Page 65 of Forged in Blood

OPHELIA

The past two days have been a whirlwind, and I need to take some time to process everything that’s happened. I was determined to hate Xavier and Axl after everything they did and said, but now…

I feel things for them that are illogical and terrifying. They’ve already seen me naked, but they got dressed before they grabbed snacks from the kitchen, and the vulnerability of being the only one without clothes has me tugging the covers up over my naked torso. “I really need to get some of my things.”

Xavier takes a noisy bite from his apple and nods at two duffel bags in the corner of the room. “Already got them, Cupcake.”

“What? When?”

“While you were sleeping.”

I jump out of bed, no longer concerned about my nudity, and unzip the larger of the two bags. My panties sit in a surprisingly neat pile on top of what looks to be half my wardrobe, and a little digging reveals my well-worn copy ofWuthering Heights. The sight of my favorite book nearly melts me into a puddle, and I silently admonish myself for being so weak where they’re concerned. I’ve become a slave to my hormones. “You went through my things?”

Xavier shrugs nonchalantly. “Kinda had to.”

“But that’s… you had no right to do that. What about my privacy?”

He comes to stand beside me and peers into the bag, then flashes me a wicked grin. “I’ve been inside you, Cupcake. You don’t get more private than that. I didn’t bring your little buzzy friend though. You won’t be needing that anymore.”

A blush races down my neck. I hadn’t yet found the courage to try out the tiny bullet vibrator I ordered online, but after what happened in this room over the past couple days, I was looking forward to seeing how it would feel. I put my hands on my hips and lift one eyebrow. “You’re really that threatened by a toy?”

He grabs the hair at the nape of my neck and pulls me toward him, squishing my boobs against his hard chest. “No, Cupcake, I am not threatened by anything. But we are theonlyplace where you will find your pleasure from here on out.” He licks a path along my jawbone, making me shiver. “Do I make myself clear?”

He tosses the apple core into the trash and trails his free hand down my ribs, grazing my hipbone along the way to the tops of my trembling thighs. “Y-yes.”

“Good little Cupcake.”

“There’s my sweet girl.”

I look past Xavier to see Malachi kicking the door closed and pulling his T-shirt over his head. The sight of his toned abs is enough to make me drool, but every muscle in my body is already aching, and I think my lady parts might close up shop if anyone else tries to gain entry right now. Not to mention I’m still mad as hell at him. Of all of them, he hurt me the most. He made me believe I meant something to him, and then he broke my heart. And I know now it was all because he was following the professor’s orders, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.

Malachi pushes Xavier off me. “Out of my way, numbnuts.”

With no protest and only a chuckle, Xavier goes to join Axl on the bed, and they both lie with their arms behind their head.

I make a halfhearted attempt to cover myself with my hands, but Malachi is too swift for me. He circles my wrists and pins them behind my back, and his voice is a commanding growl. “Let me get a good look at you.”

“Stop!” I whisper, trying to wrench out of his grip, but he holds me tight.

His eyes grow dark as they roam over my body. “Even more beautiful than I dreamed, sweet girl.”

“I’m not your sweet girl. I’m too messy, right?” Dammit, I hate the distinct crack in my voice.

“You’ll always be my sweet girl, Ophelia. And I’m sorry, baby. I would never hurt you?—”

“But you did hurt me, Malachi,” I remind him.

He presses his lips together and nods before drawing a deep breath. “Then let me show you how sorry I am, baby. Please.” Inhaling deeply, he runs his nose down my throat to my collarbone. When he reaches my breasts, he flicks my nipple with his tongue, catching it with his piercing. I whimper shamelessly and arch toward him.

“I h-have to go to class today. I already missed yesterday.”

I wait for one of them to remind me that nobody will miss me, but the only sound in the room is Malachi’s heavy breathing. “You smellsodamn good, sweet girl. And I know you’re going to taste even better.”

He runs a hand over my ass and squeezes before he slips it between my thighs, lightly dusting his knuckles over my aching flesh. “Are you a little sore this morning?”

The stinging between my thighs has me nodding my agreement, and I’m overcome with embarrassment at him knowing exactly what I’ve been doing with his brothers.

He winks. “I can fix that.”

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