I just need some time to process.
Lexie and Janessa appear from behind a sharp and pointy crystal thing, tolerating each other’s presence in a way I never would’ve thought possible at the summit only two weeks ago. They’re getting along for Kira’s sake.
Lexie’s eyes are annoyed, but not at Janessa. “The brothers are here,” she complains. “Gregory and Leonard.”
“Where’s Kira?” Janessa asks, as obsessed as always.
“Upstairs with Young-gi,” I point. “Is the dumb duo bothering you?”
“No,” Lexie scowls. “No more than usual. They’re just obnoxious. And they were asking about you, if you were here. Maybe you should go be with Kira and Mr. Sokolov. They won’t bother you if he’s around. He’s clearly protective of you.”
You have no idea.A flash of intense memory from the other day, of him grabbing me and dragging me into the dark to spank my ass, makes my cheeks heat.
I flush, smirk, frown, sigh. The girls stare at me, and Lexie clicks her tongue.
“Poor Tommy,” she pats my shoulder. “You’ve got it bad.”
“Shut up,” I chuckle, but my heart flutters. She’s right. I’ve got it bad. I’m practically sick with it. If catching feelings for someone was fatal, I’d be six feet under already.
And maybe that’s what’s wrong with me. Maybe, even though I know I love him, I don’t know how to be in love.
And it’s crazy to be in love so soon anyway, isn’t it? There’s so much about him I still don’t know. So much to learn about him. But that thought doesn’t make me feel less in love, it just makes me feel excited to spend more time with him.
See? I’m fucking terminal.
I don’t know how to love someone. Anyone. Let alone someone like him. Larger than life, with more gravity than a black hole, his draw undeniable.
I wish I could say I just loved his dick, his Daddy attitude, the way he makes me cum. But it’s more than that. It’s devastating.
“Tommy.” Janessa’s warning snaps me back to reality and I look up to see the brothers from the summit, Gregory and Leonard.
They’re as plain and boring as I recall. Nothing about them is memorable, let alone intimidating. They might be stupid enough to write out a blackmail letter, but are they ballsy enough?Desperate enough? I doubt it. That kind of desperation comes from poverty, not privilege.
They spot me and sneer, strut over, confident that I won’t start anything with so many witnesses. I’m not sure why they think that, but I guess they aren’t totally wrong. I prefer to make moves in the dark.
But they’d better not fucking push me.
“Claremont,” Gregory greets me icily. Then nods dismissively at the girls. “Ladies.”
Dickwad.
“Boys,” I tip my head to them. “You’re looking better than the last time I saw you.”
Oops.I almost wince. I was just thinking that they’d better not push me, but it seems like I’m the one who’s doing the pushing. Their faces flush red and Leonard balls his fists.
“We’re going to go find Kira,” Janessa says quickly. “Tommy?” She holds her hand out to me, inviting me to make a graceful exit with her.
But what she doesn’t know is that these two idiots are Young-gi’s suspects for the blackmail. Lexie and Janessa don’t know anything about that, but I need to give these mouth breathers a chance to show their cards. Just like in poker, they’ll be easy to read once I get them alone.
“Nah,” I say. “I’ll stay here and chat. You two go along, I’ll catch up later. Kira was looking for you, Janessa,” I tack on the end, knowing that will get her moving.
“If you’re sure,” she says uncertainly, but she’s already walking away. Lexie narrows her eyes at me and I give her a meaningful stare. She’s a smart cookie, so she takes my hint and disappears with Janessa.
“You want to chat?” Leonard asks arrogantly. “Feeling cocky, you little shit? We were drunk and taken by surprise last time you saw us. But we aren’t unprepared this time.”
He pats his pocket and I almost scoff.Never show your enemy where you’re stashing your knives, idiot.
And if it’s in his pocket, then it’s probably a folding knife, meaning it takes an extra second to get the blade out. In a fight, one second is all it takes for somebody else to end you. He’s more helpless than he thinks.
