Page 818 of Lessons in Cruelty

“Yeah, we should really eat something,” Kai says, grinning as he breaks off another chunk of my muffin and shoves it in his mouth.

“Asshole! Get your own!” I slap him, dragging my muffin out of harm’s way. Kai’s still staring at it like he’s about to try for another chunk, so I lick it until it’s gleaming.

It’s oddly satisfying when Kai’s lip curls up in disgust.

“I licked it, so it’s mine,” I say, smiling smugly at him before taking a sip from my coffee.

“Can’t believe you stooped to biological warfare.”

“You’re fine with sucking my tongue, but you draw the line at a drool-y muffin?”

“I’ve got standards, Miss H,” Kai mutters against the lid of his coffee cup.

My phone beeps with a notification. We both glance at it.

1 NEW VOICE MESSAGE

“Gonna hear him out?” Kai asks.

I should. Milo’s not the type to phone me up for a random chat. He’d just send a text if he wanted to talk.

It must be important.

But Kai’s hand is warm on my thigh, and his eyes are that impossible green, and I really don’t want to think about anything outside this bubble we’ve created.

“Later,” I say, shoving the phone back in my pocket.

Kai raises an eyebrow. “I can leave if you want? Give you some privacy?”

He’s being so weirdly casual about it, it’s got to be bothering him. But he looks totally unfazed. Maybe all the sex we’ve been having has burned off his testosterone.

To say things have been different since the three of us met at The Railyard is an understatement. The only time me and Kai are wearing clothes is when we have to leave the Airbnb for class.

Then there’s Bastian.

Half the reason me and Kai can’t keep our hands to ourselves are the filthy messages he keeps sending in the group chat. And I’m sure him and Kai have been communicating privately as well, because Kai keeps trying new things on me when we’re having sex.

Mind-blowing things.

“’Spose I should listen.” I pull the phone back out, jabbing at the screen. “Could be important.”

I hold the phone between us, pressing play on the voicemail.

Milo’s voice fills the space between us, tinny through the speaker but unmistakably him.

“Hey, you, it’s Milo.”

A pause. The sound of him clearing his throat.

“Sorry I ghosted you. Had to deal with some family shit outside of town. You know how it is.”

Another pause. Longer this time.

“Look, it’s none of my business who you’re hanging out with and shit, but that guy…?” A humorless chuckle.

Kai’s eyebrows climb toward his hairline like he thinks Milo’s talking about him. I wave away his concern, and his eyebrows lift when it’s Bastian.

“He’s fucking trouble, Haven. And don’t think I’m like jealous or whatever. If anyone’s jealous, it’s that psycho sugar daddy of yours. He’s dangerous. I’d stay the fuck away from him if I was you.”