Page 15 of Tastes Like Misery

“Well, I’ll just be outside. If you need help, just holler. I’m sure Dane or Finn could use something to do aside from trying to fight over me.”

“They’re fighting?”

“Not with fists or anything. Just posturing. It’s fine,” I waved him off.

Narrowing his eyes, his personality switched so fast it made me dizzy. Stunned, I stayed where I leaned against the wall as he stalked up to me. Resting his hand on the wall, caging me in, his tone was dark, “They’ve never acted like this about a woman before. They share. We all share.”

“I-” my words stuck in my throat and my heart hammered as he bent his head to my neck, inhaling deeply. Dread filled me, sparking that need inside to dance with the devil, and I shivered.

“What is it about you, Vivian, that makes Dane push so hard to have you a part of our little group?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I don’t even know why you’re here. Why I’m here.”

Pushing himself against me, I could feel his thick cock against my abdomen. His finger slid through a lock of my hair before he moved to grip my chin, forcefully pushing my face to meet his. The shy, charming man was replaced with a predator, his eyes filled with hunger. “I can just imagine what kind of a fuck you were to make him like this. A little seductress has finally caught the mighty Dane with her pussy.”

“His obsession with me is my fault?” I breathed out, wanting to sound angry, but the desire his carnal actions gave me was too great.

“I won’t know until I have a little taste myself.” His words came out like a challenge and one I wasn’t sure I wanted to enter. Three men who awakened the beast inside of me, three snakes who called to every part that screamed for not just freedom, but to live on the edge and crash over it.

Suddenly, he was ripped away from me, and a fist flew at him with Dane on the other end. Ollie’s head whipped back and blood trickled from his mouth. He wiped it and laughed, a sound much like I’d heard the first night with Dane. “Are you really going to make this an issue?” Ollie challenged.

“You don’t touch her without her permission,” Dane seethed, his fists clenched and ready to go again.

“You forget our deal,” Ollie stated, and I couldn’t have been more confused. “I was just about to tell her.”

“There’s no reason to do it now,” Dane glowered, not losing any of his fight.

Ollie shrugged, showing his teeth in a wide, wicked grin, “No? I think the lady has a right to know who you really are. You and Finn are out there fighting over her and she hasn’t even accepted yet. Remember, Dane, you agreed with my terms. You can’t just invite her over for a date and not expect me to fight for what was promised to me.”

“Maybe I should go,” my voice shook, and I cursed myself. “Whatever sick little thing you all have going on here, I don’t think I want any part of it.”

I dashed around them, only to slam into a hard body. Finn, who wrapped his arms around me. “Fuck,” I swore, my heart hammering with the knowledge I was trapped with three men who were crazier than I was.

His voice was sharp, nothing like the teasing man he’d been every other time I’d been around him, “Oliver, get the steaks on the fire. We invited this lovely woman over for a meal and that’s what we are going to provide her with. There’s no need to scare her with your games.”

Silence met his command, but only for a moment before I heard the sound of dishes moving around. Whatever looks transpired between them, I hadn’t seen since Finn kept my head pressed into his chest. He spoke softly to me as he moved me toward the outside, “I’m sorry, Vixen. My friends are quite rude. I hope you’ll still stay for dinner. I promise I’ll keep them in line.”

Once the fresh air hit me, I pulled away from him, putting my hands on my hips and glaring at him. “What the fuck is going on here? I’m not some kind of whore you all can take advantage of. I’m not down for whatever sick games you have planned.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed heavily, looking at me pleadingly, “Please, just forget whatever it was Ollie and Dane said. They aren’t really good with people.” He let out a humorless laugh, “None of us are. I can’t tell you everything, but I hope you can trust me to at least wait until I can.”

“Ha. As if I’m dumb enough to trust any of you? Seriously, Dane left me to be arrested, or fear for it because of some challenge for nothing more than his own shits and giggles. Ollie just acted as if he would rape me. And you, well, you and Dane are in some sort of sick competition to see who will get me in bed? No, I think I’ve had enough.” After my tirade, I turned and stomped away, the dust kicking up behind me as I made my way to my car.

“Wait!” Dane’s voice rang out through the quiet night air. “Please, Vivian.”

I stopped, and shouted back over my shoulder, “I don’t have time for your twisted games. Just leave me alone.” Wrenching open my door, I plopped in the seat and went to start it, only to find out my keys were not where I left them in the ignition. I hit the steering wheel, irritated at myself for letting my guard down. That’s what this shithole of a town did, made us all feel so damn safe. If I were in the city, I would never have done something so stupid.

I had no choice but to face them down, but this time I wouldn’t be unarmed. I reached under my seat and pulled out my 9mm. Tucking it in my hand, I slid out of the car and casually walked over to the group. Ollie was now out and placing the steaks on the fire, while Finn and Dane were watching me, the latter with amusement dancing in his eyes as he twirled my keys on his finger.

“You have ten seconds to throw those keys to me,” I ground out.

“Or what?” Dane laughed.

I pulled my pistol and aimed it at him, not unlike when he stepped into the bar the other night. Except this time, he didn’t seem afraid at all. The opposite, really. Bent over laughing and slapping his knee, he managed to wheeze out, “This pretty little lady has a pink gun, Ollie. Pink. And she thinks she will scare me with it.”

Anger burned through my veins and I took a deep breath, aiming to scare not to kill. His laughter immediately stopped when the glass of whiskey in his hand shattered, spraying it to the fire, which flared up on contact.

“What the fuck!” he screamed. “You almost hit me. That’s not a toy.”

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