"Ah, come on," Drake scoffed and shook his glass, letting the ice tinkle against the sides. "You can't be that cold-hearted. Don't tell me not a single part of you wants to keep her around? Even just for the thrill of the chase?" He arched a brow at me, and I tightened my jaw, my lips in a flat line.
"Don't bother." Allister shook his head as one hand stroked the shoulder of his companion lovingly. "Marcus only has a heart for politics, and Piper can only be seen as a weakness."
"A fucking hot-as-hell weakness." Drake barked a laugh and was quickly joined by his brother. Wynn made a grunt of acknowledgment, but he was otherwise occupied.
Rayne, however, had much to say. "Well, whatever she is, her being on her... cycle..." His eyes flared hot as he said it before he took several breaths and contained himself. "... while at the sire's will put a dent in all of our armors. Let's hope that she finishes before Friday."
"Perhaps someone should help her out?" Allister arched a brow and then cupped the chin on the woman in his lap. "Hurry the process along. I've read that intercourse really speeds up the process. Isn't that right, love?" He nipped at her mouth, and she eagerly agreed.
"Well," Drake sat down his glass on the table in front of us and stood. He held his hand up with a lopsided grin. "I volunteer as tribute."
Rayne let out a low growl. "The fuck you do. If anyone's going to speed up the process, it's me."
Wynn took a moment to lift his head from his companion who had quite literally passed out from pleasure. "Listen to little brother. He was the first to taste her and now he thinks he owns her." His eyes crinkled at the edges as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. As he wiped a bit of blood from the corner of his mouth, he winked. "I'd love to ask Piper what she thinks of that."
Rayne took a step forward, his fingers curled into tight fists. "Fuck you. Unlike you, I don't need to use my powers to attract someone."
Drake snorted. "No, you just read their mind, find out what they like, then exploit it. That's what you did with Piper, didn't you?"
Rayne flushed red and snapped. "You don't know what you're talking about. It doesn't work that way. I can't just dig into her head at will. She has to be thinking about it already. You know that!"
"Still, you can't say that you haven't used your abilities to get ahead with Piper." Allister pointed an accusing finger at Rayne. "You're not as innocent as you think you are."
"I didn't say that I was, but still, I've made more headway than any of you.” Rayne gritted his teeth and crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you really think she'd accept it from someone she hasn't even kissed yet?" His face finally relaxed as he grinned smugly at them. "I've kissed her twice. How many times have you?"
There was silence around the room, and then Wynn spoke up. "Once... and let’s not forget that first kiss of yours was forced on by Valentine, so it doesn't count." His lips tipped at the edges. "So, I believe that makes us even."
Rayne's face scrunched up with annoyance before he gestured toward the three women with a nasty laugh. "Not for long when I tell her what you've spent all day doing."
"You will do no such thing." We all turned at the sound of Antoine’s voice to see him standing behind us. A waitress brought him a drink, and he nodded his thanks before moving toward us. "What happens in the club stays here. You know the rules."
Rayne flinched at Antoine's commanding voice but nodded.
"As for Piper,” he continued as he took the seat next between Drake and me, “I suggest we focus on binding her to our house instead of fighting over who will bed her first."
A woman passed by and gave Antoine a once over, and he quirked a finger in her direction. She happily complied, stalking over to him on four-inch spike heels. She had long light brown hair, big brown eyes, and an innocent air that reminded me of our maid.
I resisted the urge to huff. Even our leader was obsessed with the human woman.
"She'll bind to us," Wynn announced as he took a break from his debauchery to drink deeply from his wine glass. "There's nothing to fear in that area."
Antoine frowned and cocked his head to the side. "What makes you so confident?"
Wynn twirled the wine glass in between his fingers and looked at Antoine with hooded lids. "Piper's curious by nature. She can't help it. Piper will want to know what the big fuss is about, and she's too attracted to the lot of us to give it all up now. Trust me." He sighed and leaned back into the women's arms. "She'll be more than willing to bind herself to our house, even more so if I'm the one to do it."
Wynn’s words sparked a whole other argument between my brothers. They really were a ridiculous lot. Who loses their head over a human?
I was thankful to be safely immune to her charms.