Deviant (Boys of Winter 3)

“But—”

“No. They’ll be alright. They’ll just have wicked headaches when they wake.”

I let out a sigh and look down to find him staring back up at me, fighting the need to close his eyes just to make sure that I’ll be alright. “Thank you,” I whisper, trailing my fingers over the side of his face. “I really thought I was done for.”

Grayson shakes his head, his eyes growing heavy again as he reaches out and pulls me into his arms. “Not as long as you’ve got us in your corner. We will always find a way to get to you, even in the most impossible situations. I'll never let her hurt you.”

I roll in his arms and press my lips to his as he closes his eyes. “I love you, Grayson.”

“I know,” he murmurs, not needing to say it back because I already know exactly how he feels. “Now let me sleep this off so I can work out how the fuck I’m going to kill this bitch.”

A soft smile spreads across my lips, but it doesn’t last long as the worry for the guys downstairs pulses through my veins. “Okay,” I tell him, snuggling into his warm arms, grateful to still be alive. “Sleep. I’ll be right here when you wake.”

CHAPTER 27

My heart breaks as I sit down beside Cruz, brushing my fingers over his forehead. “Are you alright? Can I get you anything?”

He shakes his head and as he opens his eyes, I see just how much pain he’s in. “A strip tease would be good,” he murmurs, his tone low and rumbly.

His hand slips into mine and I lean forward to brush my lips over his. “I’m being serious.”

I feel his lips pull into a smile against mine. “So am I.”

I groan and start to pull away, determined to get him some painkillers and a glass of water anyway. The boys woke up twenty minutes ago, and so far, they’re all being stubborn assholes, too tough to admit that they need help when I know their heads are pounding and their bodies are aching.

“If he’s getting a strip tease, then I want one too,” King grumbles from the couch opposite the fireplace.

I look back over my shoulder and roll my eyes as I meet his, but seeing the wicked grin across his face, I can’t help but laugh. “You’re an idiot,” I tell him, seeing Carver from the corner of my eye sitting up and hanging his head into his hands. “No one is getting a strip tease. You guys all need to rest. Besides, you never let me do anything fun when I’m hurt.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it,” Cruz murmurs, squeezing my hand to draw my attention back to him. “I seem to remember tag teaming you last night while your stitches were staring right at me. Try and tell me that wasn’t fun.”

I groan, feeling my ability to keep this situation under control slipping right out of my fingers. “Fine, I’ll flash you one tit, and that’s it,” I say, getting up and looking between King and Cruz before quickly glancing at Carver. “And that’s only if you let me force some painkillers down your throats—and that includes Carver.”

King lets out a loud, defeated sigh. “Fuck, man,” he says, glancing toward Cruz. “We’ve got no chance.”

Carver just scoffs, and before another word gets said, I hurry out of the room, more than ready to force some painkillers into their tough bodies. I rush into the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water for each of them before scrambling through the cupboards, searching for something to help their heads.

I’ve already got Grayson sorted upstairs and after finally letting me help him, he crashed all over again, more than happy to sleep it off, but these guys … this could be a challenge.

After taking far too long to find what I’m looking for, I walk back into the living room, trying my hardest not to drop anything, only when I get there, I find two patients, not three. “Where’s Carver?” I ask, placing the three glasses of water down on the coffee table and handing out pills like a shady dealer at a festival.

Cruz scrunches his face as he sits up and allows me to put the painkillers into his hand. “He got up the second you waltzed out of here,” he says, looking up and meeting my concerned stare with one of his own. “Don’t go after him, babe. He looked pretty fucked up. He’s going to need a minute to wrap his head around all of this.”

“Wrap his head around what?”

“That we couldn’t protect you. We all got fooled, and because of that, you were left defenseless. She could have done anything to you. Fuck, we could have all woken up to find you gone or fucking dead.”