Page 65 of Devour

“I can’t believe he did that.” She stares at it wide-eyed, practically drooling. “How hot is that?”

I fix my shirt and take the chip bag from her hands. “The sex afterward was even hotter. The tattooing part fucking hurt.”

“My throat hurts from getting fucked.” She shoves her hands in the pockets of her shorts. “He did warn me I’d spend a lot of time sucking his dick, so I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“I’m sorry, Kyns.” I don’t know what else to say. “It’s still better than going to auction.” And I really don’t want to think about my brother’s dick in her mouth.

“I would spend every day on my knees for your brother before going to auction.” She bumps my shoulder. “Seriously, Sayl. I’m jealous as fuck that you’ve found Axl. You seem almost happy. Like you’re in a committed relationship kind of happy.”

I’m far from miserable. That’s what scares me. Because I’m not supposed to care this much. Axl was always supposed to be short term. That’s the deal. I serve, and then I’ll be married off to a man my father selects. How much commitment can there really be?

But Axl treats me like it’s more. He tattooed his name over my heart. His words last night made it feel like he’s never going to let me go. And the fucked-up thing is, even though it’s only been a few weeks, I don’t want him to. My father and his are friends, so if a match has to be arranged, why couldn’t it be to Axl?

Kynlee looks under a table as we pass through one of the empty common rooms. “I can’t believe we haven’t found her yet.”

“She’s somewhere around here. The mansion is huge.”

“If someone touches my cat, I swear to God.” She gets on her knees and checks under a leather couch. “Veronica! Here, kitty, kitty.”

I hear Tracy before I see her. Her voice carries from the next room, loud enough that she’s either not aware we’re here or doesn’t give a shit. I still fucking hate her. I’ve been able to avoid her for the most part. When Axl is working, I spend all of my time with Kynlee.

“I want a fall wedding. His family has a place on the coast that would be perfect.” She laughs, and whoever she’s with says something I can’t make out. “I know, right? I just need to get through this year, and then it’s official.”

Kynlee stands up and brushes her knees off, looking at me. “Is she seriously talking about marrying Crew?”

I lean against the doorframe and pop a chip in my mouth. We can see Tracy on the couch from here. She’s sitting cross-legged, talking to a brunette—another Dove named Cassie. I haven’t spoken to her much since she’s usually with Tracy.

Tracy’s playing with the ends of her hair and smiling wide, practically glowing. Then she notices me and narrows her eyes on mine. “Eavesdropping, Saylor? I can see why you’d be jealous.”

Kynlee and I both start laughing. “Jealous? Of what? You and Crew? I hate to break it to you, but we know him well enough to know he’s never going to marry you.”

Tracy and Cassie both glance at each other, their lips curled into smirks, like they’re both in on some secret and debating if they’re going to let us in on it.

“I’m not talking about Crew.” She uncrosses her legs and leans back against the couch, running her fingers through her blonde hair. “I’m talking about Axl.”

Kynlee and I both burst out laughing now. The bitch has lost it. “Nice try.”

“It’s true. I’m going to be Mrs. Axl Hollister.” Tracy says his name like she’s won some kind of victory over me. I’m the one he tied up and fucked this morning. And then we fucked again in the shower. “His father and mine have been working on the arrangement for months.” She shrugs, acting like it’s common knowledge. “I thought he’d have told you.”

I don’t move. I don’t blink. My hand tightens around the chip bag, and I wish it were something heavier that I could throw at her face.

“You’re full of shit.” Axl hasn’t so much as looked at Tracy or even spoken to her. At least not that I know of.

“Am I?” She looks at Cassie and then back at me. “I assure you, I’m telling you the truth, pathetic girl. You knew what this was.” She laughs into her hand and then shakes her head at me. “You’re just a toy for him to play with until he becomes my husband and I give him his children.”

Kynlee grips my wrist. She squeezes once. She’s trying to pull me back from pouncing on this bitch and ripping her hair out of her fucking head. My chest throbs where he branded me, and I replay his words in my head.

I’ll always hold back a piece for myself so I’m the one you will always fucking need to feel whole again.

Tracy gives me a sympathetic look that almost feels genuine. “You know how things work in our world. You’re the fun he gets to have before he settles down.” Then her stare hardens, and I know she doesn’t give a fuck about how any of this makes me feel. “And then he’s mine.”

I want to cross this room and beat her face into the arm of that couch until her jaw is so broken she’ll never fucking speak again. But I don’t, because if I react, she wins. And I won’t give her that satisfaction.

“Good luck with that.” I toss the chip bag on the nearest table, because I’m not hungry anymore. “Axl hates you.”

“He’ll learn to love me.” She says it with so much confidence that my stomach turns. “Or he won’t. Either way, he’ll still be mine.”

Kynlee steps forward. “You need to shut the fuck up, Tracy.”