Chapter 86: Trey: Runs In The Blood

TREY

Sadie leans closer, her fingers settling on my shirt as her eyes drop to my mouth. "Will that make you feel better?"

Honestly? I’d settle for just not thinking about any of those people for a while. She thinks I should rise above it, be the bigger person. Yeah, no. If they’re gonna be shitty, I’ll be worse. I can build a good life and still want theirs to fall apart because of me. Both things can be true.

I push her hair back, my hand sliding to her cheek, pulling her in. "You have no idea."

Her gaze goes soft right before she kisses me, and her lips are warm enough that I actually close my eyes for a second. I let the kiss linger before returning it, my hand still against her cheek as I draw her closer. Her fingers fist my shirt, and I feel the pull against my chest.

After everything I just told her, she still wants more of me. My arm slides lower around her waist, pulling her in, matching her pace.

She said she’s on my side. Said she’d hate them with me, and I don’t think she gets how literally I’m taking that. I’m already thinking about next week, next month, every time something sets me off and I want her next to me for it. She signed up for this now, whether she realized it or not.

Her grip on my shirt tightens, and I kiss her harder. I want her hands on me like that, that mouth telling me what she’s thinking before she tells anyone else. She called herself loyal. Fine by me. I’m selfish enough to want all of it.

I take her lower lip between my teeth, holding her closer when she makes a sound against me. Her hand grips my shoulder, and I bite a little harder before the taste of blood makes me stop. My tongue brushes it away before I lift my head enough to meet her eyes.

"Don’t betray me, Sadie. You know things about me now that could really fuck me up."

Nobody else gets this much of me. She’s the first, and I’m trusting her to understand what that means.

"Use any of it against me, and don’t expect caring about you to stop me from making you regret it. You get that, right?"

She nods and kisses me before I can say anything else. That’s one way to handle me, and she’s picking it up worryingly fast. I want more than kissing, though. I want her whimpering. I want to map out every inch of her skin. I want those lips wrapped around my cock.

With an arm around her, I turn us onto the bed. She gasps when her back meets the mattress, catching my shoulders as I settle above her.

I lift my head and take a second to look at her. Her eyes stay open, her cheeks flushed, and there’s nothing guarded about the way she looks at me.

Why the fuck didn’t I take her from Ezra sooner? Why did I spend two years feeling guilty about interfering with fate? Well, fate can try now, but I’m sure as hell gonna win.

I close the distance with a hard kiss, and her fingers travel up my neck, threading into my hair. She pulls, but I take her wrists and lower her hands onto the pillow above her head.

"Keep those here."

My lips return to hers before moving along her jaw, and she shifts beneath me when I kiss her neck. I follow the warmth of her skin toward her neckline, feeling her breath catch against me.

"Trey, I can’t..."

A knock at the door cuts her off.

Sadie goes still, but I release her wrists and slide my hands beneath her knees, bringing her legs around my waist.

Whoever it is can develop some patience. If that’s too difficult, there are plenty of other doors in this house to bother.

Another knock lands, louder than the first, and Trex’s growl builds inside my head.

[What uncultured swine keeps knocking?] He stirs violently inside me as he picks up the scent. [That woman.]

"Fuck off!" I shout towards the door.

"Open up, Trey."

Celia. As if the knocking wasn’t enough, I get to hear her voice, too. Trex’s growl swells inside me while I slowly straighten onto my knees, still between Sadie’s legs.

Her cheeks are red, her hair spread across my pillow, and I’d rather stay here looking at her than spend a second with the woman outside. Unfortunately, Celia has never let being unwanted interfere with a visit.

"Who is that?" Sadie asks, pulling her shirt back into place.

I lick my lips and climb off the bed. "Stay here."

Another knock is coming when I reach the door. I open it before she can land it, leaving her hand raised between us.

"Took you long enough," she says, glaring at me.

Even if she weren’t Ezra’s mother, I’d find this woman very irritating. She could ask for directions and make me want to send her somewhere with no roads.

I shove my hands into my pockets. "Why are you banging on my door?"

"I was told you came home." She folds her arms. "You’re supposed to inform me when you visit. We’ve discussed this."

"You’ve discussed it. I don’t remember agreeing."

"Trey—"

"What do you need the announcement for? I thought keeping my father entertained was enough responsibility for you."

Her mouth tightens, preparing an answer I have no interest in hearing. Sadie is waiting on the bed, and I could be kissing her instead of standing here. There’s very little competition between those options.

I’m going back to her as soon as this woman finishes pretending she has a reason to be at my door. Then I’m locking it.

"Anything else?" I ask. "You’ve confirmed I’m alive and on the property."

"You brought a guest." Celia tries to see over my shoulder. "Where is she?"

She steps forward, and I plant a hand against the doorframe, blocking the space she’s decided belongs to her.

"What are you doing?" she demands. "Tell your guest to come out. I want to see her."

[Five days,] Trex rumbles. [You’ve kept me from running for five days. Let me out now. Your father is gone. We can eat her.]

He’s forgetting the cameras along the hallway. He’s also overestimating how much I’m willing to put in my mouth. Not one bone of this woman is going into us. He can find something less objectionable to put in our stomach.

I shoot her a warning glare. "My guest is none of your business."

"Beg your pardon?"

"I don’t question everyone you bring here, do I?"

"Trey, I’m the Luna. Our rank—"

"Not for long."

Her mouth opens, then closes. "What is that supposed to mean? Have you no respect for me?"

"You know I don’t. Every time you come looking for it, I start wondering whether you have any respect for yourself either." I smile at her. "You’re replaceable, Celia. My mother was here when he found you. What makes you think he’s finished looking?"

She starts to answer, and I cut across her.

"I’m visiting my grandma. I’m not here to report to you or spend the afternoon reminding you of that. Move away from my door."

Celia holds my eyes for a while, giving me ample time to wonder whether she expects the glare to accomplish something.

"You haven’t changed," she finally says. "You’re almost graduating, and I thought you might finally grow up." She folds her arms tighter. "Ezra’s younger than you, but he’s more mature. Doesn’t that embarrass you?"

Comparing me to Ezra isn’t going to get her the reaction she wants, but she’s welcome to keep wasting her breath.

"I’ve been in this house for fifteen years, Trey. Do you honestly think I’m going anywhere?" Her chin lifts. "I’m not. Now get your guest out here, or you know exactly how I handle things with you."

"Respectfully, I need you to fuck—"

"You wanted to see me?"

Sadie’s voice makes me turn, my fingers tightening against the doorframe while I swallow the response that would get me into trouble with her.

I told her to stay put. I was handling this, and now she’s beside me, giving Celia exactly what she wanted.

Celia’s eyes widen, then her mouth twists.

"You?"

Sadie barely gets a chance to answer before Celia turns on me.

"You brought your brother’s..." She stops long enough that I wonder whether she needs help finishing. "Mate?"

I move Sadie behind me with one hand, blocking Celia’s view of her. "Ezra must not be keeping you up to date."

"What?" she asks, her brows pulling together.

Wow. Ezra really makes dumb decisions all the time.

"Not exactly mother of the year, are you?" I give her a smile. "Though I suppose keeping up with your son is difficult when you’re this obsessed with me."