Page 50 of Blades and Bone

Had they already been making plans to take out Vivian? How close have they come to losing everything? “You were right about needing the alliance.”

She reached across the table and placed her hand over his. “I wish I wasn’t.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Hamish was doing his best to both eavesdrop and shop, but his ass was going numb, his arms were prickled up in gooseflesh because the office was set to the perfect temperature for someone in a business suit, not someone sitting naked near the duct. He was sorely tempted to get Brodie’s attention and apologize for tying up the guard and borrowing the security guy’s shirt, so he could put his clothes on, but that would involve walking over to the desk and somehow keeping his dignity while getting dressed in front of Vivian.

It was one thing to strip off in front of Brodie, but another for him to invite his sister in to witness this…punishment. He was such an asshole. And Hamish refused to give Brodie the satisfaction of winning, so he was stuck.

He’d already found a replacement rope, and while he’d almost selected red, he then thought better of it and had chosen blue instead to match the dagger on his finger. Now he was clicking through the different sections of the website, trying to decide what else to get.

Choosing something that he’d enjoy felt like he was revealing far too many secrets. Not only that, but he couldn’t get something ridiculous because he’d be setting himself up for failure. He pressed his lips together and tried not to think about how much he’d enjoy any of the toys, as the last thing he needed was to be hiding an erection under the laptop.

Concentrate on picking something.

Because if he chose nothing, that would be another problem. He scrolled down the page and paused over a selection of couple’s toys. He had enjoyed Brodie controlling the remote, even though he hadn’t wanted to enjoy it…but was that too similar?

Or did that not matter?

He placed a couple of options in the cart, mostly because he wasn’t sure.

Something that Brodie would like was much harder. He kept coming back to the glass dildos mostly because they were cold and rigid like Brodie, but as interesting as the eleven-inch curly wand looked, it was a lot. The twisty thing was shorter, thicker, and also looked like a lot.

He did not want to choose any kind of impact toy that might give Brodie the idea that he might be into that. He wasn’t.

“What have you got?” Brodie said, suddenly standing in front of him.

Hamish glanced up and panicked as if he’d been caught doing the wrong thing. He hadn’t heard him approach…he’d also stopped listening to whatever they were talking about. Two mistakes that would have gotten his ass kicked by the…Reids. “I don’t know, stuff.”

Vivian was walking over instead of leaving.

Hamish gritted his teeth and hoped the sideboard broke, and he fell into it, swallowed whole by office furniture, or maybe the ceiling would fall down…no, because then he’d be found naked and that would be even more mortifying.

“Is this not weird in front of your sister?” Hamish hissed even though Vivian would be able to hear him.

“I’m fully clothed. You’re the one shopping for sex toys and sitting naked in my office.” Brodie shrugged.

Oh, that was deliberate. Brodie was trying to piss him off.

Vivian smiled as if she found the whole thing amusing. They were clearly both psychopaths. “I am curious about what you think my brother will like?”

Hamish stared at her, his chest and face heating, and he was very grateful for the laptop covering everything. “Why? He’s your brother.”

“Yes, and I am fully aware of his methods. Be glad you are getting his friendly side. The cook will not be getting the same treatment.”

“He’s not going to fuck the truth out of the cook…I’m shocked.”

Brodie had tilted his head just enough that Hamish realized he was somehow on thin ice. What the hell had he done wrong this time? Oh…Vivian was the matriarch. His matriarch, and he’d questioned her order. Fuck.

He pressed his thighs together, not wanting to add flashing the matriarch to his list of crimes, and turned the laptop, which was on the screen of glass toys. “I was in the process of choosing something for Brodie.”

Vivian laughed. “Glass. I believe the instructions were to find something he would enjoy using, not something that represents him. But since you are here.” She reached out and scrolled the page. “That’s interesting, and I do like the ripple of color. Very sculptural. There you go. Since you couldn’t decide, I’ve done it for you.”

Hamish forced a smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re most welcome.” She turned to Brodie. “I really think he should buy a gag, as it will keep him out of trouble.”

“Agreed.” Brodie nodded at him. “You heard the matriarch. And I saw what she put in the cart, so do not change it.”