Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(27)

“Defensive much? I mean, you don’t have a problem with homosexual relationships, do you?”

Shit. That’s not the place to go with Wayne. Not when one of his two best friends is openly gay. “No, I do not. And you’re on very thin ice at the moment, so I suggest you tread carefully.”

“You’re in my castle.”

“And that doesn’t matter to me even just a little bit. If you’re jealous of me talking to your fiancé, you need to just say it. Or better yet, act like you’re happy to be engaged to Darcy.”

“You know nothing about our relationship.”

“I know that you’ve barely touched or kissed her since we’ve been here. You don’t sit next to her at dinner, and you’ve barely acknowledged her presence, other than to act like a jealous *.”

“She’s still mine, and you need to stay away from her.”

“Do I? Because I don’t think a woman like Darcy can be claimed without something to back it up. Are you stepping up?”

I see the warring emotions cross Brayden’s face as he tries to figure out how best to respond. I can’t bear to hear him respond in the way I know he will, so I step in. “Enough, Wayne. I appreciate your support—however misguided—but as Brayden said, you don’t know anything about our relationship.”

“He doesn’t deserve you,” Wayne says, getting up from the table. “Thank you for dinner. I’ve got to go tune my guitar.”

No one says much as we finish dessert. Jenysis leaves a few minutes after Wayne, and I’m really hoping that she’s gone after him. I say my goodnights to everyone and head to my room. I’m too tired to re-hash the events of tonight with my friends. I just need to curl up with my comforter, and try to find a few hours of peace before I have to play the happy fiancé again tomorrow.

* * *

Brayden

I can’t sleep. I’ve been lying in my bed thinking about Darcy and Wayne at dinner. When they walked in together, I was shocked. And when they were whispering to each other, I wanted to kill him. I know it’s not rational since I’m pretty sure he’s into Jen, but I was nearly crazed with jealously.

I’ve also been thinking about what Audrey told me. It kills me to think that Darcy’s sleeping on her bedroom floor. And crying over me. I need to do something, anything, to help her.

Before I can analyze my actions, and make myself stop, I climb out of bed and head to Darcy’s rooms. I walk into the game room, and can immediately tell that she hasn’t been using it. I thought she’d be seeking solace in her games, but she’s obviously not. I pause before her bedroom door, and then slowly open it. I was pretty sure that Audrey was telling me the truth, but seeing Darcy curled up in her comforter on the floor nearly makes my heart stop.

I quietly close the door and move towards her. “Darcy.”

“Brayden? What are you doing here?” she asks in a sleepy voice.

I crouch down next to her. “Audrey told me you were sleeping on the floor.”

“She shouldn’t have done that.”

“Well, she did. Why are you down here instead of on your bed?”

She looks away, and closes her eyes before speaking. “I-I couldn’t sleep there without you. The first night I tried, all I could think about was how I would never have you hold me again while I slept.”

Fuck. “I’m going to hold you tonight,” I tell her as I reach for her.

“I don’t want your pity.”

“And you’re not getting it. Seeing Wayne all over you made me want to throw you over my shoulder and run away. I need to have you in my arms tonight.”

“Nothing’s changed.”

“No it hasn’t. I won’t lie to you about that, but I need you to also know that you’re important to me. No matter what happens, I want you to know that I love you Cat.”

“I love you, too, Crown. So much.”

I pick her up and carry her to the bed. “Day by day, then?”

“Yes. And night by night, too.”

I stretch myself over her, keeping my weight on my forearms as I kiss her deeply. I’ve missed this—her—more than I ever thought I could. She gives me a reason to breathe, and makes me want to be the best man I can be. Audrey wants us to play the part of happy lovers tomorrow, but we won’t need to play. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we both have a fun afternoon, and evening. It’s going to be real, and special, and everything Darcy deserves it to be. I can’t offer her much, but I can offer her tomorrow, and maybe if I’m lucky, the next day, too.

She slides her hands into my pajama bottoms as I kiss her neck. “I love your ass, Bray. I just want to grab it every time I see you.”

“Try to restrain yourself in public, but any other time, grab away.”

“Can I grab this too?” she asks, stroking my cock.

“Yes, please,” I groan out as I thrust into her hand.

“Roll over. I want you in my mouth.”

I don’t hesitate. What guy would? I love it when she takes me that way. I lie back and pull my pants off for her, willing to do whatever I can to get here there faster.

She smiles at me and then takes one long lick of my fully erect cock. “Holy f*ck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”