Page 161 of Carnal Games

A loud throat clears behind us, cutting her off midway.

An impassive Dash is seated in his chair when I look over my shoulder. Motherfucker. I forgot he was here.

“A word.” Flicking his eyes at Iris, he adds, “Privately.”

“Of course, I’ll leave,” Iris says, moving around me to collect her stuff and walking out. I rip my eyes away from the sway of her hips in the silk skirt she wore today.

Blunt as always, Dash isn’t one for pleasantries. The second the lock clicks behind us, he shoots straight to the point, “You were a distracted mess in that meeting.”

I stay where I am. “I wasn’t.”

“You smiled.”

“Is that a crime?”

A heavy pause as he rubs his jaw and he sighs. “She’s engaged to your brother, Kian.”

“Engaged, not married,” I reply, jealousy evident in my tone. He arches his eyebrow in a taunt. My jaw grinds. “And yours was in love with your brother. I don’t recall that stopping you.”

My girl isn’t even in love with my brother, yet she’s with him for some reason. She’s so damn loyal that she won’t spill it to me.

“Point taken.” Still not backing down, Dash says, “As someone who’s been through it all, it gets messy and lives get ruined. All I’m saying is, be careful.”

Too late. I’m halfway to plotting how to claim Iris without unleashing mayhem. Nathan will never believe I simply want Iris. He’ll take it as an act of war.

“Would you do it again?”

“Yes, I’d do it a million times over. Why? Because I loved Bianca from the first time I saw her. I knew I wanted to marry her and spend the rest of my life with her. Unless it’s the same for you when it comes to Iris, stay away. I don’t need to tell you what type of woman she is.”

“No, you don’t.”

“If you break her heart, Nathan will be the least of your worries. It’ll be her two best friends. Frankly, I would be upset too. I like Iris. She’s sweet.”

My shoulders bunch, hands balling into fists at his implication.

“Relax. I mean as a friend,” Dash reiterates before shaking his head. “Jeez! You’ve got it down bad.”

“Stop talking about her,” I coldly retort. “I am not going to hurt Iris. That’s all I’m gonna say.”

“One last question.”

“What?”

“What’s the progress on her attacker? Is she safe here?”

“She’s safe and I have an investigator looking into it.”

“Let me know if you need any help.” Standing up, he buttons his jacket and switches the topic. “Where’s Arjun? I needed something from him.”

“He no longer works here.” Fuck, if I’m going to share I fired him and earn an interrogation. “Let Iris know.”

I linger behind as he leaves the room. His warning repeats like a mantra in my head as I stare at the skyline outside. I don’t know anything about love.

However, I do know Iris is the one, and I’ll give her everything she desires.

Dash stands at Iris’s desk when I’m back. Stupid jealousy rears its ugly head at the way he leans over her, despite knowing he’s got eyes for no one but his wife. It’s an emotion I’ve never dealt with and has me bent out of shape.

I look at her smiling at him. My first instinct is to kick him out. But as I peer closely at Iris, I notice a difference. While her smile is friendly, it’s nothing like the one reserved for me. Her pretty eyes aren’t as vibrant. The blush isn’t as prominent. Nor is she licking her lips, as she often does around me.

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