Without a word, Cadmus launched a fist.
And yeah, a few blows to the stomach landed.But it was worth it just to see him squirm.
Chapter22
Darius
When I arrived home promptly at six, it was to find Marcus and Cadmus glaring at each other over a chessboard with Samantha laughing as she watched.
I stared, entranced by her.I’d never seen her so free or so happy, and I hated the niggle of jealousy that she’d found joy with my brothers instead of me.
When she turned to face me, her eyes lit with welcome.It was all I could do to nod and smile, as if my cock hadn’t hardened to the point of pain, as if every breath she took didn’t arouse me on some level.
Giving her space to accept me, to come to grips with this whole mess, was killing me.I’d gone out of my way to avoid her this week, helping at the bar despite not being scheduled and volunteering my ass off with other projects.Spending the night so close to Samantha without being able to touch her, well, it was more than I could handle.
She needed time and space to process change?Ineeded space to adjust to her presence in my life.But if this past week was anything to go by, I had a bad feeling I would never be able to let her go.
“Darius, welcome home.”Samantha glowed, and only by sheer will did I force myself to remain in place and not cross to her for a huge kiss and hug.
“Who’s winning?”
“I can’t tell.Every time Cadmus moves a piece, the game board shifts and water pools under his bishops.”
“You always were a sore loser.”Cadmus sneered at Marcus across the table.He moved his queen.“Check.”
Marcus raised one brow, and the board flooded, pieces going everywhere.
I couldn’t help laughing.Marcus never changed.“Come on, Samantha.We’ve got a date, remember?”I tried not to show her how much I wanted her, but I felt her need as well.She drew closer, tense, until I said to hell with it and took her hand in mine.
I stifled a groan at the sensual burn spearing my body and gave her a special smile she returned.
The urge to take her into a bedroom and not come out for hours reared, but I was giving herspace.I had to keep reminding myself of that fact.
“Guys?I’ve got her.Thanks for all you’ve done this week,” I said gruffly, truly appreciating how they’d helped us.“Why don’t you celebrate?Go out and get laid—” I stopped talking when Samantha glared at me.“I mean, go out and have a good time, at a bar or something.”Where they could meet women and hope to get lucky.
“What a pathetic save,” Samantha said as she tried not to smile.
“Sorry.It’s all I can think about,” I muttered.I grabbed her coat from the hall closet and helped her put it on, then did my best to act like a gentleman as I helped her outside to the vehicle.
Once inside the truck, she turned to me.“Seriously?All you can think about is sex?”She mimicked my voice.“‘Go out and get laid.’You are such a man.”
I gathered being a man was supposed to be insulting.
She sighed.“What’s wrong with your brothers hanging out together, or staying in tonight?Or maybe they’d rather get to know a woman before banging her brains out.”
“That’s pretty funny.”
“Darius.”
I laughed and reached for her hand to give it a squeeze.“Come on, Samantha.You’ve spent a week with my brothers.Do you really think Marcus and Cadmus are the type to break down into scintillating conversation with a woman?With anyone?”
“Well, I’m not sure about Marcus,” she answered.“He likes flattery and being the center of attention, not catering so much to others.But he’s a lot deeper than he appears.”
I liked that she could see beyond the surface with my sibling.
“Now Cadmus has been nothing but a gentleman all week long.I felt bad he was made to stay inside because of me.We had some nice conversations, actually.Mostly about planting things, but I found him interesting.We played cards a few times.”
I snorted.“Don’t fall for Cadmus’s woe-is-me act.Hevolunteeredto stay with you, Samantha.I’m not the bad guy here.The only reason he wasn’t trying to get you into bed is because he knew I’d kill him if he tried.Gentleman, ha.”
