Page 66 of Until You're Mine
“Whatever, you don’t have to say that.”
“I’m serious,” he said, his tone and expression completely sincere. “I want one before you become big and famous and I have to fight through the crowd to see you.”
My smile stretched right into grin territory. “Good thing you’re so adept at fighting.”
“Good thing, or I wouldn’t be standing here across from you, about to kiss you.”
Butterflies erupted, and I was in serious danger of swooning. The world grinded to a halt as he leaned in. It whirred back to life as his lips brushed mine. Overwhelming happiness tumbled through me, leaving me light and floaty. Desire rushed up on its heels, anchoring me to this man, this moment. Our mini infinity, where nothing else existed.
I pushed him until his knees hit and buckled against my bed, taking control. I’d never felt so insatiable in the bedroom, especially since every time we had sex left me very, very satisfied.
I straddled his lap and reached for the hem of my shirt. “I think you’re turning me into a nympho.”
A grin curved his lips, but it died before it fully took hold, his attention drifting to a spot over my head.
“What the fuck?” Finn’s voice echoed through the room, and I winced, bracing myself for the oncoming shitstorm. Which was kind of like opening an umbrella mid-downpour.
Shane’s features went deadly calm, and in one fluid movement, he stood and moved me behind him. LikeImight need the shield, when clearlyhewas in far more danger.
Tension snapped in the air, so tight it smothered all the oxygen. “Busted,” I muttered, hoping it’d lighten the mood.
It did not.
I held up a hand, praying it’d be more effective. “Finn, just stay calm.”
“Staycalm?” Shane whispered, like I didn’t realize my brother had passed calm and drifted into intent-to-murder territory. But saying “calm down” had never worked on anyone ever.
Finn’s eyes locked on to mine, so much disappointment and judgment in them I nearly choked on it. “Really, B? You didn’t learn your lesson last time?”
Okay, that hurt. Along with the sharp pain that lanced my heart, it brought my insecurities and doubts to the surface. “I know what I’m doing. I…” I stepped next to Shane and laced my fingers with his. “We…”
“We’re seeing each other,” Shane said when words failed me, “and it’s more than just sex.”
Finn’s jawline tightened, and I grimaced. “Maybe don’t mention the s-e-x.”
Not that it mattered. My brother looked like a bull about to charge, blowing steam from his nostrils, and Shane was the waving red flag.
“If you need to take a swing at me, go ahead.” Shane spread his arms wide. “I’ll give you one freebie.”
I pushed his arms down, desperation filling me—I needed to get control of this situation, and fast. “No one’s hitting anyone.”
“Speak for yourself.” Finn cracked his knuckles as he took a step forward, and I positioned myself between the two of them. Despite knowing the likelihood of this disastrous possibility, I’d dived on in, so it was on me to fix it. As impossible as it seemed, I’d like for all the guys in my life to be at least okay with each other. Instead of even looking down at me, my brother kept on advancing. “I’ll just give him a little taste of what’ll happen if he hurts you.”
“Finn.” I shoved both hands against his chest and met his gaze, pleading with him to listen. “You hurt him, you hurt me.” I glanced back at Shane. “That goes both ways.”
Shane held up his hands in surrender, and then he aimed the next words at Finn. “Hurting her is the last thing I want to do, but if I fuck up, you can take your swing, and I won’t bother blocking.”
I dragged a hand across my face. “And people say girls are the dramatic ones.”
Weirdly, Shane’s words did what I couldn’t—they settled Finn down from raging to a shade under angry. He shook his head. “This is going to get messy, no way around it.”
I frowned. How did he know? Sure, I’d thought it before, but I was giving hope another chance. “It’s complicated, yes. That doesn’t mean we can’t pull it off.”
Shane whipped his face toward mine, the disbelief in his features clear. Was that because he didn’t believe me? Or because he did? His expression softened, and he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer. “With you by my side, we can take on the world.”
My heart melted, and I’d even let out anawwif my brother wasn’t glaring daggers at us, ruining the moment. But when we presented our united front, he shook his head again. Maybe not the ideal reaction, but anything less than swinging counted as a win in my book.
“You’re going to need to talk to Liam,” Finn said. “He already suspects it, and I’m not going to lie to him. Especially since this is going to interfere with Knox’s training.”
