Page 48 of Pretty Monsters

Her smile is laced with sympathy. Nothing like head trauma to make people feel bad for you. "I was saying that there's five bedrooms. Since you and I are the single gals here, would you like to share a room with me? One of the bedrooms is set up for Shane's cousins and has bunk beds. I'll take the top so we don't have to worry about you getting dizzy or falling."

I fight to keep the smile on my face. Truth be told, I look forward to sleep, because it's the only time Sin lets me in. Saying so would potentially ruin that little bit of him I get to have, so I nod in agreement.

Everyone pitches in to unload the car, but no one will let me carry anything. Not even my backpack of clothes. With seven people unloading though, it doesn't take long.

The guys immediately set to starting an older charcoal grill. All four of them stand around discussing the best way to stack the briquettes and methods to light it.

Jen approaches me and puts her arm around my shoulders. "What is it about fire that fascinates men so much?"

"Fire is pretty and powerful," I mumble.

She shrugs. "Sure, but do all four of them need to figure out how to start a grill?"

"Probably not," I agree.

"Well, while they are trying to light that fire, what do you say we start another kind?" She waggles her eyebrows.

I know my confusion is written in my expression, because Tessa comes over and clarifies. "Bikinis babe. There's a hot tub that I know is ready to go, because we were just here last weekend."

Amber claps her hands. "Oooh! I can't wait to see you in the suit I grabbed for you." She grabs my hand and pulls me through the cabin. It's hard to keep up with her, not just because I'm fairly short, but also the girl seems to run on jet fuel.

Jen hands me a razor when we get in the room and pushes me toward the bathroom. "Everywhere, feel me? You'll thank me later." She winks and shuts me inside the room.

The razor isn't necessary. I have always endured appointments set for me to be waxed and polished everywhere since I started high school. Since most of the girls I went to school with did the same, I never questioned it. Also, it was nice to leave the campus on occasion. Now, looking at it in a different light turns my stomach. I wonder if my father always planned to sell me into marriage. I'll likely never know the answer to that.

16

Solace

Raven

The red bikiniAmber chose for me is more like a couple of scraps of material tied together. It sits low on my hips, tied on both sides. On top two triangle shaped bits of material tie around the neck and back. My breasts aren't large, but they aren't small either, and yet this miracle suit seems to fit.

The three other girls emerge in similarly skimpy bathing suits. Amber's has a bandeau top and is a soft pink, matching her pale complexion. Tessa's suit is cut like mine, only in white and shows off her tanned skin. Jen's is the least risqué; it's a bra top with regular bikini bottoms. I'm confident enough to stand next to them, and butterflies launch in my stomach anticipating the moment the guys see us.

Will Sin watch me, or will he have eyes for Tessa? She's beautiful, and not me. I don't think I could watch him flirt with her. If he does, though, I'll bear it. He's not mine, and I have no right to object to what he does. I have pride. I'll find another place to sleep if he picks up other girls, but I have no right to tell him he can't.

There's a deck along the back of the cabin. One side is slightly elevated, and that is where the grill and picnic table are located. The hot tub is on the other side, and we move towards it holding our towels.

Shane whistles when we emerge and rushes over to kiss Jen. She blushes and playfully shoves him away. "Go make fire, caveman."

"I'll bring you meat, woman," he grunts.

Tessa makes a gagging noise. "Why does everything they say somehow sound dirty?" she asks Amber and me.

Shane chooses to answer her instead. "It's a talent."

Demonstrating this skill, he stares at Jen, heat smoldering in his eyes. "Go get wet for me."

Over his shoulder, I see Sin move around the grill, and I recognize the moment he sees me. His body goes tense, and his fists clench at his sides. I expect him to order me back into the house to change, but like he promised, he doesn't tell me what to do.

Tess and Amber pull the covering off the hot tub, and after fiddling with some dials, jets kick on. The air in the mountains is chillier than in the city, and even though it's only early in the afternoon, my skin is covered in goosebumps.

The hot water is exquisite as I lower my body into the frothing tub. Pains I didn't even realize I had start to unkink, and a moan pushes past my lips.

Even to my ears it sounded sexual, and I risk a glance at the guys, embarrassed I let out such a sound. Ford is smirking, and Sin looks even more pissed than when I came out in this suit.

"He wants you bad," Jen whispers to me.

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