Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
I’m aware of what I’m doing. All the guys glance over, and I spot Molly standing behind the couch with her face in her hand, shaking her head and smiling.
“Don’t stir up shit,” Brody murmurs.
“Why not? We’re just arranged, right?”
“She’s got a point, Brod,” Seamus says with a wicked grin. “The girl’s got rights.”
“She’s my wife.” His fingers tighten on my hip. “And I don’t give a fuck about her rights.”
“What about my needs?” My eyebrows raise, and I do my best to look innocent. “I don’t see you clambering to take care of me.”
The look Brody gives me is pure hate, but there’s a deep, dark longing mixed in with the rage and it sends a jolt of pure lust into my core. His fingers lift the hem of my top slightly and brush against my bare skin, and it’s like he taps me with a cattle prod. I feel it between my legs, the instant attraction, the desire pooling in my core.
“I’m not going to talk about satisfying my wife in front of my family,” he says and there’s a warning in his tone.
But it’s too late. The other guys are on him. “Come on, Brod, if the girl’s got needs, she’s got needs,” Nolan says with a casual shrug. “Not saying I’m offering or anything, but I know a few guys—”
The looks Brody gives his brother is startling. “Watch your fucking mouth, Nolan. Finish that sentence and I’ll break your fucking arm.”
The vibe shifts. They all look surprised. Even I’m taken aback. Brody doesn’t seem like the threatening type, and I’m betting that he doesn’t make them lightly. Why’s he acting like he cares all of a sudden when he’s done nothing but make it clear that he’s all business? He’s got to know I’m just teasing him right now. I mean, his brothers are all clearly in on the joke—they’re only rubbing it in even more.
But Brody’s taking the bait, and he’s rising to it way more than I imagined he would.
“Damn, bro, relax,” Seamus says into the stunned silence. “He’s just fucking around.”
“You think it’s funny to talk about another man with my wife?” Brody’s fingers are digging into my hip now possessively.
“You just fucking said—” Nolen starts but Brody cuts him off.
“I don’t give a shit if you’re all fucking joking around. It’s funny, I get it, you want to bust my balls. But now you know where the line stands. Don’t make jokes about my wife.” He stands and my jaw’s wide open, basically in my lap. “I’m going to help Mom finish up dinner.” Then he storms out of the room.
Leaving me alone on the arm of the chair. His brothers watch him go with varying degrees of bafflement. Seamus speaks first and looks over at me with an apologetic smile.
“He’s not always like this,” he says and leans back a little, cracking open a new beer.
“Yeah, I think the stress is getting to him,” Declan adds then punches Nolan in the knee. “Also that was a dumb fucking joke.”
“Dude, fuck you, you were doing it too.” Nolan glares and rubs his leg. “He just ripped my head off for no reason.”
“I think that was my fault,” I say, and my voice is very tiny. I get to my feet, clearing my throat. “I didn’t know your brother was so in love with me.” I smile and the guys grin at my joke, but I’m not sure they’re in the mood for laughter.
“Come on, let’s refill you,” Molly says, taking my arm, and we head into the kitchen together. I expect to find Brody, but he’s nowhere to be seen, and we end up pitching in with Orla and Caitlin, setting the table and making garlic bread.
I understand why Brody didn’t like me talking about sex stuff with his brothers around. Even though I was making silly, obvious innuendos, it still wasn’t appropriate—I was just doing it to piss him off. I never for a minute thought he’d give a damn, not like that anyway.
His reaction haunts me all through dinner. I’m sitting next to him at the table but it’s like his whole jealous outburst never happened, and the guys are back to joking around with each other and eating enough for a family of fifty large elephants. But I can feel Brody’s fingers on my hip still, I can feel how tightly they pressed into my skin, and I keep thinking about the way he stared at me with anger and pure, incredible lust.
I get to know his family throughout the meal. Orla, their mother, she’s an absolute gem and reminds me of a tougher version of my own mom. The guys are merciless in their jokes and Orla takes it like an absolute champ and isn’t afraid to rain the insults right back on them, which gets at least a couple really good laughs from everyone at the table. Caitlin’s a little shy, but super nice, and while I don’t get much face time with her, I promise myself that I’ll do better next time.