Page 8 of Wonderland Asylum (Wonderland Killers #1)

SEVEN

Lectures and Scary Movies Oh My

My favorite place to be is where they are, unless there's a lecture or a scary movie happening, then it's a nightmare.

-Presley

Throwing a pillow at Kai, I laugh when it smacks him in the middle of his forehead. My victory is short lived when he comes for me with vengeance on his mind. I try to get away but he catches me like he always does.

"Don't tickle me! NO!!"

Of course he doesn't listen, but I secretly love it. Anytime I can be close to one of them it's the best day. I'm pathetic. However, I don't have time for self loathing when my brain isn't working because Kai is near.

Letting go with a screech, he settles on top of me. His long fingers find my midsection and begin their assault. Which is my favorite sense of torture .

My cackles, and his diabolical laughter bounce off the walls of his bedroom. Finally, after I'm out of breath and close to dying he settles back onto the end of the bed. He pulls my feet onto his lap, then hits the play button.

I don't have to look at the movie to know what it is. By the breathing sequence I can tell that it's a Jason movie. He's my least favorite of all of the classic killers. I don't know why they are so obsessed with him but they always have been.

From the light coming off of his big screen tv, I can see the outline of his massive erection. "Look at the screen, Pres, or I'll show you exactly what I'm working with."

Omg! He caught me looking at his dick. Sitting up, I cover my face with my hands as he chuckles. "It's not that big of a deal. Come on, watch this with me."

I grumble, but avoid his heated gaze by finally looking at the tv. "Rub my feet."

"No. I'm still mad at you."

"Kai. Please, you always rub my feet when you make me watch Jason." I whine.

"You're such a brat, lay back down and give me those ugly feet of yours."

I laugh. "No more tickling. Promise me."

"I promise, if I started that back up I'd never be able to get my dick to go down."

Ignoring his comment, I lay my feet back in his lap. It’s not long before I roll my eyes, all because Jason kills a couple of campers that were having sex. “He is so predictable.”

“He is not. He’s a legend.”

"Do we need to talk about tonight?"

"Are you ready for that conversation?" His voice sounds more like a plea instead of a question.

I shake my head. "Nah, I'm good. "

But I'm not. Kai may want me for a night, but he'd never want anything long term. He's a man whore. Nothing will ever change that, and my heart couldn't take that kind of rejection from him.

Sometimes sifting through the feelings I have for them can make me feel suffocated. It’s time I learn to start breathing on my own.

He seems unfazed, and continues massaging my feet. "Kai, when are y'all going to allow me to start dating?"

“Kai. Kai!” I narrow my eyes in his direction, when he doesn’t answer my question.

My heart stops before I can let out a scream. Why is he wearing his damn Jason mask while rubbing my feet? When did he even have time to put it on? How can I hate him, but also love him so much?

“You're such an ASSHOLE!" I scream, which makes him laugh.

The walls start to close in on me like it does sometimes when I’m in over my head. Jumping off his bed, I slam his bedroom door behind me. I need time to think.

Kai knows I won't wander far, and it's not because I don't have my car at the frat house.

No, it's most definitely because he's crazier than pig shit, and would just bring me back here kicking and screaming.

Letting my feet guide me, I head toward the porch. I've lived in the South all my life where it's common knowledge that a house has to have a back porch no matter how big or small it is. This one in particular is my favorite, it's where I've gotten some of my best ideas.

The leaves of a weeping willow fall over the ledge of my rocking chair. What my stepbrothers don't realize is that they’ve made me desperate. I'm like a caged animal trying to claw its way out of its prison.

My patience is worn thin, and I need an escape plan. My heart knows that it's working on borrowed time. The day is coming when my heart will be laid bare at their feet and they'll wind up crushing it sooner rather than later.

One thing I've learned from my mother is that when things get too hard it's time to run. Which in theory isn't a healthy way of looking at things, but who cares. It’s the right thing to do in this situation.

"Presley?" Gunner's deep voice sends a thrill straight to my labia.

"Can we not do a lecture tonight?" I keep my voice cold.

He growls. "What the fuck were you doing? I mean, really, Chad Connor? I've taken shits better than him."

Gunner rarely shows his sense of humor, but I won't reward him by cracking a smile even though I think his petty comment was funny. "Was that necessary, Gunner? There's nothing wrong with what I did, and I'm done with apologizing for being young."

His stare is hotter than the sun in July, but I still won't look at him. Moving to stand behind me, he pulls my hair gently at the nape.

Reluctantly, I allow him to bring my gaze back to his. "Why are you being a brat?"

"Because I can."

Bending down, he kisses my forehead. "The Chad Connors of the world don't deserve you. Nobody does."

"That's not your decision to make, and not that it's any of your business, but I'd already decided against doing anything further with Chad."

His voice turns husky. "Why?"

Because he's not you. Or Kai. "We didn't have chemistry."

"That's not the only reason."

"It's the only one that matters."

"Tell me. "

"No." My skin heats as his blue eyes turn wild. He's not use to my defiance, not like his brother is.

"Do you want to know what I think?"

"I do not."

"Oh, I think you do, Little Lamb. You can fight it all you want, but you know to whom you belong. No one else will ever do."

Gunner can shove his riddles up his ass for all I care. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

"Don't go yet. Will you sit with me for a while, please?"

I nod. Grabbing my hand, he sits down and pulls me onto his lap. “Gunner what are you doing?”

He sighs. “I don’t know. You drive me past the point of insanity. Let’s just enjoy each other. Okay?”

Laying my head on his chest, I don’t argue. Moments like this are rare enough, especially when it comes to Gunner who’s married to his job. I miss him when he’s away, but I’ll never tell him that. The lines are already too blurred. The sooner I move on the better it’ll be for all of us.

The morning sun sneaks through the blinds and pours into Kai's bedroom. I don't remember coming to bed so Gunner must have carried me.

Which has the capability of ruining me. What he meant as a sweet gesture turns my stomach sour. They don't understand that with every act of kindness they've duct tapped the tattered pieces of my heart back in place.

My parents may have not been there for me, but my stepbrothers sure as hell have been. In a perfect world we could be together, but this world is far from perfect.

Thankfully, my phone beeps on the nightstand drawing my attention away from my thoughts.

Kai The Guard Dog: Get your sweet ass down here! We've made you breakfast, beautiful.

Falling back onto his bed, I smile. I'll think of an escape plan later, but first comes breakfast. Hopefully, there's pancakes. With lots of butter.

Something dark red in my peripheral catches my attention. It's a dried bouquet of dark red roses settled neatly next to a note.

My blood curdles in my veins as fear sets in. It's another letter from TKOH, but how did he sneak in here? None of this makes sense. Could it be someone in Kai's frat playing a trick on me?

But I know that's not it. They wouldn't dare cross the Donovan brothers. No, this is something else. Something bad is coming, I can feel it in the very marrow of my bones, and for the first time since meeting my stepbrothers I'm scared that they can't protect me.

Letting go of my pent up anxiety, I exhale all of the negative energy out. The letter is written in the same elegant script as before.

Dearest Presley Kate,

I’m disappointed that you’ve chosen to kiss two men after I’ve openly declared my feelings for you.

If this continues, I’ll have no choice but to take matters into my own hands.

Collecting hearts is my newest obsession, don’t make me collect yours.

Yours Forever,

TKOH

Fuck. Do I tell them? No, I can’t, what if they were to get hurt because of me? I couldn’t live with that.

I’ll rely on self preservation for now, and hope this will all blow over soon.