Deviant (Boys of Winter #3) - Sheridan Anne Page 0,103

bunch of old fuckers.”

Cruz laughs and scoops my tank off the floor. “Get dressed and go to sleep. It’s been a long as fuck day. Besides, you’re never going to heal if you keep letting us assholes fuck you into oblivion.”

I roll my eyes and go to pull my tank over my head, but as the blanket falls to my waist, I don’t miss the way that Carver’s gaze drops to my tits with a need that nearly knocks me the fuck away.

“Well what are you waiting for? Get out of here and give a girl some privacy,” I grumble to all four of them, sliding down in my bed and letting my head crash onto the pillow. “If you need help with your hearing aids just let me know.”

The guys walk away, scoffing and laughing to themselves, and when a soft “Night, Winter,” sounds through the room, I raise my head off the pillow and look back toward the door to find King standing there with his fingers resting over the light switch. “Love you.”

Warmth fills my chest, and as I look back at him, taking in the adoration shining through his ocean eyes, I realize just how right this is. It’s pure, unrelenting, and absolutely everything. I will never find this kind of deep, unfiltered connection with anyone.

I love him.

I love him so deeply, and honestly, I’m not just in love with him—I’m in love with all of them, even Carver. And that realization has something waking up inside of me. I’ve been fighting it this whole time, but right from the start it’s been there, building and building until I couldn’t possibly deny it anymore, and now that I know, all I want to do is scream it from every damn rooftop, but for now, I’ll settle with just telling King because he deserves to know what’s in my heart.

“You know what?” I murmur, watching as his eyes fill with curiosity. “I love you too.”

A soft smile spreads across his face and before he gets a chance to get all emotional about it, he flips the switch for the light, sending the room into darkness. There’s silence for a second before I feel his lips pressing against mine and his warm body sliding into bed beside me.

His arms wrap around my body, and as he pulls me in against his chest, I feel his soft breath hitting my skin. “It’s about damn time you figured it out.”

CHAPTER 26

Cardi B’s ‘Bodak Yellow’ blasts through my bathroom as I shake my ass under the hot stream of water that shoots from my shower. My hairbrush rests in my hand, my grip firm around the handle as I recite every damn lyric, spewing the words like they’re gospel, and fuck it, they are. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song that speaks so directly to my soul.

I finished all the important showering things nearly an hour ago, but I’m still here rocking out, because why the hell not? I’m feeling good. It’s been a shitty few months, but last night’s realization of being in love with the boys has overshadowed all the bullshit and is shining so much brighter than anything else ever could. Even realizing that Ember, the girl who’s supposed to be my best friend has been lying to me about the boys. It doesn’t make sense and I’m determined to get to the bottom of it, but not now. Right now, it’s time to shake my ass and pretend that outside of these shower doors the world isn’t falling apart around me.

My fingers went pruney ages ago, but I don’t care. I’m content here in my little box of hot water and steam, though, it would be better if one of the guys would come and join me. I bet they’ll be down for my dance moves, and if they’re not, I’m sure I can figure out something else to do that might be a little more their speed.

Actually, scrap that, I’ll accept a visit from King, Cruz, and Grayson, but not Carver. We’re not there yet, not even close. He would just stand there and judge me with his brows furrowed and his lips all scrunched up, trying to make out that I was the weird one in the room.

As the days go by and we get past death threats and close calls, Carver and I become closer and closer as the hostility between us begins to fade. It’s as though we’re standing in an