Page 88 of V for Vindictive

The fingers weaving and brushing through my hair were suddenly gone, and Sloan took several steps back, his gaze straying to the door. “Think about it, pet. I’m not going anywhere.”

I opened my mouth, but Cassius flung the door open like he’d seen some shit, and now he needed a drink. “I will nevereverwith that devil of a woman—”

Unfortunately, those teleportation stones the Fae used meant I didn’t hear him until he was at the door, and I unconsciously put more spacebetween Sloan and I, the proverbial girl caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

But what a delicious cookie jar this man is.

The melodramatic Dark Fae’s eyes caught the two of us standing suspiciously close but not. He took a moment’s pause, hands on his hip like a wary mom, before Jo pushed her way through, throwing the dude hilariously off kilter. She gave the two of us a glance, lips lifted, and his eyes cut over to her angrily. But the look Jo gave him had the Dark Fae scraping the back of his neck, throat nervously bobbing.

I got the sense that Jo had stolen Cash for a reason, and I was quietly grateful. Sloan’s supportive words and heated kiss gave me courage to do what I needed to do; to promise myself to no one and indulge a little.

Sitting back down, I pretended that I was only just starting my breakfast and hadn’t been caught in the act, but the Dark Fae beelined for me like a man on a mission and took the seat Sloan occupied only ten minutes prior.

Before we kissed like shameless maniacs.

“Spill. The. Tea,” was his demand, one clap at a time, and I could only shrug and pretend I had no idea what he was talking about. “Don’t give me those doe eyes. I know you’re hiding something, and since I’m bored, I plan to find out what that is.”

It wasn’t seconds later when Cash was on his feet, a large hole sliced straight through the side of his fancy-person shirt, artfully avoiding injuring him. When I followed the dangerous path, a dagger was sunk into the cabinet behind the gaping Fae. His accusing eyes lifted to the only person in that room brazen enough to do it.

Smirking, Jo sipped from a coffee mug and continued to read her book. “Sorry. Bored,” she explained with an impish grin before going back to her reading.

Again, I was saved.

I’m building a Jo shrine. I don’t even care how foolish that makes me.

I shoveled my breakfast into my mouth and escaped the prying asshole to get my thoughts in order and prepare my heart for when Phil finally returned.

The sound of distinguishable footfalls all the way to the door, the way Phillip let a sigh escape, the sound of his powerful body shifting before he grabbed the knob, kept me frozen to my spot on the bed, heart thrumming loudly in my ears.

I swallowed as the door clicked open and Phillip’s wide girth appeared in the frame, his intense eyes finding mine instantly. He fitted through the open space of the door and then closed it behind him, the abrupt click causing a jolt to travel the length of my spine.

Being the perceptive fuck he was, Phillip paused and let his eyes travel my body before speaking, “Waiting for me, maus? We’re so eager tonight.”

Sure, of course that’s the road he’d travel first.

It was difficult to breathe or think with his predatory eyes licking me from head to toe, ready to act on some bedroom shenanigans, the sexy monster.

And he’d never know how much I wanted to escape in my head to that shameless place he always took me whenever we were alone, relying on ourbodies to say the words we couldn’t. But the stolen kisses, the crimes I committed both today and in my head, nagged at every part of me and locked down Ho-Ho V. I’d put it off for long enough, and it wasn’t fair to either of us.

The fear sat in my throat, making it difficult to swallow, but I beckoned the man over with a pat on the bed next to me. Phillip was an insanely talented Hunter, and he’d figure it out. He’d know that what I had to say was serious.

By the way his jaw clenched and the muscles tensed around his torso, it was obvious he already had. He took several steps before plopping down beside me, the immense weight of him nearly sending my body into his. Quickly, his lethal eyes were on me, deciphering the emotion in my expression. He reached for me, cradling my face, and the powerful look he offered me put my body into chaos.

My heart raced like he could see it all, see every dark secret. I’d never be good enough to hide it from him, and maybe that was for the best. The betrayal was in every accelerated throb of my pulse, and my stomach twisted into a thousand knots. Before uttering a word, my body punished me.

“Mein schatz,” he whispered, his thick, rattling voice making my courage falter, “is this about the deal you struck with Cash?”

I froze, not expecting that completely-off-the-mark response, and he took it as a sign he was right. I struggled to collect my thoughts before he sighed and brought our mouths together in a sweet kiss.

“I know it all. Whatever you promised him, I’ll get you out of it. Worry not, lass.” Phillip’s lips quirked up, proud of himself in light of my obvious surprise.

“That’s not what this is about,” I corrected with a frustrated sigh, taking his smile with the statement. “But before I get to that, you can’t get me out of the magical contract I made, so we need to do it.”

His eyes narrowed, the rage burning in all the blue. “A magical contract?” The Austrian started to get to his feet, but I caught his arms to stop him. “Let go, V. I’m going to kill that sneaky bastard.”

The moment had gotten so out of hand, it made me blurt out the next thing, desperate to stop him. “I might be in love with Sloan!”

That stopped him.

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