I’ve been hard since sinking my teeth into her neck, but now it’s getting painful. I’m pretty sure I’ve read a warning somewhere about seeking medical attention for endless boners, but that’s just my life now.
Fuck, getting distracted again. Stop thinking about her naked and gasping my name. Shit, now I’m picturing it.
Biting my tongue until I draw blood, I try to refocus my attention on their conversation, finding it increasingly difficult. All I want to do is excuse myself back into the bathroom for a few minutes so I can possibly get through the rest of the day, but we’re in the middle of the damn bookstore with a mate that nearly spontaneously combusted.
Priorities, Kins. Get it together so she doesn’t get the wrong idea and think that the only thing you think about is sex. It’s only like... seventy-five percent, lately. Show her that awesome, shiny quarter you have left that isn’t as much of a jackass.
“Where’s Kaiden?”
Kahl grimaces, running a hand through his hair before fisting it, like the brief pain will ground him so he doesn’t start spiraling again. “After it was clear that you had things under control, he couldn’t take hearing her muffled screams anymore and left. To hit something if I had to guess, or pick a fight.”
Tossing a nervous look at Saige, he adds, “He doesn’t know what to do to fix things.”
Appearing guilty, she squirms. “I might have gotten a bit carried away. Things have been an adjustment for all of us, but it’s easy to forget it’s as much of a change for you guys as it is me. I’m not really mad, I was just caught off guard by his reaction.”
Blowing out a breath, I glance around, finding far less people than the meager amount that were here before. “What happened to Nate?”
Kahl’s irises flash with menace, his lips pressing into a flat line before he responds. “Gone before we got here. James filled us in on some of his comments before he left.”
Twisting her hair over her shoulder, Saige inhales a deep breath and holds it. When she finally exhales, she seems more sure-footed, like things aren’t as impossible as before.
“Okay.” She stuffs her hands in her jacket pockets, face morphing with determination. “Simplify everything down to manageable pieces. Nate’s a problem. But no one really seems to like him, so if we end up killing him, would they try to arrest you guys?”
I share a look with my brother, carrying on a conversation with our eyes. “I doubt it, but we’d need a solid reason beyond him just asking too many questions or other people will wonder if he was onto something.”
On that train of thought, we detour to grab my abandoned sketch pad before heading out of the store, not wanting to be overheard. There are too many shelves someone could be hiding behind to eavesdrop, so I veil my words a bit more.
“Not like he would be, but you know how the gossip mill starts when people are bored.”
Flitting my gaze over the place, we feign casualty, and I only see two people looking in our direction. After the distraught tone Saige had when we hauled ass to the bathroom I expected it, but thankfully it’s just James and Blake, appearing genuinely concerned if she’s alright.
Pushing the door open, I suck down the crisp air, winter not far off. I’d be surprised if we don’t have snow this time next week, and as much as I love it, I’m more looking forward to my mate plastering herself to my side for the next few months. We hustle to the SUV, Kahl climbing in the driver’s seat while Saige and I clamber into the back.
Rubbing her hands together, she tucks them under her ass, gazing wistfully out the window. “All this supposed power, and I draw all the short straws.”
Tugging her against me, she rests her head on my shoulder as I comfort her. “You’re getting sidetracked. We were discussing justifiable homicide.”
She scoffs. “Everything’s justifiable if you word it right.”
Kahl texts Kaiden before firing up the engine and blasting the heater. It takes only a few seconds to get a response, our brother no doubt assuming it was an update on Saige and driving himself nuts waiting.
“Would you rather come with to pick him up or have me drop you two off at home first?” Kahl asks, arm wrapped around the back of the passenger seat as he waits for her answer.
Saige, bless her heart, actually asks, “Does he even want to see me right now?”
Kahl rolls his eyes, pulling onto the road without giving her an answer. It’s a short drive, and before I can even get comfortable we’re pulling up to the mall. The building is the tallest in town, and Kahl heads straight for the back lot.
Rather than go inside, we head around to the side alley, the massive fire escape looming above us. Kahl hops up first, extending a hand for Saige as I grip her hips, helping her up the first step.
Several stories later we reach the roof, Kaiden leaning against the access door and barring it. He’s rolling his pocket knife between his fingers restlessly, head whipping our way instantly.
I’ve no doubt he felt her coming, but he’s still rooted to the spot, torn with indecision. His eyes race over her, searching for any sign of the source of the screaming he heard, and ultimately latches onto the bite mark. Obviously, he has a very different idea of what went down in that bathroom and turns his ire on me, fury contorting his face as he gets to his feet.
“What the hell did you do?” he demands and I bristle, beyond pissed off.
“Do you honestly fucking think I would hurt her?” I snap, tempted to toss his ass off the roof.
He stops in his tracks, eyes wild and it becomes abundantly clear he’s just itching for a fight. A quick, guilty glance at Saige just solidifies what I already assumed. He wants to punish himself, anything to move past the grief he’s locked himself in, pushing for a good punch to the face so he can feel as shitty on the outside as he does within.
