Page 5 of Fu*kboys in Flannel

I can feel the chuckle rumble in Bennett’s chest as he moves up behind me and it takes everything in me not to smile when Grey scowls. If there's anything he hates more than wearing a shirt, it’s dealing with me. I’m actually surprised he’s here. Even though he’s a Raven, he doesn’t typically show up to any of their flashy parties. It’s just not his style, plus he’s two years older than me. I feel Bennett’s arm wrap around me, and his palm slide up my stomach, resting flat just below my breasts.

I suck in a sharp breath that makes my chest heave, which causes Grey to quirk an angry eyebrow at me.

Jesus, sorry for breathing.

He’s ready to snap a neck tonight and then it occurs to me that there’s only one reason Grey would be here, ready to bite everyone’s dick off.

I glance around the dimly lit party and look for her, using my movement as an excuse to rub my ass against Bennett’s thigh. Instead, my gaze halts at Remington sitting on one of the expensive leather couches. Sweet Mia is standing in front of him giggling girlishly as she lifts one of her high-heeled feet to rest on his thigh. I feel my face flush as I watch the intimate moment between them. Her long black hair falls over her shoulder as she shifts on her feet. He cups her ankle gently, pausing briefly to rub his thumb over the silver anklet that adorns it before unfastening the strap of her heel. His hand slides up her calf before she removes her foot and replaces it with the other one for him to repeat the motion.

I’m pretty sure they’re together, but neither of them will ever admit it if they are. There’s always been this chemistry between them that’s fascinating to watch. It's like they share a brain sometimes. She finishes his sentences, and he seemingly guesses her every movement. Remington is a grade A prick just like the rest of the Ravens, but he’s smitten with her. Mia always denies it, says it’s taboo, wrong, they would never. It’s Remington who gives it away. He watches over Mia like he’s obsessed with her, but there’s also a gentleness he possesses with her that is so unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Especially from a Raven. I never see him with random girls anymore, and that’s enough proof for me. Because random party skanks are the Ravens’ favorite hobby. He holds her heels in one of his hands and guides her toward the stairs to leave the party. It's early yet, but I remember Grey saying Remington was going down the mountain to pick up a new street bike tomorrow, and I guess even the almighty Ravens need their beauty sleep. Or they’re going home to fuck. I look around to see if his brother, Tanner, is around, but I don’t see him. He’s older than Remington, but he tries so hard to be just like his younger brother instead of the other way around. He’s a Raven, so the guys are kind of stuck with him, but I don’t get the vibe that they really like having him around.

I smirk around my straw when I feel Bennett use his free hand to grab my hip, pulling me tighter back against him. I purposely shift on my heels, rubbing my ass against him. I want him to snap, tell me how much he wants me, instead of making me choose. I tip my chin, pretending to be preoccupied with people watching.

I find what has Grey wrapped so tight when I see Emerson, Grey’s step-sister, dancing with his actual sister. I’m not sure how Emerson convinced Uncle Rhett to let her out of the house, but I’m sure I’ll hear all about it later tonight, when we get home. He usually keeps her on a short leash because he doesn’t want to deal with Grey’s temper. And now it’s clear why Grey is slumming it at a party when he’d much rather be working on the house he’s building for himself or restoring one of his old trucks. I notice that Grey’s sister Harlow is missing, but that doesn’t surprise me. She and Haley might be twins, but Uncle Rhett has very different rules for the two of them. I’d never say anything to anyone about it because it’s kind of the elephant in the room, but there’s a clear difference in the way the two of them are treated. Haley is tipsy, and I almost giggle at her disjointed movements. Her hair isn’t quite as bright as mine, but the short auburn locks sweep across her face as she nearly falls off the table. Emerson’s long, light blonde hair bounces with the movement, and so does her ample chest. She’s wearing my black strappy dress. I told her she could keep it, mostly because it's her favorite, and only a little because Grey told her she couldn't wear it out of the house. It’s long and has a slit cut straight up to the hip, showing off her athletic legs. She’s shorter than me, and even though she says she’s five-foot-six, I’m certain that’s only when she's in the four-inch heels I loaned her. Even though they’re twins, Harlow is on the shorter side and Haley is tall, like their brother. Well, not just like Grey, but she’s taller than any of us girls. I chuckle as Haley tries to adjust the miniskirt that she borrowed from Emerson and simultaneously accepts a shot from some guy I haven’t seen before. He has blonde shaggy hair, and he’s wearing a striped polo shirt. He must be new, because only two types of guys approach the Ravens’ girls. New to town, and completely stupid ones who approach them more than once. All the stupid ones are already dead.

New guy offers Emerson a shot glass, which she accepts but doesn’t drink. But she allows him to take her hand in his as she sways to the music. She looks over her shoulder in our direction and grins directly at Grey. And there goes Grey’s hat again, and not even a beat passes before he flips her off with both hands. He’d never admit it, but I know he has a thing for Emerson. The problem is, Rhett would murder him because they grew up together, and he thinks of Emerson as his own daughter. I would say even Haley gets away with more than Emerson does. But I think that has more to do with Grey than Rhett. Even when Emerson's mother left in the middle of the night when she was eight, Rhett took responsibility for her.

“I told those two to go home an hour ago,” Grey bites out under his breath, jabbing his pointer finger in Emerson and Haley's direction. Of course he did. No women that live in his house are allowed to have any fun, ever. Those are his rules, despite the fact that he’ll probably leave here tonight with multiple girls that he’ll never speak to again.

“Tell your sister I said hi,” I taunt him, setting my empty solo cup on the bar. I don’t need to specify that I’m talking about Emerson, because he hates when I call her that. Which is the only reason Haley and I do it so often.

I fully expect Grey to sling something hurtful back at me, but I never take it to heart. He’s just trying to hide the hard-on he has for his step-sister. Instead of verbally lashing out, he grips the countertop so hard that I’m surprised it doesn’t crumble under his fingertips as he snaps at Bennett, “Get her the fuck out of my face.” My stomach dips at the connotation. I’m Bennett’s problem now, and the concept both excites and scares the hell out of me.

It would sound harsh to someone who doesn't know Grey like we do. Grey isn’t as quick to throw a punch as Mason, but he’s not as in control of his emotions as Bennett is either. Bennett likes to incite fear, and Mason just likes to feel bones break beneath his hands. Bennett doesn’t flinch at Grey’s tone, but I can feel the tension between them. I’m not sure how much Grey knows about last weekend. He’s not the type to approach me about it. I’ve made my bed and he’ll let me lie in it.

I feel Bennett let a strand of my hair slide slowly across his finger as he watches Grey intently. He’s toying with both of us right now. Grey scowls at us before he practically throws a shot of vodka at the pretty brunette who’s done nothing wrong except order a drink and mentally plan her future with him. Some of the Ravens love the female attention they garner for simply existing. Grey only wants it at the end of the night, and if he had it his way, he wouldn't have to speak to them.

The brunette points to his heavily tattooed arm and opens her mouth to speak, but Grey cuts her off. “No they didn't hurt, no you can’t touch them.” She blinks in shock as if he just smacked her in the face. And I feel like if she doesn’t take the hint soon, he just might.

When she finally disappears into the crowd, Grey turns his attention back to us and I watch as he uses his discarded flannel to wipe off the bar. I can see that he wants to say something, and he sure as hell isn’t holding back to spare my feelings. He lifts his hat, running an agitated hand through his hair before tugging the bill down hard on his head.

Chestnut waves peek out of the side of the hat, and I try to hide my smile because in that moment he reminds me of the boy who used to let me, Haley, and Emerson drive his four wheelers. He always took the blame when Rhett got mad over the damage when we inevitably wrecked them. I almost laugh out loud at the memory, because it sounds sweet, until he’d hold it over our heads and make us do his chores. Haley and I would always do what he wanted because we were afraid of Rhett. Not Emerson, though. She’d get us all grounded just to go toe to toe with Grey.

My smile fades when Grey leans his elbow on the counter and snaps at me. “I warned you to stay off the Ravens’ dicks. And like a fucking dumbass, you rattled two of their cages.” My stomach sinks as he pulls a bottle of beer out from under the counter and pops the cap off. He brings it to his lips but doesn’t drink. Instead, he gives me a cruel smile. “If they rip you apart, I don’t want to see a single fucking tear.”

I haven’t cried to Grey in a long time, and he can hold his breath if he thinks I ever will again.

There’s no time to retort because Bennett scoops me up, throwing me over his shoulder, his hand resting against my ass cheek. I suspect this isn’t some valiant effort to protect me from Grey. I’m guessing he gets jealous when he’s not the one being cruel to me. I don’t protest, but instead swat at his ass as I hang down his back. I’m not sure where we’re going, I just know it’s exactly where I need to go. I need to get this sorted out with him and Mason. I don’t even understand it myself. I’ve tried to rationalize it over and over, that I should be able to choose between them. Surely one of them has something the other one doesn’t. Maybe if I could get the intense attraction I have to both of them out of the way, I could see more clearly what I need. What they need. But right now, I can’t see one without the other. I can’t see myself without either of them. The bottom line is that I want both of these assholes. And if I’m honest, their domineering attitudes and dickish behavior don’t deter me. No matter how terrible they are, no matter how much they piss me off, they still make me wet.

My stomach clenches as a thought flashes through my mind.

Mason.

I feel Bennett shoulder through a heavy door and as soon as the summer night air hits me, I realize we’re in the backyard. It’s dark, and I realize that it’s on purpose, because their entire property is outfitted with lighting. When he sets me down, I’m still a little dizzy from the way he hauled me out here. He must sense my unsteadiness because he catches me by the elbow before I stumble and fall into the in-ground pool.

“Where’s Mason?” My voice is clearly audible because the party is nothing but a muffled hum of bass and chatter.

My eyes scan the lit pool until I see him. His dark hair is wet, and his eyes devour me, taking in every inch of my exposed skin. “Our toy finally decided to come out and play.” Mason's voice is nothing but bitter. And I’m more fucked in the head than I thought because my nipples tighten and my pussy pulses at the connotation.

Our toy. Not his. Theirs to play with. It feels normal, and it shouldn’t. I should feel shame for wanting to let one of them use me, let alone both of them. I know that’s all it’ll ever be, because that’s what the Ravens do after all. But I don’t feel ashamed at all. I don’t care, and all I feel is want and need.

I feel Bennett’s chest press against my back and his hand moves around to the front of my neck, squeezing hard as his mouth drops to my shoulder to kiss the bare skin. I shiver at the mixed signals. His kiss is so gentle, like he’s cherishing the feel of my body, like he’s never felt another woman beneath his mouth. But his grip on my throat is angry, and I know now that whatever happens between us, he’s going to make sure I regret it. I’m absolutely sure that the combination of his fingers and Mason’s heated gaze will be my downfall.

Bennett smiles against my shoulder when I gasp for the breath he’s stolen from my lungs before he says, “Why don’t we go for a swim?” I brace myself when I register his menacing tone. As soon as I hit the water, I realize that my matches, the ones I stupidly thought were going to set the Slade brothers’ whole world on fire, are no good in whatever game this is. I have the sinking feeling I’m nothing but a pawn who walked straight into their trap and set myself ablaze.

Chapter 4

Tessa