Page 89 of Wrathful Malice
Soul laughs. “Noted.”
“Listen, I gotta go. I need to let Apple know I can’t go to LA with her, and that’s not a conversation I’m looking forward to.”
“Aw, is she that attached to your dick already?”
“She is, but that’s not the point,” I joke. “Seriously, though, if I can’t go with her, I don’t want her going. And she’s not gonna be okay with that. I have to figure out how to convince her to stay.”
“Yeah, good luck with that. Make sure she knows to call me and let me know where your body is when she’s done with you because, Mal, that isn’t going to go well.”
“Fuck off,” I snap.
“Later, man,” he says before disconnecting the call.
I pocket my cell and tip my head back to stare at the window of our room. When we arrived at the Blue Rose, I made a point of knowing exactly where it is so if I had to step outside for anything, I could still keep an eye on Apple.
As I make my way inside, I try to come up with a way to tell her she can’t go. By the time I reach our floor, I have nothing. There is no good way to tell someone they can’t follow their dreams. There’s definitely no way to do it and still keep them in your life.
Fuck.
I silently walk down the hall toward our room and when I round the corner and our door is in sight, my blood boils.
Kyle is exiting the room, a smile tugging on his lips. I know that smile, and I fucking hate that he’s wearing it.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I snarl as I stalk closer.
Kyle whirls around, and he smirks when he sees me. “Leaving.”
My brain screams at me to pummel the smirk off his face, but the part of me that knows that would only hurt Apple wins out, and a growl erupts from deep in my throat instead. “What were you doing in the room?” I demand as I lean into his face.
Kyle’s expression falters, and he raises his hands between us. “Nothing, man, chill. I just wanted to talk to her about our duet.”
I stare at him for a moment, weighing his words against what I know about the human race, but before I can call him on his bullshit, the hotel room door swings open, and Apple appears, holding the ice bucket.
She darts her eyes from me to Kyle and back again. “What’s going on?”
I straighten, cracking my knuckles as I do. “Nothing, babe.” I turn to face her with a smile and reach for the bucket. “Here, I’ll go get that for ya.”
Her face lights up and after she hands it to me, she flattens her palm on my chest. “Thanks. I just ordered room service,” she purrs. “So, make it quick.”
I press my lips to her for a quick kiss, but my eyes slide to Kyle. The smirk he was sporting has disintegrated into a look of disgust, and I can’t help but wonder why.
Because you’re gonna fuck her tonight and not him.
Kyle shoves his hands into his pockets. “I’ll see ya tomorrow at practice, Apple,” he says and hastily makes his way down the hall.
“What was that all about?” she asks me when he’s out of sight.
“I told you, he wants in your pants. Pretty sure he’s not at all thrilled that it’s my cock you want.”
Apple rolls her eyes. “Whatever.” She smacks me lightly on the chest. “Hurry up and get the ice. Our food will be here soon.”
I mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
She giggles as she disappears into the room. I double-time it to the ice machine two floors down—why the fuck isn’t there one on every floor? —and when I return, I slide my key into the door, push it open, and swallow my tongue.
Apple is bent over the room service cart, her ass cheeks peeking out from beneath a pair of lace panties, and she’s holding the domed lid from a plate and inhaling deeply.
“That is a sight I could get used to,” I murmur as I carry the ice to the small table and set it down.