Page 70 of Broken King

He points at my face and smirks. “You let her shave you. That’s usually the prelude to fucking, man. In fact, I don’t think there’s ever been an occasion that a woman shaved me and then I didn’t end up in bed with her. It’s no wonder Katie is sure you’re up to no good with the nanny.”

Jesus, he needs to stop calling her that. It sounds so much worse when he doesn’t use her name.

I stand up, already tired of him and this entire conversation. “I don’t know what you’re up to, Marius, but I’m not biting. I don’t know what sick pleasure you get from busting my chops like this, but fucking drop it.”

“Fine, but you’re going to lose your chance with her if you keep going like this.”

As much as I want to get away from him, I can’t stop myself from asking, “Like what? What the hell am I doing?”

He looks around the kitchen like the answer is somewhere here and I should know it already before leveling his gaze on me. “It’s what you’re not doing, Ronan. She’s clearly crazy about you. Always has been. Jesus, we all knew you two were madly in love, and that’s before either of you likely knew what love was. The way she looks at you is the same as when you were together before. It’s like the sun rises and sets with you, buddy, and meanwhile, you’re planning lunches and not doing a thing to make her see you’re crazy about her too.”

God, I hate this brother sometimes. Everything is physical with him. He has no idea two adults can be around one another and not have sex.

“Kate likes those kinds of things. That’s why I do them. I want her to see I care about her. Not everything has to be wham, bam, thank you ma’am, you know.”

But he’s not hearing anything I’m saying. “And all the while, there’s a sweet, young thing living in this same house with you who’s made it perfectly clear she’d jump you the moment she got a chance.”

“I think you have a problem, Marius. Things aren’t always about sex.”

Sure I don’t want her or Ava hearing this conversation, I look around for any sign of them. Thankfully, they don’t seem to be nearby.

“Sabrina no more wants me than she wants you.”

My brother leans back in his chair and sets his heels on the chair next to him. “Trust me, she’d take either of us. Hell, she’d probably take Matthias, if he ever gave her a whiff of opportunity. That one is nothing less than a gold digger there.”

Even though I think he’s so off the mark it’s ridiculous, I can’t help but be curious since it’s obvious he knows something or heard something I haven’t. I can’t say she’s ever obviously hit on me, but then again, I have no interest in her, so maybe I didn’t pick up on it.

Taking a step back into the kitchen, I ask, “What makes you think that?”

He shrugs, like after bringing up the juiciest piece of gossip that’s been heard in this house in ages now it’s no big deal. I swear this brother lives to just get on people’s nerves.

“It’s the way she talks about staying around forever and loving being a part of this family. Dude, she’s angling to have one of us, and my guess is she’s set her sights on you because I’m too difficult to fool.”

There it is. I knew this had something to do with him insulting me.

“And why would I be an easier target than you?” I ask, eager to hear what he really thinks of me. “Because you’re basically a fucking horndog twenty-four seven, so from where I’m standing, you look like a much easier prize to get than me. So regale me with your expertise on why she’d think I’m easier to get.”

Marius hesitates for a moment or two and then points at my right arm. “That right there, brother.”

“Fuck you!”

Before I can get away from him, he continues with his nonsense. “Riddle me this, Ronan. When in the history of men and women has a woman ever offered to shave a man’s face without wanting more? Seriously. It’s like you’re blind. I’d bet a hundred bucks she made sure to stick those pretty tits in your face while she was doing it, and all the while, you didn’t even notice, did you?”

“Seriously, fuck you, Marius. To someone with a hammer, everything is a nail. To someone like you who only thinks of women as sexual playthings, of course the only reason Sabrina would want to help me is because she wants to get into my pants. Has it occurred to you that women are more than what’s between their legs?”

For some reason I can’t begin to fathom, that offends him. “You have no idea what I think about when it comes to women, but I for damn sure know when one wants to jump my bones. Maybe if you weren’t so stuck in woe is me mode, you’d see it too.”

I don’t know why since Marius is always a fucking pain in the ass like this, but I lunge at him, swinging wildly with my left hand since that’s all I have now. I haven’t sparred with any of my brothers since my accident, so my control is next to nothing, but I land a punch or two before he starts fighting back.

He gets me good a couple times, but I shake it off because it feels so damn fantastic to take my anger out on someoneother than myself. Enjoying myself far too much, I get him in a chokehold and take him down to the floor. I didn’t think I could hold my own anymore since I’m missing one of the most important parts of fighting for me, but Marius isn’t able to one-up me this time.

“Still got some fight in you, huh?” he says before I hit him hard in the jaw.

His eyes get big as the pain sets in, but I don’t get to revel in it before he comes at me with a right hook that slams into my cheekbone. This brother has always been far more self-indulgent than the others, so I’m surprised he’s still so good at landing a punch.

“What the hell is going on?” Matthias barks behind us.

I turn to look at him and let him know exactly why I’m beating the hell out of our brother, but Marius slams his fist into my right cheek, making talking next to impossible. Beneath me, he says, “Leave us alone, Matthias. We’re busy.”

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