Cards of Love: The Devil (Devil's Playground #1)(42)

“Front door works just fine, man.”

He says nothing.

I glance at the clock on the nightstand. It’s past midnight. Cain’s spent the night a few times, but he’s never arrived here this late.

And he’s certainly never crawled through my window before.

Not that I’m upset. With my dad gone for business three weeks out of the month, Cain knows he’s welcome here whenever he wants. He’s the only one I bend the rules for.

Sitting up in bed, I lean against my headboard. “What’s up?”

I’m not oblivious to Cain being out of sorts, I just know he’s more likely to talk if I act like everything’s normal.

“Think you can get Mrs. Miller to come over?” His voice is so low I almost don’t hear him.

Considering her husband gave her a black eye for not answering her phone yesterday, I doubt it.

I don’t have romantic feelings for Mrs. Miller, but I do have a fondness for her. I guess you can say I consider her somewhat of a maternal figure. Which is probably all kinds of screwed up considering I’ve fucked her more times than I can count.

That said, I told her I’d keep the shit that goes on with her husband to myself. And unlike most people would if they knew, I don’t judge her for cheating on her husband or for fucking high school students.

She’s got her own demons, just like everyone else.

Reaching for my cigarettes, I bring one to my lips and light it. “Probably not. It’s late.”

Back turned to me, he grips the windowsill. “Is it?”

Not many things put me on edge. But Cain’s recent mood swings do. I knew he was a ticking time bomb, but he should be feeling better now that I’ve given him an outlet for his issues.

Instead, he’s unraveling a little more each day. The only time he’s not is after I tie him up and get him off.

He’s content after that. Stable. Usually hangs out in my bed with me and watches the fish…talking about anything and everything that comes to his mind.

Until he goes home, goes to school…and the cycle starts all over again.

“It’s almost one in the morning.”

“Oh.” He blows out a shaky breath. “Is there someone else we can call? A girl who’d be down to fuck around tonight?”

I don’t care that he wants to fuck a girl. Hell, I’m down to fuck a few girls tonight. But the vibe he’s putting off currently doesn’t sit well with me.

“I know plenty of girls, man. But before we schedule the orgy…why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”

He stops pacing. “Nothing. I just…I need…” His voice trails off and he bows his head.

My chest tightens as I continue staring at him. I’ve always been perceptive when it comes to other people’s emotions. I’m not a bleeding heart by any means. Quite the contrary—I don’t give a shit about most people until they give me a reason to. However, I’m sensitive to the slightest shift in their demeanor.

Probably has to do with my mother ignoring my existence. It forced me to spend a lot of time observing her and her druggie friends, which in turn made me somewhat of a people watcher.

Cain’s the only one who’s ever truly fascinated me though. The first time I saw him—or rather took an active interest in him—he was in a faculty room—stuffing ballots into a locked box so he could win the race for student body president.

But that wasn’t what sparked the fire…it was what he did after. From my hidden spot behind a bookcase where I made Mrs. Miller give me head moments prior, I watched in amusement as Cain unzipped his pants, took out his dick, and proceeded to jerk off.

Before that incident, I’d never known anyone other than me who got a boner from doing fucked-up things. But there was Mr. Debate Team Captain himself, violently choking the chicken while he cursed Gerald Douglas—a student with special needs—to hell and back for daring to go against him in the race for student body president.

The icing on the cake was when he walked over to the fridge and jizzed inside Mrs. Douglas’—the school music teacher as well as his opponent’s mother—jelly and fluff sandwich.

We might be opposites, but deep down—Cain’s my kindred spirit if there ever was one.

Luckily, I knew just the right outlet for him…one that wouldn’t result in the mass homicide he was clearly heading for. The guy has dreams and aspirations after all.

Unfortunately for him, it’s only making him come apart at the seams.

And unfortunately for me…I seemed to have developed serious feelings for the bastard. Well, feelings other than wondering what makes him tick…and wanting to fuck his asshole so I can see if it’s wound as tight as the rest of him is.

Taking a long drag off my cigarette, I study him. “Look, you’re obviously going through some shit.”

Silence.

I’m not the type to feed into people’s dramatics, but as per fucking usual, Cain’s an exception to the rule. For reasons I don’t understand, he’s gotten under my skin.

Rising off the bed, I walk over to him, knowing it will end in either one of two ways. With my fist in his mouth or his dick in mine as we battle it out. Either one is fine by me. Thanks to my nap I’m well rested.

I grab his shoulder. “Ca—”