Page 42 of Falling for Famine
The blonde cut in, “Yeah, it means less screaming and hyperventilating. Don’t worry. I totally freaked out when I found out about all of this.” She gestured in no real direction, but I got it. She’d probably had a surprise the way I had.
“I thought it was a dream,” I told them candidly. “He scared the shit out of me after my colorful cuties—”
Both of them blinked as if they didn’t know what I was talking about. I snuck a look at the cute little wisps flickering and blinking around me. Ghost stayed silent and was absolutely no help to me.
“Uh, the wisps?” I went on, gesturing at my little cuties, and still, the two women blinked like they hadn’t a clue. “Never mind. I just figured it out pretty quickly.”
The blonde one nodded and brushed back her beautifully silky hair, a total knockout at a glance. “I’m guessing yours stalked you, too. They all have that factory setting, I’m afraid.” She shot a glare at the yellow-eyed guy who was still smirking like he loved every bit of it. “I couldn’t get away from this jerk.”
“A Horseman thing?” I asked, sneaking a look at Ghost.
“Totally a Horseman thing,” the blonde confirmed.
Ghost’s eyes flared as I stole another glance. His expression was as apathetic as ever, but I got the sense that if not for the others in the room, he’d be over here touching me. It was a wildly possessive stare he was giving me with an awful lot of heat to it.
If I hadn’t been sure I was clothed, I would’ve been convinced I was naked by the way his eyes glided down my figure. It was the look he wore every time he sunk his cock into me and—
I blinked, suddenly worried that I’d be found out for my lusty thoughts. I couldn’t help that I turned bright red every time, and it appeared at least to some degree, Ghost smelled arousal on me like this was a shifter romance. What if the other two had that factory setting, too?
Oh, god.
“I’m Asha, and this is my best friend, Emily. You’re Nomi, right?” the redhead greeted finally, yanking me out of my slow spiral into panic. I appreciated the misdirection. Any longer and I might’ve wandered over to Ghost for a kiss or gone full red in my captivation of him.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s nice to meet the both of you. I’m sorry it’s not under better circumstances. You two seem like so much fun already.”
And that was the truth.
It wasn’t that I didn’t have friends. I did. I’d collected a few over the years at school, but I mostly kept to myself. I preferred a quiet night hanging out with Felix over stumbling and making terrible choices with the women I knew.
It also didn’t help that I was always working. I didn’t have time to go out. I focused on helping Felix at Dolci Caldi, so it was hard to keep friendships alive when I was never free to go do friend things.
“I love her already,” Emily said wistfully. “And that blue hair is todiefor. You are one gorgeous lady. I’d kill to be as tall as you.Just thinking about all the poor, helpless bastards I’d trample with my heels…”
The redhead dude next to the dark-haired one scoffed, as if she was speaking nonsense, but I detected the jealous flare in his eyes and predatory shift of his body. He didn’t like the idea of anyone else doing anything with her, and it confirmed my suspicion about them.
But I hadn’t expected the compliment and heat reached my cheeks before I could stop it.
Women were quick to lay on praises—Clara was the same—but I never handled them well. I didn’t think I was unattractive; I just didn’t put a whole lot of effort into it. I barely wore makeup most days. It was impossible to when I spent all day in a hot kitchen, covered in flour and working my ass off. Plus, I was covered in scars thanks to a rough childhood.
Not that I didn’t admire how put together my two female companions were. Emily and Asha were both arresting for different reasons. So pretty I’d struggle to put their beauty into words. In a room with the other two, I’d have a tough time stealing the spotlight. I was surrounded by beautiful people, and it really felt like I’d walked right into one of my fanfics.
I didn’t mind at all. I was totally cool with being the tagalong.
Realizing I hadn’t said anything, I came back with, “You’re both hot as fuck.”
The girls dissolved into giggles, while the oversized tattooed redhead against the wall snickered loudly. Next to the other two men, he was the most expressive. But it meant that when the dark-haired one smirked in response to my comment, it had way more impact.
Points to Nomi.
I caught Ghost’s gaze again. It was still lit with an emotion I couldn’t name, but he only nodded once before making eyes atthe other two men. They followed him into the back room, and it was just us girls left.
This place was a bit smaller than the other two I’d been to, but I didn’t think we’d be staying long once he talked to the other Horsemen. He hadn’t really introduced them. I’d been bombarded by the ladies the minute we arrived.
I watched them go with a little twinge in my chest. I didn’t have any right to demand he tell me why we were here and what the other Horsemen could do to protect me, or even what had changed that made it important to come here. While I was grateful he wasn’t abandoning me, I couldn’t help the sadness that reached my throat knowing he still didn’t trust me the way I trusted him.
“Asha, should we offer her food or something? Or is this an occasion for alcohol?” Emily mumbled searchingly, as if she’d been uncomfortable asking.
“It’s always an occasion for alcohol, what are you talking about?” Asha clapped back.
