Page 47 of Her Devil

“Fuck, it’s cold.” I shiver.

“Better make this quick then,” Nick comments from between my legs. “Then I can warm you back up.”

FIFTEEN

LEO

Ivy banters with her friend in the pool just a few feet away, except it feels like a million miles as the sound of them splashing around breaks through the brain fog. My gaze finally focuses on something, instead of the blur of nothing that was registering just seconds ago, it just happens to be the perfect section of skin that stretches across her lower back, dipping in at her tight waist before flaring over her hips, Nick’s manicured hands holding her legs tightly.

But any thought I might have had for joining her and everyone else back in that water is gone. Much like the men that were here just moments ago, not that I let that on. No, my appetite for entertainment has all but disappeared, soured by disappointment.

I find myself heading away from the water where everyone laughs, sliding the glass doors open and dropping onto one of the benches to dry my wet feet with a towel. Pans clatter in the kitchen, the two male cooks organising dinner with barely a word passed between them, well, at least from here.

I dry off quickly, throwing the towel and wet shorts in the basket before slinging on a pair of sweatpants and a tee. To be honest, I thought a changing room was a little superfluous, somewhere for guests or whoever was partying to get changed. A complete waste of space that could have housed a rack or two of free weights at the very least, but as I shuck the chill of the cold air and water off, and slide on some dry warm clothes, without having to drip water all over the house, it suddenly makes sense.

The cooks are now chatting as I head into the middle of the house. A quick look at the clock and I notice everyone will be coming in for food shortly anyway.

“Fucking wanker,” Oliver calls from the games room, and rather than heading upstairs, I find myself going to investigate.

I loiter in the doorway, his attention firmly on the screen in front of him as he manoeuvres through a building, shooting the guy who appears on his left before continuing through.

“I know you’re in here, you little bastard. Now, where the hell are you hiding?” He turns into a room, an opponent backed in the corner opposite practically waiting for him as he shoots and ends his turn instantly. “Fucking hell,” he grumbles, waiting for the re-load and dropping back in his chair.

“You need a hand?” I ask.

“Shit.” He jumps, turning around. “Sorry, man. I thought you were outside with Jake.”

“Was. Change of plan.”

There’s no point getting into the details with him, not that I would if I could. They left that mark there for me to find because nobody else would have thought twice about it, just assumed it was a small animal or something, but we have a system. We’ve had to.

“This motherfucker must have got me a dozen times,” he rants, gesturing at the TV. “You fancy showing him what teamwork looks like?”

“Why not?” I grab a control, getting comfortable as my system loads up. It’s been too long since I sat with my boys and had a gaming afternoon, way too long. “I’m probably a little rusty.”

“Just a distraction would be enough at this point,” he comments, his request flashing up as I load in.

“That I can manage,” I agree with a nod.

“Had enough out there?” he asks, waiting for me to join.

“Something like that. You didn’t fancy a dip?”

“Not in the pool,” he mutters.

“Something else you fancy dipping in?” I ask with a chuckle, peeking at him in my periphery.

“Uh, no,” he corrects. “It’s just a whole lot of tits and ass.”

“Not your thing?”

I didn’t think he was gay, and I’m usually pretty good at spotting that, but maybe I’m wrong.

“Totally my thing.”Good to know.“But Taylor and Nick have been more than vocal about who they want and what they want from them. I’m in no way interested in getting into an argument with them over a stray glance or a sideways comment with so much skin on show.”

“Fair enough. Although they were both doing okay whilst I was out there, I get it. Cavemen can be assholes.”

The conversation falls to the wayside as we both concentrate, me following his lead as we make our way through the same building, his hidden opponent seemingly elsewhere.

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