Book of the Damned: A-E5L1-01-00: (A reverse harem, post-pandemic, slow-burn romance) (The JAK2 Cycle, Book 2)

by V. E. S. Pullen

  One side of his mouth quirked up and he leaned on his hip against the table next to me. “Me too. But no harm, no foul. I’ll be around, if things don’t work out. And I’ll be interested. But I’ll keep the massages professional until then, okay? I don’t ever want you to be uncomfortable with me.” He traced a finger over my bare shoulder, dipping down over the slope of my breast. “Or you can make a dream come true and let me make you feel good. No strings, just… a little while that’s all about you. Hands only — a really, really special massage.”

  “You’re the devil,” I whispered. He grinned, and the all-American golden boy façade fell away, and I saw a glimpse of wickedness.

  “I am,” he purred, still tracing the finger, the loops getting wider. “I’m here to tempt you into sin. Is it working?”

  I thought about it: no promises had been made. They all had pasts — even recent pasts — and far more experience than me, and technically I wasn’t with any of them.

  But if I let Ethan touch me, I’d know how good it could be. I’d have a past too. Experiences. He obviously knew what he was doing— I could have sex with him even, and not be so innocent or naïve. I’d have something to compare to, some sense of what I liked, what felt good.

  But if I knew what it was like, what it could be, how could I resist them?

  I was still so close to saying yes, to laying back and just enjoy being touched for once, by someone who knew exactly what to do and who made an art out of paying attention to my responses and understanding what felt good. I was so close.

  And then I thought about trying to explain it to Sev.

  I thought about Spider, and how he’d look at me as I tried rationalizing my decision.

  I pictured Luka’s face whenever I’d hurt his feelings, how he seemed to crumple and wilt, and thought about telling him I let another man touch me.

  Tai would go cold, pull away. It would be a wound impossible to ever heal completely.

  Sasha would shrug and pretend like he didn’t care, but he’d never look at me the same.

  “Almost,” I sighed, and tightened my hold on the sheet. “Because you’re very tempting, and I’m feeling weak, but no. This thing I have, it’s new. And they’re important to me.”

  “Plural?” His brows shot up, eyes widened.

  I nodded.

  “Fuck,” he whispered, then leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my bare shoulder. “They’re lucky men.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered back, feeling like we were hidden inside a little cocoon. “Promise me something, Ethan?”

  “Anything, honey.”

  “If Michelle tells you to do something that seems weird, something you don’t understand and maybe even think is a bad idea… promise me you’ll do it anyway?”

  He leaned back, eyeing me steadily. “What’s going on?”

  I shook my head.

  He studied my face, paying careful attention to my eyes, but I kept my mask in place. Finally, he slowly nodded. “I promise.”

  I sighed, blinking, feeling like a weight had lifted off me. “Thank you.”

  “You should get dressed,” he took a small step back. “I’m finding it hard to not touch you.”

  I nodded and he stepped towards the door then stopped, turning back to me. “Don’t disappear on me now, okay? Things won’t be weird, and I’ll be professional. I told myself if I ever got a chance to massage you, I’d be totally appropriate and not cross any lines, and that didn’t quite work out, but I promise, in the future—”

  “It’s fine,” I said, smiling softly. “We’re fine. Things won’t be weird.”

  He nodded, jerking his head like it was an automatic movement, and not because he believed me, and then left me alone to dress.

  I did, feeling a little lost, a little bereft, but also a little proud of myself for not giving in. If nothing else, they were wrong: I wouldn’t do anything for a little attention.

  Those bitches can suck it.

  Before I left, I got Michelle alone, and I told her that something might happen in the next couple days and she should be prepared. I told her that Ethan would help her.

  She eyed me, warily, but didn’t ask.

  I decided hugging her right then was way too suspicious, so instead I squeezed her hand, and then headed out into the soft gray light of dusk. I had twenty minutes before the Viper Twins would be at the pizza parlor, hopefully with the Callises in tow, and I needed to come up with a plan to get them to the cabin.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sasha

  Azzie: Are you there?

  Me: Yes. What’s up?

  Azzie: Do you remember how to get to Mouse’s cabin?

  Me: Yes.

  Azzie: Can you be ready to go NOW?

  Me: We need about a half hour, will that work?

  Azzie: Not all of you, just you.

  Me: ??? I’M NOT LEAVING MY BROTHERS.

  Azzie: Not leave them behind. I need you to go early, take the Vipers and Callises. I know it’s a big ask, but my plan for tomorrow doesn’t work with them. I promise I won’t leave your brothers. I SWEAR. But you’re the only one who knows where to go, and I don’t trust them on their own. If they fuck up and get caught, my plan fails.

  Me: Leave them.

  Azzie: I can’t. Please. I’m begging you.

  Me: I don’t like this, Azzie. Why the Slopes? Those bitches have been fucking with you since day one.

  Azzie: I don’t like it either. I’m terrified and I don’t trust them, but I can’t just leave them. The Vipers know too much and they’ll be killed. And before they’re killed, they’ll betray us. Once we’re out, we’re still not safe, and if you don’t go with them, I’m afraid we won’t be able to get far enough away before they start hunting me.

  Me: This is fucked up.

  Azzie: Okay, don’t worry about it. I’ll figure something out.

  Me: We should all go then. Right now.

  Azzie: I can’t. I’m not ready yet, I have things I need to do in the morning.

  Me: Do them now.

  Azzie: I can’t. It’s fine. Just be ready in the morning.

  Me: No, I’ll do it. Where do I meet you?

  Azzie: No, I’ve changed my mind. I’ll figure something out for them. I can’t risk you.

  Me: Azzie, where do I meet you?

  Azzie: You won’t be going back to the house, the school, anything.

  Me: I know. I’m ready.

  “I’m leaving early,” I said. The three of us had been lounging around in our room, just resting a bit before finding food and dealing with some final preparations. Sev looked up from his desk where he’d been photographing pages from one of his gaming books, and Luka was on the laptop moving some files to a secure flash drive. We had music playing very loud so we could talk privately — the whole basement was scanned for bugs every time we came down here, but our host family wasn’t exactly our best buds.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  “Azzie texted me. She needs me to go tonight, now, because I’m the only one who knows where Mouse’s cabin is. I need to take the Slopes and Callises there.”

  “Then we all go. I’ll contact Spider and Tai.”

  “Why the fuck is she bringing the Slopes?”

  “She can’t go tonight, she has things that can’t be done until the morning. She’s worried if they go on their own, they’ll fuck up and get caught and then we’ll be fucked. She’s also worried if she leaves them, they’ll be questioned before they’re killed, and they’ll start hunting for her right away.”

  “This is fucked up, Sasha. We shouldn’t split up.”

  “Never split the party. It’s the number one fucking rule of D&D. She knows that!”

  “I thought it was left is always right?”

  “That’s the second rule. Splitting the party is the first.”

  “What’s the third?”

  “Chopping off the head and burning the body is the only way to be sure.”

  “That’s a re
ally fucked up game.”

  “No, it’s a fucking amazing game, and those are good life rules too, so shut the fuck up.”

  “Guys, I have to go.”

  Silence descended. This wasn’t the first time, or even the twentieth time, one of us had to go off on our own, but this time felt different. There was no backup. There was no security of name or cut to make someone think again before fucking with me. This was a complete unknown — I didn’t even know who the enemy was, except everyone. And on top of that, I’d be out there alone with four erratic unknowns who all had reason to hate me.

  I stood up, and so did they. We hugged as brothers: hands gripping necks, arms too tight for comfort, foreheads resting against each other.

  It was going to be fine. We’d see each other again.

  “You got everything you need?” Sev’s voice was strangled, thick and heavy with emotion.

  “Yeah,” I said quietly. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Protect our girl.”

  “Love you, big brother,” Luka whispered and Sev nodded.

  “Love you too, little brothers,” I whispered back, then released them. I grabbed the keys up from the floor by the door and walked out.

  Azzie had me meet them at a bar downtown, the one that served pizza. I parked the truck around back, as directed, and made my way into the restaurant. I found the five of them at the largest booth in the corner, not a one of them looking happy to be there. I slid in next to Azzie and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, making a point of staring each of them in the eye.

  “You look good, babe,” I said as the waitress dropped a glass of water down for me and I ordered a coke. With extra ice. Indulgent.

  She did look good though, I think she’d gotten her hair done, and her nails.

  “Thanks,” she said, making a face. “I ran into Gemma and Adriana at the salon when I was getting some maintenance done, thought we should all have dinner, so they called up Jason and Ryan.”

  I looked around. No one was near, but she wasn’t saying anything at all useful. The others were eyeing each other a little confused.

  “Is this place okay?” She asked, looking around. “It’s less noisy than the other place, so we can actually hear each other.” I nodded. There was the possibility of listeners. The others seemed to understand too, each of them nodding slightly.

  “It’s great, I love pizza,” I said, cocking an eyebrow at Ryan, who laughed. “Have you ordered already?”

  “Sure have,” she said. “Those four are going out after, so we need to eat quickly. They asked me to join them, but I have homework. You can go if you want to though,” she legit sounded wistful, and although it was the last thing I wanted, I gave a grunt of agreement.

  “Yeah, that sounds good. My brothers are driving me nuts, I was glad to get away.”

  “Okay, sure,” she looked down at her hands, tearing on the napkin, as the waitress brought a couple pies to our table, setting them up on stands. She winked at me, squaring her shoulders to make her boobs jut out, and I played my part, smirking back at her approvingly. Azzie looked up, glaring between us. “Maybe I will go.” The waitress ignored her completely, smiling at me again, and I winked before turning to Azzie.

  “But you said you have homework, babe.” I tracked the waitress out of the corner of my eye, and once she was away, I sighed. “I hope I read your play right — big fight, I leave with them, you run home crying? I kinda feel like a whore.”

  “Not even close,” she smirked but her mouth was tense and she didn’t look directly at me. Fucking hell…

  “I did all that for nothing?” I said for the others, then leaned in to whisper to her. “It was an act, Azzie. She’s not even in your ballpark, let alone someone I want to run the bases with, okay?”

  She nodded her head then turned slightly, as if to whisper back, but I didn’t move. My mouth met the corner of hers, and I kissed her lightly, loving that she shivered under my arm.

  “Gross.” Adriana rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her drink.

  “Seriously,” Gemma said flatly. She reached for a slice, folding it lengthwise. “Pizza’s not bad though.”

  Ryan and Jason were both watching us, eyes hooded. I smirked at them. Fuckers.

  “Azzie, have a slice,” Jason peeled one off the tray and plated it, pushing it toward her with a soft smile. She smiled back, reaching for it. I glared at him.

  “You need a refill, babydoll?” Ryan asked her, Gemma and Adriana eyed each other then looked at me. I kept my face neutral.

  “No thank you, Ryan,” Azzie lifted up the pizza slice and bit off the tip, groaning softly. I shifted in my seat. “But call me babydoll again, and I’ll stab you with my fork.” I had to shift again, and considered reaching down for an adjustment.

  “Gotcha, sweetcheeks,” Ryan shoved a whole piece in his mouth, chewing deliberately. Their eyes were locked together; I saw him flinch, and knew she kicked him under the table. I grabbed up my own slice and bit in.

  Azzie looked around, held up her glass to the waitress. “That should keep her away for a good ten minutes,” she muttered, then took another bite. She swallowed, then said, “ After we finish eating, the doublebitch twins and I will go to the restroom. You three pay for the meal, then go to the back hallway and wait for us. Once the area is clear, we’re going to pretend to go out the back, so be prepared to be silent once that door shuts.”

  “I love it when you order us around,” Ryan licked his lips straight out of the LL Cool J playbook.

  Azzie snorted and went back to her pizza. God I love her.

  Azzie

  They followed every instruction, once that awkward-as-fuck meal ended. Ryan continued to hit on me, Sasha continued to scowl at him but flirt with the waitress — even though I don’t think he had any idea he was doing so — and Jason watched it all, laughing to himself. Gemma and Adriana gave up paying attention almost immediately, and were happily bitching about the salon and their “backwater techniques” while picking at slices of pizza. I ate two, savoring every single mouthful, wondering how long it would be before I’d have to go back to mostly liquified foods; my red blood cell count will start creeping up again, and I’ll have to deal with all the other symptoms that come with it.

  We hit the bathroom — I told them to actually use it and not just primp — and we exited just in time to see the waitress handing Sasha a slip of paper, murmuring to him softly then brushing past me as if I wasn’t there. Sasha held up the paper, locked eyes with me, and let it drop to the floor. It was a nice gesture, if nothing else.

  “What the fuck, Sasha?!” I said loudly, gesturing for the twinses to go through the door marked Staff Only and make their way down the stairs. Quietly.

  “It’s nothing, doll,” he sounded sufficiently cajoling, moving up to me and grasping my hips. “She’s still lurking,” he murmured in my ear, “I think we need to run my play after all.”

  “So many sports metaphors,” I whispered back. “It’s annoying as fuck.” I was such a fucking liar. His hands on my hips, how close his body was, the heat he was radiating… I was soaking it all up. He nuzzled my ear and I spontaneously combusted. In my pants.

  “I love it when you talk down to me,” he said, laughing softly, his eyes trained past me on the end of the hall. “She’s gone, but don’t move yet.”

  “Is someone else there?” I twitched, trying not to turn around.

  “No, I just don’t want to let you go yet.”

  “Sasha…” I breathed out, tearing in two right down the middle. “Please—”

  “Please what? Please kiss you? Okay.” He ran his lips along my jaw, heading for my mouth. I tried to pull away, but he held me tighter. “Keep still and let me kiss you. I’m about to go off somewhere with unpredictable assholes,” his voice was soft but determined, “and I don’t know when or if I’ll see you again. Give me this.”

  Well, I couldn’t argue with that logic. I nodded and he sighed, turning us so my back was against the wall, one arm propped up
to hide us, using a knuckle on his other hand to lift my chin up. Our eyes met, and the intensity sent a cascade of shivers down my body, butterflies going mad. He leaned in, lips curving in a smile, and whispered, “Finally.”

  Then he kissed me, and I figured out what all the fuss was about.

  I think his mouth was magic. I’m convinced of it. It’s the only explanation for how a fairly mechanical process of pressing one set of lips against another could make my body react like it did. I was having trouble breathing, could only seem to take fast, shallow breaths. My heart was pounding, and my knees felt weak.

  I wanted to lay down.

  I wanted to lay down with Sasha.

  I wanted to lay down with Sasha laying down on top of me, his hips cradled between my thighs. With significantly less clothes on. I wanted him to continue to kiss me while other parts of our bodies connected. I wanted his hands all over my skin, I wanted my mouth all over his.

  When his tongue pressed against my lips, I parted them without any hesitation, now absolutely convinced there was magic involved.

  Forever and not nearly long enough later, his mouth moved along my jaw, nipping at my neck. “Sasha,” I moaned his name and he stilled. “No, don’t stop,” I whined as he pulled back, smiling indulgently down at me. “Fuck.”

  “Next time, I promise,” he laughed softly. “Or whenever you’re ready,” he amended as I scowled at him. “Oh, Azzie,” his forehead rested against mine, “not letting you go, not ever.”

  It was like he turned a hose on me, reality came ripping back into focus. “You have to,” I whispered, then followed it with “We have to go.”

  If he thought the two statements were conjoined, that’s on him, but at least he didn’t argue.