Page 50 of Psyop Kings

We’ve been drinking ever since our delicious, shared dinner after Caius left. It’s only been a couple of hours since then, I think. But with liquor buzzing through my veins, details such as the passing of time are a bit murky. When my mind is sharp, I can put puzzles together at rapid speed. Inebriated, though, I have trouble getting hardly any pieces in place. Theo sucks even worse.

He holds up one of the colored pieces and squints at it. Then I watch with barely contained amusement as he attempts to force it to fit into another piece.

“Too busy,” he grumbles, abandoning his efforts to stare down at his work. “I don’t think those fit together.”

I let loose a giggle that makes him flash his boyish grin at me. Warmth surges through me, but I don’t berate myself for it. This is the most relaxed I’ve felt since I realized Megan was missing. It’s been nonstop stress ever since.

“Too busy? You have time to spend with me.” I gesture at the two of us and pass him the bottle. “It’s not like you can’t get a girl. You don’t have to drug them.”

He smirks. “Again with this drugging dream.”

“In my ‘dream,’” I say as I make exaggerated air quotes, “I thought you were hot. Just saying, you could have asked me out and I’d have said yes.”

The humor on his face fades. “Really?”

“You’re actually more my type than my ‘boyfriend.’”

His gaze falls to my lips. I lick them because they’re probably dry and gross-looking. This action causes him to jerk his eyes back to the puzzle.

“You shouldn’t be talking like that,” he grumbles. “It was just a dream.”

“All of this feels like a dream.” I wave a hand in the air and sigh. “I don’t know what’s real anymore.”

“This is real,” he says, voice husky. “I’mreal.”

My head is fuzzy and my heart races too fast. I know the point of getting him drunk was so I could pick apart his brain. But I don’t want to show my hand too quickly.

I flash him my flirtiest grin to see if I can even work this angle. When his eyes darken and he sets the liquor bottle on his crotch to hide his erection, I know I can definitely do this.

“I want another drink,” I say, reaching for his lap. “Please.”

He groans and practically shoves the bottle into my hand. To save him from embarrassment, I stretch out my leg and set my boot on his thigh.

“Can you untie it?”

His hair hides his eyes from me as he clumsily starts untying my boot. I don’t drink because I need to slow down. Instead, I pretend to take a long swallow and shudder at the imaginary burn.

“Take it off,” I murmur once he’s untied it.

The muscle in his jaw ticks. He really is a good-looking guy. Too bad he’s a monster just like the rest of them. What a waste of a pretty face.

“You’re demanding.” He glances my way before going back to pulling off my boot. “How does Caius put up with you?”

We both know this is his pathetic attempt to put space between us.

“He can barely stand me,” I say to him. “Maybe that’s why my brain is trying so hard to forget him.”

He tosses the boot and I wriggle my toes.

“I didn’t forgetyou, though.” My voice is barely a whisper. I set my other foot in his lap. “This one too.”

We’re quiet as he sets to removing that boot as well. Once he drops that boot to the floor, he doesn’t push my feet away and I don’t move them. I hand him the bottle back.

“I could set you up with my friend Megan,” I say as innocently as I can. “She’s sweet. Quiet but nice. Cute too. Plus, you’re way hotter than the barista guy she was crushing on.”

He drinks from the bottle and his gaze peruses up my jean-clad thighs before stopping at the swell of my breasts under my sweater. Then he gives his head a slight shake so as to chase away the thoughts plaguing him. “Yeah, sure.”

“I’d text her, but I can’t find my phone.” I nudge his hard stomach with my toes. “Can you look for it next time you’re…” I wave toward the lodge, knowing he understands where. “Plus, I need to check in with my brother.”

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