I could get used to this.
But I know things aren’t that simple…
So I’m going to enjoy every second of it while I can.
The next time I wake, sunlight is pouring in through the curtains. I stretch my head from side to side, instantly aware of the two strong, hot bodies caging me in on either side.
“Morning, Sadie, girl,” Dane murmurs from beside me.
“Hey.” I glance over my shoulder and give him a smile. When I turn back, two icy blue eyes are staring at me. “You’re awake.”
Rhett’s jaw tics as his eyes go over my shoulder. “Do I even want to know?” he asks, his voice thick with sleep… and something else.
“I… uh…”
“What can I say, brother?” Dane chimes. “I didn’t want to miss all the fun.”
Rhett lets out a steady breath, his eyes narrowing.
“Is this okay?” I ask, pressing my lips together.
“Doesn’t look like I have much choice.” His eyes run over my face. “You’re okay?”
“I’m good, thanks to you. How did you know where to find me anyway?
Rhett’s brows draw together as he watches me.
“Rhett?”
“Lucky for you, Pretty Boy has a good fucking memory. We ran the plates from the van.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did.” His eyes narrow. “I haven’t.” The dark edge to his voice makes my heart flutter.
“Bro, it’s early. Save the lecture for after breakfast, yeah?” Dane chuckles, nuzzling my neck.
“I need to take a piss,” Rhett growls, throwing back the covers.
“No, stay,” Dane says. “We’re cuddling.”
“Yeah,” I add, smothering the laughter in my chest. “Stay and cuddle. Please.” I pout at him.
Rhett shakes his head, pinning me with a hard look. “Sorry to burst your bubble, princess, but I don’t cuddle.”
“Liar,” I call after his retreating form. He’d held me last night. That’s what I’d call cuddling in my book.
“He’s such a morning person,” Dane mumbles behind me. I turn in his arms and grin up at him, remembering what we did on the couch in the middle of the night. “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.” He pecks the end of my nose. “This is nice…”
“It is.”
“Maybe we should make it more of a permanent thing.”
“Maybe we should. I don’t think Rhett wants to be in our cuddle club, though.”
“He might if we turn it into the cuddle fuck club.” Without warning, Dane rolls me under him and pins me to the mattress. “Yeah,” he says, grinding his hips into me. “I think Rhett would definitely get on board with that club.”
“You’re so bad.” I roll my eyes, enjoying the feel of his weight on me.
“Damn right, I am.” He kisses me. Once. Twice.
Rhett clears his throat and we both glance over at him leaning against the doorjamb, watching us. “Are you two done? I’m fucking starving.”
“We could always have a pussy buffet?” Dane suggests, and I pinch his arm.
“Hey.”
“What?” A lazy smile forms on his lips. “He said he’s hungry.”
“For food, asshole.”
“Are you saying my pussy isn’t good enough?” I tease, because it’s Rhett, and he’s too easy to rile up.
He just stares at us from the door with a scowl on his face. “You ran out on us, got lifted by the fucking Reapers, and almost…” His fist clenches so tightly the blood drains from his knuckles. “And you’re both acting like… fuck this.” He spins on his heels and leaves us.
Dane rolls off me, letting out a weary sigh.
“I guess we were being stupid,” I say, suddenly feeling a little out of my depth.
“Nah, Sadie, girl.” He shoots me a reassuring smile. “Rhett is just angry.”
“At me.” Guilt churns in my stomach.
“And himself. I’ll go talk to him. Why don’t you get cleaned up and find something to wear, then we’ll feed the monster before he says or does something he’ll regret.”
“Yeah, okay.” I climb off the bed, but Dane’s hand shoots out, snagging me toward him. His mouth crashes down on mine, hard and unyielding. When he breaks away, I’m flushed, and my heart is racing in my chest.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” he says. “I promise.”
He goes after Rhett, and all I can do is hope he’s right.
7
Wes
The sore spot on the back of my head thanks to Evan knocking me out continues to throb, acting as a constant reminder of what happened the night before.
Dane assured me that Evan was okay. Well, that he would be if he was smart enough to find his way home after they’d beaten him half to death and left him in the middle of nowhere.
It's no less than he deserves for pulling that stunt on Sadie, but even still, I can't help there being a little concern for the guy I've grown up with. His cousin, on the other hand… I feel nothing for him. The way he treated Sadie, the way he spoke to her, what he was going to do to her.
My fingers twist in the sheet beneath me as anger like I've never experienced before surges through me. If I thought the need to protect Mom from the monster that lives in this house was strong, then I have no idea what it was I felt when I followed Dane into that warehouse.
I never thought I'd wish death on anyone, but damn, I hope they kill that motherfucker for thinking he had any right to touch a woman like that, let alone Sadie.
He's clearly fucking stupid to go after the Sinners princess.
Just like you, a little voice pipes up, reminding me that I've somehow managed to find myself in the middle of something I really don't think I want to be involved in.
But Sadie.
Fuck.
There's something about her that calls to me. And as each day passes, I can only feel it getting stronger.
It's terrifying. It's exhilarating… It’s probably a bad fucking idea.
She’s theirs.
I shake the thoughts from my head, knowing that nothing good can come from them, before my heart jumps into my throat when the sound of tires on the driveway beneath my open window fills the room.
"Shit," I hiss, jumping up and rushing over.
Dad went out before I did last night, and, much to my relief, he still wasn't back when Dane dropped me off.
At least Mom was safe while I was busy worrying about Sadie. I'm not sure I have it in me to be concerned for both of them at the same time.
But when a car comes into view, it isn’t Dad’s but a black Honda pickup. I run for my bedroom door, but it seems I wasn't the only one who heard her arrival, because Mom's already greeting Sadie when I get to the top of the stairs.
"Of course, sweetie. Come on in," Mom says, as if inviting anyone into this house is a good idea when Dad could come home at any moment.
"Jesus," I mutter, sweeping my hair back from my face but instantly regretting it when pain shoots down my neck.