Page 65 of Pretty Monsters

"Huh." That's all I can come up with.

Amber and Teddy have Lucien's undivided attention while he tries to learn to play their game. I'm concerned to see Amber leaning against him, her breasts pressed against his arm, but Teddy doesn't seem bothered.

"I should tell Luce that Amber and Teddy are a thing," I say quietly enough that only Jen hears me.

She shakes her head. "We've all got our stories. Most of us it's just getting freaky with Ford."

Speaking of the devil, he comes and drapes his arms around our shoulders. "Not all of us like groups though, but for you two–"

Shane walks past and slaps Ford on the back of the head. "Jackass," he mutters on his way to the kitchen.

Ford laughs, and drops his arms. "He just makes riling him up too easy."

For the next two hours Lucien relaxes, and morphs into the twenty-one-year-old man I think he would have been without the black cloud of Damien Blackthorne hanging over his head.

21

Harbinger

Raven

Lucien leaves for work,and I'm alone with Sin for the first time in days. More importantly, this is the first time we've been alone since the status of what we are changed. Except, I'm not sure exactly what we are.

He takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes. They're a bit bloodshot from staring at the computer for the last few hours. Placing them back in the case, he unfolds himself from the bed. I fight the urge to lick my lips, he's got a big enough ego.

"Let's get out of here," he says, and stretches out the kinks created by sitting too long.

"Anywhere in particular?" Watching his muscles roll is giving me ideas that do not involve leaving.

Slowly, he moves forward. The intense look on his face causes me to step back instinctually. Not watching where I'm going, my back hits the wall. Putting his arms on either side of me, I'm caged between the wall and his body.

"Keep looking at me like that, and I'm going to change my mind. I've got energy to burn through, princess, and you don't want it all focused on you."

"Try me." My chin tips up stubbornly, issuing a challenge I'm not sure my body is up for.

He growls. "Not this time." Grabbing my arm, he pulls me out of the room.

Wherever we are headed, it's got to be in walking distance. We've only got the truck, and Lucien drives it to work. I'm surprised when we stop at Ford, Shane, and Teddy's apartment. Sin knocks, and Ford steps out like he was expecting us.

"Did you make a decision about my offer?" Ford asks.

"Yeah, I'm in," Sin tells him.

"In what? What offer?" I ask.

"Just a business venture," Ford answers evasively.

"Ford has a building he bought as an investment. He wants to run a gym and a security business out of it," Sin offers more information.

Ford grunts in approval. "Good, I'm glad you're being upfront with her."

"What role would you play in security?" Ford is my best friend, but I won't let him use Sin in the ways he has been used in the past. There's a lot I still don't know about Ford, and my suspicious nature is causing me to hold back a little.

"Calm down, firecracker." He holds out his keys. "How about I explain on the drive?"

Sin and I follow him to his SUV. They both climb in the front, so I get in the back. Ford doesn't start explaining until he pulls away from the parking lot.

He swallows hard. "My dad isn't as bad as yours, but he's not a good guy."

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