Page 116 of Prince of Pain

“Yeah, he would. He does what Channing says, and Channing says to lie to you regularly,” he said dryly, rinsing his hair and grabbing a cloth to scrub himself. “Mase is a pushover, which is why he’s not right for you and I am.”

I watched him as he washed himself, deep in thought. “I could never love Mase, and I’ve told him that from the beginning.” He slowed the cloth as he scrubbed his arms, his eyes lifting to mine. “But you? If I could love anyone while still being myself, it would be you. You get me, and I’ll always get you. We can fuck everyone on planet earth, and I guarantee neither of us would find someone who just fits like we do for each other.”

“Love’s bullshit, remember?” he answered, reminding me of my usual outlook about the subject.

“It is, but your bullshit is almost endearing,” I smiled, grabbing a towel for him. “Since we can’t buy much today, how about we go to the track for our rush? Gets us out of the house.”

“So Riley can beat you up again? Pass.” He turned off the water and stepped out, accepting the towel to wrap around himself. “Maybe I want to go to Wet Dreams?”

“If either of us step foot in there, Mom will only kick us out. Beckett’s back, so surely Riley won’t start fights if she’s even there.”

“Now that Beckett’s out, she’ll just help her. Neither of them like you, remember?” he said flatly, rubbing himself dry. “Maybe if you just stay in the car with me, we’ll be fine.”

“I can do that, but if you keep racing, I’ll get out. I get bored.”

“I’m aware.” His gaze raked over my naked body, stopping on his name as always. It had healed but looked so obvious against my pale skin. “I love my mark on you.”

“I’m aware,” I mocked, moving closer to thread my arms around his neck. “I also know you love staring at it when you fuck me.”

“You really want to go to the track?” he asked, leaning down to bite my lip.

“We’ll only lie around the house bored if we don’t.”

“Fine. No bringing anyone home though. I want to play with the knife again tonight.”

His worries about hurting me had faded a lot since he’d been back on the drugs, thankfully. I loved it when he got rough with me.

“You do?”

“Yeah. I was thinking maybe you’d want to put your name on me,” he suggested, holding my gaze to wait for a reaction.

“Is this how messed up people like us confess our feelings now? We cut each other up?”

“Yeah, baby. I want scars to match yours. I made you bleed, so I think it’s only fair,” he murmured, lifting a hand to cup my cheek. “You and me against the world, remember?”

“It’s always just been you and me,” I whispered, kissing him and knowing nothing could tear us apart.

We were stronger together, and the world would burn before I let him go.

We raced twice before Ryder agreed to park somewhere and hang out. The rush wasn’t enough, I needed more, but no one here would sell to us.

This was Psychos and Devils’ territory, so selling to us would get someone killed.

Riley was here, but she stuck with Beckett and must have been told to behave since she didn’t say a word to me, but that didn’t stop her from glaring at me.

Ryder got sucked into a conversation with Jett and Logan about car stuff that I didn’t understand, and since Riley was obviously on a leash, I wandered off to find a beer.

I wasn’t alone for long before fingers wrapped around my throat from behind and hauled me back against a solid chest. “What are you doing wandering around alone? Anything could happen.”

“Chan?” I asked as I turned, finding him alone behind me. “What are you doing here?”

“None of your business.”

“If that’s code for selling drugs, the Donovans will slaughter you.”

“I don’t need Ashburn Valley brats lining my pockets, plenty of junkies elsewhere,” he chuckled, drawing me closer by the throat and squeezing. “You’re going to do me a favor.”

“I am? Alright, but make it quick,” I answered, reaching for his pants and making him snort.

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