Page 12 of Claimed By Her Monsters
With that shocking statement, Mick reaches up and pulls off his shirt in one smooth motion. “Look!” He points to a scar low on his ribs. “Bastard poked me right here.” Then he twists and shows me another on his back. “And over here. The nerve, right?”
I’m not looking at his scars though. I’m looking at him, becausewow, the man is stacked. Broad chest, muscles carved like stone, scars like warpaint, black Celtic tattoos ripple as he gestures. Even the thick dusting of chest hair, something I usually hate, only makes him seem more dangerous. More overwhelmingly male.
He rambles on, flexing without realizing it, the tattoos shifting as he gestures, and a slow heat unspools inside me, curling low. I press my lips together, guilty. A minute ago, I was aching for Alister’s kiss, and now I can’t stop staring at Mick.
What’s wrong with me?
I glance over to see Caspian’s watching Mick too, subdued hunger in his gaze. At least I’m not the only one feeling the pull. Slowly, I tune back into Mick’s words.
“Bastard stitched me up after, too. One minute he’s got a blade in your ribs, the next he’s saving your life. That’s Al for you.” The way Mick says it isn’t angry. If anything, it’s…fond.
Alister reappears in the doorway, a glass of water in hand. All three of our heads snap up. His gaze lingers on Mick’s bare chest a fraction too long before he moves, advancing into the room.
“Hey, Al,” Mick says cheerfully, leaning back against the couch, utterly unaware of the tension strung tight in the air. “I was just telling Maddie about how we met.”
Alister grimaces, eyes flicking to me like he’s gauging my reaction. I look away, guilty and confused, my emotions too tangled to unwind.
“Hmm.” He hums low. “Better watch yourself, Mick. Our little Maddie is just as fond of knives as I am.”
My head whips toward him, blood draining from my face. I can’t believe he just went there. His gaze cuts away, refusing to meet my eyes, like maybe evenheregrets saying it.
Wanting to distract myself, I turn to Caspian. “How about you?” I wave my hand vaguely toward the other men. “How do you fit in with these two?”
Caspian locks up, shrinking in on himself, his hoodie swallows his narrow frame. Shame shadows his face, like he’s hiding a story I’m not supposed to know. Rain taps the glass like the storm won’t ever give up.
“He kinda came with the house,” says Alister as he takes a seat behind me, closer than I expected. My skin prickles when his chest brushes against my back. His hand curves into my peripheral vision, steady as he holds out the glass.
“Drink your water, Madison.” Alister’s voice is a low purr in my ear, breath hot against the side of my neck.
Mick and Caspian watch us with parted lips, their gazes fixed.
On me. On Alister. On the space between us.
Heat races down my spine. I have a sudden irrational urge to arch back against Alister, to drag Mick’s big body in and kiss him. Hell, even to invite Caspian to move closer, to close that watchful distance…
Oh my God. I’m losing my mind.
The doorbell rings.
Chapter Ten
Allergic To Peanuts
The spell breaks. Alister moves back into his own space. Caspian and Mick reset, their attention fixed on the front door. I glance at them, pulse quick, but they don’t look alarmed, so I let myself breathe.
“Dammit, Caspian. Did you forget to turn off the porch light?” The bite in Alister’s tone is sharper than the mistake warrants, and I can’t tell if he’s really mad about the light, or something else.
Caspian doesn’t answer, just hangs his head in shame.
“Where the fuck is the candy?” Alister rises gracefully and hunts through drawers in a nearby cupboard.
“We didn’t get the peanut-butter kind, did we?” Mick frowns, genuinely worried. “You know I’m allergic.”
Napkins, paper plates, and plastic forks fly through the air as Alister rummages systematically through each drawer.
“The pantry,” Caspian mumbles to his shoes. “Candy’s in the pantry.”
Alister throws his hands in the air. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He stomps toward the kitchen. The sound of cupboards slamming open and closed is joined with his muttered curses.
