Page 62 of Give Me Peace

“Are you seeing anyone?” I blurt, my mouth working against my brain in the worst way possible. Lochlan arches an eyebrow, his honey eyes filled with amusement. I groan, pressing my forehead to his chest. I’d take the question back if I could, but once it popped in my head it refused to go unanswered. I feel his body shake with silent laughter, but he places his hand beneath my chin and tilts my face upward.

“Tell me, sweetheart…do you think you’d be sitting across my lap like this if I were?” Lochlan pins me in place, his words alone holding me hostage. I bite my lip, unsure of what to say that. His gaze drops to my mouth, making goosebumps spread across my flesh. “There’s only you, Saylor,” he whispers, bringing forth an entirely new set of questions. I look away, too worked up to continue down the path we’re headed. Too confused.

Lochlan seems to sense that, and simply goes back to working. He doesn’t ask me to move or leave, content to have me close any way he can. I understand that a little too well. So much so, my eyes begin to close, and before I know it, I’ve fallen asleep. I’m not sure how long I’m out for, but enough time has passed for my neck to twinge painfully from the way my head was laying. I stretch my arms, causing my back to arch. Looking up, I find Lochlan smiling down at me, an emotion I can’t quite name shining in his eyes.

“Good nap?” he asks, his fingers toying with the hem of my shorts.

I nod, knowing I need to get up but not especially wanting to. “How long was I asleep?”

“Maybe forty minutes.”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to use you as a bed.” I joke, trying to push myself up by using the arm of his chair. His response causes me to stumble, putting me right back where I started.

“Me. My bed. Your bed. All are acceptable, love.” He grunts when I drop back down, his hands helping to steady me and get me on my feet. I feel flushed all over, and I’m sure it’s obvious.

“I’m going to go see what everyone else is up to.” I hike a thumb over my shoulder, hopefully in the direction of the door. Lochan smirks at my flustered state, but like the gentleman he is, he doesn’t call me out on it.

“Thank you for coming to see me.” He smiles, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. When did those become so attractive? Kids in school always got picked on for wearing them, but Lochlan pulls them off like they were specifically designed to enhance his appeal. Before I can embarrass myself any further, I tell him it was my pleasure—literally—and bolt from his office. There’s no one in the living room or kitchen, and I have no desire to knock on Krew’s door after the hour I just spent with Lochlan. Deciding to search the lower half, I head down the stairs.

Roan’s lifting weights at the back of the gym, but I leave him to it. He looks focused and I’m honestly a little nervous he might try to bench press me if I wander in there. Just for the fun of it. The media room is void of life and I’m not sure what the firing lane entails, so I leave it unexplored. I turn to head back up and faceplant into a hard chest. I squeal, jumping back from the sudden and unexpected contact. Havok laughs, scooping me up and over his shoulder. He’s gentle, but the air still rushes out of me.

“Put me down, you nutjob!” I pant, slapping my hand against his back.

“Never, pretty girl.” I can practically see the smug smile he’s wearing. I growl, doubling down on my efforts. Using both hands, I grab the edge of his Calvin Klein briefs peeking from the top of his jeans and yank as hard as I can. His steps falter, causing us to stumble through door.

“Did you just give me wedgie, Say?” Havok sounds appalled, but I can hear the hint of amusement in his voice. I grunt, too much blood rushing to my head to form a proper response. “Naughty girl,” he groans, slapping my butt before continuing on his trek to who knows where. I gasp, my hands going to his ass to leverage myself up.

“Oh, baby. Give it a good squeeze while you’re down there.” Havok laughs, jostling us down the stairs in the garage. When he flips me back upright, I have to grip his forearms to keep from falling over. I’m not sure if my face is red from embarrassment or the blood trying to work its way to the rest of my body. I glare, hoping it conveys how unimpressed I am with his manhandling.

“Turn that frown upside down, pretty girl.” Havok presses his fingers to the corners of my mouth and pushes upward. I snap my teeth at him, wondering if this will be the moment I resort to physical violence.

And I gave Roan so much crap for bruising his pretty face.

“Careful.” He crowds me against the SUV I came here in. “Biting is a kink I’m completely on board with.” His smile is predatory, and not for the first time today, I feel like an unexperienced little girl. As quickly as Havok descended, he retreats, a bright smile taking over his face. His outfit today is no different than any other I’ve seen him in—black ripped jeans, an old rock band tee, and his signature Doc Martens. Yet somehow his tattoos seem brighter, his silver hair more fascinating. His clothes might look thrifted, but they likely cost more than I could fathom spending on a single outfit. The complete opposite of the hand me downs he wore back in Pike’s Bay.

“Are you ready?” Havok grins, rubbing his hands together in excitement.

“Uh…for what?” I look around, wondering if I missed something obvious, but nothing jumps out at me.

“To learn how to drive, silly.” My stomach drops as I glance at each of their vehicles. Not one of them looks like something I should be testing my ability to maintain a lane in. They’re way too expensive for that sort of experimentation.

“And what will I be using to learn?” I give him pleading look, hoping with all the hope I can muster he’s going to lift the garage door at any second and reveal a beater I can ding to hell and back without consequence.

“Take your pick.” Havok waves his hand out like a salesperson, making me groan. I turn to look at my options, but none of them look promising.

“Havok…” I start, but he cuts me off.

“We’re just going up and down the driveway, Say, so don’t give me any shit.” He crosses his arms and spreads his feet apart. “You’re not going to fuck anything up on a half-mile stretch of gravel.”

Don’t start counting those chickens, buddy.

“Which one of these is yours?” I ask, thinking I should pick his just to spite him for making me do this.

“Which one do you think?” Havok cocks his head, eyeing me as I turn to inspect each of the vehicles. I know the SUV is Lochlan’s, or maybe it’s SOTERIA’s as a whole. Next to that is a white BMW with glossy black wheels. The windows are tented so dark you can’t see a thing inside it. Then there’s a lifted Ford Raptor. Black from one end to the other, top to bottom. Last, there’s a gunmetal Audi. No idea what the model is, but I recognize the emblem of overlapping rings.

Bingo.

“That one.” I confidently point to the Audi.