Page 59 of Thorns from the Fall

“Messy sluts have messy problems.”

“You’re just as much of a slut as I am, you know.”

“I know,” I say, but I glance between her legs and see the evidence of what we did smeared on her inner thigh. I swallow down what can only be described as ego over the fact that anyone who goes near her will know she’s not up for grabs. Because anyone who goes near her will have to contend with me. I don’t know why it gives me a thrill—it fucking shouldn’t.

“Move,” I say, and she steps back from the sink so I can wash my hands.

Unlike her, I avoid the mirror. I don’t need to see the faint flush of my cheeks or the indecision hiding behind my frustration. Because I meant what I said about this being inevitable, and right now, I’m pretty sure it’s going to happen again.

And again and again in an endless cycle until one of us kills the other.

Gwyn’s adjusting her clothing and using toilet paper to wipe between her legs when I check my phone. I notice the time is a little after midnight, and I realize I brought in the new year balls-deep inside Gwyn. God dammit.

I swear when I see a missed notification, and I immediately return the missed call.

“Everything okay?” I ask, worried Margot will tell me something is wrong with my brother.

“What did you do at Sanguivita?”

“Nothing,” I say. “What do you mean?”

“Just got a text from one of the fledglings about a body.” Gwyn stops what she’s doing and looks up at me, clearly having heard what Margot said. “I turned on the scanner and it sounds like O’Brien is the responding unit, so hopefully it’s not a big deal. Why is it so quiet on your end? Where are you?”

“Everything else okay?” I ask, not willing to say my brother’s name in front of Gwyn. Obviously, I don’t answer any of Margot’s questions.

“Still great. Love you, have fun!”

“Have fun?” I ask, confused, and she laughs before hanging up. “Fuck, bye.”

“Did she say there was a dead body?” Gwyn asks, faking nonchalance as she throws away cum-soaked toilet paper. She turns to the sink and washes her hands, and she somehow makes it look like cleaning up from a bathroom quickie is beneath her. Head held high and back straight, she appears too dignified for something so debasing.

“Yeah. Might not be related to Sanguivita. If it got called in, the victim was outside.”

“You still have to go handle it , don’t you?” she asks, and I suddenly realize I’m being too casual with her. The instinct to answer and include her in the conversation, to give her trust she doesn’t deserve? What the hell am I thinking? I don’t know how the fuck I’m supposed to focus when she’s as hot as she is and her cunt feels as good as it does, and I’m some kind of moron who thought I could get close without it going too far.

Because proximity to Gwyn is the danger.

She’s more than her thick body and her pouty mouth and her greedy pussy. I’d been attracted to her kindness and empathy in spite of what life had thrown at her before she showed her true colors. And now? I’d be lying if I said her intelligence is unattractive. I just hate how she proved it by making me into a fool. By keeping my brother away from me.

If it weren’t for the treachery, she’d be fucking perfect. But I don’t think there’s a world that exists in which I could let that shit go.

“You should leave,” I say. “Why the fuck are you here anyway?”

Her cheeks turn red, and she looks away. Gwyn snags her phone out of her bra, and I don’t know why I find it ridiculously amusing that it stayed put while I fucked her.

She catches my smile though, and it’s my turn to look away.

“Hale is meeting me,” she says. “Oh, fuck, he’s actually—Oh my god, he’s here. You’re here! You can’t be here—with me. I can’t be here with you,” she stutters.

“Yeah, no shit.”

I have a dead body to handle, so I don’t hesitate as I unlock the door and walk out into chaos.

All of the humans in the bar have been corralled on the dance floor, and vampires stand a large, guarded, and visibly distressed circle around them.

“Fancy seeing you here, boss.”

“Nico,” I say, finding my long-legged friend unfolding himself from the bar. He looks over my shoulder and his brows lift. He’s smart enough to shut the fuck up about whatever he sees. Which is undoubtedly Gwyn, emerging from a dark hallway behind me, with my scent all over her.

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