Tainted Kiss (Tainted Knights 1)

A delicious thrill shot down my spine just thinking of doing what he had said. Phone sex was something I’d never done, something I had never even been tempted to do. Yet, right then, I wanted to touch myself. I wanted to moan for him and tell him how I was rubbing my clit with my thumb while I fucked myself with two fingers.

I pressed my legs together as more wetness drenched my opening.

Someone coughed from somewhere on the bus, and he muttered a few explicit curses. “My balls are gonna turn blue and fall off if I don’t let you go now, doll. Try to get some sleep. I know I sure as fuck won’t be getting any tonight.”

“Think of me when you have a few free minutes,” I commanded in a voice that couldn’t hide how much I wanted him right then. “I’ll be thinking of you, too.”

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. You’re such a mean, little tease.” Despite his words, I heard the grin in his voice. “Goodnight, Santana.”

I found myself smiling. “Night, Kale.”

***

Two weeks passed. Then three turned into four, and four turned into seven. Time still felt like it was going by too slowly, but I only had two more weeks until Kale was home.

Kin and I were making plans to fly out and meet the guys a few days before the tour ended. We were keeping it a secret, hoping to surprise them. Emmie was helping us set it up. It was going to be so much fun to see Kale’s face when we showed up at one of their shows.

That Sunday night, I went to sleep without talking to Kale for the first time. I’d had a wedding to shoot, so I was out from six a.m. to two in the morning. I had taken pictures of the bridal party’s breakfast, of the bride getting ready, her having a few private moments with her parents. I’d taken over a thousand pictures of the wedding ceremony itself, and over ten thousand of the reception. It had been a beautiful day, and I was happy to catch the bride and groom’s special moments on film, but I was dragging by the time I got home.

Because I was working, I had kept my phone on silent and in my camera case. I was so exhausted I didn’t even think about taking a shower. I just took off my clothes and climbed into bed. I didn’t have a shoot scheduled for the next day, so I didn’t bother to set an alarm.

My sleep was deep and dreamless, but when I woke up the next morning, I didn’t feel rested. Mostly, I felt hungover, though I hadn’t touched a single drop of alcohol the night before. My head was throbbing, I felt itchy, and my stomach was definitely not happy with me.

Around noon, I dragged myself out of bed. My stomach was rumbling, and I didn’t know if it was because I was hungry or if I was coming down with something. Hoping for the former, I started to head toward the kitchen for a bowl of cereal.

I noticed the apartment was oddly quiet as soon as I opened my bedroom door. Not the kind of quiet when you were all alone, but the kind where people were trying to stay quiet on purpose. Figuring I was just out of it still, I trudged through the living room and into the kitchen.

I could smell coffee, so I knew Jenna was home. The chick had a serious addiction to caffeine, and I knew she wouldn’t just leave any sitting around in the pot for long.

I knew all about Jenna’s past now. I knew that she was a lesbian, that she’d had a girlfriend who had almost ruined her life because she’d gotten her addicted to drugs. She had been clean for eighteen months now and was holding strong.

As soon as I opened the kitchen door, I felt the tension. I lifted my head, taking in the room to find the source of the unease.

Jenna sat at the island in the middle of the room, a cup of coffee lifted to her lips. Angie sat across from her, biting her lip like it was the best thing she had ever tasted. Kin sat beside her stepsister, a newspaper in front of her as she ate a bowl of cereal. The look on her face was guarded.

Watching her lift a spoonful of what appeared to be shredded wheat to

her mouth, my stomach rumbled in a disagreeing way. Nausea roiled around like it was on some crazy, looping roller coaster.

Maybe breakfast wasn’t a good idea, after all.

I crossed to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. Taking a sip, some of the nausea eased as I moved to the island to take the only extra seat.

“You three are awfully quiet,” I muttered, wrapping my arms around my stomach. “Someone die?”

“Someone might,” Kin muttered half under her breath.

Angie elbowed the younger girl in the side. “Shut up, sugar bug.”

None of it made sense to my mind that was still half under a sleep fogged, pseudo-hangover that made me want to hide in my room with a bucket and a bottle of Gatorade.

Reaching across the island, Jenna took the newspaper from in front of Kin and folded it before I could even think to read the front page. “I’m going to show you something. What you see doesn’t mean it’s the truth. The paps get one picture, and they make up whatever story they think fits best with it that will sell copies.”

My brows lifted toward the ceiling. “I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about right now. Can this wait until I’ve completely woken up first? I’m barely functioning on half a brain right now.”

Kin dropped her spoon into her bowl of cereal. “Have you talked to Kale today?”

The mention of his name had something turning cold in my stomach, which began to roil all over again. “I just woke up. My phone is in my camera case, and I think it’s still on silent.” I pushed my hair over my shoulder, anxiety building quickly. “Why?” Something about the look on her face worried me. Her blue eyes were still guarded, but there was concern in them. Maybe even a little anger. “What’s happened? Is he okay?”