Page 67 of Brutal Savage

He touched her.

He hurt her.

And that’s enough.

Brody rushes back excitedly, and when he sees me, he stops in place, his gloom returning, his vision jumping between the two of us.

I fucking hate this. What did I do to make him hate me? I try to think back to before his parents died. We always got along. Things changed after they died. Like he hates me for it. I don’t know what the hell to do to fix this. To bring back the relationship we once had.

She must notice, because she grabs my hand and holds it tight, looking my way for a moment. But I hide the way the rejection affects me. I have to. I have to focus on helping him.

“Tynan is gonna play with us. Isn’t that awesome?”

Brody shrugs.

“Maybe I should go?” I whisper into her ear.

“No.” Her voice is just as low. “He needs this. You have to understand that you probably remind him of his parents, his dad, and it hurts. That’s all this is. Pain.” Her eyes lock with mine.

I wanna kiss you…

“I didn’t think of it that way.”

“I know. That’s why you have me.” She winks. “Now, let’s play!”

She rubs her palms, and Brody finally sits down on her opposite side.

We play for over thirty minutes, having too much fun. I don’t think I’ve played a board game since I was really young, when Iseult would beat me every time and gloat about it. Not much has changed with her. She still gloats, and she can still kick my ass.

“Dinner, guys!” Ruby calls.

Brody helps us clean up and puts away the game, leaving us standing alone for a minute.

“That was nice. Thanks for asking me.” My hand reaches for hers and our fingertips brush, jolting all the molecules in my limbs.

“You’re very welcome. Maybe we can do that again sometime. It’s good for Brody.”

“I’d love that.” I run my fingers up her arm and enjoy the way every tiny hair rises.

She grows visibly uncomfortable from our proximity and pushes her chair all the way into the table before she walks past me with a quick glance.

I keep the laugh to myself, though I savor the reaction I bring out in her when I touch her. It’s like an aphrodisiac.

I follow her into the kitchen, the smell of chicken and garlic wafting in the air.

We all settle around the table and start to eat. Ruby asks about the game and who won, and of course, we both let Brody win. But I know she would’ve beat me if it came to it. I grin internally at the thought.

“That was delicious. Thank you, Ruby.” Elara smiles at her, taking her plate and Brody’s to the sink, where she proceeds to wash them.

With mine in hand, I walk up behind her, pushing her into the counter.

She gasps, and I let out a low groan, almost forgetting about Ruby or Brody or anyone except this woman. This damn woman who’s turned my mind upside down. I drop my plate into the sink and take her soapy hands in mine, washing Brody’s plate with her, running my wet fingertips in and around her fingers.

“Tynan,” she whispers, all low and throaty, and my cock instantly hardens.

I know she can feel it.

I want more. I want her bare and begging and?—

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