Page 16 of Inked Beasts

“What? No.”

“I was just thinking about the logistics of trying to move an animal here.”

“Oh, right. Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about that.” I make a face. “Scott doesn’t like animals.”

“What the fuck.”

I laugh again. “I know. That should have been a red flag right there.”

“I know I’m biased—but, Lex, I’m glad you’re away from him.”

I don’t respond, because I still need to process it all; but I can’t help thinking about how I felt just now having dinner with Kai and Thorn’s parents, who’ve always welcomed me like family, contrasted with the cold, formal dinners Scott and I sometimes shared with his parents, where I always felt like an outsider.

“Do you want to come to my place?” Kai asks.

I hesitate. “I’d love to see it, but I’m pretty beat. I think I need to just crash for the night. Clare Hoffman said she had a room available for me.”

“Okay.”

His easy acquiescence makes me a tiny bit suspicious, but then I remember the way he kissed me this afternoon, the way he took care of me, and my heart melts all over again.

When we arrive at Belle Epoque resort, Kai lets me have my carry-on bag, but takes the other two. I give my name to the woman working at the front desk, and she instantly registers recognition. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Arden.”

“Call me Alex.” Lexy belongs to the past, and Alexandra lived in Scott’s world. I don’t mind if the men still call me Lexy, but Alex feels like the right name for this new chapter of my life.

“Nice to meet you. Follow me, and I’ll show you to your room.”

We follow her through a series of hallways, winding toward the back of the building. The unused guest room is indeed very near the kitchen, but it has its own bathroom and a mini fridge, so I don’t mind at all. It’s not as though I’ll be spending a lot of time in it during the day, and I can’t imagine the kitchen is that busy throughout the night, if it’s open at all. From what I could see, the resort is small by Vegas standards, a niche operation rather than the usual mega-building.

“You can call out to the front desk if you need anything,” the woman tells me. “I’ll let you get settled.” She closes the door behind her, leaving me and Kai alone.

KAI

“Do you want me to go?” I ask.

Lexy’s expression changes. She’s been in a state ever since we left my parents’ house, and I can make a pretty good guess about what’s on her mind. Everything that happened today, but especially what happened with me.

She blows out a breath. “I’m not sure what’s going on with all of you, exactly.”

“With Thorn, Gage, and me? We all want to fuck you.”

She stares at me. “You talked about it?”

“Don’t need to. I know them.” My literal brother and my brother of the heart, men I’ve known all their lives, or nearly so. It’s not difficult for me to predict how they’ll think and react in most any situation.

I saw how they were with Lexy this afternoon. And so did she.

If she didn’t have those kinds of feelings for them, she wouldn’t be all worked up about it. So I know what I need to say, even though I want to claim her for myself. But I have no right to do that.

“I’m not going to get in your way, Lexy. It’s your call. One of us, all of us, none of us, whatever.”

Her face softens. “Kai …”

I shake my head. “Would I love having you to myself? Yeah. So would Gage. So would Thorn. Any man would be lucky to have you, and we know better than most how special you are. But we’re not going to fight over you.”

Any other man on the planet, I’d fight. But not them.

Relief is plain on her face. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t ever want to come between you. I just … I need time to know how this is all going to work itself out.”

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