Page 77 of Genesis

“What? I wouldn’t do that.” I grab her arms, stopping her from hitting me more.

“But I would?” she says, her voice cracking.

I shrug, letting her go. “Seems like you are.”

“Fuck you, Danny.” She walks toward the door, but I follow, slamming it closed when she goes to open it.

“Let me go.”

I yank the purse from her arm and grab the phone. She reaches for it, but I shove her arm out of the way as I flip it open. I look at the messages from none other than…Samuel.Lots of them.

There’re questions about college and prom and other shit that I’m not included in.

My eyes jump back to her. I feel like my guts have been ripped out.

“What is this?” I ask. “You’ve been talking to my brother behind my back?”

“My friend,” she says. “We’ve always been friends, Danny.”

My jaw clenches, and I squeeze the phone, nearly cracking it, but then I stop myself. My heart splinters like broken glass. I shake my head, slapping the phone shut like a director’s clapboard because here’s the real show. Here’s the truth. She’s been talking to my brother. The good one of us O’Brien boys. The one who could give her the better life Paul was talking about.

“Would you rather have him?” I ask quietly.

“No,” she says, her anger melting. She walks over to me, taking the phone and tossing it onto the couch. “I love you.” Her hand goes to the side of my face and I relish in the feel of her touch. On tiptoes, she brushes her lips against mine. I’m hesitant at first as our noses graze. My eyes look into hers, and then I wrap my hand around her waist, gripping her clothes as my mouth opens. Air rushes from her lungs, giving me oxygen to breathe again because the thought of losing her to my brother is unbearable.

Passion and love find solace in her arms. I reach up, touching her jaw and throat as our tongues dance to an all familiar tune. Her hands go to my shirt, and she rips the buttons off before yanking it from my shoulders. Fingers that now have tattoos reach for her breasts, gripping them in my hand. She moans into my mouth and quickly undoes her pants before breaking our kiss and stepping out of them.

My belt is unbuckled, my button and zipper next, and I lift her up into my arms as she wraps her legs around me. We find the floor and I grip her hips, lifting her up for a moment so I can fill her.

Her head falls back as she moans and rocks. Heavy breathing comes from us both, and I swear I would die if she ever did this with another man.

Her hand goes to my throat and she squeezes, looking down at me as she continues moving slowly.

Goddamn.

“I love you,” she says. “Don’t ever accuse me of being a whore again. I only do this for you. This is only for you.”

I groan in bliss. “Okay, love. I know, I’m sorry.”

She places her hand on my lower stomach and cries out when I flex upward. I bend, coming face to face with her, snaking my hand up her back and gripping her shoulder. I fuck her, holding her neck with my hand. Her face turns and she brings my finger into her mouth as she comes hard. I follow, pounding into her with all the anger I felt earlier. I fall back and she moves off me. We lie side by side, panting, and then I look over at her just as she does me.

I smile and she grins.

And this is what love is.

I look up at the ceiling as my heart calms. “I’d like you to stop talking to my brother behind my back. I know you have a friendship, but he’s in love with you, Bexley. He always has been, and it’s not fair to either one of us for you to encourage him.”

She doesn’t say anything for a beat as the pulse hammers against her neck. “I’m not encouraging him. You can look at all the messages. I don’t have anything to hide.”

“Then why were you in the first place?” I ask disputably.

She sighs, looking away from me. “Because I knew how you’d react.” Her eyes focus back on mine. “You’d think it was something it wasn’t. I’ve been friends with Samuel since I was eleven. How am I supposed to stop that?” She exhales, her gaze focusing on the popcorn ceiling. “I don’t want to hurt him,” she murmurs.

“He’s a big boy. He can handle it. He’ll find his own girl.” I get that she cares for him. Hell, I do, too, but this is fucked up. He shouldn’t even be talking to her behind my back. It’s wrong at best. At worst, it’s disrespectful, and I won’t tolerate it. I grab her hand, bringing it to my lips. “You’re mine.”

She looks back at me. “And I’ll hurt anyone who tries to take you from me. Blood or not. Don’t put me in that situation.”

She watches my lips as I kiss her fingers. “Do you understand?” I ask her gently.

---