Page 132 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

John tucked himself back into his pants, and he looked around the room. His expression went from pleasured to concerned as he gave me a questioning smile.

I tried to return it, but I couldn’t.

My facial muscles didn’t work.

The haze was back.

“You okay, Aran?” John asked as he climbed onto the bed beside me.

He smelled like sweat and sex.

Sick burned my throat as I rasped, “Sure.”

He pried the pipe from my icy fingers. “Here, let’s play a game. I’ve been wanting to do this.” He blew out a smoke eagle. “Now we’ll see who wins.”

His dimple flashed.

“Sounds fun.” My voice was far away, like I was speaking down a long, dark tunnel.

John pitted different animals against my crow, but each one lost the fight. Of course they did. Horse was named Horse for a reason. He was a majestic beast.

After a few rounds, John randomly blurted out, “I’m sorry.” He dragged his hands roughly through his messy brown hair.

“For what?” My voice had no inflection. “Everything’s fine.”

“Aran, I—”

I held my hand up. “Give me the pipe. I want to see Horse take on a dragon.”

John narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth like he was going to say something else.

With every ounce of strength I possessed, I forced my lips to curl upward and laughed. “Seriously, don’t be weird. I’m fine. Just tired.”

A long moment passed, then John grinned. “Okay, dude. All my money’s on the dragon.”

He draped his arm across my shoulder.

“You’re on.” I kept smiling until my cheeks ached.

Hours later, Malum’s silver eyes speared me as he bellowed his release. Because who didn’t love coming while staring into the eyes of their enemy? Normal people.

If John was smooth, then the fiery king was savage.

Brutal.

Wild.

He smiled at me, flashed white teeth-stained pink from where he’d bitten the woman beneath him. Scarlet flames trailed across his shoulders like a cape.

I studied my palm like I found something interesting, then flipped him off.

His head tipped back, bronze muscles tensed as he laughed.

Creep.

I shivered but didn’t let my cheeks pull downward as I matched his expression.

Two monsters. Acknowledging each other.

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