Page 33 of Fallen Saint

My cheeks blister. Even though they are merely lying there, it sets the mood for what’s about to come.

“Alek, you were right. She is exceptional,” a man says, sipping his drink as he devours me with his eyes. At a guess, I would say he’s in his 40’s and in great shape. His full head of groomed blond hair and baby blues would leave many admiring his good looks. But not me. He makes my skin crawl.

I’m too afraid to move when he stands. “I’m Oscar.” His accent is definitely Russian.

The other men watch on, and I do the same to them as I examine my enemies.

All are around the same age and look like doctors or businessmen—people you wouldn’t look twice at if you passed them on the street. However, Oscar stands out from the bunch, and that’s not a good thing. He reeks of authority, and by the way he looks at me, I think it’s safe to say he wants to assert that power over me.

“She’s shy,” Alek explains, making excuses for my suddenly clamming up.

Oscar nods, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. “There is no need to be shy. We are all friends here.” He spreads his arms out wide, indicating Zoey’s lewdness is just a normal occurrence among acquaintances.

We are anything but friends, but I stay perfectly still when he walks toward me.

Alek watches carefully, but he doesn’t move. He allows Oscar to inch closer and closer. When we’re feet apart, he slowly reaches for my hand. My instinct is to recoil, but I refuse to cower in fear. He draws my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it, observing me attentively. His breath is warm, too warm.

“Is she housebroken?” he asks Alek, his mouth lingering on my skin.

Offended, I take back my hand and narrow my eyes.

In response, he laughs hoarsely. “Oh, Alek, I envy you. She is a treat.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him I’m not a fucking delicacy, but the world stops spinning when heavy footsteps announce someone’s arrival. Every fiber in my body prickles in awareness because he’s here—he’s really here.

Unable to stop myself, I turn over my shoulder quickly, and everything quiets for just a fraction in time. Saint appears stunned to see me but soon recovers. He wears his hair tied back, but it’s still not long enough for all of it to be held back, so some lose strands fall free, framing his chiseled cheeks. His beard has also grown.

He looks all the more rugged and wayward, standing here in all black, but that could just be the pissed-off look he sports when he sees Oscar standing near me. I want to go to him, but I don’t.

Oscar soon forgets about me as he zeroes in on Saint. “Well, hello. Where have you been hiding?”

Something shifts, and the room drops about a hundred degrees.

I watch with interest as something comes over Oscar. He seems…spellbound by Saint. I don’t understand what I’m seeing because if I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was more excited by Saint’s arrival than by the three naked ladies who lay feet away.

Saint ignores Oscar’s quip and walks over to Alek. “Everything taken care of?” Alek asks. Saint nods in response while I gulp.

What has he done?

Alek claps once, clearly excited by the news. “Oscar was just asking abouta????.”

Saint trains his gaze on me slowly. How is it possible he can set me alight with a look alone?

“He asked if she was housebroken,” he continues with a wave of his hand while Saint’s jaw clenches. “I didn’t have a chance to explain your situation.”

“What situation?” Oscar asks, his interest piqued.

Too afraid to make a noise, I keep my breathing shallow.

The other men at the table are clearly not interested in the conversation and have decided to join the three women on the couch. When one of them bends low to suckle the brunette’s nipple, I instantly look away.

“Saint was the one who brought her to me, and because of this, he seems to be the only one who can…control her. Well, for now anyway.”

Oscar turns to look at me, grinning sinisterly. “I am utterly intrigued.” His ravenous look makes me feel sick, and I shrink away, afraid of what he’ll do.

“Would you like to see?” Alek’s tone is smug as though he’s showing off a new car to friends.

“You never disappoint,” Oscar replies, walking over to the poker table and taking a seat, clearly ready for a demonstration.

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