Page 45 of Silas's Sweetheart

Booker wedged in between Rue and Laken, laughing. “Bananas,” he winked at Kari, “how can they play with no arms and legs?”

Kodi gave them all an unamused look, chewing and swallowing what he had in his mouth. “Sometimes I feel like I’m the only grown-up amongst the lot of us.”

Silas’s head tipped back as he shook with laughter. Kodi had little, if no, control over his impulsive need to release all his emotions on everyone.

Kodi’s eyes narrowed on Silas, the half-eaten slice halfway to his mouth. “What the hell are you laughin’ at?”

Silas jabbed a finger at Kodi to distract, then snatched the slice from his hand. “You. Mr. Kodi, I have no impulse control, what-so-ever, Starling.” Silas waited for him to retaliate.

“Ha fucking ha ha!” Kodi snarled, launching himself at Silas to grab his pizza back.

Everyone was laughing now, even Dad, though Popi attempted to hold back as he came behind Kodi to pull him back onto the kitchen stool. “Don’t let Silas rile you up. There is plenty of pizza for you all.”

Popi gave Silas a warning look as he handed him a slice of his own. “Behave, boys.” He gave them all an endearing smile. “Now, how are we getting on with the PAs?”

The silence that followed was deafening for a few seconds before Jupiter sat forward, took a slice, and licked at his lips. “Mine’s very… talented.”

“That’s good, I knew Ziggy would be an asset,” Popi replied, unaware of how close Silas was to launching himself at Jupiter and ripping his damn tongue out to shut him up.

Silas rammed the hot slice between his lips, feeling the cheese burn the roof of his mouth, but it prevented him from saying a word.

“No work talk, Popi,” Booker chastised while grinning at the unrepentant man, who simply shrugged. Booker plucked up a slice. “Did I mention the tenant I got for my house wants to buy it?”

Silas was never more grateful to Booker for his fast switch of topic when Jupiter winked cheekily at Silas.

The fucker was goading him.

When Silas glanced away, he counted to ten, willing away the urge to force Jupiter to explain himself. He caught Dad’s eye and his brows raised. There was a look of concern in his eyes that caused Silas to shift in his seat.

“How’s Ethan coping on the ranch without you?” Dad asked, and Silas breathed more easily. He latched onto the question like a man trying to stay on an unbroken horse trying to buck him off. If Dad noticed, he was kind enough not to mention it.

Several hours later, buzzed from one too many beers, Silas headed to his bedroom, full of pizza and the chocolate dessert Popi had made. He stripped on his way to the bathroom, dropping his clothes as he went. His skin itched with how tight it felt now he was alone with his thoughts.

Under the hot spray of his shower, he groaned as it lashed at his shoulders, heating the tense muscles. He leaned forward, allowing the water to cascade down his face, neck and chest, before he reached for the lavender scented oil body wash. Heused it only when his brain wouldn’t switch off—something that he was finding more difficult with each passing day, with thoughts circling like piranha attacking his self-control.

Tonight, having failed to let go of Jupiter’s goading comment, he needed an outlet for his unease. Skin slick with the oil, he stepped out of the shower into the steamy bathroom, reaching for a fluffy towel. He wrapped it around his hips and water dripped down from his hair, but he didn’t notice as he ran a hand over the mirror to stare at his blurry image.

A more rugged outdoorsy look was what he had going for him. A simple cowboy at heart. Ziggy seemed to appreciate that, like it even, judging by the comments he’d made about Silas’s work honed body. He wasn’t beautiful like Jupiter. Would that beauty appeal to Ziggy? The kink side of things would, for sure. Jupiter was most certainly into kink, same as Ziggy. Jupiter did the no strings sex, too. Which also appealed to Ziggy.

The tension radiated off him as he continued to stare at his reflection, weighing up all the possibilities of Ziggy fucking his brother. Jupiter had stressed he didn’t shag the PAs he worked with, but Silas had firsthand knowledge of just how tempting Ziggy was. And this was his problem, he finally admitted to himself. Ziggy was more than just a fuck to Silas, which was why the idea of him touching someone else made Silas’s insides burn with jealousy. It was galling. Lowering, when he was the one who’d not wanted more than what they had.

Finally, the truth.

Silas ignored his wolf, though it wasn’t wrong, and that realization left him feeling vulnerable. What happened on Monday had brought it all to a head, with how much he wanted to bear Ziggy’s mate mark, despite believing Ziggy had betrayed his trust.

He was in trouble.

“Fuck it all to hell and back!” He reached up, dragging his hands through his wet hair in frustration. He knew himself too well to know he couldn’t switch off what had started inside Hidden Desires. Abstaining after their first encounter should have been what he’d done. Now he was up to his damn neck in all the feels, so what the hell happens next?

You know what happens next.

Chapter Eighteen

Ziggy

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

He had nowhere to run without making it obvious as Silas stalked down the corridor, determination etched into his tight features. Slowing his step, Ziggy pasted on a pleasant smile, praying it hid his inner turmoil.

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