Page 24 of The Devils of Saint City

“Was that jealousy?”

I thought Manson had fallen asleep, but here we are. “No. Just wanted to make sure you two weren’t going to bring home some crazy disease.”

“Mmhm,” he hums, reaching out to ghost a finger on my cheek. “That blowjob was amazing.”

“Close your eyes, Manson. You can shower after a nap.”

The fact that he instantly obliges surprises me, but they seem to be even closer than I thought they were. They trust each other in a way I’ve never experienced before, and that’s the thing that makes me jealous.

Good for them, I guess.

“Dinner’s ready. He should eat first so whatever you gave him doesn’t fuck his stomach up.”

“Yeah, good call. I’ll wake him up when it’s dished.” Ash watches me closely as I move to stand, then grabs my hand before I can walk away. “I—” Whatever he’s about to say he seems to think better of because he releases me like I’ve burned him and breaks our stare. “Just water for us tonight.”

“Right. At your service, master.” Fighting an eyeroll, I get everything ready and set on the table, then sit before he can tell me not to hide in my room. It won’t do me much good anyway.

I try hard not to pay attention to his every move as he washes his hands and brings Manson his plate, but it’s impossible not to look at him when he sits directly across from me to eat his own. “He’s eating.”

“Yeah, that’s good. Hopefully it’ll help him sleep. Was he shot or stabbed?”

“Grazed,” he mumbles around a bite. “Like I said, he’s fine. Not the first time and won’t be the last.”

“The Provost is into all kinds of terrible shit, Ash. You are too?”

He chews his food slowly, taking his time with whatever bullshit response he’s going to toss my way. “It’s just a job. Don’t worry about us.”

So in other words, yes. They’re involved in terrible things.

It doesn’t exactly come as a shock given their treatment of me now and the rumors I’ve heard over the years, but still. It puts things into perspective.

“Oh, I don’t — but if you two die out there, who the hell is going to take this collar off of me and let me out of here?”

Asher rolls his eyes. “Glad to hear you’re so worried about us, Rhea, but they don’t call us the Devils of Saint City for nothing. And all your shit is top notch, alright? Don’t stress. If we don’t login every 24 hours, everything will unlock for you anyway. Guess even the black market wanted pretty little captives like you to have a fail-safe.”

“And what if there’s a fire in here while you’re gone?” I press. “Oh, right. Never mind. I forgot who I was talking to — you already reminded me I have plenty of canvas left.”

“So fucking pissy all the damn time.”

Like he’s one to talk.

“How would you feel if our situation was reversed? I’m being serious. I’m curious if you’d react differently.”

Shrugging, he scarfs down some more food before responding. “How the fuck would I know? You want to try it?”

“Yeah. Let me light your bed on fire, slash your tires, steal your door, put a shock collar on you, make you wipe me after I pee, take advantage of you sexually when you’re asleep and can’tsay no, remind you constantly you’re not human, you’re just a pet, and while we’re at it, I’ll bring someone else in to show them love and make you watch while I remind you you aren’t worth it. When do we start?”

One second he’s sitting across from me, and the next he’s gone, slamming his room door so hard the walls shake, and Manson jumps from his spot on the couch.

I can tell the food has absorbed some of the medicine when he stands on his own and moves to join me in the kitchen, but he’s still loopy enough to have missed what just happened. “Where’d he go? Is he done with this?”

Placing his empty bowl aside, he picks up Ash’s fork without waiting and polishes off his food too.

“He’s mad because I reminded him exactly what he’s doing to me and he can’t handle it,” I mutter. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Manson. Do you need anything before I go to bed?”

“Nah.” His smile is gone, but I can tell he’s far too tired to feel anything else right now. “I think Ash might be losing his mind. Hell, maybe we both are.”

“If you’re expecting me to say sorry, I won’t. At least you have your freedom.” Nodding to him slightly, I leave the dishes in the sink and head to bed far earlier than I normally would have — but I’ve had enough for one day.

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