Page 22 of G.O.D.S Omnibus

Marlow, still in his chair, turns his head to look at me, his brow creased like he’s trying to figure something out in his head.

“Just try it. It’s good shit.”

I take the joint just to humour him, but it’s his loss. I will feel a slight buzz in the moment, but by the time I hand it back... poof, gone.

I inhale the smoke into my lungs, a cough ripping through my throat, and Marlow laughs. “My brother is a bomb-ass scientist, and he created this specifically for those of us who have a high tolerance.”

My fingers start to tingle, and I hold them above my head, wiggling them back and forth.

“Holy cow, this is what it feels like to be wasted.”

I stand from my seat and walk towards Marlow, his hooded eyes watching me curiously. He doesn’t stop me when I straddle his lap, one of his hands rising to rest on my hip, and he groans when I slide myself closer. He sucks in a big lungful of smoke and leans his head towards mine, blowing the second-hand smoke into my mouth. My body naturally moves closer to him, his hand still tightly gripping my hip.

I feel tingles running over all my nerve endings and my body floats like I’m made of clouds. The base of the music pumps through the air. I stand from his lap and move my body to the song.

“This is how I want to die, feeling free,” I say.

Girly squeals fill the air when “Take You Dancing” by Jason Derulo comes over the sound system, and I giggle when I realise those squeals are from me.

“I’ve got to go, thanks for the... whatever that is.” Another giggle escapes me before I have a chance to stop it—though I don’t know if I would have stopped it even if I could.

I race down the stairs and back to the dance floor, my body taking over and my hips swaying to the music. I’m aware that Sinclair and Danika join me as I let go, and the lights move around me to the beat.

When the song finishes, I hear someone whisper that the Gods left the party abruptly, and I smile. Does that mean I’m free of their watchful glares? “Sweet but Psycho” byAva Max filters through my ears as large hands run down my sides, and Ifigure Marlow must have come to join me. Him, or someone else that smells edible. Either way, I feel his body move as one with mine.

“Let’s go skinny dipping,” I scream. Something I normally wouldn’t do. Oh well, YOLO got me kidnapped last time, but that led me here, so let’s see where my next adventure takes me.

Chapter Eight

Jolie

Thumping behind my eyes alerts me to the shit show that was last night. My head feels like it’s filled with cement, and I swear my tongue has grown a layer of fuzz overnight. Ugh.

“Turn the lights off,” a masculine voice croaks from behind me.

My whole body goes rigid, and I try to sort through the hazy fog clouding my brain. Zero—I come up with nothing. Ninja-flipping out of the bed, I hit the carpet with a soft thud. I wait... nothing. I feel my body and I have a shirt on, so that’s something. Who the fuck is in my bed? I rise onto my hands and knees to peep over the side of the bed, hoping I won’t regret what I’ve done. It wouldn’t be the first time I have done something stupid, but I usually remember. I don’t think I had sex last night. I can feel my bikini still on underneath the oversized shirt.

Think, Jolie, think. What the hell happened after the body shots with Danika?Whatever Marlow gave me wasn’t a good idea. What, or rather who, did wasted Jolie get up to last night?

Looking past the jumble of bedding, I spy a naked back. That doesn’t help. I crouch back down on my hands and knees and crawl towards the door. I will deal with this later. For now, I need water and something greasy.

One thing I love about rich people is their doors never squeak. No loose floorboards that groan under pressure. I slip from the room, still on all fours, when a set of bare feet comes into view.

“Isn’t the other person supposed to do the walk of shame?” Looking up, I see Davis extending a hand out to me.

“To be fair, I have no idea who it is. Figured I would deal with this killer headache before kicking whoever it is to the curb,” I reply as Davis pulls me to my feet and we walk side by side to the kitchen.

“I didn’t think you would be a blow and throw type of girl. The poor guy probably just wants to cuddle.”

“Pssh, cuddling? That is what teddy bears are for. If I had any sense about me last night, he would have had his marching orders before I passed out.”

Davis laughs as we enter the kitchen. Brennan is standing by the breakfast bar, looking fine as hell. I have never seen him in a suit before.

“Morning,” he says, taking a sip of his coffee.

The other guys are all seated at the breakfast bar, picking at fruit and muffins.

“Hold up, spin for me.” A smile reaches Brennan’s lips, and he turns. “You scrub up well and your ass is fine in those pants.”

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