Page 41 of The Souls We Claim
“Halo?” It’s Penny. The club girls keep a wide berth when the old ladies are around. Most of the men are loyal to their old ladies, and their women don’t like being reminded of pussy they dipped into.
My breathing slows, my heart rate drops a little, and Penny smiles. “What’s up, Pen?”
“I know this is hard for you,” Penny says. “It must be hard parenting when you don’t actually want to be one. When the responsibility is thrust upon you, born out of a tragedy you also need time to process.”
“You got a point, Penny?” I say, and immediately feel bad for the equivalent of kicking a puppy.
“I just wondered if you needed a little stress relief right now. We can make it quick, however you need me.”
My balls have ached since earlier this morning when I had my fingers deep inside Arianne. And Penny is a popular club girl because of the way she fucks.
I’m about to say yes, when I think about the innocent way Arianne looked at me while my fingers were knuckle deep in her cunt. Wide eyes, a body vibrating with need. That’s what I want more of. My dick thickens at the thought of it. Of tying her hands behind her back or her feet to my bed frame. Of slapping her pussy until her clit pulses.
“So that’s a yes,” Penny says, sliding her palm over my erection. It feels good, but only because in that fraction of a second, I pretended it was Arianne touching me.
I grab her wrist and remove her hand. “It’s a no, Pen.”
“Oh, is it because Lola’s here? Because she’s fine with Iris and Spark for now.”
“I don’t need a reason to not want to fuck you, Pen.”
She glances up at me through thick lashes. “Are you worried about lasting?” she teases.
In the past, I’ve liked it when Penny played brat for me. But it doesn’t come close to Arianne’s more natural tendencies.
“We’re done here,” I say.
“Is it because of Arianne?” she asks, and her lips curl in disgust. “You’re all falling for pussy with constraints when you could have any of the club girls for free.”
My bet with Switch comes to mind, and it irritates me. “It’s not because of Arianne. I barely know anything about her. In fact, I only have Arianne’s word that she is who she says she is. For all I know, she could be some grifter who saw that Mercy died and came sniffing for a will. I’m not falling for her pussy.”
Penny grins just as I hear a gasp behind me. I don’t need to look to know it must be Arianne, but I glance over my shoulder. “I came to see if you needed a hand with Lola before we do cake, but I can see you need absolutely nothing from me.”
She hurries back down the hallway.
“Fuck,” I mutter. “Arianne. Stop walking.”
She carries on down the corridor toward the kitchen.
Penny reaches for my arm. “Let her go. If she doesn’t mean anything to you.”
Violently, I shake her hand free. “She’s fucking family, Pen. More than you’ll ever be.” I turn down the corridor. “Arianne. I said stop your goddamn hissy fit and come back here right now. You aren’t going to want me to make you.”
Arianne stops, but she doesn’t return or even look over her shoulder. “You’ll have my birth certificate by morning, and you can have Vex compare my file to Mercy’s. I suggest a full DNA test to show our relationships to Lola.” She glances over her shoulder and glares at me. “After all, I’ve only got your word for it that she is your father’s child. Perhaps you’re the one who is lying.”
When she starts moving again, I feel compelled to follow. “That’s the most ridiculous fucking logic I ever heard. Why onearth would I be trying to claim a kid that isn’t mine or my father’s?”
As I get close, Arianne begins to run, and I realize too late the damage I’ve done.
14
ARIANNE
Footsteps thud after me.
I need to hide.
At home, I know all the exits and which rooms have door locks.
