Page 131 of Imperial: The Corvidae Family
The game continued and the bets got riskier and the shit talking got worse. The energy stayed light though. The drinks kept flowing, and by the time the clock hit midnight, we were all surrounded by empty plates and bottles.
Baylyn was too damn happy as she dragged another stack of chips toward her. “This has been a very lucrative night.”
“Don’t get cocky, beautiful.”
She lifted a brow. “I earned this.”
“Remember that shit when they’re gone.”
“Kades, deal the cards. I’m not trying to hear these two making fuck me plans for later,” Rachelle groaned.
By the time the games wrapped up, we somehow all ended up chilling in the living room, half-drunk, full of food, and still talking shit. The coffee table was cluttered with empty beer bottles and the last of our wings and pizza.
Baylyn was curled up next to me with her legs stretched over Rachelle’s lap, lazily swirling what was left of her beer. Kades sat in the armchair with his fingers pressed to his temple like he was debating on calling it a night, while Yair slouched onthe other end of the couch, staring up at the ceiling like he was contemplating his entire life.
It had been a good night. Somewhere between a discussion about whether Rachelle’s boss was going to fire her for that drunk text and arguing over the best wing flavors, the conversation topic moved to relationships.
“I just don’t get it,” Rachelle said, shaking her head. “Why do men act like catching feelings is some kind of disease?”
Kades smirked, lifting his glass. “Because it is.”
Rachelle groaned. “Here we go.”
“I’m just saying.” Kades slouched deeper in the chair. “Look at Emir. My brother used to live a very peaceful, non-attached life, and now he’s out here hosting game night, buying roses, sending daily meals and good morning texts to the woman who sleeps in the same damn bed. She’s not going anywhere. He doesn’t have to do all that.”
Baylyn arched a brow, smirking. “And?”
Kades chuckled, like he was disappointed in me. “I’m just saying, it’s not for me. Y’all can have that whipped shit. I’ll stick to what I know.”
“And what’s that?” Baylyn asked.
Kades shrugged. “Sex. No complications. No attachments. But it has to be good sex.”
Yair snorted. “So basically fuck and flee.”
Kades nodded, completely unbothered. “Pretty much.”
Rachelle rolled her eyes. “See, this is why men are exhausting. Y’all just go around ruining women then have the nerve to act surprised when they start acting crazy, blowing up your spot.”
Kades’s lazy grin surfaced. “Nobody is forcing them to catch feelings.”
“Oh, please.” Rachelle waved him off. “Men know exactly what they’re doing. Good dick equals feelings. You say and do allthe right things, just long enough to make them think you care, and the minute women start planning for the future, you hit them with the I never said I wanted all that.”
“That sounds personal as hell, Rach. Is this about Kades oryou?” Baylyn teased.
“Mind your business.” She playfully glared at her girl.
“You think I have good dick?” Kades arched a brow at Rachelle.
“Muthafucker I don’t know and I willneverknow because we’re not going there.” She pointed a finger at him and he laughed.
Kades turned back to Rachelle. “Okay… back to the point then. You’re speaking from experience?”
She sucked her teeth, reaching for her drink. “Don’t worry about me.”
Yair laughed. “You should be studied.”
Kades just grinned, tipping his drink toward Yair before downing the rest.
