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I knew the second I came back home, they’d be here. Telling me what to do. Orchestrating my life just like our father did until he was shot in the damn head in front of me.
“Come any closer and I’ll punch you again,” I warn him.
AGAIN?!
The first time Theo asked me to marry Reggie, I couldn’t help myself. I punched him—right in the fucking dick.
I’m Bella King. The menace. The free spirit, as my mom calls me.
“My future wife is a weapon against men, apparently,” Reggie confirms calmly. Fuck, I can’t wait to meet her.
drag the tip of the blade against her forehead. She whimpers, but I keep my hand steady, carving the single letter: K.
HER FOREHEAD!
“Enough. You’re done here,” I grit out. She wiggles her ass in the air in response. So I slap it, hard. “I said, you’re done. Now move before I drag you out of here myself.”
I pull out my gun from its holster under my jacket and point it right at my fiancée.
“I don’t want to marry you, Irish.” I press my palm against my heart. “Ouch. Your words. They hurt.” She giggles and I grin.
First cute lil moment
I’m not even sure my heart ever belonged to Xander. I was young and naive. I believed it was love. I thought letting him own me was love. That sharing me with his friends was what I was meant to do. But it turns out, he was just a sick fuck who got off on hurting me.
“Yes, Reginald.” He blinks at me. “That’s the first time my real name has ever sounded hot. Must be that sexy British accent of yours.” I giggle.
“Long answer or the short one?” I tilt my head. “The real one.” Okay. I like that.
“So I’m a houseplant.” “A what?” he asks, confused. “A fucking houseplant,” I snap. “He talks to me, waters me so I stay alive. Little bit of sunlight, but I don’t move.”
My brother’s fiancée is breathtaking.
It’s just breakfast. She’s seen my cock. Now I have to explain this to Reggie.
Neither should have an effect on me. Yet here I am, burning for my fiancé’s twin brother’s touch.
“Thanks, rockstar,” she whispers. I arch a brow at my brother. We will be discussing this nickname.
“What are your hobbies? Or I don’t know? Do you read?” She blushes. “You wanna take me book shopping, Irish?”
“I’d need a big, strong man like you to carry my smutty book haul round.” She winks and then she’s gone, like this place is hers.
He sighs. “She seemed… relaxed with you.” “Yeah? Cause I’m a relaxed person. You are not. She’s probably got her guard up because you’re Mr. Frost. Ya fuckin’ snowman.”
“You want to fuck her? Don’t you?” he asks, and my heart races. I stumble on my words. “Yes,” I answer honestly. I never lie to my brother. “I knew it.” He grins.
The priest is still on the steps when we pull out, giving us a polite little wave. Holy man, dirty business.
Rowan leans against the mantel, arms folded, whistling some rock song like this is a fucking sleepover.
Maybe I should lace Reggie’s cookies with something, it might lighten the mood. Or he might kill me.
door. I clench my thighs together. Backwards hat. Grey sweatpants. Tight black tee where I can see his six-pack through. Is he really trying to test me?
He leans on the doorframe. Ugh. What a move. He’s definitely trying to melt my panties off.
“What are you making?” he asks. “Shortbread cookies.” He bites on his lip. “You know the way to a man's heart.” My own heart stammers. These are for his brother. Kind of. I don’t even know why I’m trying.
I gotta stop flirting with him. I just can’t help it.
“Wanna try one?” I ask. He glances down and then to me. “Not laced with drugs, are they?”
Nope but she thought ab it lmao
My cheeks blush as he picks up the cookie and takes a huge bite. “Mmm. These are good.” “I haven’t tried one yet,” I admit. “Open,” he orders, placing it in front of my lips. I do as he says and take a bite.
I hardly know this woman, but I think I’d do anything she asked of me.
“Left with Reggie. Should have laced them like I planned.” My eyes go wide. “Bella. Please do not.” She giggles.
“Good?” I ask. “Perfect,” she says around a mouthful of pasta. “Almost as good as your smile.” I nearly choke on my wine. “You flirting with me, sweetness?”
“Some of us don’t like living in the past,” Bella says sweetly. “But it’s cute you’re still checking in.”
She might not realize it yet, hell, maybe neither do I, but something shifted tonight. And there’s no going back.
When I look up, I find a plate of food waiting: steak with mushroom sauce, potatoes, and all the vegetables I actually like. Paired with a glass of wine. I open the dishwasher and find her plate inside. Shit. Fuck. I told her I’d be back for dinner.
I know we need the Kings. But Bella’s right, she’s a person. An important one. A feisty, beautiful one. She deserves better than what I’m giving her.
Rowan stiffens. “You ever thought about changing that opinion? We’re nearly thirty. Look at the Quinns—wives, kids, actual happiness. Maybe we could have that.” I blink at him. “Who are you, and what have you done with my twin?”
“Wow. A compliment from Reggie. Next you’ll be calling me a good girl.” He chokes on his coffee, and I do everything I can to hide my smile.
He shakes his head. “What are you doing, Princess?” My cheeks heat. That nickname hits me right where it shouldn’t, and he knows it.
“You look cute in that dress,” he whispers. “You look handsome in those jeans, rockstar.” He wiggles his brows. “Handsome, huh?” He swipes his thumb across his lip, eyes fixed on me.
“My dad was shot too. I saw it.” He cuddles me even closer, resting his head on the top of mine. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”
He winks. “I hid a bottle in Reggie’s cupboard. Well out of his reach so he won’t throw it away.” That makes me smile. It’s the little things a girl notices.
Damn sassy. If only Reggie could stay around her long enough to see this side of her. The one he’d spank senseless. He’s being a damn idiot.
I get the alliance and the pressure on him from the Quinns. But this woman? She’s worth starting wars for. And if he fucks this up, I’ll be the one starting it for her.
“I like her,” Lily says. I smile. “Yeah. Me too.” That makes Lily giggle. “Rowan, you don’t hide that in the slightest.”
“But the alliance stands if it was Rowan too, I’d assume.” Fuck. He might have a point.
I nearly kissed my fiancé’s brother. And nothing has ever felt so right in my entire life. The way he was eating me up with his eyes melted me.
“Where to next, ladies?” he says with a boyish grin. And then he pulls out a black baseball cap and puts it on backwards, and my legs nearly buckle.
“Holy shit, Bella! The chemistry. Are you sure you don’t want me to go home?” My cheeks heat.
