Page 82 of Undying Thirst

Who knew not living in fear felt so good?

The rustle of clothing dragged my attention to Tobias. He’d been sitting at my desk chair to the side, and I hadn’t seen him. He smoothly stood and approached me. I tilted my head up to keep eye contact.

His finger swept across my lower lip and I tamped down my smile. I’d been standing here, grinning like an idiot as I stared at them. I offered no comment and cleared my throat.

Ren’s eyes popped open and he jerked his head, causing Asher’s hand to plop on his chest. He flicked the arm off him.Asher groaned and rolled to his side, invading Bastien’s space, who didn’t appreciate it based on him rolling off the bed and hitting the ground. He sprang to his feet with a hiss.

Tobias resting his palm on my lower back cut off my muffled snicker.

“We’ll be attending a gathering tomorrow night,” he murmured. I was less focused on the words than on the way his breath fluttered hair around my ear. A shiver coasted down my spine. I stopped my hand halfway to his chest and curled my fingers into my palm, dropping it to my side. Their effect on me should be normal to me by now, but I feared I’d ever get used to it.

“You’re welcome to touch me,” he said huskily, grabbing hold of my wrist, rubbing it to smooth my hand onto his chest. The soft fabric tickled my palm. I sank my teeth into my lower lip, shyly looking up at him. I swayed closer to him, like he had some sort of gravitational pull.

A palm cupped the side of my neck and I twisted to see who gripped me. Bastien’s nose grazed my temple, his big body crowding me and forcing me closer to Tobias.

“Oh please continue,” Asher said huskily from where he sprawled on his back with his hands behind his head. His gaze burned with heat and a bulge lifted the front of his linen pants, obvious, intimidating, hypnotizing.

It felt different being with them . . . butterflies encased by my ribcage wouldn’t stop flapping their wings.

My brain chose that moment to switch on and process his comment.

“Where are we going tomorrow?” The usual tension in my chest expanded. Eighty percent of the time I’d stepped out into the city, something went wrong. I wasn’t looking forward to another event.

“We’re going to Calliope’s,” Ren said from his sitting position at the end of the bed. He was in the process of pulling on his tan boots.

“Why?” I gasped. “Didn’t you think she’s the one trying to kill you guys?”

Ren waved his hand around. “And?”

I could only blink at the oddity of these males. I let myself get carried away way too much. They weren’t human. I should get it tattooed on my hand.

“What, you’re not excited to meet up with your friend?” Jax drawled, smirking. I clocked the jab. I squeezed my lips together until they flattened.

“He’s joking,” Asher said.

I wanted to retort but it was pointless, so I ripped my attention off Jax, not giving him a reaction. My goal was to ignore him. He could be a lamp for all I cared.

“We’ll answer any questions on the way to the shopping center.”

“You mean, you’ll answer,” Jax interjected. If I wasn’t mistaken, a hint of petulance was woven into his tone.

“Shopping?” I asked, again ignoring Jax, focusing on the twin that never failed to answer my questions.

“Yes and after, you will have a visit from another Coven’s Pet who can put your behavior into perspective.”

My behavior? I scowled.

“That’s exactly it, you can’t scowl at your master, human.” Ren approached, his eyes searching my face.

“Master?” I blustered, at a loss for words. Heat flooded my cheeks. Outrage and shock trapping words within me.

Asher reached into his pants, and he very obviously gripped his cock. He shuddered and moved his girth into the waistband so the stiffy no longer bounced.

Ren continued, getting in my face. My eyes widened until he was a finger’s length away from touching his nose to mine. “You must keep yourself to a standard appropriate as a belonging of Crimson Coven.”

Asher elbowed him back.

“What he means is, your behavior will be a reflection of us. If there is weakness, it will be exploited.” Asher cupped the back of my neck, getting so close I almost went cross eyed. What was with them stepping all up in my face? It reminded me of when Peter was young and he wanted me to give him my undivided attention. “So when around other vampires, you must behave in a way we do not expect you to behave in the comfort of our homes.”

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