Page 72 of As Thick As Thieves

I wracked my brain as I tried to remember exactly when I’d fucked someone last, drawing a blank. Surely it wasn’t more than a couple of years ago, but time had been blurring into one lately, so I wasn’t too sure.

My palm ground against the bulge in my pants, frustration hitting me when it wasn’t what I needed. What I did need was Penn on her knees for me, but that wasn’t happening, so I admitted defeat and unbuttoned my pants, shoving my hand inside to wrap around my length. I pumped slowly at first, but the more I thought about Penn, the faster my movements became.

Her amber eyes flashed through my mind and I groaned, coming embarrassingly fast and soaking my boxers. I withdrew my hand, scowling at it as if it had a mind of its own, and I cleaned up with a shirt off the floor. My quick tug hadn’t sated anything though, and I’d needed a second one in the shower twenty minutes later.

My dick’s newfound obsession with her was ridiculous.

Cruz

Penn had been exhausted when she’d gotten home, wanting to shower alone and eat before lying down in bed for a nap. Which made grilling the guys so much easier.

“Is she okay, or should one of us be with her?” I asked quietly from my spot on the couch, glancing between Drake and Knox.

Knox shrugged, but Drake sighed. “She was acting a little weird at the compound. She took forever on the damn toilet, but she didn’t mention anyone giving her shit, and Knox was with Stone, so maybe it’s just in my head.”

Knox’s head swiveled around to face him, a scowl on his face. “You let her inside alone?”

“She had to pee. The only person in there that’s out to get her is Stone, and you were with him. What’s the big deal?” he huffed.

“Stone was gone for a while when I was on the phone to the Psychos.”

“What was he doing?” I frowned, earning a dirty look in return.

“I don’t know, I didn’t give a shit. I thought Penn was safely strapped into the car with Drake.”

We were quiet for a moment before I raked a hand through my hair and leaned forwards. “How was Stone acting?”

Knox snorted, placing an arm behind his head and dropping the other around Drake as he curled up against his side. “Like he always is. They spoke outside when we left, but it didn’t seem like they’d seen each other beforehand. Stone was being a dick but less than normal, and Penn sassed him and got mad when we told her to get back in the car. If he was bothering her, I think she would’ve called him out in front of us.” I wasn’t too sure about that.

Penn was hurt by Stone’s behavior, but she was freaked out about him getting killed. She’d kept her mouth shut about him before to keep him safe, so I wouldn’t put it past her to do it again.

“Keep an eye on him, that's all we can do. I’ll ask her when she wakes up if he bothered her when she went inside. Any news about Drake’s car? Footage? Anything?”

“Nope,” Knox grumbled. “Stone couldn’t find shit because there’s fuck all security around Lightning Cove. He’s looking into it more, though.”

“He probably fucking did it,” Drake muttered, his eyes closed as he rested his cheek against Knox’s chest. “I suggested it at the beach, and Penn flipped out at me.”

“She’s got to stop protecting him,” I sighed, checking my phone in hopes of a message from Stone with answers, but the screen was blank.

“I think she really does have a trauma bond with him or something like Beckett says. She claims to hate him, but when push comes to shove, she panics and takes his side,” Knox stated in a low voice, his eyes on the empty hallway as if to make sure Penn didn’t sneak out and hear him.

“We’re the ones who took her. Stone avoided her for most of it,” I pointed out.

“He fucked with her the most, though, and kept letting her in just to stomp on her again. It’s like they were in a weird trust cycle, and now she can’t get out of it.”

“Harley mentioned letting her help out from time to time at the bar to keep her busy. He’s really impressed with her,” I said, changing the subject, and Knox sighed.

“I don’t like that idea.”

“She’s safe there, and it’s giving her a purpose. I think it’s a good idea,” I said calmly, knowing he wasn’t going to be on board.

“I say we keep training her and bring her into our thing,” he answered, a snort leaving me.

“What thing? We don’t have a thing.”

“Sure we do. I think Stone’s idea of us splitting the thieves like a franchise is a good one. He gets to feel like he’s the fancy CEO, I get to shoot at people, and you get to keep playing with computers. Drake’s happy as long as we’re all happy too, but you have to admit, he likes being a thief, and he’s damn good at it when he’s focused.”

“And you think Penn should be a thief? What changed your mind?” I chuckled, giving him a teasing grin. “You hated the idea before.”

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