Page 25 of Mind Maze

“Did she kiss you back?” Now I feel like I’m a stupid teenager all over again.

He looks down at his feet. “Nah, man.”

I don’t know if it’s a lie or what, but the relief I feel that she didn’t is enough to satisfy me.

“Do you really like her?” Theo asks, turning his gaze up to meet mine. “Because if you don’t, you should just break it off. Fake or not—”

“She. Is. Mine.” I step away from the wall, letting my arms fall to my sides as I approach him. “Do I have to fuck her in front of you to make that clear?”

Theo’s face twists into one of unmasked fury. A vein in his forehead pops out. I’m almost convinced he’ll hit me, but shockingly, he reins in the impulse.

“Don’t be a dick. I might deserve it, but she doesn’t.”

It’s true. Romy is just as innocent in all this as Kaitlyn. But she’s in the thick of it whether she likes it or not. I can’t let her go now. Not when I’m finally getting leads that matter—leads that didn’t happen before she walked into my life.

“Take Kaitlyn shopping or to see the Statue of Liberty. Be back by five for dinner.”

Theo frowns at my dismissal. “Where will you go?”

“I’m going to spend some time with Romy. Alone. Got a problem with that?”

The small tick of a muscle in his neck says that he does.

“Don’t make her do anything she doesn’t want to do,” Theo bites out. “You’re not Gareth.”

We both know what Gareth did to Emma. Learned that by accident. But does he know more? About what Gareth did to Romy? Did she tell him?

“Trust me,” I say coolly. “She’ll love everything I do to her.”

I have no plans to do anything sexual with Romy, but I like riling up my baby brother, whom clearly is in love with the girl.

“I fucking hate you,” he growls.

Liar.

As soon as the door clicks shut, signaling the departure of Theo and Kaitlyn, I make my way into the bedroom. I can hear the shower shut off, so I settle on the edge of the bed, waiting for Romy to come out. Moments later, she emerges in nothing but a towel wrapped around her body and one twisted in her hair. She squeaks out in surprise at seeing me sitting here.

“What are you doing?” she demands, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Waiting to talk to you.”

Her cheeks are pink, either from embarrassment or her hot shower. She ignores me to kneel beside her suitcase. Her bare shoulder muscles flex and tighten as she digs out a pair of jeans, undergarments, and a sweater.

I rise to my feet and prowl toward her. When she stands up again, I’m inches behind her. My nearness has her freezing.

“Why did you kiss him?” I ask, voice low and guttural.

“He kissed me, not that it’s any of your business.”

I wrap an arm around her, pulling her back to my chest. The towel on her head slides off and tumbles to the floor. With my nose, I inhale the clean scent along her neck. She shudders at the brushing of my lips on her flesh.

“I reminded him that you belong to me,” I murmur, enjoying the full-bodied shiver my words create in her.

“Our game of pretend.”

Grabbing hold of her towel, I give it a quick tug and it comes loose. She sucks in a sharp breath but doesn’t stop me.

“Drop the clothes, love,” I purr near her ear. “Now.”

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