Page 11 of Her Devils

Peyton

––––––––

ICLIMB INTO MY CARas soon as Dad and Gina drive off into the fucking sunset.

I have no intention of staying away from Lenley like my old man asked.

He married her mother, so what? That doesn’t make Lenley my goddamn sister, whatever Dad might think.

“Fuck!” I yell, hitting the steering wheel with my clenched fists.

Our parents’ marriage doesn’t have to change anything, not in the sky and not when it comes to Lenley.

I’m still going to wipe the tarmac with Penn and his team of losers, and I’m still going to rub it in his face that he can’t have Lenley unless I say so, and that despite whatever happens when we’re through with our deal, I had her before he did.

I know he stayed behind to “help” Lenley with the cleanup, and I’m tempted to walk into the house and stake my claim on her in front of him right here and right fucking now.

But I resist the urge because I don’t know how Lenley feels about the latest turn of events, and I’m sure that if I cross paths with Penn now, I won’t be able to refrain from breaking every bone in his body.

I need to talk to my brothers and make sure that we’re all on the same page when it comes to the Angels and Lenley.

I press the gas pedal, driving my car to the open road, the engine roaring as we eat the less than two miles distance between my house and Lenley’s in a heartbeat.

The speed has a calming effect on me, and I’m filled with a steely determination when I walk through the door.

“Hey, dude,” Channing yells from the kitchen, where he just took two bottles of beer out of the fridge. “Do you want a cold one?”

“Nah, thanks,” I reply, looking at him from the couch as I lower myself next to J. “I’m not staying very long. I promised Lenley I’d go back and spend the night.”

A look passes between J and Chan.

“So you did fuck her,” Jameson says, accepting a beer from Channing, his eyes fixed on me as he twists off the cap with practiced fingers.

I nod, observing my two best friends as they digest the news. “Was it that obvious?” I finally ask.

Jameson takes a long pull from his bottle before relaxing against the back of the leather couch. “Well, fuck yeah. Aside from the fact that you two came from her room, the way you were touching her was territorial as fuck.”

Channing lets out a dark chuckle. “Yeah, and believe me, Penn saw it too. The way the two of you were looking at each other would have been kind of hilarious if you didn’t look like you were seconds away from peeing on Lenley to claim her.”

“Dickhead.” I laugh at him, shaking my head at his goofiness.

“How was it?” he asks.

I don’t have to think about my answer. “It was—fuck. She’s beautiful and sweet and so hot. Best sex I’ve ever had.” I mean every word.

“Duh!” Channing laughs, rolling his eyes at me. “I didn’t mean for you. I meant for her.”

Jameson nods. “Chan’s right. Did you make it good for her? Did you do the shit we researched?”

“I swear to God, sometimes I don’t get you, dude,” I bite out. “Didn’t we agree that no matter who got there first, we’d take care of her?”

They both nod.

“Then get off my fucking back.” I scowl.

Channing claps me on the shoulder. “Relax, dude. J didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Whatever!” I snap, bristling at their fucking third degree. “I might not do girlfriends, but neither do you two, and that doesn’t mean I’m a complete asshole. I’ve always made sure that any woman who spends time in my bed enjoys herself. Why should it be any different with Lenley? We’re friends, and you know I have my friends’ backs at all times.”

---