Holy shit, my kitten is a smoke show in sheer black lace and lingerie. All her grabbable, squishable curves, those parts of her that are my absolute favorite, are showcased to perfection. Andthose boots. I need them wrapped around my hips like I need to remember to take a fucking breath.
My mouth waters.
I get a glimpse of the less sheer shorts hugging and outlining her round ass when she looks back to Ro, who climbs out next. I’m going to need to steal her away at some point this evening for a slow dance under the stars. Let my hands explore every sexy inch of her while I hold her close.
“Where are your clothes, little?” Jett demands as he and Owen round the corner of the house. “Did you lose them somewhere?”
Her face falls.
The fuck he said that to her. And that half smile tells me he thinks softening it into a joke should have lessened the sting.
Owen strips out of his flannel. He shoves it at her. “Put this on. And then go inside and change.”
Her bottom lip sticks out stubbornly, her eyes glistening with emotion. “I’m fully dressed, Owen. I’m not going to change.”
“It’s underwear. I can see your underwear.” He waves the material in his fist at her. “Put this on.”
Fists bunched, I stalk toward them. I’m done with this bullshit. It’s time these backward brothers of Summer’s learn a little something about how to treat a woman. Especially their sister.
“What are you trying to say, Owen?” She gets in his face before I can, pushing the flannel into his chest. “Why don’t you come out and say what you mean. You think I’m a slut, don’t you?”
“No.” His eyes round as her words sink in. “It’s—”
“If I dress like this, I must be asking for trouble, huh? You think I’m a slut like everyone else in Devil’s Bend does. But do you remember what I was wearing the night you saved me? Doyou remember how the hem of my dress skimmed the floor when I didn’t have shoes on? Or that it had a high neckline and long sleeves? If I show my ankle, is that too much skin? Or was it my elbow? My wrist? What fucking century do you think we’re in, Owen?”
His lips flap but he doesn’t argue back. He appears deflated. Like he realizes she has a point, and he’s a prick. “Little, I…”
I wrap my arms around her and gently tug her away from him. “You okay, red?”
“Fine.” She sniffs as she starts to relax.
Rochelle and Tex are lingering a few feet away, waiting to be shown their accommodations.
“Where can we put the bags?” Tex takes the opportunity to speak.
“Follow the path.” Jett points out the footpath that leads to the cabins.
“You’re in the first one,” Summer says.
“Thanks.” He picks up all the cases.
“Ro,” Summer says, then hesitates when she has her attention. “We should talk when you’re settled. Come find me?”
“Sure.” Ro squints but then follows Tex down the path.
I stare Owen down. The desire to punch him in the face is barely controlled, but I confront Jett instead. He might not have meant to, but he instigated the whole thing. “You have no idea how damaging what you did is, do you? You think you’re protecting her by shaming her?”
“That’s not what I was doing.” Jett appears sheepish. “It’s not what I was trying to do.”
“You know we only want to make sure you’re never hurt that way again,” Owen says.
“But maybe we’ve gone about it the wrong way,” Jett tacks on.
“You will never speak to her like that again. Am I clear? You might be her brothers, and you might have looked after her when she was a kid, but she’s mine to protect now. And if I have to protect her from you, I will.”
She pushes my chest. “Rebel, you don’t need to—”
“I do. They need to understand you deserve better. So will our baby girls. Your brothers either need to step up, or they won’t have a place in our lives.” I turn to them. I don’t want Summer to cut them out, but I won’t allow her to be subjected to the level of toxic bullshit they’ve displayed here. “Don’t make me have to do that. I don’t want you to regret not having her or our children in your lives.”
