Page 98 of Cruel Games

And now, I was motivated by the chance to taste her on my tongue like she’d let Dingo do. To bury myself in her like Jackal had. I wanted to hear her moan formeinstead of them.

I was jealous.

I coveted that which I’d not been offered yet.

But none of that mattered compared to the need I had within me that drove me to please her.

If we were dogs, then I was her willing pet, eager for anything she’d toss my way.

A part of me wondered if she could read me like a book.

My thoughts were jumbled when I was with her. My words, always so scarce, felt like they’d bubble over the second she was within earshot. I had the urge to tell her things I’d never told another person; the desire to speak was there, but they never left my lips.

It felt like she could understand, even when I didn’t speak, though.

Odd.

She stood off to the side of the room with us, three leashes in hand, her grin as vast as an ocean as she met the eyes of everyone who passed us. We got a fair bit of curious looks, some even bordering on amusement. As long as the Skeleton Crew didn’t come past us, Jackal might be able to keep his cool long enough to make it back to the room in one piece. I did not doubt Ivy would flay his skin from his flesh if he didn’t act the part of obedient pet.

She was more than capable of far more heinous crimes against men.

My collar was tight against my throat, not uncomfortable but enough to remind me I was not my own man tonight. The feeling wasn’t as constraining as I’d thought it might be, at least not when she was the one holding the other end of my chain. I’d never been anyone’s dog, but for her . . .

“I’m bored,” Jackal muttered under his breath, his eyes cutting to the door any time it opened as he watched for his mortal nemesis, Nash Blackwood, to walk in and complete his embarrassment for the night. “How long do we have to stand here and suffer this indignation?”

Ivy’s chuckle reminded me of wind chimes in a summer breeze. “When I’ve had enough, we’ll go back upstairs.” She eyed him carefully, sensing his agitation was more than just skin-deep. “Are you worried a certain someone will see you like this?”

“No,” he said too quickly, his voice cracking. “I just think this harness is uncomfortable.” As if to prove his point, he tugged gently at it, twisting his mouth into a scowl.

She didn’t buy it for a second.

“You’re a bad liar, Jackal,” she teased, running her nails along the curve of his spine. “I measured you in your sleep to make sure this was a perfect fit. It’s not too tight.”

He blinked slowly, like a lizard who’d been out in the sun too long. “You . . . what?”

“You heard me,” she replied dryly, her attention turning to Dingo. “Can’t you behave like this one is?”

Of course, Dingo chose that moment to growl in her direction, practically daring her to call him ‘behaved’ one more time.

They’d never learn.

Dingo’s eyes followed her when she moved anywhere in his line of sight, and I was beginning to suspect he was developing feelings for her. Jackal was an enigma, not easily read, and it was less obvious if he wanted more than just in her pants.

I wanted something more.

I just wasn’t sure what thatmorewas.

She turned her attention to me and scratched the top of my head playfully, tugging me closer to her in the process. “You’re the only good one here, Coyote.” Her nose crinkled as she inhaled the cologne wafting off the man who passed by us, seemingly drenched in the stuff. “Ugh, why do people insist on covering themselves in such offensive scents? It’s not like perfume can hide their evilness.”

“Is that why you don’t wear any?” Jackal shot back, baring his teeth mockingly. “Makes sense. Too much bad in you; we’d need to drown you in a vat of perfume to cover your stench?—”

She chose that moment to tug roughly on his collar, effectively cutting off his bratty tirade. He choked and sputtered as she slowly let go of the lead, giving him room to breathe without giving him any ideas of freedom or escape.

“You insult me one more time, dog, and you’ll sleep on the floor while I take your bed.”

Jackal snorted. “Absofuckinglutely not, bitch.”

“Try me.”

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