Page 183 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

The fact that he refused to talk to women because of what my mother did to him was a major character flaw.

Personally, it would be a deal breaker. But that was just me.

“Well, I wished you wouldn’t,” I snapped back at him.

Cobra bared his teeth, and his canines were elongated. “Oh, I won’t!”

Before I could say something else, a freakishly large hand smacked the back of Cobra’s head. A minor scuffle ensued as Jax overpowered Cobra and forcibly pulled him out of the seat next to me.

The much nicer bear shifter took his place.

He smelled like warm chestnuts and kindness.

Jax smiled down at me. “Sorry about Cobra. He was worried about you, and he doesn’t know how to express his emotions in a healthy way.”

“I do not care about her,” Cobra said as he leaned forward across the table so he could see past Jax’s large frame and glare at me.

Jax turned quickly, the chains in his braids tinkling as he put Cobra in a choke hold and whispered something in his ear.

When he pulled away, Cobra pouted in his seat and didn’t say anything else.

“Like I was saying.” Jax turned back to me. “Both he and Sadie didn’t sleep last night. He felt guilty for not going back to rescue you, so you didn’t finish last. He wasn’t sure if it would break the competition rules, but he’s mad at himself for not trying.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

Jax stared down at me with compassion and whispered, “He feels responsible for what happened to you.”

I pushed my pipe into my mouth with so much force that I accidentally stabbed my tongue. Shrugging with a casualness I didn’t feel, I said, “It’s not your fault, Cobra. It was all mine. Don’t worry.”

Cobra grunted.

“Everyone, stop talking about it,” Sadie ordered. She squeezed my hand and changed the subject. “What was the last fiction book you read?”

I smiled at her gratefully. “I haven’t read a fiction book in years.”

Sadie flopped forward like she’d been shot. After dramatically convulsing a couple of times for the bit, she sat up straight and launched into an in-depth analysis of the erotic romance plot from the last book she’d read.

The meal progressed.

Sadie explained that the male character’s crooked penis was symbolic of his imperfect love.

Straight women were so weird.

Yes, I was straight. I didn’t want to talk about it.

Truthfully, I tried not to let a single thought cross my mind.

Everything was going great until a student with a mohawk sitting nearby said, “So how much does it cost to fuck you, Queen Arabella? I’ll pay a small fortune for your services.”

Male laughter echoed.

Ten thousand credits, I thought. I refrained from saying it aloud because I didn’t have the energy to haggle for a good price.

Sadie stiffened beside me, and her mates sat up straighter.

I picked at the vegetables on my plate.

“Come on, babe, give me an offer,” he whined.

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