“Battle.” She said my name sounding breathless, her big eyes going wider. “It’s okay.”
I pulled my hands through my short hair and stepped away from her. “Ripped is a friend,” I grunted.
“I know, I know,” she said, pulling the straps of her dress back into place.
“He’s your old man!”
She looked away, her cheeks flushing pink. “I know! I’m sorry.”
“We can’t do this,” I grunted out, not believing myself.
Her hair fell over her shoulders and god-fucking-dammit, something about her composure, the way her shoulders pulled down and her the shame and horniness flushing her cheeks pink, sent me over the edge.
“I know, I agree. He’s a good man.” She nodded, like she was trying to convince herself. “I just…” She looked back up at me through her thick lashes. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked you to do that.”
“I think you should go wait in his room, Q,” I said, my big hands flexing at my sides.
She nodded in agreement, but didn’t move. “Okay, if that’s what you want.”
I scowled. “It’s not about what I want. Things would be different if I was doing what I wanted, Q.” I dragged my hands through my hair again in frustration.
She looked away from me and then back, looking deep in thought. “Like what?”
My scowl deepened and I swallowed. “Come again?” I asked, pausing.
“Tell me what would be different if you were doing what you wanted, Battle.”
“Quinn,” I warned, my gaze heating.
“Tell me,” she murmured, taking a step closer. “Please,” she begged. “Just tell me and I’ll go.”
I shook my head. “You’re Ripped’s old lady.” I dragged a hand through my hair once more, wondering what the hell was going on. Things had somehow gotten reversed. It was normally me seducing the woman, claiming their pussies for my own, branding them and then leaving them as I moved on to the next. But not with Quinn. I was trying to walk away from her. Trying to do the right thing by her and Ripped. But she was stoking the fire in me, urging me onward, wanting me to spill my darkest desires to her. But to what end?
“I might wear his cut but I don’t wear his ring. I’m not his property,” she said almost innocently.
I snorted out a laugh. “You think that makes a difference to a man like him? You think he won’t put a bullet in both our skulls if we do this? Cuz I’m telling you, once a man gets a woman like you, he don’t let her go. Not ever. So whatever this is,” I said, pointing between us both angrily, “it can’t happen. Not ever.”
I glared at her angrily, even though the last thing I was was angry. However, she definitely looked angry. She pouted like a petulant child and I almost laughed out loud.
“Fine,” she bit out.
She turned around and grabbed her things in one quick swoop. I watched her with heated desire, her round ass taunting me as she was bent over. When she stood back up she hesitated, seeing the look on my face.
“Battle?” she said cautiously.
I needed her to leave before I lost my resolve. Before I let my body take over and I fucked her right then and there. The woman was driving me to distraction, but taking another brother’s woman was the ultimate no-no. So no matter how much I wanted her, no matter how much I thought she and I were perfect for each other, I had to let her go. I had to make sure she walked away and didn’t so much as look in my direction again.
“Go,” I growled out.
She nodded and started to walk, but as she reached me I reached out and wrapped one of my large hands around her arm. She startled and looked at me, her gaze heated. I looked her up and down.
“You need to stay away from me,” I said, loving the little frown that puckered between her eyebrows. “You need to stay away from me and take the ring that Ripped’s offered you.”
Hurt flashed across her face and she snatched her arm from my grip before walking away. Could have sworn she was crying as she descended the stairs, but I refused to think about it. Refused to think about what might have been.
Quinn was Ripped’s, and that was all I needed to know.
~ 9 ~
