Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
The guys form a protective triangle around me as we cross the street. Having an honor guard makes this feel less like a walk of shame and more of a victory march.
I had sex!
That's got to call for some sort of celebration, right? It definitely feels that way. I haven't felt this relaxed in a long time, and the endorphins are still charging through me, making me feel good.
"I fucking love your smile," says Animal, grinning over at me. "Makes me feel we did a good job."
A little laugh bubbles up. God, I'm giddy. "Yeah, you guys did. I've never felt anything like it."
"Just wait until you get a little experience under your belt. Practice makes perfect." He slips his arm around my waist and pulls me close as we walk.
"You're not done with me now that you got what you paid for? I'm not a virgin anymore, you know." I’m teasing, but all three of them stop dead to face me, forcing me to stop, too.
"That's the dumbest fucking thing I've heard all day," says Quickshot, his expression stern.
Badass steps in front of me and cups my jaw with both hands, forcing me to look up at him. "We were your first, and we're fucking honored, trust me, but you don’t get used up. It only gets better."
"You didn't even get a chance to find out." I say with a shy smile, putting my hand on his arm. "We got interrupted."
"Just means I'm first next time." The rumble of his voice is a dark, sexy promise that makes me pretty sure that the next time isn't far off. You'd think I’d be worn out by now, but I find myself pressing my thighs together and wondering if we should walk a little faster back to the clubhouse.
But once we're inside, instead of retreating to anyone's quarters, the guys drag me over to the couches. Animal yanks me right off my feet and pulls me into his lap, where he wraps his big arms around me, while Quickshot goes for beers. Badass drops into the couch next to us, so he can keep a hand on my thigh, which he strokes softly.
"We missed one of the most important parts of good sex," says Animal. "The aftercare."
"The what?"
"The part where we remind you that no matter what just happened, you’re safe with us.” He squeezes me just to make the point.
Quickshot puts the beers down on the table, then drops into the couch on the other side of me. "Before we drag your clothes off and make you ours again."
"Both of those sound pretty good," I admit, taking the beer he hands me. I don't drink it often, but around here it seems it's the default, and I'm really thirsty. Sex is good exercise, it turns out.
"Yeah?" Animal's hand slips up from my waist to cup one of my breasts through the tube top. "Good, because I don't think I can get fucking enough of you."
"Jesus, let the girl rest a little," laughs Badass. He takes a deep swig.
The next couple of hours are spent laughing and talking, strangely comfortable after everything that just happened. I know there's still the Unwanted to worry about, and my old life that’s a burning dumpster fire, but right now, I feel good. The guys are crude, and have strong opinions about all the sexy things they want to do to me, but they're easy to talk to, too. And when they're laid back and joking at each other, and making sure to include me in it, it's obvious how good friends they are.
They must've been friends for years, and it makes me think about my own life. I never had time for friends, not since Mom and Dad died. What would it be like to have a place like the Screaming Eagles to support me like the club members seem to support each other? Could I have kept Sandra out of trouble? Much as I tried, it always seemed like I could've done better by her. Even now. I need to find a way to call and warn her to watch out.
The guys shift me around between them. For a while I'm in Animal's lap, then into Quickshot's and then Badass's, only to get pulled over to Animal again. It's nice. I want life to be this nice all the time, which sounds crazy, since I'm supposed to be pretending to basically be their sex slave. If you'd asked me a week ago what I imagined my perfect life to be, I can guarantee this wouldn’t be it.
Where do we go from here? Important questions, definitely, that I don't have any good answers to.
23
ANIMAL
Natalie walks into the common room dressed like she’s on the fucking prowl. It’s hard to believe it’s the same girl I shocked with a kiss the first night we met, or the terrified woman we saved from the Unwanted.