Page 8 of Chill

I want them to see me as anequal.

Not a liability to be left behind.

“You left me,” I say without really meaning to. I immediately regret the words, and dig an elbow into Kieran’s shoulder, as if to punish him for my admission instead of myself.

He doesn’t growl or threaten to drag me. Instead, his fingers stroke over my thighs, like he’s trying to comfort me. “You picked the coldest night of the week to come out here, you know,” he says by way of answer, his words full of reproach. “And you’re barely dressed for it. Is this all you own? Hoodies and leggings?”

“Yeah. And I’ve replaced the ones you ruined with blood. I have the bill with me, actually, so you can pay me back for that at your earliest convenience. Though I hope you understand that every day accrues new interest on your balance.” My wordsand quips are thankfully automatic and make him snort with amusement.

“I’ll get right on that, darling,” he assures me.

Footsteps on gravel that aren’t his cause me to look up, and I push my hands against his lower back to crank my spine in an unnatural direction to look around as much as I can.

Expectedly, we’re still at the campground. This site seems a bit less rundown than the others, and I’m surprised to see my small car parked at the front of it, on the other side of a still smoldering fire pit that sends the scent of smoke to my nose.

I wonder if they roast marshmallows over it, or just dead bodies.

“I thought you’d be gone longer.” Kieran drops me as the words find my ears, and I turn once I have my balance to find Val leaning against the side of an RV, arms crossed and head tilted to the side. I can barely see his unmasked face in the moonlight, but I can feel his satisfied gaze on me. “You said you wanted to have fun this time, and her clothes aren’t ripped to shreds. Did you even fuck her?”

“No.” Kieran sighs, tossing his mask down into a camp chair. “I didn’t. Apparently, she has somecomplaintsshe wants to lodge with us, and I decided I didn’t want to hear them twice.”

“Complaints?” Val tilts his head, reminding me of a confused puppy when he does it. Curiously, I step closer to him, until the light from the RV is enough for me to really see his face.

God, they really are the most gorgeous men I’ve ever met.

“Yes.” I sigh dramatically, forcing myself to get a hold of myself. No matter how much I want to touch them, no matter how much I want tolickthem, I can’t.

Not yet.

“Complaints. Starting with the most important one.” I take a breath and run my fingers through my black and faded-orange hair, standing straight and raising my chin defiantly.

“Why the fuck did you leave me without even a goodbye? Why the hell didn’t both of you comeback?”

5

Val isthe first one to move, and it’s to yank open the door of the RV that seems to stick a little bit. “It’s cold. Do you want to…?” He gestures with his glove covered hand before walking inside himself, not waiting to see if I’ll take the invitation.

“Do I have to pick you up again?” Kieran murmurs, leaning his chin on my shoulder. “I might hit your head on that tiny door if I have to carry you.”

“I wasn’t really trying to run away, you know,” I mutter, some of the adrenaline still singing sweetly in my veins. My fingers flex against my leggings, and when I turn to glance at Kieran—even though I can barely see much more of him than his nose—I hear him give a soft, almost affectionate sigh.

“I know.” His fingers brush my back, up and down my spine, before he gently pushes me toward the open door. “Come on, princess. He’s about to fall apart with anticipation. After all, unlike me, he hasn’t gotten to focus on you yet tonight.”

I bite my tongue, figuring my arguments are better served for both of them, square my shoulders, and walk up the stairs into the RV. The inside makes me pause, and I’m surprised by howhomyit feels. It’s not some cheap murder bus with blood stains and canned food.

It’s actually pretty nice, and part of me wonders if they have a permanent thing with traveling like this.

Not that right now is the right time to bring it up.

My toes curl in my sneakers as I step further into the RV, eyes skimming the sofa against one side. On the other side, a pop-out, I think it’s called, with a television hangs over a little table sandwiched between two booths. In the back, I think I can see the foot of a bed, and there’s a kitchenette a few steps away, so I suppose if they wanted to, they really could live here.

As I watch, Val carefully sets his mask on the table, followed by his gloves once he peels them off of his fingers. Next, he unbuckles his knife from his belt, and that goes onto the table as well in a small pile just inches from the edge.

My stomach twists and I take a breath. But now is as good a time as any, I suppose. “Okay, so, first complaint,” I start as the auburn-haired man turns to look at me with his eyes framed by thick lashes. “I’m?—”

I don’t get to finish.

Val surges toward me, hands out. His fingers curl in my hoodie so he can drag me forward over the laminate floor and slam his mouth to mine. “I’d apologize,” he snarls against my lips, turning to shove me against the counter and pin me there with his body. “Fuck, I’ll apologize if you want.”

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