Page 25 of Tainted Saints

ChapterTwelve

“ceilings” by Lizzie McAlpine

ASPEN

I followLandon as Forest grips my hand tightly in his, Blaine’s dark presence behind us as we make our way through the pitch-black streets of the east side. The cum that coats my inner thighs cools, drying slightly and making my skin tacky as I walk, but a part of me likes that he’s marked me, that Forest is still inside me and on my skin.

I’ve never been to this part of Fairview before, and I can’t help looking around with a tension in my shoulders. It’s so…broken. There’s no trees, no greenery at all really, and even though it’s winter, I get the feeling that even in the height of summer it’s barren.

We pass buildings that look like they’ve seen better days, the fronts cracked and some windows boarded up. It’s a place that has been forgotten, the people who call it home left to fend for themselves, and a lump forms in my throat, my hand squeezing Forest’s tightly at the thought of how much he and the others must have struggled over the years.

My parents may be controlling, may withhold food from me as a punishment and correction, but I’ve never had to worry about money, about having a roof over my head. No matter how much I wished it was a different roof.

“Everything okay, Little Lady?” Forest asks as we approach a building that’s separate from the others, and I turn to look at him, his brows furrowed as he pulls us to a stop.

“Yes…I…” I’m not sure what to say, looking at the run-down building in front of us and the rough dirt patch that’s in front of it. A weathered sign reads ‘Fairview Pound.’ I catch Landon’s gaze and his jaw tightens.

“Getting a dose of how real people live is hard, isn’t it, Duchess?” he grits out, and heat flashes throughout my body at the venom that laces his tone.

“No, that is, I…I didn’t know,” I offer weakly, and he scoffs, then turns, heading to the side of the building where a metal staircase leads up to a door. I huff a breath, pissed at being so tongue-tied around him and hating that he thinks I pity them. I don't, though I am sorry for all the hardships I’m guessing they suffered over the years.

“Come on. Let’s get you inside and I’ll give you the grand tour,” Forest offers gently, tugging my hand as he pulls us in the direction of the stairs. I grimace when more slick wetness slides down my inner thighs, but I follow him nonetheless. Blaine comes up behind us, his footsteps quiet, which is surprising given how large the guy is.

I gasp a small breath when his hand lands on my lower back, the heat of his palm against my clothes making me realise how cold I am now that the rush of sex with Forest is leaving me.

Fuck. I had the best sex of my life with someone I barely know out in the open after running away from the man the Ambassador chose for me. I’m not sure how to process all of that. So, taking a measured inhale, I push it to the back of my mind and focus on the metal stairs that will lead to someplace I can clean up at least.

The door is open when we reach it, and then we’re stepping into a space that’s small yet cosy, and feels more like a home than all of the mansions I’ve ever lived in.

“Close the door, Big Daddy, you’re letting all the good air out,” Forest chides, letting go of my hand as a huge furry dog strides up to him, tail wagging when Forest grabs his face and gives him scratches. “Now, you're gonna be a gentleman to our guest, ain’t you, Bolt?” he asks the beast of a dog.

Intelligent, ice-blue eyes hone in on me, and then the huge creature is striding towards me.

“Careful, he’s not good with strangers,” Landon cautions as I crouch down with my hand out so Bolt can sniff it. He looks like a husky, beautiful, and so fluffy he’s like a teddy bear.

“You’re just a big softie, aren’t you, gorgeous boy?” I coo at the dog, my hand sinking into the fur at his ear when he pushes his face into my touch. “Yes, you are, beautiful boy.”

“Talk like that will make me hard again, sugar,” Forest groans, and a giggle falls from my lips as my other hand comes up and scratches Bolt’s other ear.

Soon he’s panting, and then rolling over so I can give him some belly rubs. I look up to see all three guys watching with raised brows and wide eyes.

“What?” I question, Bolt licking my hand as I get back up to my feet.

“He doesn’t usually like strangers,mi princesa linda,” Blaine tells me, taking my hand and using it to pull me to him. I’m engulfed in his woodsy scent, and it relaxes my body when I didn’t even know I’d tensed up. “But I’m not surprised you’ve tamed him.”

My arms come up automatically and wrap around his huge frame, my head resting on his chest and his heartbeat pounding in my ear. My eyes drift shut and I let my muscles release all the pent-up tension they’d been holding from the past few hours before I found Forest who just about rocked my world.

“You should probably get cleaned up, Duchess. Then I can take you home,” Lan states casually, and my eyes snap open as my stomach drops. The idea of washing Forest off me has a small whimper slipping past my lips, never mind the dread at the thought of going back to the cold hell I call home.

Blain’s arms tighten around me, one large palm coming up to stroke soothing circles on my back as tears prick my eyes. I shouldn’t be here, I don’t belong in this small home with these guys, but my body craves it, craves them more than I’ve ever needed anything before. Nothing is my own at home, if the place where I live can even be called that. It’s never been a place of comfort, never a place where I can relax. It’s full of demons that I have no hope of escaping and of terror that is not confined to my nightmares.

* * *

“Fahrenheit” by Azee

LANDON

I watch as her breathing becomes shallow, her eyes open but not seeing the room she’s in. Blaine notices too, pulling her even closer but it doesn’t seem to register as her eyes water, her body shaking as a look of pure fucking terror crosses her beautiful face.

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