“More drugs than alcohol, but the last couple of hours have been rough.” Really, all it had taken were those few fleeting seconds of touch to send him over the edge. “I’m worried he’ll relapse.”
With Ash’s history in rehab, he’d understand the pitfalls her brother faced.
“If you’re not out in five minutes, I’m coming for you. I’ll keep my hands off you for as long as I can, but I’m not making promises.” Ash headed down the hall.
She shut the door and crumpled to the floor, her insides twisting in a sick knot. Ash hadn’t kissed her. He’d barely touched her.
She dragged herself to her feet, dressed in sweats, and pulled on a loose-fitting shirt. All the while, she yawned, physically and mentally exhausted by the last twenty-four hours. And, while she’d expected a tense standoff between the men, when she emerged from her room, raucous male voices filled her living room with deep bass rumbles and guttural laughter.
The arrival of the sole female in the house silenced the men. They stared as she entered, making her feel self-conscious. Ash was the first to move. He jumped off the couch where he’d been sitting with Bash and strode toward her, wrapping her in a hug and finally giving her that kiss. The three bodyguards had seated themselves in her dining room chairs, having pulled them out in a staggered semicircle facing the living room.
Forest lounged in the leather recliner, kicking back, with ankles crossed and fingers steepled under his chin. His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t move as Ash smothered her in one of his passionate kisses.
Her heart rate tripled with the heated press of Ash’s lips against hers. Tentative to start, it didn’t take long before he tugged her tight and displayed his possession with a bite to her lower lip.
Forest cleared his throat. “Do you mind? That’s my sister you’re manhandling.”
Ash swept his tongue across her lips, teasing her with his tantalizing taste. He lifted his head, breaking the kiss. “Get used to it, dude.”
“The name is Bean, not dude.” Forest’s glare knifed across the distance.
She gripped Ash’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Boys, let’s not fight.”
“Oh, we’re going to have it out if he keeps that up,” Forest said.
It hadn’t escaped her notice though that Forest had yet to move a muscle. Her brother was testing Ash, measuring the mettle of the man she’d unwittingly tied herself to through the scratch of a pen.
“We’re not having anything out, dude.” Ash kissed her cheek and winked. “I think Skye gets to decide who does and doesn’t touch her.”
She held herself perfectly still, waiting for Forest’s reaction. There was a time when she’d had no choice at all, when they’d both been coerced to perform unspeakable things, but Forest didn’t flinch although a flash of anger flickered beneath his icy blues.
“Don’t do this.” She disentangled herself from Ash and went to sit on the armrest of the recliner, careful not to touch her brother. It was nearing midnight, and she needed to trust she could leave them alone while she slept. Although, if Ash stayed, she’d get very little rest.
“Look, I have work tomorrow.” She returned to Ash, curling her fingers in his. “Thanks for coming. It means more to me than you can know, but it’s time you leave.”
His eyes widened. “I’m not leaving.”
Bash jerked a thumb toward Forest. “Why are we here at all? You’ve got him to play bodyguard. He could just sweep you up and carry you past all those fucktards outside.”
Forest’s face paled at the mention of touching her again. If push came to shove, she’d call in sick and stay home, but she couldn’t do that to Bob.
She spoke without thought, “It’s complicated.”
The moment she’d uttered the words, she wished to take them back. Ash was no fool. He understood the undercurrents swirling in that phrase.
His eyes darted to Forest and back to her with an unspoken question.
“How hard can it be?” Bash waved his hands in the air. “He’s a fucking giant.”
“Shut up, Bash.” Ash fixed Skye with a stare, demanding an answer. “You really want me to leave?”
No, she didn’t, but if he stayed, he would want to sleep with her, and she wasn’t ready to deal with the difficulties of another disastrous attempt at intimacy.
With her heart hammering, she gave a nod.
Ash’s gaze slid to Forest and then back to her. His jaw tensed. “Sam and the guys will take care of the crowd outside and make sure you get to and from work safely.”
Forest cleared his throat. “Never mind. I?—”
