Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“Hey,” I say, settling right next to him on the bench. “You cold?”
He shrugs. “Not really.”
I sit quietly, waiting to see if he’ll say anything. He doesn’t. Ronan silently broods, his gaze never leaving the fire. It’s like he’s building a fortress around him and I don’t get to have a key. This isn’t the Ronan I know. This guy likes being alone.
Rather than force him to talk, I sit with him without saying anything. My mind keeps drifting to the night before when Raegan gave me a handjob. I’ve never come so fast in my life. Despite it feeling really, really good, I can’t help but obsess over the fact we did it with Ronan right next to me. He’d been blissfully unaware and the guilt of what we did keeps eating at me.
I should tell him.
He had sex with her, though under forced and unusual conditions, but it still happened. I’d been hurt when I found out. I made peace with it, though. Maybe he’ll get mad and then get over it like I did. Telling him is better than carrying around this big secret when I already feel like the distance between us is stretching.
“So, I, uh,” I murmur, darting my gaze over to Wild, Chet, Sadie, and Kristen from across the fire. “Can we talk?”
Ronan cuts his eyes over to me briefly. “Isn’t that what we’re doing?”
There’s a bitterness to his tone. A warning to back off. Still, I push through because he’s my brother and we don’t back away when the other bares his teeth.
Don’t be a pussy, man.
I suck in a sharp breath and then quickly exhale. “Something happened.”
“Something happened,” Ronan repeats. “Great talk.”
Rolling my eyes, I nudge his shoulder and earn a small smile from him. It’s not much, but it’s more than I’ve seen in days. I’ll take it.
“So, yeah, Raegan got me off.” A laugh barks out of me. “Fuck, did I say that too loud?”
The group across the fire continue to cut up, unaware of our serious conversation.
“What?”
“Last night, she came over and—”
“With me in the bed?” His voice is rising and turning shrill. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Ronan jumps to his feet and starts striding away. I snag his bicep before he can get too far. He snaps his head back to affix me with a murderous glare.
Is he pissed?
“Let go of me,” he commands, attempting to pull from my hold.
Clutching tighter, I shake my head. “Come on, Ro, don’t run away. Can we talk about this?”
He shrugs me off. Instead of running off, he steps closer to me, face contorting into one of rage. “No. You can fuck right off.”
“Ronan, please—”
My words are cut off the second his fist slams into my face. I’m so stunned, I fall back, landing hard on my ass.
“What the actual fuck, dude,” Wild exclaims. “You just punched your brother.”
“Leave me the hell alone,” Ronan barks out, storming off toward the cabin.
“Someone pissed in his Cheerios,” Chet grumbles. “For fuck’s sake.”
“Ronan, wait up.” Kristen follows after him, further irritating me for some reason.
Ignoring them all, I rise to my feet and stalk down the path toward the gate. Mage, the traitor, doesn’t follow me. He’s been too busy sneaking treats from Dad and spending all his time with them.
Right now, I’m feeling really fucking alone.
There’s only one person who can help.
I nearly crash into said person as she enters through the gate. Raegan squeaks in surprise and her hair bounces from the movement. Taking hold of her hand, I tug her into the shadows behind the equipment barn. Reaching up, I finger her short, styled hair. In the moonlight, I can tell it’s pretty and chic like the women in the magazines. Very womanly.
“Wow,” I murmur. “This looks…you look…”
She frowns, misunderstanding and already on the defensive. “There wasn’t much hair left to work with. No need to be a dick.”
“No,” I growl, fingers sliding into her hair. “It’s beautiful. You’re fucking gorgeous.”
A smile tugs at her lips. “Oh. Well, start with that next time.” Her smile fades the longer she studies me. “What’s wrong? You’re upset. Did something happen?”
Closing my eyes, I nod and lean my forehead against hers. “I told Ronan about last night.”
“Ahh.” She cups my cheek and tilts her head up until her breath tickles over my lips. “How did that go?”
“He punched me.” I reopen my eyes to see her peering up at me in concern. “He was so angry. I think I really hurt him.”
Her other hand finds my sore jaw and she tenderly touches me there despite my flinch. “Let him cool off and then we can talk to him together. It’ll be okay, Ry. I promise.”
Needing to taste her promise, I lean forward, capturing her lips with mine. The kiss is soft at first. Then my tongue eagerly lashes against hers. Tasting her and breathing her in is all I care about, hidden in the shadows behind the barn. I want her to kiss away all the hurt Ronan left me with.