“Angel,” he says on a heavy exhale, but I just wave him off.
“Don’t make it into a thing. I can be disappointed, but also an adult. I get it. Doesn’t hurt to play around a bit where we are able to though,” I remind him, because it’s not like we need to be saints.
His brothers have had their tongues halfway to my uterus; not like I’m bereft over here. But as much as they claim guys only think with their dicks, women are just as bad, if not worse.
Whirling away from him, I drop into a defensive stance, waiting for him to make a move. Adjusting himself first, he shakes it off, getting back into the right headspace to fight strategically without getting distracted.
Focusing on his hands, I don’t give enough notice to the way he fakes me out, stepping halfway before changing direction. He wraps a hand over my bracelet, but I don’t have the same reaction that I used to. Rather than lock up, I utilize his hold to jump, aiming to drive a fist into his temple that I pray he doesn’t let me land, but respecting him enough not to hold back.
His hand covers the outside of my fist an inch from his head, not dropping it to make sure that when I land, I remain upright. Panting, he rakes his eyes over me in appreciation.
“Fuck, that was close,” he states on a rush of breath. “Might have laid me out if you landed that one.”
His praise makes me preen, and despite the fact that he still has both of my arms restrained, I don’t feel a stab of panic like I thought I would. Emerald eyes flashing, his face hardens as he starts to pull away.
“We should call it for the day,” he announces suddenly, making me scrunch my face in confusion.
“Don’t we have another ten minutes at least?”
Running a hand through his hair, he tugs on it, huffing, “Just distracted today.”
Knowing that look well, I step closer, but keep my hands to myself. “Can you...does he talk to you?” I hesitantly ask, sounding like a raving lunatic, and a bit of a jealous one at that.
His bright eyes pin me in place, appearing more raw than I’m used to seeing on the man. “Not actual words, just-” he curses, rubbing his temple. “A pressure, I guess? Like a personal demon trying to coerce me into doing shit.”
“What’s he pushing you to do?”
He bites the inside of his cheek, not wanting to answer. Obviously that just makes me ten times more curious, but I don’t prompt for any more. He’ll tell me if he wants to, and if not, I’ll deal with it. Heaven knows there are certain stories I’ve kept from them, though admittedly, it’s because I’m trying to protect them from those nightmares over keeping secrets. And it’s clear they attempt to do the same for me, sparing me any burden they can despite my constant reassurance that I can handle it.
At this point, I’ve been through so much that I’m starting to grow numb to traumatic news.
“Kill Ben,” he quietly admits, taking me by surprise.
“I mean, I’m all for that. Go nuts. Want me to guard the door or help?”
He chuckles half-heartedly before looking to the ceiling, closing his eyes and scrubbing a tired hand down his face. “He was such a jackass towards you, and now I have to see him all of the damn time. I keep trying to remind myself that we threw him for a hell of a loop, but honestly? I don’t want to forgive him. I’d rather bury a knife in the side of his throat and let him choke on his pathetic apologies.”
Well fuck if those aren’t the sexiest words I’ve heard all week.
“So why don’t you?”
He blinks at me, though I’m not sure why he’s surprised that I completely condone maiming people that I don’t like. “Faye seems to like him, and she’s lost enough already. What would it do to her if when she finally started to open up to someone, they were killed and torn away from her too? I at least need a good reason so that I’m still able to sleep at night on this one. She’s your best friend besides us, Saige. Her being miserable would just upset you even worse, so how the hell can I kill him?”
Be still my heart.
“You are a far better person that I could ever hope to be.” I smile, exhaling an amused breath. “Want me to help get you out of your head?”
He gives me a wary look, slowly tipping his head in agreement. “Worth a try at least if it will help get rid of this headache.”
Stepping backward slowly, I grin. “Bet you can’t catch me.”
Smirking with barely veiled amusement, he folds his arms across his chest and scoffs. “And what do I get when I win?”
Clucking my tongue, I shake my head, taking another step back. “If, you mean. And you only get five minutes to do it. Loser has to do all of the chores for a week.”
A mischievous glint lights up his eyes, so I hold up a finger. “But I get a five second head start since you’re all-” I gesture to the stacks of defined muscle on display, obnoxiously taunting me. “Well, you.”
He gives me a teasing smile and lifts a hand, fingers splayed and ticking the first one off. “Four,” he drawls and I bolt, gripping the handrail and tearing up the basement stairs two at a time.
