Page 84 of Big Bad Bully
“Something like that.” I get the sense that Madi wants to wave this away. She’s not telling me the whole story, and I don’t like it.
I get that some of this might be proprietary information, but I’m used to Madi spilling all her secrets to me. I fight disappointment that she isn’t going to open up to me like she did before. I guess some secrets are meant to be kept.
“You know, Billy is a lot like you.”
She wrinkles her nose, not liking that comparison.
“Loyal,” I explain. “Committed to his friends. You say he hates weakness, but I think he just expects the best of himself and requires that of the people around him. If you’re in his circle, he’ll fight for you to the end.” I think of him in the stairwell of Sentience, kissing me like his soul required it. Playing the part, but now that I remember the moment, his muscles were tense. He was intent on me, but if those guys had tried anything, I have no doubt in my mind that Billy would’ve done what was required to get me out. Even punching one of them.
He didn’t need to resort to violence. He just acts like he has the biggest dick in the room and dominates everyone in it.
It helps that he does have the biggest dick in the room, I grin to myself.
I realize I’ve been reminiscing while Madi is frowning at me.
“Aubrey…”
“What?”
She looks away as if figuring out how to phrase what she wants to say. “Billy is committed. To Moon Co. To Brick and the rest.” She’s trying to tell me something, but she’s dancing around it.
“I know that,” I say.
“He’s not the type to settle down.”
Ugh, is this what she’s trying to tell me? Billy’s not looking for a relationship? I know that. I’m not looking for one either.
“Billy is the last guy I’d want as a boyfriend. We’re just hooking up,” I say. “Having some fun.”
“Okay.” She forces a grin. “Good.”
A flash of irritation ripples through me. “But why is that good?”
“I just don’t think he’s capable of a relationship. Brick said he came from an abusive home with an uber-exacting father.”
That news hits me square in the chest.
Well, no wonder he’s so contained. So cold and controlled.
“It seems to me he’s been hard-wired for ruthless success at any cost and not much else,” she says.
That fits. Sorrow for the pain he’s endured drowns me.
Dammit, I don’t want to start seeing him as a three-dimensional human. Meaningless sex is working right now. I don’t want anything else.
I rise and undo my robe, dropping it on the chaise lounge. I have a scrunchie on my wrist, and I whip it off to gather up my braids into a loose bun. “I’m going for a dip.”
Without waiting for Madi’s response, I turn and walk down the steps into the long infinity pool. It’s heated to the perfect temperature, and the sensation of pristine water lapping against my bare skin relaxes me. I swim to the edge and lean against it, letting water slosh over the infinity edge. This side of the spa overlooks a gorgeous stretch of the beach. There are a group of guys down there, running back and forth over the sand, shouting to each other and tossing around a ball shaped like a rounded lemon.
I realize it’s Billy. And Brick, Jake, Nickel, and the rest. They’re playing some sort of sports ball. Maybe rugby? All but Nickel have stripped off their shirts, and I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit that they’re all premium grade, A grade beefsteak. I didn’t know guys really had abs like that. Tight and chiseled with enough contour to keep Michelangelo busy sculpting for a lifetime.
When do they even have the time to work out so much?
Billy
What started as a relaxing morning on the beach has turned into an intense game of shifter rugby.
Shifter rugby and human rugby are pretty similar. At least, when we’re in public. In private, there are a lot less rules–and wolf forms are allowed. We have to play with a special ball because our wolf teeth puncture the traditional rugby ball and deflate it. I’ve played games where the ball was the jawbone of a deer or a piece of antler.
