Page 102 of The Female

_____

AZIEL

ICAN’T HELPbut listen to Gray comfort Charlie while Shay smashes her lips against my own. She’s rough as she forces her tongue between my lips and prods at the inside of my mouth, but I let her do what she wants and focus my attention on Gray’s conversation.

The human wasn’t nearly as upset as I anticipated her to be, and I’m interested in hearing if that attitude changes when she’s alone with Gray. My anger grows when it doesn’t, but the pulsating thread of hurt that feeds into me through Gray’s bond keeps that emotion in check.

Gray whispered that she was developing feelings for me, stating she’s been having dreams about us, but now I know that to be incorrect. I should’ve known better than to believe him.

He’s not one to lie, but it wouldn’t be the first time he’s stretched the truth to sway my opinion on something.

And to think I almost began to regret bringing Shay here.

It’s unfortunate my desires decided to shift from managing my kingdom to taking a female so abruptly, and I can’t help that Charlie happened to be the female in my presence when that happened.

The pits were supposed to help me get over her, but Charlie’s still taking up more space in my mind than I’d care to admit. She’s seeping in too far, and I hope Shay will fix that. She fucking better; otherwise, this entire thing is a waste of time.

Shay groans when I don’t return her kiss, and she lowers her lips to my jaw instead. I know she’s trying to provoke some physical reaction from me, but she should know she will not get one by now.

Despite my best attempts, I can’t seem to get aroused by anything she does. She’s arguably an attractive woman, but my mind is still too stuck on Charlie to enjoy Shay.

I hope that will change when I bond with her, though. Shay’s the only female Silas and Gray have ever shown any interest in, and I’m willing to tie myself to a woman I don’t enjoy if it makes the other two content.

Silas clears his throat and leans against the wall as she brings her attack to my neck. I watch him, surprised by how against this idea he is. He was the one who suggested we consider taking Shay all those years ago. It was I who was against it.

I’m willing to bet if it weren’t for Charlie’s interference in our lives, he wouldn’t have an issue with this. The human’s ruining everything.

“Enjoying the show?” I ask. Silas’s staring is getting annoying.

He sucks in a slow, deep breath and shakes his head. “No.”

His face pinches as Shay rolls her hips into mine, but I don’t stop her. He’s in no place to judge me when he’s running around playing house with Charlie every time I leave.

I saw her kissing him while I was probing around in his head. The memory practically threw itself at me when I seeped into his mind, its aggressive intrusion signaling that it was weighing heavy on him.

For a brief moment, I was him, and it wasmyhair she was pulling as she ground herself against my thigh. He can sit here and pretend Charlie’s nothing more than Gray’s annoying female, but I could feel his excitement and hope as she planted her lips on his.

He might not want to admit it, but she has him wrapped around her little finger.

“You and Charlie are getting close,” I say, carefully watching his reaction.

Despite his calm facade, his eyes dart toward the door for a quick moment as he listens and scans the house for her. Her timid footfalls as she follows Gray upstairs make their way to my ears, and I find myself momentarily distracted by them.

Gray reeked of her tonight, his pores seeping nothing but her scent. Despite the relief I know I should feel at the knowledge that she’s feeding him so well, I find myself clenching my jaw and shaking Shay’s mouth away.

“That tends to happen when you live with somebody,” Silas says.

I hum. A lot happened while I was in the pits, and I don’t like needing to catch up. Gray and Silas are always steady. They’re here when I leave and when I get back, their attitude and beliefs never changing.

Now I feel like I’m interacting with two strangers.

It’s all the human’s fault. She’s different from the other females we typically associate with, soft and weak and, most notably, uninterested in me. Most women practically throw themselves at our feet, but Charlie hardly seems to care about pleasing us. Well, she seems uninterested in pleasingme.

I can only imagine the things Gray’s been whispering in her ear. It’s in his nature to try to create an environment of free-flowing lust, and he’s always been eager to have one in this home.

He could have one with Shay if he weren’t being so stubborn.

I should’ve clarified I don’t intend to turn back on my word and remove my claim on Charlie. This doesn’t have to be a Charlie versus Shay situation. It’s simply a Charlie, then Shay.

---