“I could, but I guess I’ll just get a normal marked job. Maybe I’ll teach or be a healer? Hell, they’ll probably offer me a job at the council just because of my stupid marks,” I answer.
“There are some marked who take jobs in human society,” East says gently. I shake my head, pushing the foolish ideas away. I wasn’t going to be a normal human, I wasn’t born to be that.
“It’s okay, I think since being marked with all twelve I’ve accepted the fact my life is going to be different to what I thought it would be before,” I reply. I catch the concerned looks on the guys faces and decide that’s enough moping for now. “Ugh, sorry guys. Total downer on my own early birthday party. Let’s play a drinking game, shall we?” I ask, leaning forward and pouring drinks into all the glasses.
“What are we gonna play?” Locke asks, a roguish smile on his face. I think for a moment.
“Well, there’s the card game ones, but I’m not sure we have a deck here . . .,” I trail off, trying to figure out where, if at all, Mr. Daniels would leave a deck of cards.
“We could always play a game that doesn’t require cards,” Logan suggests.
“Like what?” I ask.
“Never have I ever?” he answers, a matching roguish smile taking over his face as is on his twin’s. East and Enzo groan.
“What?” I ask, looking at them.
“Logan or Locke always suggest it, they’re terrible,” East answers.
“You’re only saying that because you’re a man-whore that clearly gets drunk too easily,” Locke says, downing half of his drink. Man-whore? I look across at the four guys sitting with me. I really don’t want to know all the things they’ve done, knowing the kind of statements that are normally made in this game.
“Maybe this isn’t such a clever idea?” I suggest.
“Kenzie, what dirty secrets are you trying to hide from us?” Logan teases. I laugh so hard and suddenly, a snort escapes. I pull a mortified face as my eyes meet East’s who laughs at me.
“Yeah, not so many dirty secrets here,” I reply, trying to swiftly move on from the snort laughter.
“Did you just snort?” Locke asks. Or not.
“Just a little,” I reply, trying to laugh it off. I take a big drink from my glass of rum.
“Well, wasn’t that adorable?” Enzo says.
“Please shut up now,” I plead, looking between them all.
“Fine, we’ll shut up, but we’re playing a drinking game,” Logan replies.
“I know where the cards are,” Enzo adds, moving away from the window and heading for Mr. Daniels’ room. I watch the bedroom door, waiting for Enzo to return.
“The fact you know where stuff is in Mr. Daniels’ bedroom is beyond creepy,” I mutter, as Enzo walks back in with the deck of cards.
“Hey now, don’t try and draw attention away from the fact you are well and truly about to get smashed losing this game, Mackenzie,” he says, laying the cards out across the coffee table.
“What are we playing?” I ask.
“You’re going to ride the bus,” he answers.
“Ride the bus?” I ask quizzically, looking at the cards faced down across the table. He flips the first card over, a seven.
“Which card on the next row and will it be higher or lower, Mackenzie?” he questions.
“The one closer to me, and Higher?” I guess. He flips over the card. A six.
“Drink up, Kenz,” Logan says, nudging my drink towards me. I look at the seven rows of cards that I’m guessing I have to make it through.
“I have to get them all right to finish, right?” I ask, the dread already pooling in my stomach. Enzo nods.
“Let’s hope you can hold your booze better than the twins can,” East says, throwing an arm over my shoulders. I sink into him and take a sip of my drink, feeling the warmth of his body against mine warm me outside, as the drink warms me from inside.
Enzo replaces the first two cards that were flipped for me to start again.
“Ready?”
Ready to guess them all wrong and get blindly drunk? Yeah sure, why not.
“Bring it,” I mutter. He flips the new first card over.
Chapter 31
Kenzie
Waking up sandwiched between the twins probably would have been nice if it wasn’t for Logan’s snores in my ear. I force open my eyes, despite the banging already settling into my head and look down. At least, I’m still dressed. I’ve had enough awkward nudity recently to last a lifetime.
I roll over closer to Locke to escape Logan’s soft snoring, only to find his gentle snores match his twin’s. Great. I slide down to the bottom of the bed and climb off, coming to a halt when I realise where I am. Shit, why are we sleeping in Mr. Daniels’ room? I look around at the practically bare room. No wonder Enzo found the cards so easily, there’s barely anything in here.
Slinking quietly out the door, I creep through the cabin, noting a sleeping Enzo on the sofa as I pass him by. I reach my bedroom, and slip inside, closing the door softly behind me. I turn to face the room and let out a half-scream, smacking my hand over my mouth to cut it off before I wake anyone.
Holy shit.
Easton Black is lying naked in my bed.
Completely fucking naked.
I stand there gaping, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. After a few seconds, I realise he’s asleep, the slight movement of his sculpted chest rising and falling. At least, I didn’t wake him. I can’t help but run my eyes across him one last time, and then turn to leave.
“Morning, Kenzie,” East’s voice rumbles from behind me as I reach for the door handle. Shit.
“Morning, East,” I choke out.
“Enjoy the view?” he asks.
“View?”
“Don’t play innocent now, Kenz. I know you looked,” he teases.
“I didn’t—”
“You’re more than welcome to continue your perusal,” he adds, cutting off my denial. I turn around, deliberately keeping my eyes on his face.
“I don’t know what you mean, East, but I do need to grab some clothes. Maybe you could do the same?” I suggest, walking across to the chest of drawers. I rifle through them hastily grabbing underwear, jeans, and a black camisole top. I feel East before I hear him, his hot breath on my neck, as his hands slide around my waist.