My Summer in London (My Summer #1)(26)

“My brother was doing the same thing, but you had no qualms then,” he said in a measured tone, making me wonder what he truly thought of me.

“Maybe I like your brother better.” With my claws out, I decided that, if he was ready to draw blood, I was ready to go an eye for an eye.

His silvery gaze turned dark, unmistakably displeased. “Is this what I think it is, Serena?”

I blinked a few times. “What do you mean by that, Cruz?” I feigned innocence.

“You and my bloody brother!” His contained anger began to crack, giving me a glimpse of the man underneath the controlled temper and emotions.

I swallowed what little moisture was left in my mouth, weighing how to proceed without damaging our already tattered relationship.

“What you saw—”

“Are you shagging him!” he thundered out.

Did he just ask me that? f*uker.

My nostrils flared as I wondered if I should kick him in the balls or punch his face for insulting me like I was a second-class hooker. Regardless, as much I wanted to flow with my emotions, something made me change my tune by deflating the situation.

“Cruz, I think you’re out of line,” I tried to calmly reason with him, but he wasn’t willing to.

“I am not bloody out of line, Serena. We both know that. How could you simply go from kissing me to shagging my brother?” he huffed, beyond enraged. “Are you punishing me? Is that it?”

“Punish you? What are you f*uking talking about! I don’t want to punish anyone.” I wasn’t that type. I wasn’t the kind to hold a grudge. My parents taught me better than that. If that was what he thought of me, then he was sorely mistaken.

“Tell me what this is all about, then.” Cruz pressed.

Carefully placing the champagne bottle on the nearest flat surface, I strolled a few steps so I was inches away from his infuriated form, facing him head on with my arms folded underneath my breasts. I was willing to use whatever weapon at hand so he could feel what he was accusing me of—punishing him.

“Has it ever occurred to you that I might just like Archer’s company? Or that he’s so fun to be around that I can joke around and be myself with him? Or how refreshing it is to be around someone who doesn’t take himself seriously? Did any of those enter your rational mind at all, Cruz, before you started accusing me of shit?” If he wants to go in circles, then let’s have at it. I had all the time in the world.

For a second, he seemed distracted as his eyes repeatedly glanced at my overly abundant display of flesh. “He wants you,” he rasped out, seeming aroused and angry at the same time.

Feeling empowered by his evident reaction, I reinstated some of my confidence.

“So? What’s your point here?” Liking and wanting someone weren’t a crime. Besides, he was making a big deal out of nothing. He was just being a control freak.

“Shouldn’t you be at least worried? You can’t honestly lead the man on, knowing full well you want me.”

I choked a little. What the f*uk?

“Well, that’s fresh coming from you, but to answer your question, I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m attracted to him, and if that leads to something, then great. I’m just having fun, as you kindly suggested I should.”

My words sent him into a tizzy.

“I won’t condone that. Not here, not now! Most importantly, not under my watch,” he grated out, setting the rules once again.

“Fine, I’ll make sure to remember not to do anything with anyone in your mom’s house. Anything else I should remember?”

“If my brother does anything, I ask you to put a stop to it.”

“What if I can’t? What then?” I was playing with fire, and I knew it.

“No, you will. You have no other choice.” He took a step closer to me, his silver eyes storming.

“Oh, yes, I f*uking do. It’s my life, my body. I’m free to share it with whomever I want.” No one, not even a man I secretly adored, would dictate my actions.

“You wouldn’t dare!”

I was my own woman, and I would stand by my conviction. “You don’t have any right to tell me what and what not to do.”

“You’re f*uking mine! You’re mine! You became mine the second you bloody chose to kiss me like I was the best thing you’ve ever had. You chose me! Me, not him. You chose me, Serena!”

“No …” I shook my head, denying everything he had said as I noted the shift in him and the way his eyes seemed to look brighter by the second. “Cruz—” I gasped before I felt his lips crash into mine, hungrily consuming me while his hands possessively held me captive.

I was floored. How could kissing be potently beautiful and sinful at the same time?

His hands eagerly sought and cupped my breasts, massaging them, while his tongue hungrily took everything it could, as if he wanted each breath, each lick, each kiss to be all his.

The emotions he evoked in me were terrifying. We seemed to be drawn to each other, even though it was obvious how much he tried to contain it, control it. Now that he had failed to, what would happen?

The realization of the aftermath brought me back to my senses.

“Cruz, no. Stop.” When he didn’t seem to hear me, I used all my might to push him off me. “This has to end,” I cried out, trembling from the intensity of our earth-shattering encounter. “Stop messing with my mind and let me be!”