Page 20 of Bliss: Part 1
He knew I wasn’t innocent. He saw the way I flirted with those men atThe Old. He knew I liked being physical, kissing and touching and all that.
“So…you don’t want me to stay away?” he asked.
“No.” I placed my hand on his, sliding my fingers through his. “I want you to stay close.”
He turned his hand around to thread his fingers through mine, giving them a squeeze.
“Then I will.”
We sat there together, watching the sun set slowly, fingers entwined. The silence felt nice, but it didn’t stay this quiet for long.
Rhys walked toward us, his blue eyes narrowed as he took us in. Dash didn’t pull away his hand, probably noticing the sudden tension in my body.
When Rhys came to a stop behind us, he looked down and just glared for a moment.
He knew.
He definitely knew.
Why else would he be look at us like this?
“Get up,” he demanded, tipping his chin at Dash.
I looked at Dash, then back up at Rhys. There was anger in his eyes, but he was holding it back. He was trying to mask it, and I sensed something bad coming.
“Rhys.”
“Dash, get up,” Rhys repeated.
“Don’t,” I whispered, grabbing Dash’s hand with both hands.
“It’s okay,” he assured me with a tight smile before pulling his hand from mine and getting up to stand in front of Rhys.
I watched from where I sat, my heart pounding as I prepared for the worst. I expected everything. From a scolding to a punch in the face. Maybe even worse. But I sucked in a sharp breath when Rhys’ fist slammed into Dash’s stomach.
“No!” I jumped up and caught Dash as he folded over, air knocked out of him, and his arms wrapped around his body. “Rhys, what the hell?!”
“I deserved that,” Dash choked out.
“Sure did.”
I glared at my brother, trying to keep Dash on his knees. “That was so unnecessary!”
“Was it?” Rhys tilted his head, looking rather amused. “He’s lucky I didn’t punch him in his pretty face like I did with Ashby.”
“You punched him in the face?!” I couldn’t keep up with everything that was happening. And I hated that everyone else was getting punished instead of me. I was involved too. “Dash, stand up straight. You need to get air into your lungs.”
He stood up straight, and I lifted both his arms over his head so his chest was open. His breathing was shallow for a moment until he managed to suck in enough air.
I glared up at Rhys again. “Are you done?”
“Not really.” He studied me for a while, then added, “Was it your idea?”
“What?”
“You know what, Lissy. Don’t play dumb.” His eyebrows lifted. “So?”
“Ashby dared me to do it.”
