I move my chair back, and Thaddeus’ eyes snap to mine; he raises an eyebrow in question. He knows I hate him feeding on me. Orion, I can handle, he is gentle, but Thaddeus can be cruel and makes it hurt intentionally.
“She is scared,” I tell him.
“And you’re not?” he questions, knowing exactly how I feel.
“Not as scared as her,” I tell him as I step closer.
Thaddeus regards me carefully. “You’re still not touching her.” His eyes sparkle in mischief as he jerks me toward him, smashing his lips against mine. I groan. God, I missed him, every angry piece of him. He pulls away too quickly. Arousal floods the bond, and we both turn to see Evelyn watching us. Her thighs are pressed together tightly, and Orion smirks as he watches her reaction to us.
“You like when I kiss Ryland?” Thaddeus asks her, knowing full well she does like watching us.
Her face flushes at his words. Of course, she does, just like we all like watching her with each other. Her arousal is perfuming the room, such a sweet aroma. Thaddeus kisses my neck, his tongue runs over my mark, and I groan, pressing against him as I feel his magic wash over me, or the fog as Evelyn calls it.
His teeth sink into my neck as he tugs me closer, and I moan loudly. Pleasure rolls over me. Usually he doesn’t bother when he feeds on me, yet he enjoys Evelyn’s reaction to watching us. His tongue laps at my neck, yet I know his eyes are on her.
Thaddeus’ teeth leave my neck after a few minutes; the euphoric feeling goes with it, and I miss his touch instantly. Desire courses through me.
“Later, if you behave,” Thaddeus says, and my shoulders sag with disappointment. Orion, I can tell, doesn’t agree; he wants me punished for what happened to her. I will take whatever punishment they want to dish out as long as I can have her.
Stepping away, I move to Evelyn. She looks up at me, and I can see the longing on her face. She reaches her hand up as I lean down, my hands on the back of her chair but then, she hesitates and looks between Orion and Thaddeus.
She knows this is how Thaddeus is punishing me, and she doesn’t want to get me in more trouble. Thaddeus nods; her fingertips brush my cheek. Leaning down, I kiss her softly and Orion growls, stalking off out of the kitchen toward the living room.
“He is mad at me?” she asks, her voice sad.
“More me than you,” I tell her, and she nods in understanding.
“That’s enough; finish eating, Evelyn,” Thaddeus tells her, and she looks back at her plate, frowning.
“I’m not hungry,” she whispers, but picks up another piece anyway and bites into it.
Thaddeus turns around, turning the kettle on. “Coffee?” he asks, looking at me.
“I will make them,” I tell him, and he nods.
Evelyn eats and puts her plate in the sink. She looks to Thaddeus, waiting, not wanting to piss him off any more than he already is.
“You can go.”
She rushes out as soon as the words leave him. I can feel she wants to find Orion as she darts out, not looking back, which leaves me with Thaddeus.
“Be thankful Evelyn is here, Ryland, because right now, I want to kill you,” he says, burning anger through the bond.
“You’re not going to hurt her, are you?” I ask worriedly.
I can feel the darkness in him, but her presence seems to have a calming effect on him. He relishes everything about her; he is so caught up in her that I think he forgets he is mad at her, especially when she is like this, doing what he wants and not arguing back for once.
“No, I am angry, but I am relieved she is okay. Though, I would like to tan that ass of hers red,” he says. An image of her, bent over his knee hits me, and I feel my lips tug at the thought, my cock twitching in my pants.
“That might not be a punishment,” I smirk. Mates are made perfectly for us; if anything, it will probably turn her on.
“I would make it hurt,” he says, as the same thoughts run through his head, and he adjusts his pants which are growing tighter.
“And April?” I ask.
He growls, sending a shiver up my spine. I’m not game enough to ask again. I know whatever he has done must have made her suffer. I am surprised he actually let her live. None of us could understand Evelyn’s empathy toward the woman. She is too kind-hearted; she doesn’t want to hurt Lana even though the bitch deserves nothing but death in my eyes.
Humans are odd things to try and understand.
Walking out, I find Evelyn on the couch with Orion; she is sitting on his lap while he traces circles with his fingers on the skin of her thigh. He seems calm enough.
I have never felt anger like this from him before. Orion is always level-headed, but I have broken his trust. Sitting in the armchair away from her, Thaddeus sits beside her and Orion. I turn the news on to fill the silence.
Thaddeus runs his hand up her leg, and she shivers, resting her head on Orion’s shoulder, and I watch as he kisses her temple. She is exhausted and needs sleep.
“Sleep, Evelyn,” Thaddeus tells her, but she shakes her head. Evelyn is unsure.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her, confused when she tries to fight against it. She is completely exhausted, yet refuses to close her eyes; we can go longer without sleep, but Evelyn not so much.
“You’re worried I am going to leave?” Thaddeus asks, her eyes dart to him, and she nods. “I’m not going anywhere, little one; not after today,” he tells her. His hand runs up the inside of her thigh, and she shivers. Thaddeus’ lips turn up in a smirk. His eyes sparkle as he watches her reaction to him. “Want me to help you sleep?” he asks, gripping her hips and pulling her on his lap.