Page 48 of Psycho Saviors

But none had ever drawn me in like Scarlet.

"She's gotten under our skin," I muttered to Kenny, causing him to glance up at me with slitted eyes. "That could be bad news for us."

The risks were not to be taken lightly. Getting attached to someone in our line of work was dangerous. We'd learned that lesson the hard way with Tessa and Cristian, how she'd destroyed him with ease. Not that that had stopped Cristian from claiming Scarlet, her wit and fiery spirit captivating him. And Tyrone, the pragmatist, was showing holes in his own armor, his odd affection for her now slightly visible. It was unlike him to get involved like this, which only emphasized how unique Scarlet truly was.

I closed my eyes, moments of our fun as she sucked me off and I had my way with her flashing behind my eyelids. The memory of her beneath my hands, writhing in pleasure despite herself, sent a jolt through me.

Maybe it was time to stop fighting this. If my brothers had already let her in, perhaps I could allow myself the same luxury. To feel something more.

"What do you think, Kenny?" I asked, scratching behind his ears. "Should I take a chance? Hope it doesn't blow up in my face?"

Kenny merely purred in response, but it was enough. I'd made my decision, hell, I'd made it when I'd told Tyrone something, and we'd consulted with Cristian before making plans. If Scarlet was going to be a part of our lives, I wanted more than just her body. I wanted to know her, to understand what made her tick, to see if the connection I felt was real or just a product of our unusual circumstances. We had a plan in motion, one that would reveal just who she was to us, and then we could really decide on her future.

I watched as Scarlet emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, and I couldn't help but notice how vulnerable she looked at this moment, her face soft and confused. But then she steeled her features, focusing on me as she jutted her chin out before closing the gap between us.

That fire was the reason we were all drawn to her.

"Here," I said, handing her my clothes and the pads I'd collected from her room.

She nodded, taking them without a word and disappearing back into the bathroom. When she returned, my jaw set, my breath catching to my surprise. She looked far too good in my clothes, the oversized t-shirt hanging off one shoulder.

"Come here," I said, patting the bed beside me.

Scarlet eyed me warily. "Why?"

"Just do it," I commanded, trying to keep my voice neutral.

She hesitated for a moment before complying, settling onto the bed next to me. I reached for the chocolate on the nightstand and offered it to her. She accepted, tearing into it, and my lip quirked. Hormones were a bitch.

I watched as Scarlet devoured the chocolate, nodding her enjoyment of it with a slight sound of delight. The sight stirred something in me, a mix of amusement and an odd warmth I wasn't accustomed to feeling.

"I've ordered actual dessert," I said, breaking the silence. "It's on the way."

A small smile tugged at her lips, and I found myself fighting the urge to return it. Instead, I reached out and tucked a damp strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary.

"Lie down," I instructed, and she narrowed her eyes before doing as told, her body tense. I shifted my position and put a pillow in my lap.

"Lay here."

She hesitated before shifting her head into my lap, laying on her side as she broke another piece of chocolate off. Kenny shifted to curl up in front of her stomach, as if he sensed her discomfort.

I began stroking her hair, feeling the silky strands between my fingers. The tension in her body slowly began to ebb away as I did so.

This felt comfortable, natural, and it only made more unease surface within me despite how content I felt with her like this. I'd never treated a woman with tenderness, but I wanted to see what it was like. I knew Cristian wouldn't be able to let her go. It was a dangerous path we were treading, but in that moment, I couldn't bring myself to care.

"So, do you own me as well?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm, breaking the comfortable moment.

I sighed as I stared down at her. Of course she was on guard, we all were. I couldn't just dive into treating her nicely and have her accept it. "No," I said finally. "I take what I want, always. But if I'm to have a woman, I guess I'd like her to want me, to choose to be with me, not submit."

Scarlet snorted. "Well, look at you, going against the norm. You sure as shit liked me submitting before."

"You were just a pet before," I said with a scoff, "something we were to use up while we had the time."

She stiffened at my words, but I continued stroking her hair.

"Not anymore," I added.

She sat up abruptly, confusion etched across her face. I couldn't help it as I stroked her cheek, wanting to feel her soft skin, and her brow creased.