Page 198 of Merciless

“It looks better from up here,” she muses.

No one replies, but it’s not because we don’t agree.

“Come and sit, Pet. It’s already cold,” Reid sulks.

“Dude, stop pouting,” I tease. “It doesn’t suit you.”

Flipping me off, he spears a piece of chicken with his fork and stuffs it in his mouth.

Pulling the chair out next to mine, Alana drops into it while Reid sits at the head of the table like the king he wants to be.

“Why am I up here?” she blurts before even picking up her fork.

“Thought it might be nice,” Reid responds before grabbing his wine and taking a sip.

“Really,” she mutters, not believing a word of it.

“I can send you back down to eat this on your lap if you like,” he offers.

“No. This is good. Just… surprising.”

“Well, enjoy,” he says with a smile before following it up with an ominous, “Who knows when it might happen again.”

Alana doesn't react to that, instead, she reaches for her knife and fork and picks up a little sauce-covered rice, lifting it to her lips.

“Oh my God.” She moans, making me semi-hard again. “So good.”

Reid doesn’t say anything, but I don’t miss the way his chest puffs out. Arrogant fucker knows he's a good cook but he fucking loves hearing it.

There’s no hesitation before her next mouthful. She eats with the gusto of someone who’s been locked away from the world for over a week.

Reid’s hands drop to the table, his dinner forgotten as he watches her with dark curiosity dancing in his eyes.

I get it. I’ve probably had the exact same look on my face every time I’ve taken her down something to eat.

With a smirk, I leave him to it. Devouring my own dinner like I also haven’t eaten in a week, instead of only a few hours.

48

REID

All thoughts of my food are forgotten as my eyes lock on Alana.

I love watching people enjoy my food.

And by people, I mean JD, my brothers, and Kane. That is about as many people as I can cope with.

But watching Alana devour my curry like it’s the best thing she’s ever put in her mouth is something else.

JD is busy eating too, but I know he’s clocked me.

While this whole thing might be a game to put Alana out of her comfort zone to get her talking, I can’t help but feel like JD has his own agenda.

Starting with that little show he put on out in the hallway.

I should have fucking known that sending him down there to get her wouldn’t have been as simple as it should have.

Abandoning my fork on the side of my plate, I attempt to rearrange myself beneath the table discreetly.

---