Tasting 361

361–Burning Them All In My Own Hell

Nora:

“Why are you telling me this? I can’t even smell his scent on you,” He muttered under his breath.

I found it odd that Ryker had requested we take a stroll. But the unspoken truth was that the

brothers had been taking turns speaking to me alone, trying to extract some information. At this

point, I felt like they might be missing the attention I used to give them. Why wouldn’t they enjoy the

attention of their girlfriends? They were as clingy as I was.

“Because I took a shower after the fight,” However, the minute I told Ryker I had been having sex

with Brody, his face fell.

“You’re lying,” he hissed, but it was with such a confident tone that for a moment, I feared he could

read my mind.

“You don’t have to believe it. We don’t do it every day, thinking Ryker must know about this,” I joked,

but his frown persisted, so my smile. vanished. He seemed more hostile than the others.

“I asked you to wait for me,” he nearly shocked me with that statement.

“What are you talking about?” I’m not sure why he’s lying like that, but I know how it went last time. I

messaged him on phone and he told me to get over him.

“Nora, when you spoke to me on the phone, I told you that if you wanted. to prove your love for me,

you would stay with Brody and not give him a chance.” The moment he clarified what he was

actually referring to- asking me to wait for him–I couldn’t help but recoil.

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you think, after you insulted me so badly, that I would wait

for you? And what kind of twisted demand is that?” I could no longer remain calm, at least not with

him. He was the one I had lost my virginity to and the one who was always there for me, making me

believe he was so obsessed with me that he would never leave me. But then he started dating my

friend, thinking he could still make demands.

“Really? After you told my father you wanted to stay away until you were certain I was safe to be

around? I couldn’t ask you to stay and be afraid of me,” he hissed, and my heart shook a little inside

my chest. I almost didn’t have a response, and the rising guilt needed to be quelled.

“Well, I failed to express my love for you. Okay?” I shrugged, and his eyes widened in shock.

“No! It’s not okay. You’re not allowed to back down.” However, Ryker instantly grabbed my hand

and tried to pull me closer. When I freed my hand and stepped back, he looked hurt.

“You’re standing before a married woman now, Ryker. I would not wish to cheat on my mate,” I

hissed back, quickly looking away.

“Besides, that wasn’t our only conversation. You had chosen April over me long before, and then

you believed I was this evil person who was playing those girls. And not only that-” I stopped

abruptly when I saw Brody appear with Janet.

Shock hit me then. I had told him I was pregnant. Why wasn’t he asking about my pregnancy? The

text I sent him from Mrs. Fisher’s phone must have been why he felt guilty.

It confused me, “and you didn’t shun me away when I texted you.” I scoffed, shaking my head. I

badly needed help that time.

“What? What texts?” He didn’t even acknowledge Brody’s arrival, but my

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361 Burning Them All In My Own Hell

entire attention was on Brody now.

“Babe!” I avoided Ryker and rushed to Brody, holding his left hand while his right was occupied by

Janet, who gave me a secretive, annoyed glare.

“I hope your stroll is over. This is the time I spend with my dear wives,” Brody said with a tight–

lipped smile. Ryker seemed to remain frozen in place ever since Brody appeared.

His eyes were on me, observing me and darting questions at me. But I could tell even after trying so

hard, I was unable to impress them.

“Goodnight,” Ryker said curtly, not saying much more.

But before he could leave, I decided to take one last opportunity to provoke Janet. I just wanted to

get under her skin and watch her and Brody fight the whole night. I needed to take advantage of

Ryker’s presence.

“Tonight is my night, right Brody?” I asked, my finger lightly touching his chest. His heart raced so

much that when I pressed my finger against him, I felt his heartbeat.

With my simple statement, I managed to provoke a reaction from all three of them. Ryker slowed

down, while Brody looked shocked, and Janet seemed so enraged that she began glaring at Brody.

It’s always fun when we are not at the receiving end of pain.