Bedding the Wrong Brother(46)

“I don't know why I'm surprised,” he said. Raking his hands through his hair, he laughed, a bitter, rancorous sound. “You've always preferred Max's company to mine. Hell, you asked him for a sexual favor. Was it really because of what your boyfriends said, or had it just been a long time for you? Need an itch scratched? Call Max. And, heck, if he can't do it, there's always Rhys.”

Feeling like she was suddenly traversing a minefield, Melina said, “No, that's not—”

Rhys snorted. “No? Come on, Melina, you just said it yourself. Either one of us would have done the trick. Apparently, nothing's changed in twelve years.” He turned away, stalking toward his bedroom.

Stunned, Melina stared at his broad back and tight behind, not sure what had just happened. When his reference to that night twelve years ago registered, however, she narrowed her eyes. “You-you big jerk!” she cried.

Rhys froze and slowly turned toward her. “You big jerk?” he taunted. “You pulled out ‘xenerotica’ and ‘zenophilia,’ but that's the best thing you can come up with?” He strode toward her, the look on his face making her back up in spite of herself. “Come on, Melina. You can do better than that. You're a master with words, right?”

“Stop,” she whispered, torn apart by the nastiness in his tone.

He took hold of her arms then released them, his touch hovering as if he wanted to shake her but was fighting not to. “You used the words 'cock' and 'dick' before. How about '*’? That's always a good one.”

“Why are you so angry?” she said. “I know what I said sounded bad, but you know I've always loved you.”

“You know what? I don't need that kind of love. At least the women who want to f*ck me for my fame are honest about their motives. You had to pull the pity card to get one of us in your bed.”

She jerked back, too shocked to form a comeback.

By the look on his face, he'd managed to stun himself.

He reached out for her. “Oh, shit. I'm sorry, Melina. I didn't mean—”

She shoved him away with both hands, managing to knock him back a step. “You…you prick!” Blinded by tears, she whirled and tried to run, but her legs got caught up in the blanket and she tripped, falling to the floor. Stunned more than hurt, she flopped around, trying to free her arms and legs so she could get away.

He crouched down next to her, trying to help her. She slapped his hands away. “Don't touch me,” she screamed.


“I'm sorry I said that, Melina. I'm sorry I blew up at all. Will you please listen to me? Please?”

Since he was crowding her and she was shaking so hard that she couldn't get to her feet, she sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees, squeezing them to her chest. In the back of her mind, she remembered she'd started all this with her poor choice of words. Somehow, however, his anger and hostility—something she'd never faced before—wouldn't allow her to soften.

“Fine. But the minute you're done, I'm leaving.” She focused her gaze on the corner of the blanket. Idiot, she thought. She'd known if she ever let herself believe in him that things would end badly. And now she had to live the rest of her life knowing exactly what she was missing.

He nodded. “Okay. If that's what you want, I'll drive you back.”

“I'll drive myself back,” she snapped. “You can figure out how to get to…to wherever you're going next on your own.”

“Okay.” He held out his hands. “Okay, fine.” Slowly, he lowered himself to the floor, sitting in front of her. He dipped his head, trying to get her to look at him. “First, I apologize for what I said. I swore I'd never deliberately hurt you, and I did. Will you accept my apology?”

Still refusing to look at him, she shrugged, refusing to say more.

“What you said about wanting to be with a Dalton twin, it obviously pressed a big button of mine.”

She traced the grain on a plank of hardwood. “I didn't mean it the way it sounded,” she said grudgingly.

“Okay, but you can see how I mistook your meaning, can't you? And why it might bother me that you just saw me as a sexual substitute for my brother?”

Forcing herself to look up, she nodded. “Yes. I can see that, and I tried to apologize right away and explain.”

“I know you did. I accept your apology. Will you explain now?”