Page 20 of F*ck Steal Kill

The app might be boring, but at least they were safe.

Panic consumed me, and I stumbled. Max squeezed my hand, pulling me closer to him, and wrapping his warmth around me. The awareness of his presence grounded me, reminding me I felt safe in his arms. As I had with Quentin.

I was being so risky, but I’d also learned to trust my gut, and these guys felt safe to me. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew they wouldn’t hurt me. Not physically, at least.

My breathing evened out, and I could focus on my surroundings instead of my thoughts as we entered the Secret Keep Inn. I ducked my head to shield my face, not wanting to be seen with guests. It wasn’t a written rule—more of an unspoken one. The implicit part was to not get caught.

We took the stairs, that frenzied feeling from the bar building the closer we neared their room and the promise that lay behind it.

“If you’re not comfortable, we don’t have to do this,” Max whispered, shocking me. “I’d be happy just sitting and talking, getting to know you.”

Blinking, I was taken aback by his words. Guys never wanted to do that if sex was on the table. I faltered in the middle of the hall, a few doors away from his room.

Quentin paused with us, somehow instinctively knowing.

“As much as I want to hear you scream my name, Temptress, we’ll only step through that door if you want to. You have control.” His whiskey smell swirled around me, and I knew I trusted him. That his words were sincere.

“I want to.” I swallowed. “And Temptress, is it?” I teased, my words full of confidence.

In all my years of taking back control, of writing my own narrative when it came to sex, I’d never felt as assured as I did right here. This was what true control felt like. They valued me, respected my word, and we’d only met. Why weren’t more guys like that?

These two men, one soft and one hard, made me feel things bigger than myself.

And yet, there was still one thing missing. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was or how I could tell, but I knew. There was one more piece to this dynamic.

Despite my head telling me none of this made sense, and it was too fast to feel anything for two strangers—I did. Something extraordinary was brewing between us, and I wanted to uncover it.

In the blink of an eye, I was pulled forward, that weightlessness falling over me again as they dragged me to Max’s room. His lips landed on mine, stealing my breath as we fell into the room, a tangle of limbs. Quentin directed us, leading me to the bed, and I fell on it with Max, neither of us breaking apart until the bed dipped and Quentin sat on my other side.

“What are you doing to us, Temptress?” he asked, stroking my hair. It was tender and sweet, something I wasn’t accustomed to. A feeling stirred to life, rising up through my abdomen and sprouting in my heart. What? Huh?

“I need to pee!” I shouted, jumping off the bed and racing into the bathroom. At least I knew where it was, having cleaned this room a thousand times. I shut the door, sliding down as I took in some air.

“It’s okay. It’s sex. You can do that. You want to do that. Leave all the feelings and mushy stuff out,” I whispered to myself, hoping to convince my heart to shut up. It didn’t get a say in this.

It did not work.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, so I pulled it out, expecting it to be the girls. Except it wasn’t. Our contact from the dark web had sent us a group message.

Phantasm: Are you girls being careful? I’m seeing things that make me think someone is on to you.

Joy: So careful. We know the rules.

Lacey: What are you seeing?

Phantasm: There was a post today looking for a kiddie circle in your area. I traced it back, and it seems to be connected to an organization. I’m just not sure which alphabet they belong to yet.

Phantasm: On top of that, a mercenary group has been asking questions. The Savages. Have you come across them?

Holland: We got a message but haven’t done anything yet.

Phantasm: I’d stay away. You don’t want to mess with them or get on their radar. They’re ruthless and know no boundaries.

Holland: Isn’t that the type of person we should be going after, though? Why we started this?

Phantasm: No one can outrun the Savages. If you pursue it, it will be your death I hear about next.

Joy: Message received. We’ll steer clear. Should we worry about the kiddie circle? Is that viable? I thought we got rid of them.

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