Page 25 of Blades and Bone

Hamish nodded, his gaze flicking to the glass, and the book, and the bottle of wine sitting there as if he didn’t quite know what to make of the situation. What had he been expecting?

“Would you like a glass?”

“Sure.” But Hamish didn’t sound sure.

“Well, you know where they’re kept.” Brodie smiled and let his fangs drop.

He didn’t need to be watching Hamish to be aware that he’d noticed. His heartbeat had quickened, but he walked into the kitchen, opened the correct cupboard and pulled out a wine glass. That meant he remembered where everything was, but then it didn’t look like a casual ransacking except in the bedroom.

Hamish walked over and picked up the bottle of wine.

“Ah, first, can you put away the CD?”

Hamish lifted his gaze from the glass to him, then put down the bottle and glass.

Brodie took a sip. “This is quite a nice Merlot, very smooth, easy drinking.”

“You have a good collection.” Hamish ejected the CD, placed it in the cover, and slid it back where it belonged.

“Thank you.” Brodie stood, gathering the extra glass and bottle. “Come, you have some other things to put away, and then there is the issue of you leaving resort property.” He padded toward the bedroom.

Hamish sucked in a breath. “I didn’t leave the resort.”

“The resort does not own the ocean.”

“Oh, come on, it’s right in front of the resort. You even have the surfboards and wetsuits for guest use.” Hamish followed him.

“The agreement is that you are not to leave resort property. You agreed to it.” He placed the glasses and the bottle on his bedside table.

“I didn’t realize you were going to be so petty.” The snap in his words may have had more effect if the scent of his skin hadn’t betrayed him.

Brodie smiled. “I didn’t realize you didn’t understand the direct order. This time you cannot blame a discrepancy between doing the right thing and following orders, or even being on the ground and seeing things differently. It was a very simple agreement.” His gaze slid over Hamish. “Take off your clothes.”

“What? No.” He crossed his arms.

“You’re sunburned on your face because you either didn’t use sunscreen or didn’t reapply, and I want to know if the rest of you is as burned. I cannot have you walking around looking like that, as your family will think I’m not looking after you.” Which was partially bullshit. He doubted any of the Reids would blame him for Hamish’s sunburn.

Hamish narrowed his eyes and swallowed twice, before pulling off his T-shirt. He was, of course, sunburnt, though not dramatically. The kind that would be gone in a day or two. “I used sunscreen. I always use sunscreen. Clearly yesterday’s blood was a little more than it could handle.”

“Or you shouldn’t have gone out in the midday sun.”

“You said I wasn’t a prisoner and that I should enjoy the resort, so I did.”

“The keyword being resort.” He flicked his fingers in Hamish’s direction. “Continue undressing.”

“Now you’re being weird.”

Brodie sat on the edge of the bed and took a sip of wine. “Am I being weird, or are you enjoying the anticipation of being in trouble? Did you really think you could pull everything apart and leave a mess? If you’d put things back, I would’ve let this slide. Though I would still have to do something about you leaving the resort.”

“Or you could choose not to be a dick and just give me a warning.”

Brodie considered him for several seconds. “Sure, I can give you a warning for leaving the resort, but what about the mess?”

“I can put it away and promise not to do it again?”

Brodie grimaced. “I don’t think that will be very satisfying for either of us. Take off your jeans.”

“And if I refuse?” His hand was on the button. And while the jeans were not tight-fitting, his erection was making a tantalizing ridge.