Shattered Dreams (Boys of Bellerose, #3)(14)
Rhett grumbled but did as he was told after adjusting his raging hard-on in his Santa pants. God damn, that was hot. I licked my lips, and he shot me a wink loaded with promise.
Grayson cleared his throat, and I ripped my hungry gaze away from Rhett’s retreating form.
“What?” I asked with an innocent blink. “Someone left me all worked up last night, and now all I can think about is sex.”
His grin was pure evil as he abandoned the tray of freshly baked treats and prowled closer. “What idiot did that?” he mused, trailing a finger along the line of my jaw as he took the space between my legs that Rhett had just vacated.
Tipping my head back, I waited patiently for his kiss, and he didn’t disappoint. I sighed into his caress, his huge hand cupping the back of my head with an element of control that turned me on even more.
“Gray…” I whispered against his lips as his festive flag pole thickened against my core. “I want you to fuck me so badly.”
His lips curved into a smile against my kiss. “Good. The feeling is mutual.”
“Oh shit, sorry!” Vee squeaked, clearly having just walked in on our holiday hookup. “God, I have some wicked timing today. Just pretend I wasn’t here. Um, continue.” She hurried out again, but the moment had passed. Grayson was already putting physical distance between us, even as he slipped a hand into his pants to rearrange. Thoroughly.
“Tease,” I accused with a scowl, slipping off the bench.
His laugh followed me out of the kitchen, and I couldn’t help smiling to myself. Maybe this Christmas could bring the magic back after all.
seven
BILLIE
Rhett and Grayson had done an excellent job of getting me out of my head, but within minutes of returning to the living room, I was ready to commit murder again.
“Wait, you came out of your coma three days ago, and no one thought to let us know?” I blurted out while Angelo told us about his recovery. My accusing glare snapped straight to Jace, and he just leveled a calm, zero-fucks-given stare back. That stupid nurse in the hospital hadn’t even mentioned a thing to me either. Couldn’t trust anyone these days.
Angelo looked between the two of us and sighed. “I asked Jace not to say anything until my doctors gave full clearance. When I first woke up, things were… confusing.”
The hesitation before he said confusing made me suspicious as hell, and I wasn’t the only one.
“What does that mean?” Vee asked. “Confusing how? You didn’t remember the bomb blast?”
Angelo wet his lips, his gaze darting back at me ever so quickly before he focused on Vee. “No. I didn’t remember lots of things. It was scary as fuck, to be honest. I thought…” Another glance my way, then he pasted on a brittle smile, covering for the pain in his eyes. “But apparently that’s a normal thing, and it didn’t take too long to get caught up. I just wanted to be sure I was recovering before Jace said anything. I’m sorry you were worried, Vee.”
I swallowed hard. Of course Vee had been worried; they were married and clearly loved each other, even if their relationship wasn’t sexual.
“I’m surprised Jace let you leave the hospital,” I muttered, unable to keep a lid on my bitterness. “He’s all about control these days, aren’t you Adams?”
The infuriating fuckhead just cocked a brow at me. “If we have something to discuss, Billie, I’m sure it can wait until tomorrow. Today is meant to be—”
“If?” I spluttered, outrage choking me. “If? If we have something to discuss?” Yes, I was sounding like a parrot, but was this asshole fucking serious right now? “You know perfectly fucking well, Jace Adams; don’t even try to gaslight me right now. Don’t you fucking dare.”
I was so mad I was shaking. Physically shaking. Grayson shifted to sit beside me, his fingers lacing together with mine and grounding me, but Jace and I were locked in a venom-filled staredown.
“Billie…” he started with a resigned sigh.
I could practically smell the bullshit he was about to spew, so I shook my head. “Save it,” I hissed. “You’re not fooling anyone.” With monumental effort, I shifted my eyes back to Angelo. “Have you heard from Giovanni at all?”
He winced. “Yes. He had someone at that hospital well paid off; they informed him as soon as I woke up. He was right there an hour later, grilling me for info.”
Vee paled at that, and sympathy stabbed through me for her. “What about Vee? Is her family looking for her now? Did you tell Giovanni that it was the Altissimos who tried to kill us?”
Angelo gave a small headshake, but Jace interrupted. “Billie, can I have a word in private?”
“No. Get fucked.”
Jace rolled his eyes, and it made me want to junk-punch him. Hard enough to neuter him. “Real mature, Billie.” He stood up from his seat and gestured out of the room. “Please. See? I asked nicely.”
Sarcastic fuck. “Will you force me if I refuse? That seems to be your MO these days when you don’t get your way.”
Anger flashed over his face before he got it under control, and I got a spike of satisfaction knowing I’d gotten under his skin. “Billie. Don’t be a fucking brat. I’m asking for two minutes of your time in private.”