Page 64 of Worth

“Suck adick, Zander King,” I retort, not having to fake the outrage. “I’m not doing shit unless you tell me where we’re going and what we’re doing.”

Zander moves forward, determination glimmering in his eyes. Aiden slams into his side, knocking him off course and into the counter. They scuffle without saying a single word for a few seconds, while I look on half-amused by it. Then, like it had never happened, they stop. Aiden turns to me as Zander rights himself, both breathing a little heavier.

“Val texted me,” he explains, and Zander walks out of the room without looking back. “She and a few others on our team are taking a day off to go to the beach. I thought maybe you’d like to go.”

“The beach?” I asked, furrowing my brows as he creeps closer. “Aren’t we like six hours away from the ocean?”

“About four,” Aiden says, nodding as his hands cups my cheek. “But I’m talking about the lake.”

“Oh.”

He grins. “Forgot about lakes, huh?”

My lips twitch with a smile. “I guess so.”

“Do you want to go with me, Kitten?” he asks, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes.

“I’ll go,” I say, not holding back the grin this time.

“Let’s move!” Zander barks from the front room.

“Fuck off!” I shout at the same time Aiden yells, “Coming!”

“We have to keep this quiet still,” I remind him, gesturing between us. “For now.”

“Okay, Kitten,” he agrees, but leans in closer. “But someday soon everyone is going to know you own me, heart, body, and soul.”

He slams a rough kiss on my lips and then heads out, leaving me to gather the pieces of my libido he just scattered around the damn kitchen.

I gaze out across the lake, cross-legged in the sand, tucking my hands under my butt. Aiden is with a couple of guys that came with Val, working on building a small fire. He’s laughing and talking, but every few minutes his attention lands on me with a wistful look before bouncing back to the other men.

“So, they locked you in a room and forgot you were there. How have you not cut their balls off yet?” Val asks, dropping next to me. She holds out a can with fruit images splashed across it—some sort of fruity alcoholic drink.

I take the drink and pop it open. “It’s a lot harder to stay mad than I thought it was going to be.”

She snorts. “So, which one has got you wrapped around their finger?”

I don’t blush for many things anymore, but I blush now, opting to take a long drink from my can than answer. Peach and strawberry flavors burst on my tongue.

“Bothof them?” she hisses, and apparently all the confirmation she needs is the way I guzzle more of my drink. “Bitch. Good for you.”

I glance up, surprised. “Why?”

Val shrugs, sipping her own drink. “If I didn’t consider those two assholes to be like brothers, I could see the appeal of having them both. They’re not exactly hard on the eyes, and neither of them will taketheireyes off you.”

Curious, I check. Sure as shit, Zander immediately looks away when I catch him looking at me. I’m not exactly surprised to see Aiden’s eyes on me.

I take another drink. Damn, this is going down easy. “I don’t know what to do about it. Zander doesn’t even seem sorry half the time, and Aiden wastoosorry. And honestly? I’ve faced worse than going hungry and being weak for a week.”

“No way, Blake,” Val says, stopping me from going on. “You make them grovel. Do you hear me?” She doesn’t pause to let me answer. “You get them on their knees to beg your forgiveness. Make them kiss every last one of your toes before you let them up. Those two need a little humility in their lives.”

“That was the original plan,” I reply nervously. “But with Aiden, it’s hard to stay mad. He’s done nothing but try to help me and care for me in any way he can the last few days. I may have already kind of forgiven him.”

She nods. “Aiden, underneath his crazy, is actually very sweet. I can see how it would be hard to keep being angry.”

“Zander is just an asshole most of the time, though,” I continue. “I honestly don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me that I find it attractive.”

Laughing, Val bumps me with her shoulder. “You’re not the only one. Us damaged girls sure do seem to have a thing for the assholes.”

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