“Good night,” I finally say.
“Good night.” His voice is thick.
Then I’m turning and leaving. My back prickles. I think it might be his turn to watch me. I feel his eyes on me the whole time I walk away.
8
Stephanus
“Today?” my brother asks. “As in today, today?” His voice is animated through my cellphone.
“When would you suggest?” I pace along the far wall of my property, walking away from the house. I took a walk after breakfast. Firstly, because I needed to stretch. I caught four hours of sleep and then got back to work. All the hours in the chair gets to me. I wouldn’t mind shifting, stretching my wings for an hour or two. There’s no time. A quick walk will have to do. Maybe I’ll hit the gym later. My muscles get tight when I’m working this hard, especially in my neck.
My brother sighs. “Today seems a little soon.”
“They leave in a couple of days. We can’t stall for too long. When would you suggest we get this over with? My vote is for sooner rather than later.”
Another sigh. “You’re right. Should we call him first, or should we tell him to come over and really surprise the hell out of him?”
“I don’t know! Fuck!” I run through the various possibilities. “We should check if he’s home first.”
“What, and just arrive and spring a half-brother on him? Rage is going to shit himself.”
“I know I would. No!” I push out. “That wouldn’t be fair. We have to give him a heads-up.”
“I’ll tell him,” Jarrod says. “Either Maddox or Rage needs to know upfront, or it might not go smoothly.
“See how he takes it and let me know,” I say.
“Okay, I’ll drop Zale and West off at your place for lunch. I’ll let you know if Rage is up for meeting Maddox once I drop the bomb.”
“With all of them here?”
“They all need to know. I know they’ll feel better if they are together.”
“That’s probably true,” I say. “I’d feel better. What about Forge?”
“Forge can be…difficult. He’s better since Ava came into his life, but…still. Let’s take this one step at a time.”
“You’re right!” I pace further along the wall. I hope I’m far enough away that my guests won’t hear me. I have several acres, so it should be fine. “Let’s start with Rage, see how it goes, and then we’ll break things to Forge. I agree; one surprise at a time.”
“If I run into trouble, I’ll let you know. Oh, and don’t cause shit with West while he’s at your place.”
“He’s the one with the problem, not me!” I quickly say.
“Don’t hit on his girlfriend, and everything will be okay.” I can hear that Jarrod is playing with me. I take the bait anyway.
“He’s not her boyfriend! Not anymore!”
“And you know this little piece of information, how?” He’s turned more serious. His voice has gone deep.
“We talked for a little while last night.” I think back to how she looked at me. Her eyes were filled with such hunger. She noticeably checked me out without any kind of embarrassment. I checked her out right back. All she had on was a thin T-shirt. As per usual, her hair was a wild tangle about her shoulders. Jesus, but I could hardly breathe. I’ve never wrapped a towel around me so quickly before. Not because I didn’t want her looking, but because I was getting hard. Truth be told, thinking of her in the room next to me kept me up half the night as much as my work did. Her fruity scent, those big green eyes…her body… Fuck me, but her body is lush.
I want her.
I want what I can’t have.
There’s something about the forbidden that makes it all the more intriguing. There’s too much going on in her life. Then there’s the vision, and the fact that they’re leaving soon. Raven isn’t a quick fuck. She just isn’t. She’s worth far more. She’d be something to savor. To hold onto and to keep.
“Are you listening?” Jarrod half yells.
“I lost you there for a moment. Must be the signal.”
“If you say so.” He isn’t buying it. “Stay away from the girl,” he warns me again. “Hands off!”
“Okay, okay,” I grumble.
“I mean it.”
“So do I.”
“Good! West isn’t so bad. He’s kept to himself, and he even did the dishes. It’s only you who he has a problem with.”
“It’s unwarranted.”
“I hope so.”
“I’m putting the phone down. I’ll see you a little later.”
“Bye,” he says before he ends the call.
I shake my head and pick up the pace. Today will be interesting, that’s for sure.
I push my plate away and look at my watch. I’m hoping Jarrod isn’t going to be too much longer. I’m tempted to call him and find out what’s going on.
West shoves the last of his burger into his mouth and washes it down with a big gulp of soda. I’ve been working all morning. Mainly because I still have a lot to do on my latest project, but also because I want to avoid hanging out with West. It’s probably better that I keep my distance. Anyone with eyes would be able to see that there’s no love lost between us. Not that I have a problem with him. It’s the other way around. My phone vibrates. Finally!
Jarrod: Nearly there!
Me: Is Rage with you?
Jarrod: What do you think?
I think that if I had a half-brother, I would want to meet him, which means that Rage is on his way. I look over at Maddox. He’s still eating. Dipping his fries into ketchup and popping them into his mouth. He’s none the wiser. His whole life is about to change. I don’t know whether to feel happy for him, or… Fuck! I hope it’s not a shit show. This could end badly. Sons of Ares. Both in the same room. They’re family. I’m sure it will be fine. Maddox seems easygoing. At least, he is compared to Rage.
Next thing I know, Raven has a hand on my plate. It’s on the table in front of me. I note that she leans in from the opposite side, careful not to touch me. “You done?” she asks because I still have some fries left.
“It’s nice of you to offer, but I can take it myself,” I say, trying hard not to smile too broadly. “You sit, please. You’re a guest in my home.”
“No, you don’t have to wait on us as well as keep us fed and sheltered. Let me help out.” She smiles at me. Her eyes light up. Her mouth is full and slanted up more to the one side. She’s fucking beautiful.
“I’ll get it,” West growls. “You relax, Bubble Bee.”
Bubble Bee?
What the…?
“I’ve got it!” I hear a sternness in her voice. “Thanks for the offer,” she adds as she picks up my plate. “I’ll take yours as well,” she says to West.
Her ex holds her gaze for a moment and then finally nods. “Thanks, Bubbles.” He gives her a wide smile. “I appreciate it. Do you want to wash? I’ll dry? Like old times.”