Cruel Seduction (Underground Kings 2)

GABRIELLA

As we walk out of the room hand in hand, our skin still hot from the shower, my head is reeling from the last few days. I can’t believe Sebastian and I finally had sex, good sex, like there is no way it could get better. Not that I would know, but I’ve known what bad is, and this is good.

So good.

“Well, finally.”

Heaven’s voice grabs my attention as we enter the living room. There is a woman in the kitchen cooking who isn’t Quinn. I'm not sure who that is. I haven’t seen her since I’ve been here. She is older, fifties maybe, with colored red hair that is fried from not taking care of it properly. She wears too much eye makeup to look young again. Whatever she is cooking smells fantastic.

Jaxon is sitting on the couch, legs crossed, with his head against the cushion. He is napping. Heaven is throwing popcorn in the air and catching it with his mouth. Owen plucks the keyboard with his fingers. Slowly, one key at a time with his big, sausage-sized fingers. His brows are worried, and his tongue peeks out of the corner of his mouth with every tap of the keyboard. He is trying. That is what matters.

Grayson sits on the other end of the couch, shirtless, but he has a patch on his side. I still have no idea what happened to them. It is the one question I’ve been meaning to ask, but I keep getting sidetracked with Sebastian.

He likes to distract me with his kiss. I don’t mind. Like he said, we have a lot of making up to do.

“Grayson, put on a shirt.”

“Why?” Grayson makes his pecs dance, and then he winks at me. “Afraid your pretty girlfriend will realize what she’s missing?”

“Dancing pecs aren’t my thing, sorry,” I say with a joking smile, then I sit on the floor, taking Sebastian with me.

“I’m watching you, shirtless,” Sebastian gestures his fingers from his eyes to Grayson.

“I’m shaking in my shirtless suit.”

“Nice!” Heaven holds up his hand for a high-five and without looking, Grayson meets his hand.

These guys have been around each other for a while. That much is obvious.

“Where is Quinn? She needs to be here too,” Owen says, making those keys his bitch as he plucks away.

“She’s puking,” Jaxon winces. “Whoever called it morning sickness is a liar. It’s anytime-of-the-day-sickness. It’s killing her.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I’ll give her some medication that can help with that.” Owen never takes his eyes off the screen.

“Oh, are you a doctor?” I ask Owen.

“Something like that,” he answers, only leaving me more curious. What does that mean?

“I’m here,” Quinn groans, and she looks awful.

Jaxon hurries to her side and wraps an arm around her waist, helping her to the couch. “Julia? Can you please fix Quinn some tea?”

“Of course, Mr. Steele.”

“Who is that?” Quinn asks. “She’s new.”

“It’s another part of the meeting I want to discuss.” Quinn mumbles something incoherent before laying down on her side, holding her stomach as if she is still nauseous.

She looks pale and exhausted.

“Quinn, when was the last time you really kept something down?” Owen kneels on the floor and puts two fingers on her wrist to check her pulse. He lays the other hand on her forehead to check her temperature.

“Don’t fuss over me. I’m fine.” She bats his hands away.

“I’m serious, when was the last time? Are you in pain? While morning sickness is normal, pain isn’t, Quinn. Are you in pain?”

Quinn manages to open her eyes all the way and water fills them as she nods. “I didn’t want to say anything. I didn’t want to seem like I was worrying for nothing, but, Owen, it hurts so bad. I think something is wrong.”