrupts. “One day we can speak openly about all the things, but I understand now isn’t the right time.”
Smiling weakly at his kind words, I turn my attention to my best friend. Knowing her as well as I do, I know her narrowed gaze means I’m not off the hook for long. She may not demand answers in front of Kai, but eventually, she will force me into talking about what’s been bothering me, and the few scant details I’ve given thus far won’t be enough next time.
“Come on,” Kai urges as he opens the back door to climb out. “Let’s get into some trouble.”
Zoe and I follow him out and stand in front of the shiny new building.
“I thought tattoo shops were kind of grungy,” Zoe says.
“The artist here is the second best in town.” Zoe grabs my arms, stopping me from moving toward the door.
“Second best? You want to get something permanently etched on your skin by the second-best guy in town?”
“Viper over on Main knows my brothers. He’d never ink me without their permission.”
“Girl.” Kai glares at me. “You are a grown ass woman. You need to stop letting those boys dictate your life.”
“Remind me exactly which tattoo you’re getting tonight.”
A smile spreads across his face. “Touché.”
“Come on. The Yelp reviews on this shop are fantastic.” I loop my arm through the one still angled on Kai’s hip and sweep my other one around Zoe’s shoulders. “This is going to be so much fun.”