Page 15 of Tainted Saints

With a shaky inhale, I turn to look at Forest, finding his dark emerald eyes full of pain, like he knows exactly what I’ve been through over the past week or so, and it leaves sweat breaking out all across my skin.He can’t possibly know about the correction room, can he?

Finally, I tear my gaze away to look up at Landon, and this close it’s almost unbearable, his harsh beauty too much. Swallowing, I have to take another breath before I can even form a sentence.

“I’m on a special diet—”

“Bullshit,” he snaps, the sound making me flinch, and his hands that are clenched tightly around the sidebar of the bed relax slightly. “Don’t feed me those lies that you tell everyone else. Why haven’t you been eating? Is it some rich bitch thing to stay thin?”

My mouth drops open, tears rushing to my eyes at the venom in his tone, at the judgement in his words.

“Lan,” Blaine’s deep voice barks, but I can barely hear it over the rapid pounding of my heart, the walls feeling like they’re closing in as black dots spot my vision.He knows, he somehow knows about the forced fasts, the correction room, everything.I can’t bear the way he’s looking at me like I’m some kind of pathetic—

“Little Lady!” Forest’s panicked tone sounds right next to me, and then my face is turned so all I can see is a sea of dark green, like a forest at dusk. “That’s it sugar, ignore Lan. He thinks the sun comes up just to hear him crow.” It calms me, my face held in his strong hands, the smooth cadence of his Southern accent soothing, even if I’m not entirely sure what a crow has to do with any of it.

“Forest,” I hear Landon warn, but Forest just gives me a wink.

“Oh hush, Daddy. You know I love you, but she don’t need your interrogation right now, do you, sugar?” His eyes never leave mine, and I can feel my body relaxing, my breathing slowing. I shake my head. “See, she needs a gentle touch is all, so stop pitching a hissy fit.” His thumbs stroke my cheeks in a featherlight touch that has me wanting to rub my face against his palms like a cat. “Big Daddy? You got that protein shake you made this mornin’?”

I hear rustling in a bag, then Forest removes his hands from my face and a small sound of protest escapes my lips before I can stop it. He grins back at me, taking my hand in his and bringing it up to his lips, pressing a light kiss to my knuckles.

“Drink this,mi princesa,” Blaine commands in a deep voice, and I break away from Forest’s captive stare to find Blaine standing next to him, holding out a large, silver, insulated sports cup. “It’s milk and protein powder, with some peanut butter and flax seeds.”

Reaching out a shaky hand, I take the cup from him, bringing it to my lips and taking a sip. A small moan falls from my lips at the cold, rich, nutty taste, and I take another longer drink, licking my lips when Blaine places a finger on the cup and gently pushes it down.

“Slowly. You don’t want to make yourself sick,” he tells me, and I know he’s right. It took me a while to stop gorging myself after time spent in the correction room, and I had to suffer through lots of stomachaches until I was old enough to search online about breaking fasts. Slow and little amounts until your body is used to eating again.

“It’s delicious, thank you, Blaine,” I tell him, one side of his lips kicking up in a half grin that has butterflies threatening to undo all the hard work I’ve put into not feeling too queasy. I take another small sip, then close the lid and go to hand it back.

“A little more,mi tesoro,” he urges, so I open the lid again and take another slow drink, my cheeks heating knowing that all three men are watching me.

“I’m done,” I declare after I’ve had about half. “I can always have more later?” I ask, and Blaine nods his head in confirmation, his fingers brushing mine as he takes the cup back. Like in the jail, electricity shoots up my arm at just that small touch, my breath stalling in my chest. I want more of the feeling, of the heady lightning that encases me anytime he touches me, but he pulls away before I can do anything stupid like grab his hand in mine.

“You think you can get up, Little Lady?” Forest asks, and I dip my head as I shuffle to the side of the bed where he and Blaine are. The metal side is down, so I’m able to swing my legs around and ease myself up. Both guys hover close to either side of me, ready to help if I need it, but after a small wave of dizziness passes, I straighten up.

“Thank you for catching me earlier, Forest,” I murmur, looking once again into his beautiful, dark green eyes. He gives me a smile that’s panty-melting, his dirty-blond hair falling into one of his eyes.

“Just call me your regular prince charming,” he teases, taking my hand and placing it in the crook of his elbow. “Now, you ready for your tour of this fine establishment?” I can’t help it, a laugh bursts out of me at his old-world Southern charm, and I don’t know how it’s possible but his eyes sparkle like the rarest of jewels. “Somethin’ funny with the way I speak, sugar?”

“No! I love it,” I rush out, worried that I’ve offended him. “Gone with the Windwas my favourite film growing up. I adored Rhett Butler—” I cut off, heat filling my cheeks as his grin gets as wide as the Cheshire Cat’s.Hisname is Rhett Butler too, cue facepalm.

“Well, it seems like my namesake laid a good foundation for me to build on,” he teases, his hand reaching out and tucking some hair behind my ear. My breath stalls at the light caress he gives my cheek as he pulls his hand back. “Shall we?”

It takes me a moment to remember what we are meant to be doing.The tour, right.

“Um, yes, I, uh, just need my bag,” I stammer like a fucking idiot, but Forest has a way of scrambling my brain until I can’t think straight. Looking around, I pause when I see Landon coming around the end of the bed, my leather satchel slung over his shoulder.

“Let’s go,” he commands in his savage tone while striding past, carrying my bag, and opening the door before walking out.

“Best do what he says, Little Lady. He can get real antsy if we push too much,” Forest whispers conspiratorially as he starts to lead me out of the room. “It’s not his fault, o’ course. It’s just that big, Dom dick energy he’s got swinging around the place.”

Blaine catches my other arm as I stumble and trip over my own fucking feet, my face flaming.Did he just tell me that Landon is a Dom and has a big dick?My brain short-circuits when the Dom himself comes into view, and my gaze immediately dips down to his crotch. Jesus, I can see the bulge pressing against his fitted black jeans, his black shirt tucked into the waist, leaving nothing to the imagination. Why does that make my mouth water?

“Anything I can help you with, Duchess?” Landon’s deep voice caresses my ears, and my gaze snaps up to meet his dark eyes. There’s definitely an air of amusement about his face, the hard lines softened and a single, black eyebrow raised.

“N–no,” I squeak out, quickly looking away. My body screamsfuck yes you can—starting with that big dick of yours, which is all kinds of messed up, given the mixed signals I’m getting from him. First, he’s mean as hell at the jail, calling me a toy—definitely not hot, nope—and then he helps me out of my panic attack only to send me into another one with his brutal questioning.

Plus, your parents would never approve…

My heart sinks, a lump forming in my throat as the logical side of my brain makes itself known. She’s right, the Ambassador and my mother would never approve of these three guys. I’m to marry well, make the family proud and, if the way my father informed me that I’ll be dating Albert Pennington the Third—who the fuck needs a number in their name?—is any sign, I won’t have a choice when it comes to my future husband.

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