Page 43 of An Indecent Longing

“What are you doing tonight?”

Ian shrugged but didn’t stop as he walked past Ben. “Probably have a few beers and call it a night.”

“Ian.” Ben turned toward him. “I’m going out with Dorrie tonight.”

The silence that followed wasn’t unexpected.

Ian paused for a few heartbeats before he continued to head out to the kitchen.

“Have a good time.”

Ben’s eyes rolled and he sighed. “Ian. Goddammit. Wait.”

Surprisingly, his cousin stopped at the door to the basement in the tiny hall between the kitchen and the dining room. But he didn’t turn to face him.

“That’s really all you’re going to say?”

Ian huffed out a sigh and his hand tightened around the doorknob. But he still didn’t turn. “That’s all there is to say.”

Ben crossed his arms, more so he didn’t close the space between them and smack Ian on the back of the head. “And the fact that you slept with her last night…that doesn’t matter to you at all?”

“Nothing. Happened.”

“So she was just some warm body in your bed?”

Ian huffed out a sigh, and Ben could tell his cousin was fast losing his cool. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“How about you tell me what the fuck is your issue with this woman.”

When Ian remained silent, Ben’s frustration continued to grow until his temper finally got the better of him.

“So you’re gonna be okay if I end up in her bed tonight?”

Ian’s jaw clenched for a brief second, barely long enough for Ben to see it. Still, Ian just shook his head.

“It’s your life. Might as well take what you want.”

“And you don’t want her?”

Now Ian turned to look at him and the glacier blue of his eyes burned Ben. “I’m not having this conversation again.”

Ben smirked at him, knew it would piss Ian off even more. “We haven’t had this conversation before.”

“And we’re not fucking having it now.”

And there was Ian the soldier.

Maybe he’d pushed too far.

And maybe you’re never going to be able to push Ian far enough.

“You’re right.” Ben uncrossed his arms and turned toward the stairs. But as he mounted the first step, he couldn’t resist one more dig. “I gotta get ready. And if you weren’t such a prick, I’d tell you to come with us.”

Ian’s jaw looked ready to crack. “That’s never going to happen.”

Then Ian opened the door to the basement and disappeared.

Leaving Ben staring after him, trying to breathe through the anger.

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