Page 28 of Russian Roulette
“Everything went fucking fantastic.” Vulcan sits on the sofa and stretches his tatted arms behind his head. A hint of a smirk is still playing around his mouth. “Thanks for your concern. It couldn’t have gone better.” Clearly Vulcan is trying to irritate Kit for some curious reason.
“Everything didnotgo fantastic,” I pipe up to say. “I almost froze to death in that cramped RV. A pack of wolves tried to eat me for dinner and then, if that wasn’t bad enough, Vulcan made me spend the night crammed in his sleeping bag with him. So no, I wouldn’t say things went fucking fantastic. Just the opposite, in fact.”
“That’s a damn lie,” Vulcan shoots back. “They were coyotes, not wolves. Get your facts straight. And they weren’t going to eat you either. They might’ve dragged you around for a while though and chewed on your legs. They definitely wouldn’t eat you.”
“You made her sleep with you?” Kit’s genial tone turns chilly. I could sit at his feet and listen to his deep voice forever. “What exactly did he do? Did he touch you?”
Whoa! He’s pissed. Why is he asking if Vulcan touched me? Hmm… I’m picking up on someveryinteresting vibes between the men.
“Don’t get your panties in a wad,” Vulcan throws back at him. “She tried to escape, no surprise there. I found her freezing cold, wandering around lost in the dark. Body heat is the fastest way to warm someone up. I was only trying to help a gal out the best way I could.”
“I’m sure you were only thinking of her.” Kit rolls his eyes at Vulcan. “Always the polite gentlemen.”
“She also forgot to mention how she stabbed me with a knife,” Vulcan adds. “Not just any knife, my knife that she stole from me. Can you believe that shit? She actually had the balls to steal something of mine. Who steals from me and lives to tell the tale? Nobody! Not to mention she also stole my favorite shirt.”
Kit gives me a worried glance. “Did you give him his stuff back?”
“Yes, he took them back. It was only a knife and a shirt. What’s the big deal? What were they worth? Twenty bucks total?”
“That’s not the point,” Vulcan responds. “Nobody steals from me or messes with my stuff. Next time, don’t touch anything.”
“Okay, sorry,” I say. “Don’t worry, there won’t be a next time. And he’s exaggerating. I merely grazed him with the knife. He’s perfectly fine. It was his own fault because he snuck up behind me and grabbed me in the dark. I was only protecting myself.”
Kit looks back and forth between me and Vulcan before releasing a long, weary sigh. “It seems you two had an eventful night. It’s a relief you both made it through alive and well. I’ll go into the kitchen to blend up protein drinks for everyone.”
“Oh yummy,” Vulcan says sarcastically when Kit steps out of sight. “Just what I’m always craving first thing in the morning. A protein shake made of peas and spinach.”
“I wonder if it would be too much to ask for a cup of coffee?” I ask, dying for a big shot of caffeine. “Or an energy drink? I’m exhausted from last night.”
“From Kit? Yeah, I would say so. Kit believes in an organic, healthy, vegetarian lifestyle. No caffeine, no meat, no fun. It must suck to be him. Glad I’m a meat and potatoes kind of guy.”
“His lifestyle must agree with him.” So agreeable, in fact, that I’m having a tough time keeping my eyes off his body. “He’s in great physical shape. What does he do for a living?”
“I’m surprised you haven’t figured it out yet,” Vulcan replies. “You’ll learn we’re a tight-lipped group. If you have questions, you need to ask that person directly. Anything you’re dying to know, ask Kit. Not me.”
“Okay, then. What do you do for a job? I’m asking you.”
“I chase thrills,” he says, giving me a wink. “The same as you, except in a different way.”
14
JADE
Idon’t have time to ask him to elaborate before Kit strolls back into the room. It’s fortunate he hasn’t found a shirt yet. Gazing at sexy, handsome guys strolling around shirtless all day might be something I could get accustomed to.
“Come on into the kitchen and join me,” he says, waving a beckoning hand. “It might take me a few minutes to whip up those drinks.”
Vulcan stands up from the sofa and brushes off his jeans. “There’s my cue to leave.” He glances down at his black T-shirt. “Damn Kit! I’m covered in tiger hair. Has Puffin been in here on the sofa? I’m getting out of here before a sneezing attack hits me. Unlike Jade, I’m allergic to cat hair.”
“You’re leaving?” I’m a little disappointed.
“Why?” he asks with a puzzled expression. “Missing me already?”
“Hell no!” I reply. “I’m glad you’re leaving. Kit is nicer than you and more of a gentleman.”
“I won’t argue with you on either of those accounts, though appearances can be deceiving,” Vulcan gives me one last wave as he heads out the door. “Talk to you later. Try to behave yourselves and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“See you tonight!” Kit calls out on his way back to the kitchen. “Seven will be here later, too.”
