In Peace Lies Havoc (Midnight Mayhem #1)(41)

A chuckle breaks out behind me, and I go to pull away, knowing that we’ve been caught. Only King’s hand flies to the back of my neck to hold me there. He deepens the kiss, so I wrap my arms around his neck.

Kyrin is sitting at the table, texting on his phone, like what just happened didn’t surprise him. I’m guessing not much does.

“King!” Keaton calls out from the top of the stairs behind me.

Kingston takes his eyes away from me as they go up to where Keaton is. He taps my leg, and I swing off him, brushing my hair out of my face. I try to ignore how the blood rushing around my insides is making my ears throb, but it’s a little hard when his kisses are like heroin, taking hold of my control and smashing it to itty bitty pieces. King says nothing as he disappears upstairs, taking my pride with him.

I can’t believe I kissed him. I can’t blame it on the hype of the environment either. I was stone-cold sober and normal.

“Don’t get too excited,” Kyrin says. His tone is bored, his eyes never moving up from his phone. It’s probably the most Kyrin has ever said to me.

“I’m not.”

Finally, he lifts his eyes to mine. Kyrin’s features are as sharp as a samurai sword. He’s almost too pretty to be human. His eyelashes are so black and thick that it looks like he’s always wearing eyeliner and mascara. But he’s scary. “King never does anything without a reason, much less a girl. Like you. And no offense,” his eyes go up and down my body, making me squirm in self-consciousness, “but you’re not his usual type.”

“Correction,” Killian calls out from the front. “He doesn’t have a type.”

I shuffle away from Kyrin. He goes back to doing whatever it was that he was doing, and I make my way to the front of the RV, sitting in the passenger seat.

“Don’t take anything that Ky says personally. He doesn’t have good people skills.”

“I figured that out. Are you the outcast Brother?” I joke, putting my feet onto the dash and embracing the afternoon sun that’s warming my skin.

Killian laughs. “I’ve been told that many times.”

“So, what’s the deal with the whole Brothers of Kiznitch thing?” I finally ask the question that’s been poking around in my brain since finding out.

Killian doesn’t answer, and for a second, I don’t think he’s going to, until he simply says, “It’s a long story.”

I let the silence settle around us. I like silence. I need to be able to sit in silence with people, and if I can’t, then I can’t be around those people. Silence is the most underrated sound. “What Kyrin meant to say was that King doesn’t do the whole exclusivity thing. If you’re with him, you have to know that he’s never fully yours.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “We kissed.” I play it off as if it’s nothing, ignoring my heart beating in my chest and my stomach curling.

“Yeah, it shocked me because King doesn’t kiss. Ever.” Killian snorts. “And that was a kiss that was hot enough to be turned into porn.” My eyes fly up to the rearview mirror and then go back to the road. “Just know that he’s never had a girlfriend. Ever. There will never be a girlfriend as far as King goes. As long as you’re cool with that, then you’re good.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I swallow past the boulder in my throat. I’m a damn masochist because the pain that comes with this knowledge doesn’t stop me from asking questions, knowing that the answers are going to hurt me.

He shrugs. “Is it hard to believe that I don’t want you to get hurt?”

“Yes,” I answer instantly. “Because you guys had me locked in a cell for a whole week. So yeah, it does.”

Killian laughs. “Well, you remember that next time you have your tongue down the devil’s throat.” He chuckles. “All things sinister taste like honey.”

I sigh, resting my head on the back of the chair. I silently vow to myself that I won’t kiss King again.





We’re in Texas and the location crew has already started setting up the equipment. We got in late last night, and, somehow, between us arriving, sleeping, and waking, the crew has already partially set up the monstrous tent. Texas is hot. So hot that I can barely damn well breathe, so I’m making my way through the RV in my sports bra and little shorts. Sweat is pouring out of my flesh everywhere, and if something doesn’t cool me down fast, I think I might die. The front door swings open, and King is standing there shirtless with cotton shorts on that hang nicely off his hips. His hair is in disarray all over his head and sweat slicks over his muscled torso.

Focus.

“Why is it so hot?”

King’s eyes go up and down my body before coming back to my eyes. “Because Texas.”

“No, I mean, do we have air-con in here? I might die.”

“If only,” he mumbles, climbing up the steps that bring him into the RV. “Get your bikini. We’re going to the waterhole while we wait for the crew to set up the generator.”

I dash into my room and grab the first bikini I can find, slipping it on. Nothing fancy. Just a yellow and white two-piece. I take a couple of bottled waters out of the fridge before slipping on some little white ripped shorts and a tank. I’m taking a sip of water and waiting for King outside when he finally emerges. I fall into step beside him.