15. Wyatt

Chapter fifteen

Wyatt

" I 'm just saying, therapy is always an option," Addy insisted, and I groaned, resting my head against the table. She and Cain had been arguing about me for the last half hour. I felt like a kid who got into trouble at school.

If I'd actually had attentive parents, that is.

Addy had been vicious this morning, storming into the bedroom and dragging me out of the bed with a strength that terrified me. After forcing me to strip, she'd pushed me into the ensuite shower. I knew I needed it. My hair had gotten pretty disgusting. She had refused to leave me alone, so I was forced to close my eyes and take my glasses off, doing everything blindly so I wouldn't trap her inside my head by accident.

As I'd fumbled for the shampoo, small hands had encircled my waist, pushing me further into the hot stream of water. "Let me help," she'd murmured, and I'd heard the sound of the shampoo bottle popping open, groaning as her hands began roaming across my scalp. She'd taken her time, letting me run my hands down her body as she'd worked the shampoo through my tangled hair, teasing out the knots I'd let develop in my near-comatose state.

I'd been so tired, I couldn't even give her the attention she deserved, my body unable to respond to her properly. Addy hadn't seemed to mind, at least. Her hands had been firm but gentle as she'd washed my body from top to bottom, her fingers running over my tattoos, tracing the fine scars underneath. My body was littered with scars. Most were mine, but some belonged to others. When her fingers had ghosted across the large gash across my stomach, my lips had twisted, tasting the guilt through her skin. Jake might've been the ultimate recipient of his own torture, but I hadn't been quite fast enough. We both had scars from that night, and they went beyond the raised skin marring our stomachs.

Addy had eventually pushed me back under the warm stream of water, letting it cascade over my head and rinse out the soap. Her nails had felt amazing against my skin, sending tingles down my otherwise numb limbs. I'd craved the feeling of them digging into me, the sting of the scratch as they tore down my back. Instead, I'd let Addy shut the water off, and a towel had been wrapped around me, leading me out of the shower and into the steamy bathroom. She'd passed me my glasses back, leaving me to dry off while she got me some fresh clothes. I'd moved like I was on auto-pilot, pulling the shirt over my damp hair and tugging the soft gray sweatpants up and over my hips.

Now I was seated in the kitchen, a cup of coffee in my hands, while Cain and Addy argued about how best to deal with me. I should be more annoyed, but I was just too tired to join the argument. I was just counting down the minutes before I could slip back upstairs and curl up in my bed once more.

"How can he go to a therapist? ‘Hey doc, I absorb too much negativity sometimes and lose the will to live'?" Cain snapped back, and I glanced up at him, my brow furrowed. That felt a little on the nose. Addy glared at him, her eyes darting to me briefly. Her hair was still damp and drying in soft waves around her face, and I swear I saw it steam with the anger in her eyes.

"Cain! Jesus, be tactful," she bit back. "I just mean, he could go and see someone, and maybe they could prescribe him some medication to help."

"He opens his mouth, and they'll commit him, and then he'll be depressed and someone's lab experiment," Cain replied sharply, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned back against the counter. Addy sputtered, her hands waving as she struggled to raise a counter argument. Cain was right, though. We'd already had this fight a couple of years ago. I couldn't talk to anyone about this but them, and honestly, it didn't help. What I needed was… more precise.

"Wyatt needs to work. That helped before, and it'll help again," Cain said, meeting my eyes. I dropped my gaze to the table, clenching the mug in my hands. It was not like I hadn't been trying, damnit. I had my website set up and running, and it included a bunch of testimonials from my old clients. I'd even dropped my prices to try to entice new customers. Not a single call or email, not even an inquiry about my services, nothing since we'd moved here.

"Well… fuck," Addy murmured, her hands dropping to her stomach. "Wyatt was going to do one for me, but now, I don't think-"

"No tattoos," Cain growled, standing up straight. "No tattoos, no more of your kinky little piercing parties, either." Addy bristled at the order, her arms folding over her chest. "I mean it, and they know better than to try it," he continued, glaring at me as if I'd dare defy him. As if I would anyway, I wouldn't risk hurting the babies just to soothe that ache under my skin.

"Who's having a kinky piercing party?" Piper asked, strolling down the stairs. Austin was at his heels, and the snake-boy slipped around him to reach Addy first, coiling his body around her and kissing her neck.

"No one," Cain growled, grabbing another mug out of the cupboard and passing it to Piper. Piper cocked his head to the side, looking surprisingly clear this morning, his hair slicked back away from his face instead of messy and wild.

"Well, that's not fair. What if I wanted a Prince Albert?" He pouted, shooting Addy a wink. She laughed and Cain rolled his eyes, shaking his head at Piper.

"We're trying to figure out how to get Wyatt some customers," Addy explained, and I grimaced. I wasn't a goddamn charity case. It was not like I was hurting for money or something. I just needed… Well, I needed the release. Somehow, that was more embarrassing.

"Oh, I could get a tattoo," Piper mused, sipping his coffee and leaning against the counter beside Cain, so close they bumped shoulders. Cain gave him an exasperated look and shifted over to give him room. I swear I saw Piper smirk into his coffee cup. He was more lucid than I'd seen him in a long time.

"I like that idea," Austin rasped, and Addy kissed his cheek, grinning happily. I raised my eyebrows. Piper didn't have a single tattoo and had never expressed a desire for one before.

"Really? You want a tattoo?" I asked softly, picking at a chip on the handle of my mug. Piper nodded and set his cup down, pulling his shirt up and over his head in one fluid motion.

"Look, I'm a blank canvas." He grinned, and Cain rolled his eyes, but I caught the smile playing on his lips.

"Okay," I nodded, finishing my coffee in one gulp. I didn't want to give away just how badly I needed to do this. Piper brought his coffee with him, leaving his shirt on the kitchen floor as he headed downstairs, Austin trailing after him. Addy put her hand on my arm, stopping me before I followed after them. I was so used to the feel of her by now, but still, just the touch of her skin against mine pushed away the fog dampening my mood. She gave me a gentle smile and kissed me on the cheek.

"The second that these things are out, you can cover me in ink." She smirked, and I heard Cain's scoff of protest. I left them to that argument, trailing after the guys.

Piper was already sprawled out on the tattoo bench by the time I got downstairs. Austin was seated on the counter next to him, holding his mug for him.

"Any idea what you'd like?" I asked him, grabbing my tools out of their cabinet, laying them out methodically on the tray next to my bench.

"Mm, a spider. For our Little Spider." He grinned. "She'll love it." His smile faded just a little, sadness filling his eyes. "Or maybe she won't?" he murmured.

"A spider sounds perfect," I replied carefully, watching him come back to the present. "Right over your heart?" I suggested. He nodded. I got out my sketchpad and drew out a rough sketch of what I was thinking, showing it to both of them. That seemed to cheer him up a bit, so I got to outlining it on his skin. I quickly fell into the familiar routine, tuning out his chatter with Austin as I planned out my tattoo. Once the outline was ready, I left him to check it in the mirror while I got my gun ready. This one wouldn't be overly colorful, but I needed a few different tones ready.

Piper got comfortable back on the table, and I positioned his arm so he could relax without getting in my way. "Ready?" I asked, and he nodded, smirking at Austin, who was watching with a rapt expression. The first touch of my needle to his skin was nirvana. The pain blossomed across his pectoral and jumped into my hand when I called to it. I hissed out between my teeth slowly, trying not to groan as the pain went straight to my balls in the best way.

"What does it feel like?" Austin asked, and I focused on inking the thin line on Piper's chest, losing myself in the bittersweet discomfort blooming across my own chest.

"Like I'm being poked in the chest," Piper replied, and I chuckled. "But it doesn't hurt. I guess that's your special skill at work?" he asked me, and I nodded, wiping off the line I'd finished. Already, my chest felt a little lighter, thanks to the stinging ache left by the needle.

I heard Austin slip off the counter and step closer to the bench, his interest peaked. I did a couple more small lines before starting to work on the body, the final form slowly appearing out of the mess of my sketch. Piper's hand was resting on his stomach next to my arm, and I noticed the new ring he'd been wearing lately. I didn't know where he'd found it – or stolen it – but the spider on the back made me think of Addy, which was probably why he liked it.

I turned and nearly smacked heads with Austin, who had moved in closer while I'd been focused, leaning halfway over the table to see. I wiped off the patch of skin I'd just finished and gave him a sharp look. "Don't bump me, or I'll fuck it up," I warned him, and he grunted a noise in response. Piper looked to be napping. He had closed his eyes and fallen silent a few minutes ago already.

Already halfway done with the small design, I was sad I hadn't chosen something bigger, but that would've been a selfish move on my part. This would get me by for a while. I clenched my jaw as I went over a particularly sensitive patch of skin; the sting pulsing through my body, followed by a wash of endorphins.

"So, this helps you feel better?" Austin asked softly. I nodded, my eyes on the nearly finished spider on Piper's chest. "Why?"

I grimaced, grabbing the red ink off the tray. That was a good fucking question. Why? Why did I crave pain the way most people craved air in their lungs? Was it my fucked up biology or my lack of a childhood that caused this? Maybe the creepy priests my poor grandmother had called in were right, and I was possessed by the devil. With the amount of exorcisms they'd performed on me, you'd think they would've gotten something out. But maybe they just let whatever the hell this was in.

"I don't know," I whispered, going over the outer lines one more time, finishing the last pieces of the tattered web the little spider was perched on. After the last wipe with the cloth, I sat back and cracked my neck, bumping Piper's arm to wake him up. "Take a look," I told him hoarsely, standing up and pulling off my gloves, tossing them in the nearby bin, using this moment to adjust myself in my sweatpants.

"That's so cool…" Piper announced, and I turned back to find them both looking at it. I grabbed the wrap off the tray and brought it back over. Austin was watching me closely as I carefully covered up the newly inked skin, pulling the last bit of tenderness out of it.

"Don't get it wet, don't fuck with it. I'll check it tomorrow, alright?" I told him, smirking. Piper was watching me with a sharp look in his eyes, and it was frankly unnerving when he looked like that. I almost preferred him a little spaced out.

"Why did you never ask us for help before?" Piper asked suddenly, shifting up to sit on the bench, his eyes boring into mine.

"I had customers before, and myself," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. Stepping back toward the cabinets, I was forced to stop when my back hit something solid. "Fuck! Austin!" I snapped, startled. When had he even gotten behind me? Strong arms shoved me forward, closer to Piper, and I swore at the both of them. "Austin cut that shit out. You might have hulked out, but I'll still kick your ass," I snarled at him, but I stopped in my tracks when Piper pulled a pocket knife out of his jeans.

"Pain-Eater," Piper intoned, his voice taking on an odd quality that had goose-bumps breaking out over my skin. My eyes tracked the movement as he flicked the blade open, need growing in my chest. Austin wrapped his arms around my waist, pressing against my back. His lips were on my neck, and the action was nearly tender, at least until his fangs sank into my skin. I moaned as the pain seared through me, making me lightheaded. I was hyper aware of Piper and his knife, the metal glinting in the light and weaving a hypnotic spell in my brain.

"You've been starving yourself when you should've just asked for help." Piper continued, and I felt Austin's teeth retract, his lips replacing them as he kissed my neck. I squirmed in his arms, scowling at Piper as he stared at me with some kind of pity in his gaze.

"I can't ask for this from any of you," I muttered, and groaned when Austin bit me again on my shoulder. The pain was going straight to my dick, and I felt heat across my cheeks as I sagged back into Austin's arms, feeling a little drunk.

"Why not?" Piper asked, quirking his head. "Isn't that what family's for?" He brought the tip of the blade to his collarbone opposite the new tattoo, pressing down just enough to break the skin. I was reaching out to him before I knew what was happening, and Austin pushed me between Piper's legs, close enough for me to grab him as he dragged the knife down his chest, parting his own skin with a hiss. I took it all, every drop, and a whimper fell past my lips. It was like a glass of cold water after weeks of thirst. I was vaguely aware as the line slowly knitted itself back together, undoing the damage Piper had done to himself.

"It doesn't work when you do it to yourself, does it? It's not the same," Piper murmured. "Austin told me about the piercings, and how you seemed better after you helped Addy." Austin hissed in my ear, his fang dragging down the sensitive skin and making me shiver. One of his hands was sliding lower, slipping below the waistband of my sweats. I hadn't bothered with boxers earlier, so he was able to palm my rock hard cock, and blood roared in my ears.

"If you can help us, why can't we help you?" Austin rasped in my ear, giving me a rough squeeze that had my knees buckling underneath me. It was only Austin's grip that kept me standing, but I stumbled, catching myself on the table, now effectively pinned between them both.

"‘s not the same thing…" I mumbled, and Piper dug the edge of the knife into his shoulder, dragging it down his arm in a flash of metal and blood. I grabbed for him, the wound healing before he'd even removed the blade from his skin. My hips jerked into Austin's hand as he gave my cock another squeeze. Every single one of my nerve endings was on fire, and I felt better than I had in months.

"You're ours, too," Austin hissed, his thumb running over the tip of my cock, smearing pre-cum around as he stroked me. "Let us help you."

I moaned and braced myself on the bench, Piper's hand on my cheek as I leaned into him, Austin still pressing into my back, caging me in. Still holding the knife, Piper dragged it down his collar, slicing recklessly, not bothering to be careful anymore. I grabbed at his throat, giving him a warning squeeze as the pain bled into me instead.

"Stop that, I can't heal everything," I growled, and he smirked at me, flipping the knife and holding it out for me to take. I grabbed it and closed the blade, realizing with a jolt that it was my switchblade, the one that was normally tucked away in my pocket, just in case. "Thief," I muttered, my hips jerking as Austin gave me another rough squeeze.

"You do it then. Give me the hurt you want so bad," he commanded, cocking an eyebrow at me. Lust was swirling around my brain, my blood hot, and charged for the first time in months. I grabbed the back of Piper's neck, dragging him close so I could capture his mouth with mine. It wasn't a gentle kiss, it was all teeth and clashing tongues. I bit down on his bottom lip hard, sucking it into my mouth as I tasted the blood and the sweet release of pain. Piper moaned against my mouth, and I could feel his cock, hard and wanting, as it pressed against my thigh. Austin hissed in approval, his hand still toying with me in my sweatpants.

"I want-" I groaned, pulling away from Piper's mouth and panting, still gripping him by the back of his neck. He hummed in approval, looking sultry with his kiss-bruised lips, tinged red with his own blood.

"Take what you need," he murmured, and fire burned through my veins, molten with desire. I grabbed the front of his jeans and yanked, tearing the button off to get them undone. I wasn't gentle as I jerked him off the bench, capturing his mouth again as I slid his pants and his boxers down. The freedom of movement caught me by surprise, I hadn't even noticed Austin disappear in my haste.

"What are you waiting for, Pain-Eater?" Piper smirked, the cocky little shit. I spun him around and slammed his chest down against the bench, forgetting all about his fresh tattoo. The wave of pain caught me off guard and I groaned, my cock leaking against my stomach. Popping my thumb in my mouth, I lubed it up before bringing my hand down to Piper's ass. I circled his tight hole, holding him down with one hand as my finger slid inside, making him moan. I teased him a bit, stretching him out, as he made sounds of approval, his hands gripping the bench.

"Here," Austin hissed, sneaking up behind me. He held out a bottle of lube, and I stared at him in surprise as he moved to the other side of the bench where he could watch, a hungry smile on his face. I removed my finger and tugged my sweats down, fisting my cock as I opened the bottle with my other hand. Pouring a bit on Piper's ass, I used some more to lube myself up. I gave him no warning before I was shoving him back down on the bench, pressing into his tight hole and burying myself until my hips slammed into his thighs.

"Fuck, you're so tight," I moaned, pulling out just enough to slam back into him. I dug my fingers into Piper's hips, and set a ruthless pace, channeling some of my pleasure back into him until he was writhing underneath me, his knuckles white as he gripped the leather of the bench. Austin, still watching, leaned up against the cabinets as he stroked himself idly, his pupils dilated so large his eyes were nearly black.

"Yes, fuck, yes!" Piper exclaimed, as I drove into him, fucking with a roughness that surprised even me. He was so responsive to it, I could feel his pleasure building, and my balls tightened as my own release neared. Piper moaned, words I didn't understand tumbling out of his mouth as he came, shooting ropes of cum onto the bench underneath him. I finished roughly, my thrusts slowing as I emptied myself into him. Loosening my grip, I smirked at the handprints that would be left on his hips thanks to me. I pulled out of him and tucked myself back into my sweatpants, quickly grabbing some paper towels and helping clean up the mess I'd made on him.

"You look like yourself again," Austin hissed as I helped Piper stand up, turning him around to make sure I hadn't fucked up his tattoo with my roughness. Piper looked disheveled and thoroughly satiated, grinning like a cat in cream. He caught me by surprise when he grabbed me, kissing me with a gentleness that we hadn't bothered with earlier.

"That was fun, Pain-Eater," Piper murmured, resting his forehead against mine. "Next time, don't wait so long. As long as I'm here, I'm yours," he told me, and there was that tinge of sadness again. I tried to grab for it, to see why he was so sad, but he slipped out of my grasp, a knowing look in his eye. I swear I didn't imagine it when he shook his head ever so slightly. Grabbing his now cold coffee from the cabinet, he gave me a cheeky wave and disappeared up the stairs, leaving me to clean up the mess we'd left at my workstation.

Was it just me, or was that fortune-telling weirdo hiding something from us?