Page 31 of They Call Me Wicked

I make my way over to the chair next to the couch, just barely managing to not trip over Gizmo when he slides in front of me, frantically chasing a ball. I’m just getting comfortable and pulling my soft fuzzy throw over my feet when I hear it.

“Wicked! What the fuck is this?!” The world’s biggest cocksucker bellows from down the hall and I grin, knowing exactly what he’s looking at. Giddiness fills me as I settle in my spot even deeper, secure in the fact that Nic won’t be nearly as pushy with Alan around.

Angry, dramatic stomps echo through the house as he makes his way to the living room and I just busy myself with pouring a glass of wine and taking a sip.

Yum. Sweet, just how I like it.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now, Wicked?” Nic pauses for only a moment as he notices Alan’s presence before turning his attention back to me.

“Going through my shit like I told you not to, I see,” I state absently, my focus on my wine. At least, I try to pretend it is.

“What’s going on?” Kai questions, his aura laden with confusion.

“She-” He growls, like he just can’t get the words to form. “She fucking-”

“She what?” Kai questions again after not getting an answer the first time. Ignoring him, I take another sip of my wine, the sweet plum flavor pairing extremely well with my smug satisfaction.

“She-” Nic gives up, stomping from the room once more and leaving behind two very bewildered and suspicious men.

“What did you do?” Alan directs his attention to me.

“Nothing.” I shrug, taking a larger gulp of my wine before a loud slam reaches my ears, followed quickly by the sounds of bags being moved from one room to another. “Oh no he fucking doesn’t!” I’m on my feet in record time and racing down the hall as fast as a blind woman can really go. I hear Alan and Kai following close behind me, amusement flaring with their curiosity. “Don’t you fucking dare, Nic!”

“Try and stop me!”

“Gizmo! Snitch!” I whistle sharply and their scurrying feet sound past me before Nic grunts.

“Get them off of me, Wicked!” I ignore him, reaching my hand out and grabbing the closest arm to me, channeling their mental vibrations.

Nic is standing precariously still as Gizmo and Snitch are poised on his chest, their little, furry faces staring him right in the eye with their teeth bared. I can’t help the giggle that escapes as I close the connection and cross my arms.

“I can’t get them off of you. I didn’t order them to do anything. I simply alerted them to what you were doing.”

“What do you mean? What exactly is it that I’m doing?”

“You’re encroaching on their territory!” I chuckle.

“Their…what?” Understanding dawns on him, quelling his fury slightly. Interesting.

“What’s this? I’ve never seen this room before?” Kai mumbles distractedly from beside me.

“This…” I spread my arms out like someone presenting on a stage. “Is Gizmo’s room. Snitch’s room is right over there, through their shared bathroom.”

“Wait, they’re potty trained?” Kai is adorably perplexed and impressed all at the same time.

“Of course, they are! I’m not exactly very equipped for keeping up on a litter box. And that’s not because I’m blind. I’m just lazy.” Kai chuckles at my admission and I grin wickedly in his direction, quite proud of the set-up I have for my trash pandas. “Look! They even have their own little dog doors to get in here and to each other. Or did you not notice that when you were being a jackass?” I direct that last question at Nic with a glare.

I take a moment to bask in their shock, giggling to myself because I know exactly what’s going through their heads.

Gizmo and Snitch’s rooms are nothing like Nana’s. Swathed with all the luxuries a raccoon could ever want, they’re more like a spoiled child’s room, with a few differences.

They’ve got cat shelves lining the walls and ceilings, allowing them to play to their heart’s desires, but not in a tacky or obvious way. It’s all pristine and clean, with white and brown decor. But, Gizmo has steel blue accents and Snitch has jade green.

They both have king-size beds, the same size as me, with mountains of pillows and soft blankets. Large, shelved side tables on either side of the bed hold hordes of toys and whatever items they conned me into buying when we’re out. Gizmo has a pocket knife collection and Snitch has an obsession with jewelry and all things shiny.

They each have a mini fridge filled with healthy snacks and bottles of water I had specially made for them to have easy access, because–hello–awesome raccoon momma here! I also had large, raccoon-sized hamster wheels installed on a wall in each of their rooms, so they can get exercise as they please. I might spoil them with fatty and unhealthy foods a lot, but I also take care of them. It’s why they’re not unhealthily overweight.

“So…you’re telling me that two tiny ass raccoons each get their own room while three grown ass men have to share one godawfully decorated one with only one bed?” Nic finally voices in his ridiculously sexy accent, made more so by his struggle to pronounce each word through his barely suppressed fiery rage.

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