Page 87 of Pretty Broken Wings

Nope. This is my cue to leave. “Actually, I was just going to bed.”

I try to brush past Gage, but he reaches out and grabs my arm, gently pulling me back to him. “You don’t have to leave just because of this asshole.” He raises his voice, looking beyond us. “Fuck off, Ax.”

“Ax?” Axel looks confused for a second. Then his brows draw down in anger. “What are you trying to pull?”

There’s a confused silence for a bit, then Axel says, “I’m Gage.”

I blink, looking between them. Did I mix them up? Again?

The one holding my arm stiffens, his nostrils flaring. “Cut it the fuck out, Axel.”

“You know what, you’re a dick trying to confuse her like this.” The newcomer stalks across the room, reaching us. “Sorry, Raven. He’s an asshole.”

I blink, confused, trying to grab onto any defining characteristic. The newcomer has a shirt on, but otherwise, they both have the same white hair, handsome faces, and pale eyes.

I thought the one holding my arm was Gage. I was convinced it was, but Axel has fooled me before. In the library.

The library.

I glance at the chest of the one I thought was Gage. There’s nothing there. Shaking my arm out of his grip, I whirl on the newcomer and point my finger in his face. “Take your shirt off.”

There’s a flash of something in his gaze. Surprise, maybe?

“Take it off,” I grind.

He hesitates, then shrugs and pulls his shirt off with one hand. I stare at his chest, trying to ignore the ripped abs and muscled chest that is now right in front of me. And there, on his sternum, is a small cut. It’s almost healed, but it’s still there from when I cut him in the library.

The newcomer is Axel.

I shove him back. Hard. Anger hits me in a hot wave. How dare he? How fucking dare he, after all he’s done?

Axel grins then, looking like a Cheshire cat. “What’s the matter, little bird?”

“Fuck you! I fucking hate you.”

A hand grabs me and gently pulls me back. “I’ll take care of this.” Gage’s face looks angry, with a line between his brows.

“No.” I try to pull away from Gage. I’m tired of being fought over in some kind of pissing contest. This is just a game to Axel. He just wants to keep me away from his brother. To get control over the one woman who doesn’t want him.

And I’m so sick and fucking tired of men taking control over me.

Suddenly, a plan flashes through my head. It’s a stupid plan, really. A horrible one. One I should definitely run the other way from.

Instead of overthinking it, I whirl on Gage and kiss him.

I have to get on my tiptoes to reach his face, and I wrap my arms around his neck to pull him lower. At first, he’s stiff, then he melts into me, ducking his head so I can reach him and letting me have his mouth. I know Axel can’t see well, so I kiss him loudly, going at him hard and forcefully, biting down on his bottom lip until Gage opens with a gasp. He lets me, submitting to what I want to take from him. I kiss him to prove a point, but I find myself drawn to him like a magnet. He feels fuckinggood.

I force myself to rip away, looking at Axel, and what I see there makes everything worth it. There’s a mix of rage and shock on Axel’s face. His skin is red, and his nostrils are flared.

“Now, if you’ll get out of the way.” I slide my hands down Gage’s chest and down his arm, grabbing his hand with my left hand. “We’regoing back to bed.”

Then, I pull Gage past Axel, pulling him down the hall to his bedroom.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

I think I’m dreaming. I have to be dreaming, right? There’s no way Raven—angry, distrustful Raven—kissed me. Kissed me, then claimed me in front of my brother. She tastes like sin and heaven and fucking addiction all rolled up in one. I let her take the lead, afraid to scare her off, but goddamn, I want more.

Raven drags me back to my room and then slams the door. As soon as it’s shut, she drops my hand.