Page 78 of Velvet Cruelty

Doc flicks his cigarette and heads for the door. “Come on, Basher.”

I stare into the rain. “She’s supposed to go to Eli’s cousin.”

“That’s later. Now is now.”

And then I’m behind him, walking back to January’s door. The bedroom is warm and already smells like her. I inhale. I’m dizzy and drunk yet all too aware of my surroundings.

Doc pads to her bedside table, flicks on a lamp. “Hey, Tesorina.”

She is lying on her back. Looking at her makes me wish I wrote music. Her green eyes flick open and she looks from Doc to me. “Hi…?”

Doc sits on her bed. “Basher and I thought you might want some company.”

“Oh.” She places a tentative hand on Doc’s arm. “You’re freezing.”

He grins. “Yeah. Can we share your blankets?”

January’s chin dips into her chest, but she smiles. “Maybe.”

My heart is going like a freight train. Doc’s right. She’s scared and horny and craving comfort. This might actually happen.

January moves across the bed, making space for Doc.

“Thanks, baby.” He climbs in beside her and beckons me forward.

For a million reasons I want to tell him to stop—Eli, the Orchard, his dirty feet.

Instead, I watch as the smartest, most irritating man I know snuggles into the woman I love. My cold hands are burning, my heart is still going too fast.

“Bobby?” January’s voice is shy. “Are you…? Do you need to get warm too?”

I do, but I can’t move. I can’t even speak.

“He’ll come, Tesorina. Just give him a moment.” He grins at her, bright and wide, and she smiles back.

She’s nervous, but you can tell she’s glad he’s there. A tight feeling hooks behind my navel and pulls hard. This isn’t the first time, me, Doc, and a girl. But it’s always some dancer at one of his clubs. Someone who knows the score and wants nothing but sex. This is January and January is everything.

Doc strokes her hair out of her eyes. He makes it look natural. Like he’s done it a million times. “You won, Tesorina. You beat me.”

I move toward the foot of the bed until the covers brush my knees.

“What do you mean?” January asks.

“You beat me,” Doc repeats. “You withstood the O and made fools out of all of us.”

January smiles. “Sorry.”

“Never be sorry for winning.” Doc runs his finger down her cheek to the nape of her neck. “Would you like a reward for being such a good girl?”

She shivers so hard it makes her curls tremble. “What do you mean?”

Doc leans closer his nose an inch from hers. “You want to get your little pussy licked?”

January’s eyes go wide and I see the same fear and longing that’s burning inside me. “I don’t know…”

The blanket has tumbled down her shoulders. She’s still in her pink lingerie. Slowly, easily, Doc moves an arm around her. “Basher just wants to do what he said before, Tesorina. He wants to tongue your virgin pussy until you come. Don’t you want to let him?”

She bites her lip. “I shouldn’t.”

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