Chapter 26 #2
My body tenses, and for several terrifying moments we just watch each other. My fingers ball into firsts as my mind works to weigh my options. I don’t know what spurs me forward, but I hear the word, “Fine,” slipping past my lips before I’ve fully come to terms with my current predicament.
He tries not to show his surprise, but I see the glimmer of delight in his cerulean eyes.
I steel myself, hardening my features till I’m sure I’m hiding as much of my desire for the male before me as I possibly can. “First question. How does this work?”
He chuckles. “You’re going to have to be more specific with your questions, Angel.
Or you’re going to waste a lot of turns in this game.
” He scratches at the scruff on his jaw.
And I find myself suddenly wondering what it would feel like to have that same scruff tickling my cheek, my neck, prickling against my thighs.
I clamp down against the restraints, forcing myself to remain guarded.
“I mean—” I try again, telling myself to grow up and spit out the words circling in my mind. “You and Sterling. With me.”
“You mean like the other night?” He cocks his head to the side. I guess that question has taken him by surprise. I don’t know what he was expecting me to ask, but it definitely wasn’t that. I nod.
“We share.” Quinn shrugs as if that’s the most nonchalant statement in the world.
“Can you expand a little?” I ask in irritation. I know he’s toying with me, being intentionally vague just to piss me off.
“Uh uh.” He waggles his finger from side to side. “I already gave you one pass. Now it’s my turn to ask a question.”
“Fine,” I grumble underneath my breath. “What’s your question?”
He takes his time thinking about it, pacing in front of me, and by the third turn I’m almost positive he’s using the opportunity as an excuse just to watch me squirm.
I’m suddenly all too aware of how short my dress is with my hands trapped above my head like this and I raise up on the tiptoes of my boots to try and shimmy it down a little longer.
He finally stops his pacing, sliding his hands into his pockets. “You said earlier that you’ve always bruised easy.”
My body tenses. “Is that your question?” I challenge him.
He shakes his head slowly, his eyes watching mine in a calculated way that sets me on edge. “Do you know why you're that way?”
Shit. Heat floods my cheeks. He has to know. Or at least have suspicions. Why the fuck did I agree to this?
“Honesty, Angel. Answer the question and then you’ll get another turn.”
“Yes,” I say at last, the word sounding more like a grunt through my clenched teeth. Because I don’t want to give him any more fuel to push me for answers. But I somehow can’t bring myself to lie to him either.
And to my surprise, he’s satisfied with the answer.
“Alright." He gestures towards me. “Your turn.”
“I’ll be more specific this time,” I say without hesitation. “You and Aamon. Zeke and Sterling. Who shares with whom?”
“Smart,” he praises. “You’re learning.” I throw a mocking smile his way. He ignores it and steps towards me. “Zeke and Sterling are in what you would call a situationship.”
“They’re together?” I ask, a wave of understanding rolling through me as my eyes widen. Suddenly all of the little things I’ve noticed between the two of them click into place.
Quinn bobs his head from side to side. “In some ways. Their relationship is unique. I’m not sure they even know what they are. But it works for them." He shrugs, taking another step towards me.
“And what about . . .” I work my mouth to alleviate the dryness that has suddenly taken over. “You and Aamon?” He takes one last step, closing the final bit of space between us. I look up into the soft blue rings around his eyes, suddenly intimidated by his boldness. “Are you two together as well?”
He huffs behind his grin. “No, Angel. Aamon and I . . .” He trails off, something flashing in his eyes, but it’s gone before I can name it. “We have similar tastes.”
“In females?” I offer.
“In kink,” he corrects. “Specifically in sharing a partner. Something about splitting that kind of control, sharing that level of trust . . .” His eyes glance down over the planes of my body and I can tell he’s so tempted to reach out, to touch me.
“And then you came along. There’s bound to be some growing pains—adjustment periods as we figure out how you fit in for the four of us. ”
“All four of you?” I echo, unbelieving. Zeke hasn’t so much as looked my way since my arrival. Quinn must be mistaken if he thinks my being here has had any effect on Zeke, too.
Quinn chuckles, shaking his head. “Yes, Angel, even Ezekiel. His tells are subtle, but they’re there.
” He swoops in without warning, his fingers dancing over my skin, so featherlight that I can’t actually tell if he’s touching me.
“But I believe that was four questions spent on your turn. Not one. Now, I wonder what on earth I should do with a little rulebreaker such as yourself.” His voice is smooth like chocolate, his words washing over me with the warmth of his breath.
Before I can stop myself, my back is arching towards him, my hips rolling in hopes of pushing him just a little bit further.
He leans in at the movement, and for the briefest of moments, I think he might kiss me. Our lips are so close they practically brush. “My turn,” he whispers, then breaks away with a mischievous grin sprawled across his face.
I collapse against the wall at the sudden lack of his presence. The metal in the restraints clank against the ring attached to them and it takes me a moment to catch my balance and stand up straight. “Bastard,” I mumble. But that only makes his smile broaden.
I fix him with a poisonous glare, waiting for him to ask his next question.
He exhales through his nose, folding his arms over his chest in that annoying way that has the material of his T-shirt pulling taunt against his muscles. “Why aren’t you telling us everything?”
My face falls, my head shaking slightly as I try to process his question. “What?”
“Why do you still insist on hiding the truth?” he rephrases. “I know there’s more you’re not telling us. I just can’t figure out why you’re so hesitant to trust us.”