Page 42 of Wicked Attraction

“Fuck!” My roar of pain echoed in the dining room.

“Done?”

“Not even fucking close,” I growled and stepped in for a combo. Jab. Hook. Jab.

“Jasper,” he scolded.

“You can stop this at any time,” I told him, breathless and panting.

Something flashed in his eyes, and Thomas nodded before he stepped with his right leg, but I was ready for him this time and blocked that left jab.

He kicked me with the right leg before he punched me twice in the mouth. One final leg sweep and I was on my back, staring up at Thomas’ angry, anguished face.

“I just did,” he growled. “Unless you want me to knock you out?”

I spat out more blood and glared up at him. “Fuck you.”

“Yeah, fuck you too, Jasper.” He extended a helping hand to me, and I smacked it away, but Thomas was a stubborn bastard. He kept his hand there, daring me to not accept it, to prove I was the little shit he accused me of being.

I accepted his hand and got to my feet, gripping his hand hard for a long moment. We stared at each other, the moment tense and almost awkward, but I had to let him know who the fuck was in charge.

“Think you broke my fucking calf.”

“I could have if I wanted to.” Thomas made his way to the bar, pouring two glasses of whiskey and handing me one.

“Yeah, thanks.” Even though I got my ass beat, that fight was just what I needed to get my head on straight, to satisfy my need to fuck some shit up.Some more shit,my mind taunted.

“Look, Jasper.” Thomas took a sip and sighed. “I’m not an Ashby. I damn well know that. You love to remind me of that, just like your father did. The thing is, I know I’ll never be, and I’m fine with that, but I love your mother and even her adult children. This house full of people? The only fucking family I have.”

His words made me curious in a way I had never been before. Even when he taught me to fight, I never asked about his life. About why he never took vacations or left the compound. I didn’t give a fuck, back then.

“I’m not looking to be your father or any fucked-up shit like that. Hell, I’m not even looking to be your business partner. That’s you and Sadie. But Iamhere to listen, protect, and do what’s needed to keep everyone safe.” His gaze was intense, serious.

He meant what he said.

His words made me feel like the shit he’d accused me of being. “I know.” Thomas wasn’t family, but he’d been a better father to me, hell to all of us, than Colm Ashby had ever fucking been.

Thomas produced another of his fancy fucking handkerchiefs to dab the blood on his mouth. “I’m going to go sit with Sadie for a while.” He finished his drink, gave the messed up dining room a scan, and shook his head before walking out.

“Hold up,” I called after him and finished my own tumbler. “I’ll come with you.”

Thomas nodded and waited until I was at his side to start walking again in silence.

“Seriously, those leg kicks fucked me up. You still fight like a younger man.”

His lips quirked into a smile. “I’m happy to kick your ass whenever you start acting like a bitchy little brat.”

I smiled, still pissed that he kicked my ass. “Yeah, well, the fuck you still stands.”

“Sticks and stones, Jas. Sticks and motherfucking stones.”

I smiled at those words. They were the same ones he said to me whenever I got into a fight at school because some asshole thought he could talk shit about Sadie. About my shitty dad. My family in general.

And I’d never forget them.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

Mo

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