Page 249 of By His Rule

It kills me to keep my hands at my sides and not reach for her. But I do it.

For her.

As if he senses that something is wrong, King glances at me, his brow furrowed.

“It’s okay, you two can?—”

“The Chiefs are coming out,” Lorelei says, cutting my brother off and stepping closer to the window.

I want to say that it’s a good thing that the game starts, distracting everyone from the internal war I’m battling.I’ve never really given much thought to a woman’s concerns before. Never needed to. But suddenly I’m holding back on everything I want to do because I know it’s what she’d want.

What is this bizarre alternate universe I’ve found myself in?

The Chiefs’ win was easier than last week. I can’t say that I was surprised. The Saints are in top form this year and probably their biggest competition for the Lombardi Trophy. But no matter how good the game was or how many touchdowns Kieran managed to score, I couldn’t fully focus with Lorelei standing right beside me.

Is it always going to be like this now? Am I always going to be so aware of her presence, of every little move she makes?

Things haven’t gotten any better since the four of us left the stadium and headed toward a restaurant of King’s choice for dinner.

The food has been great—not that there’s ever a concern about that if King is involved in the decision-making—but it’s not the epic wings that Lorelei had last week. It’s much…healthier.

I glance over at her as she tucks her cell into her purse as we get ready to leave.

She’s been messaging on and off throughout the meal. It’s her brother. She told him earlier today that she was heading to the game, and he’s been messaging ever since.

Before, I’d have been worried that she was messaging her ex, or the douchebag she was sending titty pictures to. But I’m confident that she’s lost both of them now thanks to that little block button.

Unease twists up my stomach.

She might have lost her ex’s texts, but it’s more than obvious he’s still present in her life.

King and Tate take the lead, and I gesture for Lorelei to go ahead of me, although I’m not very far behind.

“Are you sure about this?” I ask quietly.

“It’s my home, Kian. No one is scaring me off. I’m not a weak woman that?—”

I laugh. “I know that. Trust me, I do.”

“I need to go home,” she states, making my heart sink.

But what if I don’t want you to?

I shake my head as I take the door from King and hold it open for her, remembering that I should be putting her first.

But would demanding she comes back to mine be so bad?

She’ll be angry, sure. But Lorelei is hot as hell when she’s mad. It would ensure some epic angry sex…I’ve never really experienced that before.

The car ride to King and Tate’s apartment is much quieter than this afternoon. Tate is curled up against King’s side, half asleep, and King’s concern is on his wife. As it should be.

I shouldn’t be complaining—at least he isn’t focused on me and trying to figure all this shit out.

No sooner have I pulled up in the underground parking lot than King and Tate are out of the car.

“Have a good night, guys,” Tate says, suddenly perking up.

“Take her to bed, King,” Lorelei instructs, not taking any of her friend’s teasing.

---