Gypsy Moon (All The Pretty Monsters #4)(27)

It’s then I realize what he said this morning about finally putting all the furniture where it goes to get it out of this basement. Because apparently he’s giving it to me to grow my apple trees.

No one ever wants me to grow the apples. Everyone likes the oranges.

I could even grow the taller trees in here, because there’s so much more height down here, instead of only using my dwarf seedlings that take so much more time and care just to get a single blossom from.

“But you prefer oranges,” I finally say like I’m convinced I heard wrong, trying not to get too excited about this really perfect space.

“If you want to grow oranges, fine. It’s your basement, Violet. Apples or oranges or both—your choice.”

For a moment longer, I stare at the very tempting space.

“It’s going to take me a lot of lights to grow the trees here. You’ll have to tell me how it affects the power bill, and—”

“Violet,” he says like he can’t believe I’m bringing up financial terms, “I’ve ordered the lights you need in accordance to what you already owned in your house. I can foot the bill. Just toss me some apples on occasion,” he adds on a lighter note.

I turn around and glance at his mostly stoic expression.

Without thinking about it too hard, I drag him down to me by his neck, and he comes all too willingly, lips crashing against mine as he lifts me from the ground.

Like he’s just been waiting for the signal, he’s inside me before my back hits the wall.





CHAPTER 7





DAMIEN


“It’s been two days, and it seems as though my chocolate has hardly been touched,” I tell Arion, not even surprised to find him as he drops down from nowhere and follows me inside Vance’s house. “See?” I say, pointing at the piles of it I could see through the window outside.

He says nothing as he goes to take a seat, steepling his hands in front of his face, as if he’s lost in thought. It’s scary when Arion thinks. Something diabolical always follows, and it usually turns into a hell of a mess.

“Has she even left his bloody house?” I go on, annoyed that Vance is busy compensating in our absence.

“He’s doing something right. I’m the one who always does things right. Not Vance. Vance doesn’t even try,” Arion grumbles, sitting back like he’s just as perplexed as I am. “As young, innocent, and timid as she is, she should be putty in my hand by now.”

“Sure,” I scoff. “You’re the fool who doesn’t realize she’s not timid unless she’s scared out of her wits.”

I grow more serious when the distinct scent of active pheromones catches my attention.

Bloody fucking bastard. I shared her with him, and he’s somewhere keeping her to himself.

The barest of giggles drifts through the room, sounding almost buried.

Arion is gone in the next instant, a blur of motion even to my eyes.

I follow the stench of sex, reminding myself my probation is temporary. The best part about Violet is that it’s hard for her to stay angry, and she doesn’t really punish us by any true standard of measure.

I finally make my way down to the basement, following the giggles that have turned into moans. Arion is at the bottom of the stairs, already watching, as Vance slowly drives in and out of Violet, his eyes devoted to her. He doesn’t even glance up to see us, as he savors each fucking selfish stroke.

Blankets are spread all over the floor like the concrete can be made softer by a quilted layer or two. There’s absolutely nothing romantic about fucking a girl on pallets in a semi-dark basement with boxes of lights strewn everywhere.

And my chocolate?! They’ve been eating some of the chocolate-covered strawberries, undoubtedly bloody feeding them to each other like honeymooners, and drinking the wine I sent over as well.

He’s not supposed to be rewarded for my actions, damn it.

Her fingers are twisted in his hair when she finally makes her telling, sweet little sound, finding her moment, as Vance’s thrusts grow more insistent.

Her head tilts back and her eyes open like she finally senses us, and she stares directly at Arion for a moment. Vance stares between their bodies, watching himself disappear inside her over and over.

Her eyes stay locked on Arion’s very intent ones for a second longer, before they flick to mine almost dismissively, as though she’s no longer surprised when she finds me watching.

I’m unsure whether or not this is progress, since my dick is dry and she’s not extending an invitation. Neither is the stingy Van Helsing.

All her attention returns to Vance as she pulls him down, and he kisses her the way I want to kiss her, as he groans into her mouth, his thrusts finally stilling, while he simply drinks her in.

Her breasts barely peek out from his chest when he moves his arm out of the way, shoving one hand into her hair to draw her as close as possible. Like she’s finally his.

“I distinctly remember extending an invitation to you,” I remind him as I glance around at the mostly bare room.

“How do I get from here to there?” Arion asks more seriously, pointing at where he’s standing to where Vance is comfortably lounging between her legs.

Vance makes a frustrated sound as he looks up from kissing Violet.

“Maybe this is why it only almost worked,” Violet mutters almost too low for me to overhear.