“Oh, okay, so heorderedyou to. Got it,” I said, then shook my head. “You know, I’ve always been curious about how that works now that you two are…well, not fucking anymore.”
Those fingers on my arm dug in so hard that I knew they’d leave a bruise. But I was in it now, my mouth writing checks I knew I couldn’t cash, and since my brother wasn’t here for me to lash out at, Shep would have to do.
“He tossed you aside, hooked up with two younger guys, and yet here you are still doing his bidding. How’s that feel?”
Shep yanked me in so hard and fast that I had to put a hand up not to stumble, and when it landed on his hard chest, I could feel the rapid beat of his heart.
“Say that again,” he dared me in a voice so fucking cold it sent a shiver up my spine.
But if he thought that was going to stop me, he was dead wrong.
3
SHEP
MY TONE SHOULD’VE had Theo thinking twice about his next words. He knew better than to push me too far, and yet he lifted his chin in defiance anyway.
“Isaid”—he pushed me back—“how’s it feel to be tossed aside for two younger guys?”
I’d heard him the first time, but now I saw red.
“Motherfucking piece of shit…” I shoved him against the wall so hard it knocked the breath out of him, but it only made him smile.
“Do it. Hit me. I dare you.”
I wanted to. With the haze of rage clouding my vision it would be easy to demolish that smug, attractive face. But then I’d be sending him out into the world unrecognizable, and that would invite too many questions.
Theo ducked out of my grasp, and then his shoulder nailed my stomach as he drove me back like a linebacker.
Jesus, I always forgot how strong and quick the bastard was. Though he’d never full-on attacked me or any of our brothers before, I’d seen him in action plenty of times, and I wasn’t about to let him get the upper hand. Once Theo knocked someone to the ground, it was game over for his opponent.
Before my back hit the wall, I wrestled myself out of his grip and shoved him off me.
“Dammit, Theo, this is not the time?—”
He lunged for me again, his hard body colliding with mine. We barely missed ramming into the mirror, knocking into the edge of the couch instead, but all it did was slide the furniture back a few feet.
Jesus, he was fuckinginsane. But that was the problem with Theo. He didn’t think before he reacted, just lashed out, and while I was usually the levelheaded one, he had pushed me too far.
I grabbed hold of his lapels and lurched to my feet, muscling him back with all the fury racing through me. When his back hit the wall, I kept coming until my leg was between his and my weight was holding him in place, knowing if I gave an inch he’d take full advantage.
“Calm the fuck down,” I ordered him.
But it was too late. Theo’s switch had been flicked, and his eyes glittered with deranged excitement. I could feel his heart thudding against my hand as I pinned him to the wall, and when he lunged at me, I grabbed hold of his jaw.
Fucker had always gotten off on a good fight, but when he turned his head and bit down into the flesh between my thumb and index finger, I cursed and ripped my hand away, hauling him off the wall and spinning him to face the brick.
“You fucking animal,” I growled, my breath heaving as I crowded into the unruly man under me.
Theo planted his hands on the wall and shoved back into me, his ass grazing over the zipper of my pants, and it wasn’t until that exact moment I realized…I was hard.
And so did he.
A dark chuckle rumbled out of Theo as he repeated the move, taunting me with malicious delight, and I reached for his shoulder and shoved him so his cheek was flat against the brick.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to remember why I was there: to find Theo and deliver him to the altar for his brother’s wedding. Not to?—
“I fuck like an animal too.”
