Page 8 of Wreck Me

Besides, I don’t do ‘mine’. Not for more than a night, at least.

I swallow down the urge to punch my youngest brother. ‘Candice not enough for you?’

‘If you can take three in your ripe old age,’ Rian shoots a smirk in my direction, ‘I’m pretty sure I could manage two.’ He reaches for the bottle of champagne in the centre of the table.

‘Dude, you couldn't keep up with one woman, let alone two.’ Caelon shakes his head and elbows Rian in the ribs.

‘What would you know about it?’ Rian’s head whips to Caelon. ‘You’ve only fucked one woman in your entire life.’

‘And she’s only fucked me, so I must be doing something right.’ Caelon’s chest puffs out like a fucking pigeon.

I’m no romantic, but knowing you’re the only man to ever have been inside your wife must be sublimely satisfying.

‘Earth to James,’ Sean shouts across the table. He nods towards the stage. ‘Incoming.’

The next dancer has nothing on her predecessor. Sure, she’s stunning, if you’re into botox and silicone. But she lacks class. And intrigue.

Candice approaches the table again. Rian grabs her by the hips and drags her onto his lap.

‘How’s my favourite dancer?’ he purrs, and I roll my eyes.

‘Better now.’ She shimmies her ass and Rian exhales, happier than a pig in shit.

Before I can think better of it, I lean forwards and ask casually. ‘Candice, who’s the new girl?’

Candice’s hips pause from rolling over my brother’s crotch and her face angles towards mine. ‘That’s Scarlett. She goes to college with Avery.’

Of course she’s still in college. She has to be at least twenty-one, though. Christopher won’t employ any dancers younger than that.

‘Did Mr-I-Won’t-Pay-For-It finally spot something hewillpay for?’ Candice picks up Rian’s champagne glass and takes a mouthful.

‘Not all the dancers feel the need to go above and beyond for their paying customers. What makes you think she will?’ She doesn't strike me as the type. And I’m an excellent judge of character.

‘I overheard Christopher himself telling Giselle he’d give Scarlett ten grand for an hour of her time. Who’d turn thatdown? Though, I’m sure you could afford to double that figure.’ Candice eyeballs me.

‘James doesn’t pay for it.’ Rian reaches around to Candice’s stomach, splaying his fingers across her tiny waist and grazing a thumb beneath her breast. ‘But I do. So get your sexy ass to one of those rooms so I can fuck you into next week.’ His hips thrust hard enough to propel her into the air, and she squeals.

I sink back into my seat as Candice leads Rian away from the table, her fingers entwined with his like they’re on a fucking date. I’m not judging my little brother. It’s his life to live, but where’s the challenge when you know it’s a sure thing?

Where’s the fun in the conquest?

Where’s the meaning in it?

The yacht scandal was fun, but I can’t help envy what Caelon and Isabella have. A relationship that transcends all others. But relationships like that are impossible to find. I had one once, or so I thought, but Cynthia Van Darwin turned out to be a liar and a cheat. When we broke up, I promised myself I’d never allow myself to get hurt again. Which is why I never sleep with the same woman twice. No danger of catching feelings that way.

‘I’m heading.’ Caelon downs the remainder of the whiskey in his glass and stands.

None of us are surprised. Caelon always returns to Isabella the moment his business meetings are concluded.

‘Stay,’ I urge him, motioning to the whiskey.

‘Hmm. Let me think about it.’ He pushes his floppy hair from his face. ‘Stay with my brooding big brother, or go home and fuck my stunning wife?’

Looks like everyone’s getting laid tonight.

Everyone but me.

I have a phone full of willing contacts but my mind’sstuck on Scarlett, the goddess who graced the stage and captivated my senses. I scan the room, silently searching for her. I’d pay a hundred grand to watch her dance again. And a hundred more to prevent her being tarnished by Christopher Cole’s slimy touch.

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