Queen of Quarantine

by Caroline Peckham

  I dropped to my knees beneath him, bowing my head, my breaths coming unsteadily as I hoped this was enough to help him regain his feeling of control. We needed Saint more than ever right now and I wasn’t going to let him slip into the chaos inside him. I was going to keep him here, keep him sane.

  “You can do this,” I told him passionately. “You can do anything. You’re Saint Memphis.”

  He fisted a hand in my hair with a low noise in his throat.

  Laughter and whoops carried from the camp and I knew the guys were messing around which gave me an idea.

  “You need to get our camp in order, Saint,” I insisted. “We need a fire and food and that tent ready to be slept in before a frost starts setting in.”

  “Yes…” he said thoughtfully. “Order. That’s what we need. You’d best collect the firewood then, siren. Stand up and finish the pile.”

  I got to my feet and moved to do as he said, gathering up branches and he started pointing out more for me to collect. When the pile was big enough, Saint scooped it up and jerked his head in an order for me to follow him.

  We returned to the camp, finding the other guys at war with three large sticks they were wielding as swords.

  “You have dishonoured me, sir,” Blake said in a posh voice, waving his sword at Kyan who smacked his with the full force of his strength, making both sticks split in half.

  “Ha!” Nash struck Kyan on the back with his stick before hitting Blake across the arm. “Victory is mine!”

  Blake and Kyan rounded on Nash, sharing a look before diving at him and knocking him onto the ground, trying to wrestle the stick from his hand. It was so good to see a smile on Blake’s face again that one immediately split across mine. I knew this was what he did; he buried his emotions deep when they got too much and painted on a happy face. And if it helped him then I was all for it. At least he wasn’t punching things anymore. I just hoped he wouldn’t ever do that again after our chat last night.

  “What in the name of all that is fucking holy is going on?” Saint snapped, pointing at the tent which had half fallen down.

  The guys broke apart, looking over at us like guilty kids caught by their parents.

  “Well…we got busy building the toilet,” Blake said innocently, pointing at a tree where a hole had been dug in the ground and a branch was sticking up beside it with a roll of toilet paper perched on top.

  I started laughing and Saint shot me an admonishing glare.

  “Clean this place up,” Saint hissed, smacking my ass hard as he encouraged me towards the others. Damn that stings so good.

  I jogged over to them with a mischievous grin as Blake and Kyan got to their feet. Monroe held his hand out to me to help him up and I grabbed onto it. He smirked, tugging hard and I fell down on top of him with a squeal instead. He kissed me shamelessly, squeezing my ass where Saint had just spanked me.

  “You look so fucking hot in all this hiking gear,” he growled against my lips. “Like some sort of sexy mountain ranger. Have you come to punish me for setting a fire blazing in your panties?”

  “Nash and Tatum, desist,” Saint snapped, but Nash drove his tongue into my mouth defiantly and I grinned as I kissed him back just as fiercely. Saint needed to be in control, so I was more than happy to give him a reason to punish me.

  “Up.” Saint caught my hand, pulling me off of Monroe and eyeing my mouth with a hint of lust in his eyes. “Both of you.” He kicked Nash without tearing his eyes from me. “You will both be punished for disobeying me.”

  “I’m not being spanked like Blake was though, man,” Nash said, and I looked over at him, biting my lip on a smirk.

  “Are you sure? I’d really like to see that,” I said seductively.

  “No,” Saint clipped. “You will both help to get this camp set up then report to me for your punishment.” He pointed us over to Kyan and Blake as they struggled to get the tent back up without direction.

  “Can you help them with that while I start a fire?” I asked Nash as we jogged away from Saint.

  “Sure thing, princess.” He knocked his arm against mine and we shared a mischievous grin before he headed over to the guys to help.

  I built a fire in record time, falling into the familiar rhythm of it as I thought of my dad and tried not to let the memories get coloured by grief. I wanted to smile when I remembered him, not cry. I needed the good to burn brighter than the bad, because the final night of his life wasn’t going to ruin every happy thing I had to hold onto about him. With a bit of effort, I managed to keep the dark thoughts at bay and by the time the fire was lit and the flames thawed out my cold hands, I felt like I’d taken another small step toward processing his death.

  This was the kind of thing I’d always enjoyed doing with him and I wanted to be able to keep doing it in the future, taking trips out into the wilderness and letting my memories of him and Jess warm my heart rather than allowing them to fade.

  I got the gas cooker going next, heating the five bean chilli I’d made last night before threading some slices of bread onto a stick and holding it over the fire to toast them.

  I plated up the food just as Kyan, Blake and Nash appeared carrying a huge log out of the woods to place in front of the fire. Saint took my hand, drawing me away from the food and sitting me down at the heart of the log before wrapping a blanket around my shoulders. The rest of the guys scooped up the plates of food and handed them out, sitting down either side of me so we were snuggled together as we ate. Well, me, Blake, Kyan and Nash ate anyway. When I looked over Kyan’s lap I saw Saint sitting with his plastic plate of chilli and toast laying untouched on his knees, his hands balled at his sides. I passed my blanket to Blake and tossed my empty plate onto the ground, getting up and moving to sit beside Saint at the end of the log, determined to get him through this.

  “It’s alright,” he gritted out, but it clearly wasn’t so I scooped up a forkful of chilli and held it to his mouth.

  His throat bobbed then he opened his mouth and I placed it between his lips. He chewed it slowly then swallowed.

  “How’s that?” I asked, a smile dancing around my mouth.

  “Surprisingly good,” he said.

  “The fire makes the bread smoky, right?” I said and he nodded, opening his mouth for more and I snorted as I continued to feed him.

  “Nash and Tatum, you can report for your punishment now,” Saint decided when he finished the last mouthful of food.

  “You’re not gonna get me to do shit, Memphis,” Nash said as he got up and stretched his arms above his head.

  “If you refuse, I will have Kyan and Blake keep you outside the tent tonight while you listen to us fuck Tatum without you,” Saint said simply and my lips popped open.

  Blake and Kyan laughed like they weren’t gonna fight Saint on that and I punched Saint in the arm.

  “What if I don’t consent?” I said and Saint grinned at me.

  “Are you really going to say no, siren? I’ll make sure all the attention is on you. No work. Nothing. We will make you come so many times that you are blinded for a full day afterward.”

  I burst out laughing but heat rose in my cheeks too because I knew he damn well meant it. “Well okay, I’ll play along. But I want the same punishment as Nash.” I stood up, figuring Monroe might get off lighter if he only had to do what Saint wanted me to. Unless Saint wanted me to suck his cock, in which case, Nash was fucked.

  “Are you sure, Tatum?” Saint purred darkly, his eyes glittering with amusement.

  “Yep,” I said, moving to stand at Monroe’s side in unity.

  “This is gonna be good,” Kyan said with a savage grin.

  “I think we’ll have a little competition then,” Saint mused, getting to his feet. “Move to the other side of the fire and turn around.”

  I glanced at Nash and we did as he said, standing with our backs to the flames opposite the others.

  There was some whispering then the crunching of footsteps as they moved around the c
amp and I felt the three of them coming up behind us a minute later. Being stalked by the Night Keepers set my pulse pounding and I was vividly reminded of the way they’d held court as kings of Everlake Prep, punishing those who deserved their wrath. Monsters born to devour monsters.

  Saint’s hand ran down my spine in a fluid motion, applying pressure to make me bend over half way. Kyan shoved Monroe over less seductively and rammed his crotch against his ass, dry humping him and making Nash curse.

  “Take it like a good little slut,” Kyan joked and Monroe moved to stand up, but Blake shoved him down by the shoulders.

  Kyan stepped away, laughing obnoxiously and adrenaline injected into my blood from that all-too-familiar sound. It always preceded him being an evil bastard.

  Saint’s hand slid around my waist, unbuttoning my pants and shimmying them down with my panties to expose my ass. I bit my lip on a gasp, not wanting him to know I was fazed. I glanced over as Nash cursed, finding Kyan doing the same to him and wondering what the hell they had planned.

  “You guys are fucked up, you know that right?” Monroe growled.

  “You’re just as fucked in the head, Nash,” Blake said, a grin in his voice. “You just prefer being on the side where the power lies.”

  “The game is this,” Saint announced sharply to get everyone’s attention. “We will place pinecones between your ass cheeks and the first one of you to drop one loses.”

  “Hang on, she’s got a lot more cheek to hold on with,” Nash complained and I burst out laughing.

  “You’ve got two slabs of muscle for ass cheeks so I dunno what you’re complaining about, Nash,” I tossed back and he chuckled. “What’s the prize for winning?”

  “Loser goes down on the winner,” Saint said without hesitation. “And as a sweetener for you, siren, if you win the rest of us will take turns going down on you too.”

  “Err, fuck yes,” I agreed instantly. “You’re going down, Nash. Literally.”

  Monroe barked a laugh, looking pretty excited about the prospect of winning now too. “Alright, game on,” he said.

  Saint placed his hand on my lower back, parting my cheeks with his fingers and positioning a pinecone at the top. “You’ve got this, Tatum,” he said seriously which just made it all the more funny.

  “Hey, that’s favouritism,” Nash growled competitively and I snorted. “You’ve got the King of OCD putting your cones in, you’re gonna have an advantage.”

  “Don’t worry, brother, I’ll get yours in nice and deep,” Kyan promised and Nash swore loudly as he shoved one between his cheeks.

  I started laughing, losing it as Saint place another one between my butt cheeks. The prickly little thing was uncomfortable as shit, but I still planned on winning this game.

  “Stop laughing, you’ll drop them,” Saint hissed, spanking the side of my thigh and I swallowed a moan as the pain flickered through my flesh and turned to pleasure. Was putting pinecones between your ass cheeks and being spanked by the Devil a kink? Because if it was, it was definitely one of mine. I really was as messed up as these beasts.

  “How many has she got in now?” Nash asked.

  “Five,” Saint announced as he slotted another one in place and the pinch of pain made me shift from one foot to the other.

  “Ha, Nash’s got six,” Blake announced.

  “Hurry up Saint,” I encouraged and he chuckled.

  “Enjoying this, aren’t you?” he taunted then added another. “Alright, that’s enough, let them stand with their asses to the heat of the fire and see how long they can last without dropping one.”

  Saint moved away and the fire instantly washed over my exposed ass, making my skin start to tingle.

  “Why’s this turning me on?” Blake muttered to himself.

  “Because everything turns you on when it comes to Tatum,” Saint said simply.

  “Oh yeah,” Blake said with a snort.

  “Jesus that fire is fucking hot,” Monroe hissed.

  “That’s kinda the way of fires,” Kyan taunted. “Oh by the way Saint, you see that nice juicy left ass cheek of Tatum’s?”

  “Mmm?” Saint questioned suspiciously.

  “We’ve decided that’s where she’ll be getting her squid tattoo,” Kyan said and I held back a snigger.

  “That had better be a joke,” Saint said icily.

  “It’s not,” I played along. “I just feel like it’s so personal to me and I want its meaning branded on me forever.”

  “Which is?” Saint hissed.

  “You know what it is,” Kyan laughed lightly. “Quit playing that game, man.”

  “I have no idea what it means,” Saint snapped. “And I really think it’s time you told me.”

  “It’s what you think it is when you don’t overthink it,” Blake said. “Took me a while, but I got it now.”

  “You had better be joking, Bowman. I refuse to be the only one who doesn’t understand it!” Saint balked.

  “Saint’s incapable of overthinking it,” Nash tossed in.

  My ass was getting seriously toasty and the pinecones were hurting like a bitch, but antagonising Saint was a good distraction. “I think once I have the tattoo it will make more sense to you.”

  “If Kyan marks your body with a squid, I will personally escort you to have it removed,” Saint said sharply.

  “I think you need to just embrace the squid, bro,” Blake said. “It’s much easier that way.”

  A pap sounded as a pinecone hit the ground and Nash groaned. “Fuck.”

  “Tatum wins!” Kyan crowed as Monroe shook out his butt crack ungracefully and I reached around, trying to rid myself of the cones with one percent more dignity. “I’ve got you, baby.” Kyan’s rough hands slid over my ass and he took out all the cones carefully. It was weirdly sweet before he leaned down to bite my left ass cheek hard.

  “Motherfucker!” I gasped, standing upright and he yanked my panties and jeans up at the same time, grinning at me.

  “Just so we remember where to put the squid,” he purred into my ear.

  I took hold of his arm, yanking his sleeve up and sinking my teeth into the squid inked on his flesh until he groaned. “Just so we remember where yours is, baby,” I taunted then slipped away from him and kicked my shoes off before crawling into the tent. I had a prize to claim after all.

  "Don’t get too excited, siren,” Saint called after me before I could strip off and lay back to await my first prize. “You’re still undergoing your punishment. So you can spend the night dreaming about which of us will make you come the hardest in the morning. Until then, your panties are staying precisely where they are.”

  My lips parted in outrage and I was about to argue when Blake leaned down to speak into my ear. “Think about how hot you’ll be for it after all of that anticipation,” he purred. “And how well you’ll sleep tonight knowing you’ll wake up to one of us eating you out for breakfast.”

  I bit my lip and shrugged. That did sound like a pretty heavenly way to wake up after all.

  My boys piled in after me and though it was made for six people, it was still a bit of a squeeze considering four of those people were built like shit brick houses.

  They’d unzipped all of the sleeping bags and laid them out across the roll mats like one large bed and I wriggled out of my clothes down to my underwear before slipping under the covers. With a few grunts, accidental kicks and growls of frustration, the boys managed to strip off too and join me under the covers. Blake made it onto my right first and Kyan made it to my left, pressing close to me so I was pinned between two walls of warm muscle.

  It was fucking heaven.

  Saint made sure the tent was zipped up before lying down beside Kyan and taking up his Dracula stance on his back, closing his eyes, a crease between his brows.

  “Tell us one of Poe’s poems, Saint,” I urged, sure he was still struggling with this situation. “It’s almost midnight.” I had no idea what the time was actually, but it was important he belie
ved that right now.

  He took a slow breath and recited a piece of a poem I’d heard him read before which made my heart fill with all the beauty and wonder of the world. “Thou wast all that to me, love, for which my soul did pine. A green isle in the sea, love, a fountain and a shrine. All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers, and all the flowers were mine.”

  H iking through the freezing forest between snow-capped peaks and towering pines was somehow liberating after spending so many months trapped in isolation one way or another. We'd had a lot more freedom to move around at Everlake Prep than most people in the world enjoyed, but just knowing I'd been confined within the walls of the school there had felt like being incarcerated.

  This out here was pure freedom, nothing but us and the wilderness for miles on end, open skies above us and picturesque landscape all around.

  And best of all, out here the rich boys didn't have the advantage. Tatum was the one with the knowledge of how best to traverse this landscape and I'd at least been camping several times in my previous life, so I knew the basics.

  The others, not so much. I'd let Saint struggle with tent pegs for a full fifteen minutes before taking pity on him last night. It was too damn funny to resist the urge to video it though and I currently had a shiny new screensaver of his furious face when he'd caught me recording him.

  It wasn't easy going by any means, but we'd made good progress, closing in on the fancy ass winter cabin Troy kept hidden away up here.

  Tonight was the last night that we were going to have to spend out here though and when we woke tomorrow we'd be closing in on our destination, ready to end this. I'd been carrying this vendetta on my shoulders for far too long and it was beyond time I saw the man who had killed my family pay the price for his crimes.

  "I think we'll be able to see it once we crest this ridge," Saint said as he strode up the trail behind me. Though trail wasn't entirely accurate as there certainly wasn't any real path here, just the odd track left by animals.