Page 36 of The Cost of Corruption

That, at least, was one problem I could solve.

But while jacking off in the shower had helped ease the pressure in my pants, it didn’t do a thing to cool the fire burning inside me. Only one thing would satisfy that—and she was currently curled up tight in my bed.

“Nottechnically?” Gabriel shook his head in disappointment. “I don’t even want to know what that means. I only care if you can look Michael Costa in the eye and tell him you haven’t defiled his daughter.”

That definitely wasn’t the word I’d use.Awakenwas much more fitting.

But somehow, I didn’t think Gabriel wanted me to meet up with Costa just to tell him I’d felt his daughter come alive in my arms.

“That’s not going to happen,” I told my brother flat out.

“Why the hell not?”

Because now that I had her, there was no way I was giving her up. Not until I’d satisfied her every primal desire…and mine.

“Because if I see Michael Costa again, the only thing I’m going to do is put my fist through his face.”

The cold fury that rushed through me just saying the man’s name must have come through in my tone and on my face. Gabriel stopped short, his brows arching high.

If it was rare for us brothers to argue, then it was downright unheard of for me to lose my temper.

I was supposed to be the calm, composed one. As the defender of our family’slegitimateside, nothing was supposed to ruffle my feathers.

And until now, nothing had.

“What happened?” Gabriel asked, his voice now heavy with concern.

“His family of spoiled brats are constantly causing chaos in my club, and the night they all get shitfaced enough to start throwing punches, that bastard has the balls to burst into my office and not only threaten me for having the decency to protect his only daughter, but to threaten her as well.”

“And that’s all you were doing?” Gabriel said, some of that skepticism creeping back into his voice. “Protectingher?”

“It was a brawl,” I shot back. “What would you have done if you saw a guy trying to punch a nun?”

“You said she was only a postulant.”

Fucking semantics. “I didn’t learn that until later.”

The hint of a wry smile twisted my brother’s lips. “Did she tell you before or after youtechnicallydidn’t sleep with her?”

Between the lack of sleep and this infuriating conversation, my head was starting to throb. I rested my elbows on the counter and lowered my head to rub at my aching temples.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I swore through gritted teeth. “It was just some damn kisses.” All right…some powerfully intimate kisses and one earth-shaking orgasm that had lit my whole world on fire. “And I didn’t even initiate it.Shekissedme.”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t bullshit me.”

“I’m not.” I tilted my head just far enough to meet my brother’s gaze, forcing him to see the sincerity on my face. “I’m not saying I was a fucking saint. I could have stopped her. But I didn’t.”

“And why didn’t you?”

Why the hell did he think?

“Because, nun or not, she’s a beautiful woman.”

And clever…and resilient…and brave.

And sexy as hell.

“Oh shit,” Gabriel said, pushing back in his chair. “You’ve got it bad for Chastity Costa, don’t you?”

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