Page 2 of Straight, No Chaser
“I love you too.”
No hesitation. No pause. No lie. She gives of herself so freely and honestly. Fuck I’m a lucky bastard to have found this angel for him.
“Now go to sleep. It’s late, and we’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
“The zoo.”
“Yeah, the zoo. I can’t wait to check out the baby wolves. And the snakes. And maybe even ride on the carousel if you’re good. We can stop for ice cream if you’re really, really good.”
Eli’s breathing evens out, his body softening from her melodic voice. Weaving a relaxing spell around him to lull him back to sleep. Fuck, just like me. I’ve got to jet before she catches me. I stride to the living room and grab the bottle. My company for the night. At least better than Tyson, his arm tight around the girl’s waist, holding her drunk ass up.
He meets my eye. “I’ll be back in a few.”
I nod. As much as a dick as my brother is, I know he believes in complete consent and doesn’t give them hard time when they bail. Doesn’t hurt either that he’s never forgotten the one time he took a mind-changer home only to meet her three sober roommates. Nine holes in four hours remains the unbroken record. Damn, he’s such a fucking pervert. At least he always wears a condom.
“Oh?”
My head whips around at the startled gasp behind me. Molly stares wide-eyed at the half-conscious woman. “Avery?”
The girl’s head lifts from Tyson’s chest, squinting at our nanny until recognition flashes in her slits for eyes. “Oh my God, Molly? Are you fucking them too?”
Her face grows paler, if that’s even fucking possible. “N-no. I’m babysitting. I take care of their little brother. On the weekends. I’m not…We’re not…No, I don’t…”
Something about her rambling, her embarrassment pisses me off. We’re soiling her. She’s this fucking innocent, small town girl we were so fucking lucky to find and now she’s discovered the truth about what fucking asses we really are. Not that she probably didn’t already know, but god damn it angers me more than I can understand to rub it in her face.
So I do the gracious and gentlemanly thing and fucking turn on my brother. “Take Avery home. Now.”
He may be the dom in the bedroom, but I run the shit in this house and our company. And, she needs to get the fuck out of here.
“Sure thing, boss man.”
A little dig to remind me he doesn’t like taking orders. Or being younger than me. Or answering to me. But it was all spelled out in the will. And even if it wasn’t, I would have fought to the death to make it mine.
Tyson’s too much like our father not to be. Follows his dick before his head every chance he gets. I don’t have the time or patience for any of that shit. Not when so much is riding on my ass. We’ve already brought this family to its knees once before. I refuse to let it happen again.
Avery flails against him, and he scoops her up. Gentleman enough to not let her fall on her ass or her face. She manages a small wave to Molly, a Cheshire grin playing on her lips. “His dick is huge. You don’t…”
Ty tucks her closer, muffling the rest of her words. Nobody wants to hear that shit, especially the young woman curling her arms around herself, the crimson on her cheeks darker than blood.
“Molly, wait. I’m…”
What? Didn’t bring her friend here to three-way with her? That I changed my mind because neither her mouth nor her pussy can erase everything I want to forget? That I’m an evil monster for imagining all the delicious things I wish you wanted me to do to you?
“I’m sorry. Just really sorry.”
Her head nods, long and slow. “Me too.”
Fear seeps through her brief admission, before she turns and runs down the hallway, her tiny feet bounding over the hardwood until her door clicks shut. I swear to fucking god I hear the lock latch. Which I could fucking kick down in a heartbeat if I had to. But I won’t. A perfect reminder she’s off limits and always will be.
2
Chapter Two
Ilollin bed like a fucking pussy. Hiding within that timeless space between sleep and reality. Because I don’t want to argue with Ty. I don’t want to fight through the hangover churning in my head and my gut. And I sure as hell don’t want to fucking face Molly.
Most people go to church to atone their sins. That’s absolution I’ll never fucking earn. Especially from the angel downstairs. Filling the house with the sweet temptation of pancakes and maple syrup. A bittersweet chuckle bubbles in my throat. Eli and everything in a two foot radius of him probably sticky and crumb covered.
So these are my choices. Man up and eat breakfast with my little brother. And fucking face the shame and awkwardness of Molly’s disapproval. Or, be an asshole and torture myself on the asphalt with sweat and pain until they leave for the zoo.
