Page 221 of Now and Forever

“You’re a fucking controlling bastard!” Archer was immediately inflamed at his brother’s dominating display of power.

Instead of engaging Archer in another round of threats, he chose a different route. “I need to speak to Serena alone,” he emphasized, issuing a request that sounded more like a demand.

“Why? So you can warn her not to be in my presence? She and I were getting on quite well without your interference.” Archer wasn’t ready to back down just yet, but it was obvious his big brother had the upper hand.

“Are you done with your spiel?” Cruz remained as calm as a cucumber, though his eyes portrayed the opposite.

Looking as though he was about to pop like a well-shaken champagne bottle, Archer took a few short breaths before sending me a severe gaze. “I’ll be waiting for you in my bedroom. Come to me whenever you’re done here.” He parted without a glance at Cruz, who seemed to resemble a ticking time bomb by the time his younger brother exited the pool area, temporarily banished.

I was screwed, and I knew it

The tension grew, and just when I thought I couldn’t take any more of it, Cruz decided to break the growing pressure by clearing his throat.

“Do you always feel the need to flaunt your body whenever there are men around, Serena?”

Oh, hell to the no!

Instead of feeling remorseful for whatever fault he thought I had done, his sardonic comment brought out the bitch in me.

“Yeah, Cruz, ’cause this all I’ve got going. Can’t you tell?”

His jaw locked while his eyes heatedly studied my body, making my nipples hurt.

“Stop staring at me!” I snapped, ready to match fire with fire.

“My brother was doing the same thing, but you had no qualms then,” he said in a measured tone, making me wonder what he truly thought of me.

“Maybe I like your brother better.” With my claws out, I decided that, if he was ready to draw blood, I was ready to go an eye for an eye.

His silvery gaze turned dark, unmistakably displeased. “Is this what I think it is, Serena?”

I blinked a few times. “What do you mean by that, Cruz?” I feigned innocence.

“You and my bloody brother!” His contained anger began to crack, giving me a glimpse of the man underneath the controlled temper and emotions.

I swallowed what little moisture was left in my mouth, weighing how to proceed without damaging our already tattered relationship.

“What you saw—”

“Are you shagging him!”he thundered out.

Did he just ask me that? Fucker.

My nostrils flared as I wondered if I should kick him in the balls or punch his face for insulting me like I was a second-class hooker. Regardless, as much I wanted to flow with my emotions, something made me change my tune by deflating the situation.

“Cruz, I think you’re out of line,” I tried to calmly reason with him, but he wasn’t willing to.

“I am not bloody out of line, Serena. We both know that. How could you simply go from kissing me to shagging my brother?” he huffed, beyond enraged. “Are you punishing me? Is that it?”

“Punish you? What are you fucking talking about! I don’t want to punish anyone.” I wasn’t that type. I wasn’t the kind to hold a grudge. My parents taught me better than that. If that was what he thought of me, then he was sorely mistaken.

“Tell me what this is all about, then.” Cruz pressed.

Carefully placing the champagne bottle on the nearest flat surface, I strolled a few steps so I was inches away from his infuriated form, facing him head on with my arms folded underneath my breasts. I was willing to use whatever weapon at hand so he could feel what he was accusing me of—punishing him.

“Has it ever occurred to you that I might just like Archer’s company? Or that he’s so fun to be around that I can joke around and be myself with him? Or how refreshing it is to be around someone who doesn’t take himself seriously? Did any of those enter your rational mind at all, Cruz, before you started accusing me of shit?” If he wants to go in circles, then let’s have at it. I had all the time in the world.

For a second, he seemed distracted as his eyes repeatedly glanced at my overly abundant display of flesh. “He wants you,” he rasped out, seeming aroused and angry at the same time.

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