Kinsley
Game Over
Alek’s eyes filled with so many questions, and he looked deeply troubled by my statement. I realized I’d put myself out there like panties on a clothesline. I specifically used the language he’d understand.
Coupled with last night’s and tonight’s subsequent kneel, I was giving him an invitation. But the longer he glared, his jaw clenched tight, the more he made me regret putting myself out there.
Gulping, I realized I should have kept my mouth shut. I’d made a mistake—misread things. I should have removed my shorts, but my stubbornness wouldn’t allow me to. So, instead, I dug my heels in.
“The game is over,” Alek growled.
“Reaper, do you want me to go hiking with you tomorrow?” I leveled my gaze at him.
“I will not have you manipulate me, young lady.” He was seething now. Perfect.
“It’s called negotiating. That’s what adults do. I’m pretty sure you were all excited about it at one point. Take it or leave it,” I said, standing my ground.
Right then, Marcus came in, and I nodded at him. It was perfect timing. He was making his way to his room.
“Kinsley,” Alek warned.
“Marcus, I think I’d like to go ho—”
Aleksandr’s lips crashed down on mine, silencing me. I melted into him, shaking. His mouth tasted like vodka and sin. Kissing me deeper, he worked his tongue against mine. His lips were soft but demanding. My body was still buzzing from dry humping Nikolai. Taking and giving, he skillfully ravaged my mouth. He was driving me crazy, and my body craved him. His hand slid down to my ass, and he kneaded it and pulled me closer.
I pried away from him, trying to catch his eyes, but he rested his forehead against mine. “Kitten, don’t be stubborn. Just take the shorts off.”
Somehow, in the torrent of his kisses, I’d spaced the audience we had. Murmuring to him, I asked, “Don’t you want to touch me or spank me?”
“No,” he said, gathering me into his arms and nuzzling my neck. “Not like this.”
His breath was hot against my skin, and I wanted to continue letting him hold me, but his answer stung. The reality that he didn’t want to spank or touch me hurt in a way I wasn’t expecting.
Hot tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill over and further make me look like a fool. The sting of his rejection cut deep, slicing through my fragile confidence.
With a trembling hand, I pushed him away and stumbled backward, a hollow emptiness standing in the space between us. All the warmth we had shared dissipated, and I felt incredibly stupid and naive. Unable to manage another minute in his presence, I ran to my room. Sarah called my name several times, but I ignored her.
In one single moment, he utterly shattered me. My heart ached, and the reality of my brokenness surfaced.
Stupid girl!
Once I reached the safety of my room, I slammed the door shut behind me. It rattled on its hinges. The sound reverberated through the silence of the room like thunder. I threw the lock with a tiny bit of satisfaction.
Leaning heavily against it, I let out a ragged breath; the force of it rattled through me. I sagged against the back of the door, and my vision blurred as the tears I held back clouded my sight.
And then, as if on cue, the dam broke. Hot, angry tears spilled forth in a torrential cascade. Each sob racked through me with an intensity that bordered on pain. I hadn’t felt this stupid in a long time. The raw, unfiltered emotions were a stark reminder that you could take the girl out of the hellhole, but you could never take the hell out of the girl.
Damn Aleksandr King for barging into my life, and damn me for thinking I could do this.
Aleksandr—Hours Later
Fuck, this was not how I saw this night ending.
I sat frozen on the bar stool. The others had gone to their respective rooms, leaving me to grapple with how royally I fucked up. Every fiber of my being urged me to go to her, to offer her solace. The vulnerability in her voice when she asked me if I wanted to touch or spank her had my dick throbbing. It was all I wanted to do.
But it was too late now, so I kept my ass rooted in place and tried to rationalize that tomorrow was another day. One that would offer one of the things she loved most, the great outdoors. With a heavy sigh, I muttered, “Time is still on my side. We can fix this.”
Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, pulling me from my thoughts. With a sense of apprehension, I turned. With a shared glance, my brothers and I exchanged a silent greeting and understanding of one another. They each took a seat, and I drew from their strength.
