Page 6 of Devour

Why didn’t you tell me? How could you not say something? Anything?

And with my brother, of all people!

I can’t believe you. I feel so stupid.

You’re a complete contradiction. All that religious bullshit is just a cover, huh?

I’m sorry. That was harsh. I don’t know what to think right now.

Asher says not to be mad at you because you were all drunk and Rhory dared you. Since he’s not mad at you, then I guess I’m not, either. Maybe a little hurt.

Then, from Asher:

Please don’t say anything to Ember. Please.

Wonderful. If everyone being mad at me weren’t bad enough, now everyone blamed me, too. What sort of mess did I step in?

* * *

RHORY

Oh, I absolutely had a type. Beggars could not be choosers, but when given the opportunity to be choosy, I undeniably had a type. Admittedly, I gravitated to the more masc ones, but my preference didn’t fall into blonde or brunette, tall or short, male or female. Basically, the embodiment of a bisexual disaster over here, but with one major difference.

What made someone like Eli so appealing wasn’t his full lips, dark hair, or broad shoulders (since those were all considered bonus features to me). I could smell something distinct on him, which left me with a buzz while in his presence. Even his very human friends sensed it, and they flocked to him without pinpointing what made him so alluring.

That man was low-hanging fruit and I would be there to pluck him—in due time, of course. He agreed to a contract, and while I was many things, above all I was a man of my word. So long as he was too, he had nothing to worry about. Though I wouldn’t mind the chance to sink my teeth into his tanned and taut skin.

Eli walked out of my bathroom, frowning at his phone. Despite his current disposition, his deliciousness wafted over and made my hair stand on end. What I wouldn’t give to bury my face in that neck. I couldn’t help myself. It was early afternoon, and I was hungry. Last night’s entertainment had only tided me over until this morning.

Alcohol didn’t have the same effect on me as it did them. While I drank mostly for something to do and to blend with them more easily, each additional shot took Ash from bitter and jealous to horny and giddy. I hadn’t been lying to Eli about his friend’s feelings about him. What motive did I have? I had more important goals in mind. Ash only needed a nudge in the right direction, and I was more than happy to oblige. The rest was all them.

Unfortunately, this trio of friends suffered from a few major misconceptions about each other. Eli warming up to me surprised everyone, maybe even Eli. That much had not been part of anyone’s plan, except mine. Ember wasn’t completely in the dark, since she was wholly aware her brother played for both teams. This was also why Em wanted me to meet Ash so badly and why she invited me to his party. Yeah, she tried to set her brother up, and it backfired. Horribly.

Even though Em intended to play matchmaker for Ash and me, Ash and Eli did not go over so well. Literally, she had no clue Eli swung that way (through no fault of her own, really) and had been silently pining for him since they met. And Ash, well, he knew this much about his sister, since he also was head-over-heels for his sister’s best friend, like some kind of romance trope. Between his sister’s longstanding crush and not knowing how Eli felt about it (or him, for that matter) Ash never made a move in any direction. Once the alcohol lowered his inhibition, Ash let my silent suggestion seep into his mind until he accepted my idea as his.

While I very much enjoyed firsthand at every available opportunity, secondhand was a convenient way to get full without getting my hands dirty (so to speak). Despite being the easiest method, I had no interest in coercing uninterested parties together. Morals aside, that proved itself to be unfulfilling and always a waste of my time. Eli being so receptive left me both pleasantly surprised and pleasantly full.

Eli sank back on the bed, still in his jeans from last night and looking especially sexy while disheveled instead of carefully put together. With a smile, I presented him with a glass of cold water and two painkillers. He raised a brow at my peace offering, so I shook the entire bottle of acetaminophen at him. He winced.

“Get your own if you don’t trust me. Or don’t. Suffer, if you wish,” I said with a shrug.

“Sorry,” Eli mumbled while unscrewing the cap of the bottled water. Then he blushed—blushed!—and popped the pills in his mouth.

If he kept this up, I’d either require a blissful taste of him before he left my presence or risk becoming ravenous. I seriously hoped for the former. If only he knew what he provided me right now, he wouldn’t apologize.

“I’ve got a rideshare coming. Then I’ll get out of your hair,” Eli said, putting the cap back on his bottle.

When I said nothing, Eli flicked his gaze up to meet mine. He had such lovely brown eyes. Not amazing nor breathtaking, but the warm, deep stare of a kind person.

“Anything for you, hubby,” I teased.

Ah, the blush. Not only that, but I could smell the sexual turmoil and inner conflict on him, sweet as a summer breeze. Normally, I had a much better handle on my outward response, but this man left me hungry. Remedying this wouldn’t be as simple as trotting down to the empty fridge. That relic only remained here for show (and sat unplugged ever since I realized how much it cut down on the electricity bill).

“I feel like I should tell you something,” Eli said, brows furrowing while his doubts spread. “I appreciate you not ditching me last night and think you’re a good friend, Rhory. Maybe even better than the people I already call friends.”

Oh, how I could not help smiling at that.

Eli mistook the gesture and continued to let me down gently. “After graduation, I’m getting my master’s in theology. Still haven’t decided what exactly I want to do with it, but… ministry has appealed to me for a long time. It’s why I’ve made a point not to date. I don’t want to set someone up for heartbreak and I don’t want a relationship to be what sways my opinion.”

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