After Nix’s territorial behavior with Cash and the attempt to frighten the guy off, I decided two could play that game.
Pushing to my feet, I left my room and headed for Nix’s, feeling the most furious I had for months. Several scenes of what I may find were teeming in my head.
My heart was doing gymnastics in my chest as I stared at the barrier between me and who knew what.
Without knocking, I opened his door and stormed inside. There was nothing delicate about my entry as I stumbled, catching my shoulder on the frame. Pure, consuming jealousy pumped through me.
His lamp was on, and the room was dimly lit. Phoenix’s masculine scent was the first thing I noticed as I pushed the door closed and moved into his space.
And there he was, all six feet three inches of manly perfection, standing by his bed in only a pair of black boxer briefs. The muscles on his tattooed back rippled as he turned, the surprise on his face shifting to recognition and something else.
He dropped his cell on the bed and moved towards me.
“Harper? What the fuck?” I should have been the one to use the F-bomb first, but as usual, Phoenix beat me to the punch. Before I could muster a reply, he powered on with genuine concern. “Is something wrong? Are you hurt?” he said gruffly, taking me by my shoulders and scanning his eyes over my body. His thorough assessment made goosebumps appear on my flesh as his gaze touched every part of my exposed skin. I felt my nipples harden under that scrutiny. He looked appallingly sober, considering he must have sunk an entire bottle of tequila (and the rest).
Pulling out of his hold, I folded my arms across my braless chest, only too aware that I wore no panties beneath my sleep shorts. I needed to clear my head, thoughts of his betrayal stiffening my spine. “Where is she?”
Nix’s brow creased as he drifted a curious glance around the room. “Who?” Who indeed. There was no way I would allow him to worm his way out of it. I’d heard Courtney with my own ears. She was in the house when he hadpromisedhe wouldn’t bring any more girls back. Or had he promised that? Shit. I faintly recalled throwing our proposed truce back in his face.
My gaze dipped to his chiselled abs, my stomach fluttering at the sight. I dared not look any further south in fear of my eyes bulging from my head. I was standing in Phoenix’s bedroom, and all that sat between me and his junk was a tiny strip of black silk.
“You know very well who. That skank Courtney,” I hissed, dropping my arms and bending to glance under his mattress.
As I pushed back to my feet, his eyes drilled into mine. “She’s not under the fucking bed. How clichéd do you think I am?” Phoenix said, motioning the space there with a flick of his hand.
Shaking my head, I started to pace before him, glancing back between each word. “Oh, they broke the mold when they made you, Phoenix Carter.”
“Don’t second-name me, Harper. You’re out of line.”
I stopped and placed my hands on my hips. “Out of line? You lied to me.”
He exhaled, his nostrils flaring as he took a step toward me. “Keep your voice down, and how did I lie?”
“She’s here, I know she is. I heard her whiny voice as you thundered up the stairs together.”
A weariness washed over his features as he glanced up at the ceiling. Before I could stop myself, I stole a glance at his crotch. He wasn’t hard, but I could clearly see the outline of his cock as it lurked beneath his underwear.
“She’s in bed asleep.”
Shit, I lifted my chin.
“What?” I replied, realising he’d probably seen me checking out his junk. I glanced over at his perfectly made bed.
“In Micah’s room.”
I felt a twinge of pain in my chest. Dropping my hands, I stepped forward, sticking out my jaw, glaring up at the tower that was Nix. “That was quick. What’s wrong? Brewer's droop?”
I tried to stop my mouth from watering as he caressed his chest with the fingers on one hand. A puzzled expression spread across his handsome face. “Brewers what?”
Wafting a hand, I explained. “It’s something Molly says when… You know.”
He released a puff of air and raised his hand to massage the back of his neck. “I get it, erectile dysfunction, when a guy can’t get it up. Poor Hudson.” He added the bit about Hudson with his signature smirk.
Shit, now I was saying that Hudson had issues in that department when, as far as I was aware, he didn’t. “I didn’t say she was talking about Hudson, and stop changing the subject.” I continued to wave my hand around to state that he was missing my point.
I shoved him in the chest. His body was like a rock.
Nix lowered his dark head, his eyes flashing his annoyance. “What subject? You barging into my room like a bunny boiling psycho?”
