Touching Oblivion (Tasting Madness, #2)

by Albany Walker

The knob turns, and Oswald slowly pops his head in the door, like he doesn’t know what he’s going to find. Our eyes meet, and there’s an exchange between us. He’s still pissed, but not mad enough that he’s willing to be in the dorms. I guess I’ll take what I can get.

Me: I’m so sorry, Waylynn. I hit send, then start typing again immediately. Me: I don’t want to say anything that will sound like an excuse for my behavior because there isn’t one, but please know I’m so sorry. I wish I could take it all back.

Being lonely isn’t all that bad, I can definitely learn to live with it, but what I can’t live with are two guys acting like I’m important to them when clearly, I’m not. I wonder if they do this crap to all the girls they hang out with. I chastise myself for even thinking about them again.

“I’m going to text her, call her, and try to explain that last night was a clusterfuck of epic proportions. I’m going to hope she forgives me for being related to you, and then I’m going to tell her the truth about the pictures. The last fucking thing I need is for that shit to come up after all this, that is if I can get her to even talk to me.”

“She’s still mad,” Memphis murmurs. “I don’t think she’s mad at all. I think she’s hurt. She wouldn’t even look at me.” “Shit. I think that’s worse,” he admits. I think he’s right.

My stomach drops when I see Waylynn take a deep breath and hold it like the girl’s words caused her pain. I knew there was a possibility she would have seen the pictures, but I wasn’t prepared to see how it affected her.

“Stop!” Waylynn freezes for half a second, and then she does something she told me she never does—she actually runs.

“I won’t run,” I remind him. “I know,” he murmurs against the back of my head. “I just need to make sure you hear me. I’m sorry I freaked out.” His fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt, holding me even tighter around my waist. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you and said all those awful things. It took me back to a place when I felt helpless, and I thought it meant I would lose you.”

“I need you to know that I understand I was wrong. That I will never…never… I will never let something like that happen again.”

“Tell me I’m an asshole and to never speak to you like that again, then tell me you’ll let me make it up to you, even if you’re mad. Tell me I haven’t ruined this.” It’s the only time Memphis has said the words tell me and they haven’t come out as a demand. The plea is clear in his tone, and I feel it all the way to my core.

“But nothing, Waylynn. I’m trying to let you get comfortable so I know I’m not forcing you to do something you don’t want, but I need you to understand. You’re already ours, whether you get that or not.”

“You can’t have both. I won’t be in that class and be…around you guys. If I decide to…let you be around.” Her brows furrow deeply. She’s fucking adorable, acting like she has a choice.

“I like having you in my class, like feeling your eyes on me.”

With his mouth near her ear, he mutters, “I’ve got a secret.” When she turns her head to look at him, he continues, “You are the only person I’ve ever seen render my brother defenseless with just words and a glance. Look at him.” Waylynn slowly turns her gaze back to me. “He’s not upset with you,” he tells her, reading her response to her words.

“Yes, you do, and that’s all it takes for you to crack Memphis’ composed exterior. But don’t kid yourself, he loves it every single time. Remember that if you ever want something,” the traitor divulges while kissing the side of her neck tenderly. He’s right about that too—one look, and I would probably give her anything she asked for, unless it would keep her away from me.

Oz is nearly as possessive as I am when it comes to her, and I’m pretty sure her walking around in the shirt with his name on her back would be just as effective as her addressing me as sir.

“I know that I have never felt for anyone the way I do about you. I know you give me something I didn’t even know I was missing, and I know I want to possess every inch of you. The other shit will come,” Memphis says with complete confidence.

“It’s not this or just you. It’s us. I have put the needs and wants of everyone else before my own since I was a kid cleaning up after my parents. I did it for Oswald because he deserves better, but…so do I,” Memphis says slowly, as if he’s only now coming to that conclusion since the words have been uttered out loud.

“Good fucking girl,” Memphis rumbles before crashing his mouth down onto mine.

“No more running, no more not answering your phone. Even if one of us messes up.” I open my mouth with a denial on my tongue, but his brow rises the tiniest bit and my rebuttal dies. “Tell me,” he demands while continuing to peer down at me. “Yes, sir,” I answer, eager to please him.

Oswald’s hand curls around my waist as he leans down. At the same time, he pulls me up just enough to arch my back. My shirt slides up, and his lips find the skin of my stomach. My breath catches, but Memphis leans down and steals the gasp, placing his lips over mine in a kiss that sears me.

“You know how much I hate being left out.” Bates turns his attention to Memphis. “My only question is, am I too late?”

he points between Bates and me. “Don’t fuck this up for us. We’ve been family forever. This is our chance to keep it that way, to be happy.”

Bates follows me. “I can tell you love her, Memphis.” His words are as effective as putting a vise around my chest. Everything feels too goddamned tight. “I won’t fuck this up for you guys. If it doesn’t work, I won’t cause a problem.”

My lips dip down to the top of her head, and I realize Bates was right—I do love her.

“Delicious, sweet. Even better knowing she will only ever be ours.” “You hear that, sweetness? My mouth is watering just thinking about it.” Memphis kisses my shoulder, tracing his tongue over my skin again as if to prove his words.

“Delicious, sweet. Even better knowing she will only ever be ours.” Oswald’s words are muffled. “You hear that, sweetness? My mouth is watering just thinking about it.”

It’s like Memphis knows we were scheming the second he walks into the quiet kitchen. After closing the door, he sets his bag on the counter while watching Waylynn. With slow, measured movements, he unbuttons his cuffs and rolls them up his arms without speaking. As soon as he’s done, she blurts out, “I forgot to lock the door.”

“You think I’m going to learn something that will change my mind about you next week or next year? Because I won’t. And you take Xanax.

“Waylynn, I love you, and you are perfect the way you are,” I say, speaking the words I’ve thought before but couldn’t voice. I don’t want her to worry I’m going to leave her or that she isn’t good enough. I need her to understand just how important she is.

“She could tell,” Memphis confirms remorselessly. “Anyone who’s known me for five minutes can tell how I feel about you, but she doesn’t matter. Relax, sweetness. We’re not doing anything wrong.” Memphis pulls my hand over to his thigh and winds our fingers together.

I’m sure he’s telling her he loves her. The high of the win is flowing through his veins, making him feel invincible, but luckily, I know how she will respond.

I have never been inside anyone without a condom, and it was so different, it was like I was fucking for the first time. I’m not worried about her being pregnant. My dick actually hardens again as I think about her swollen with my baby, forever tied to me, but I noticed the birth control pack in her purse, so I know that’s not going to happen right now. A strange thought that has never occurred to me before stirs in the back of my mind. Her being on birth control is like a challenge.

🚩 lol

“You are fucking perfect, which is why I want you so badly again. Seeing you, feeling you… I can’t help myself.” I kiss her lower stomach and force myself up her body without licking her nipple, even though it’s right in front of my face. She curls into me when I wrap my arms around her, nuzzling. I’ll let her get up eventually.

“Let’s have this conversation after you’ve been with her. Let me know if you reach for a condom.” He starts to walk away. My mind starts whirling with ideas. “Wait, I don’t have to either?” I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. “That’s your call. I’m fully prepared to deal with any possibilities.”

Waylynn eyes the woman still standing next to me, and her smile slips just enough that I notice. I like thinking she might be jealous that someone else has my attention. “Hey there, gorgeous,” I greet, letting everyone know who really has my interest, and then I slip to the side so she can sit down.

Memphis puts his arm on the back of the booth behind her—it’s a deliberate move to claim her—while Oz picks up her hand and kisses her fingers before their joined hands disappear under the table.

Memphis orders a soda. He very rarely drinks, and never around Oswald, which is fine by me. The last time I saw him drink, he got blitzed out of his head and started a fight that almost got him arrested.