The Arrangement

The thought came and went so quickly, I wasn’t even sure it was my own.

See what they’re actually up to.

It was tempting, of course, Reading their work would be like getting a glimpse into each of their minds. Hell, I might even have some suggestions for them. They might not even mind it.

Or… they might mind it very much.

I turned away from the machine, realizing it was the best course of action. Maybe one day I’d get an invite. At least from one of them.

“C’mon you little piss-happy maniac,” I yawned, nudging Beast with my foot. Spinning on one heel, I started in the direction of my new room.

“Let’s go see what that four-poster bed is all about.”

Seventeen

KAYLEEN

Burke was still asleep when I slipped into his room the next morning. It was well after ten o’clock. The others had told me he was a late sleeper, but to me, this was ridiculous.

“Morning, big guy.”

He stirred from his slumber and twisted in my direction. One hand flew immediately over his eyes to shield them from the sun.

“What the—”

“Breakfast time,” I said, plopping a tray on the bed. “Five egg whites scrambled — barbaric, if you ask me — dry wheat toast and coffee. Oh yeah, and some hot sauce. Not sure which kind you wanted, so I brought the four different brands that we had.”

Burke sat up and rubbed at the back of his neck. He was shirtless, and that was nice. Very nice, actually. Possibly even pantsless beneath his sheets, but that was something I’d have to find out for myself.

“H—How’d you even get in here?”

I held up a very ornate, very cool piece of iron. “Skeleton key.”

“Skeleton key…” His eyes were just starting to open. “Where the hell’d you get a—”

“It’s been hanging from a peg in the kitchen,” I said, “the whole time I’ve worked here. I always wanted to know what it did.”

He took it from me with a grunt, turning it over and over in his hand a few times. When he handed it back, I swapped it for his coffee.

“Drink up,” I said. “And you might want to eat your eggs before they get cold.”

Burke exhaled mightily and dug in. He ate hungrily, shoving fluffy white forkfuls into his mouth while I watched every muscle of his body work.

Damn he’s big.

He really was. Bigger than any guy I’d ever dated. Burke had shoulders that went on for days, and two massive arms that rippled with muscle. But his chest and back… well, that’s where the real fun began. His pectorals were like two big mountains I could spend all night climbing up and down. Shit, his whole body looked like one big playground.

“You know, for authors and writers you guys are in some damned fine shape.”

He chewed through his first bite of toast and nodded. “We have a good home gym.”

I reached out and squeezed one of his arms. It was like grabbing a flagpole.

“Does it come with gamma radiation?”

“Maybe.”

“I might have to hit it, then. I could use some super-powers.”