Page 85 of Saving the Rain
“When we were younger?” Lifting one shoulder with a shrug, my chin dips in acknowledgment. “No. I certainly wasn’t good at anything except being an angry asshole. I’m still not good at shit like this, either,” I add.
Kayce works down a swallow. “Ok, but I just need you to know, I’m not ashamed. Especially not when it comes to you, or what we’re doing.”
While he might be saying those words, with all that golden boy sincerity, I saw the way his eyes flickered along the length of the aisle when I was undoing his jeans. I saw the fear lingering there. Still nervous that someone might see, even though we’re on the very top of a mountain, and miles from any other people. It doesn’t piss me off, but I’m still not sure if Kayce is ready to actually embrace himself.
If he’s worried about someone catching us together all the way out here in the wilderness, he’s gonna be crawling out of his skin, even being in the same room as me at The Loaded Hog for a fucking Halloween party.
Maybe that’s what drives me to push him just a little harder. One last reminder of the fact he asked me to come up here. A not-so-subtle nudge to point out thathewas the one who turned up on my doorstep in the dark that night. “Oh, so you’re not ashamed, huh?” I pinch his chin harder. “Not even when you’re pleading with me to pump you fullof cum? Not embarrassed by all the slutty, needy little noises you make for me?”
That gives me the prettiest version of Kayce. The one where he flushes all over when I give him a whole extra dose of sternness in my voice.
“N—No.” His stammering protest is met by a smirk that, yeah, is definitely smug, knowing how easily I can affect him.
And that’s what I’m gonna have to hold onto. Because the next time we see each other, there’s every chance that he’ll pretend I don’t even exist.
Angling my head, I brush our lips together. It’s a soft press against his mouth, a hint of wetness coating his lips, a last taste of his sweetness before I let him go. Before I slide into my truck and start the engine.
“Bye, snowflake.”
Chapter 34
“Slutty vampires?” Chaos points between me, Brad, and Flinn as we come up to the bar.
Halloween at The Loaded Hog is in full swing, with nearly everyone wearing some kind of costume. They’ve gone all out on the decor, with pumpkins stacked outside, fake spider webs hanging from almost every surface, and a smoke machine puffing gusts of vapor illuminated by red lighting.
“Sluttyeightiesvampires... to be precise.” Brad gestures at our outfits, which are a loose collection of leather, chains, and fake earrings. He leans a forearm on the bar, then pokes at the place where bright crimson spills down Flinn’s chin—the same as we’ve all painted on for tonight. “Fortunately for your little pork chops, we already stopped for a snack before coming.”
“That hair needs its own postcode.” Chaos snorts at the hairband-worthy long, curled wigs the other two are wearing, then smirks at my spiked-up hair. “Always a pleasure to have the Lost Boys in the house.”
“How the fuck did you stuff Knox into a pig onesie? Did you have to tranquilize him?” Flinn barks out a laugh when the other member of theChaos Twinsmakes an appearance carrying stock from the chiller. He’s in a suit to match, with the hood including floppy ears pulled over his head and everything.
“I’m very charming. Not to mention, I make the cutest piglet you ever did see, huh? Who wouldn’t want to be hog-tied by this tonight?” Of course, he jumps and spins around in order to shake his ass in our direction, wriggling his hips to reveal the sight of his little coiled tail.
“You’re something, all right.” I shake my head at his antics.
“Good to see you in the land of the living... or maybe, non-living tonight.” He winks back at me. “How’s the knee?”
“Strong enough to chase you down and empty out those sweet piggy pig veins of yours, no problem.” With a flash of a smile, I really fucking hope that tonight isn’t gonna be endless questions about topics I’m not yet brave enough to go public about.
Which makes the back of my neck immediately flame underneath the high collar of the jacket I’m wearing, because I haven’t seen the one person I’ve been on high alert for since walking through those doors.
“What’s your choice of poison tonight, bloodsuckers?” Chaos asks, as he slides a tall glass of soda my way. He makes a show of adding a flourish of red syrup to it with a cheeky grin.
Flinn ticks off one finger. “We need something ‘fruity and strong as shit’ for the two fairies. Their words, not mine.”
“They’re witches.” Brad shoves at his shoulder. “And the fact Briar has gone to the effort of all that green face paint, means that I’m sure she’ll kick your ass if she hears you disrespecting her witchy powers.”
“Sorry.” Flinn huffs and rolls his eyes, before ticking off a second finger. “Fruity shit for the pink witch and the green witch.”
Chaos is already starting to mess around with making something, then looks across the room at the bar leaner where Briar and Sky look like they’ve hijacked a pair of flying monkeys for the evening and taken a direct flight straight out of Oz.
“Jesus. You’d have never thought old man Rhodes would put in an appearance at something like this.” He starts shaking up a potent concoction. “What the fuck is he meant to be?”
Brad smiles and steals some candy from the pumpkin bucket set out on the bar. “Angry ice hockey player sent to the penalty box.” As he pulls the wrapper off, he gestures a circle at his face. “Hence the black eye... the permanent scowl is justau naturale.”
To be fair, Lucas Rhodes dressing up for anything would mean the entire world was probably about to descend into an apocalypse. For him to even set foot in here tonight, speaks volumes to exactly how down bad he is for the woman swathed in pink and glitter tucked at his side.
“And Stôrmand Lane mugged a pirate and stole his outfit, I’m assuming?” Chaos grabs Brad and Flinn’s beers when they point out what they’re after.