Page 106 of Séance

“Don’t be absurd.” Brenda rolls her eyes dramatically, aggressively scanning the rest of the books in record time, clearly pissed at me for contradicting her. “Cash or charge?”

Jameson reluctantly hands over his credit card, looking like it pains him. Since he didn’t blink at the cost, I’m assuming he’s loath to allow Brenda’s greedy hands to touch it. She lifts the black card to her face, fanning herself with it before finally scanning it. After bagging the items, she grudgingly slides the card across the counter, leaning over until her breasts are in danger of spilling out of her shirt.

When Jameson reaches to take the card, she refuses to release her hold until he looks at her. “I’ll see you guys tonight.”

Her chipper voice grates on my ears, almost like she’s taunting me, but I have no idea why.

With a wink and a flirty smile, she straightens, completely ignoring the other customers as she watches the guys march out of the store. As if still feeling her intrusive attention, they shudder and mutter obscenities under their breath. The instant we leave, I can breathe better, the pressure on my chest vanishing.

Casting a look at the guys, I lift a brow. “Would anyone care to tell me whyBrendaseems so possessive over you guys?”

“Don’t look at me.” Gunner shrugs, not even trying to explain. “I have always hated the bitch.”

I knew he was my favorite!

I glance at the twins, narrowing my eyes on the pair. The idea of them sharing a woman like that has bile rising in the back of my throat. “You guys didn’t?—”

“Fuck no!” Jaceson shudders at the thought.

“I have some standards,” Jameson replies at the same time, doing a full-body shiver at the thought of having her hands on him. “She graduated with us. Hicks used to hook up with her for a while, but she loved the gifts and power of being his girl more than him. She thought she could do what she wanted and that being his girlfriend meant she was untouchable. She thought wrong.”

“Hicks dumped her ass when we discovered that she was stealing from us,” Gunner mutters, his face twisted in disgust. “She was going through my room when I caught her.”

“That bitch!” I whirl, ready to march back into the store and punch the woman like I should have when she first hit on the guys.

Gunner captures me around the waist and lifts me off my feet before I can take five steps. My feet are still moving as he turns and heads toward the exit. I struggle to break free for all of a minute, when his husky voice whispers in my ear. “If you continue to struggle, I’ll have to punish you.”

I pause, mentally debating if I want to stop or not.

Punishment sounds delicious when spoken in his rough voice.

The decision is taken from me when we step outside and head toward our car. By the time we return home, I’m more than ready to be done with stupid people.

A shudder goes through me at the thought of going to the party tonight. As the guys lead me into the house with theirhoard of books, I kick off my shoes and slump on the couch. “Would you guys mind if I just stayed home from the party? I’m more than a little tired after the last couple of days.”

“It’s the final summer bash before everyone leaves for school.” Jameson claims the seat next to me on the couch, then he sweeps my feet into his lap and digs his fingers into the soles, stealing a deep moan of pleasure from me. His hands tighten for a second before he continues to have his wicked way with my feet. When he speaks again, his voice is lower and distracted. “We’ve had the same party for years. I’m more than happy to skip it and spend time with you instead.”

“I’ll stay too,” Jaceson says nonchalantly, dropping into the seat across from us and picking up one of the books.

“Me too,” Gunner says nearly at the same time, and I see him heading toward the kitchen with a determined expression on his face. “I’ll make us some snacks. We can spend the night studying.”

Guilt immediately pricks my conscience, and I wilt against the couch. “Urgh…I can’t let you guys skip the party that you were looking forward to all summer. You should?—”

“Don’t even say it.” Jameson digs his fingers into a particularly nasty spot on my foot, and I swear my eyes threaten to roll up inside my head. “We won’t go without you.”

My thoughts cloud over with him touching me, and I say the first thing that pops into my head. “Keep doing whatever you’re doing, and I’ll do whatever you want.”

His hands pause on my feet, and I immediately pout, wiggling my toes in a silent demand for more, but nothing happens. It’s only then that the silence in the room slowly creeps over me. I crack open an eye and peer at the guys in confusion. I startle to find all three of them staring at me with hungry expressions.

“No take-backsies!” Jameson bellows, startling us so much that we all jump.

Jaceson breaks the tension by picking up a pillow and throwing it at his head. Jameson dodges, receiving a glancing blow to his shoulder, then he throws himself over the back of the couch with no sense of self-preservation, screeching at the top of his lungs, “Pillow fight!”

Eyes wide, I glance from one guy to the next, then I roll off the couch and hit the deck. And not a second too soon. A thump hits the spot exactly where I was seated, then pillows and curses are flying as we each hide behind furniture and plan our attacks.

Unsurprisingly, the twins battle it out, personal health coming in second place to being crowned victor. I laugh almost manically as I run and skid across the floor to avoid being hit. After years of abuse, I’m good at ducking and melting into the background so I’m not seen.

The guys are ruthless with each other, and more than one piece of furniture suffers in the battle. The few blows I take are light, especially when the perpetrator is immediately targeted by the other two. Through the twenty-minute battle, Gunner does his best to protect me…until the guys exchange a pointed look.

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