Page 71 of Hidden Desires
“Look. I know that I owe everything in my life to you. I’m your stepbrother. I’m not even your own flesh and blood. You should never have been forced to bear the burden of having to raise me because our parents were shit. You have been an amazing big brother, and I love the fuck out of you for it.”
The fiery rage that had surrounded Marcus only moments ago slowly dimmed, until there was nothing but love and compassion in his eyes once more.
Marcus shook his head, then sat down on the bed next to Ace and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I wouldn’t trade any of it. Not in a million years.”
It was nice hearing his brother say those words. Sometimes he wondered if Marcus resented him for robbing him of a carefree childhood. Listening to his brother talk, he knew that was not the case.
“I know, Marcus. And I love you for it. But I’m not a kid anymore, and you need to loosen your grip on me.”
Ace looked up at the big biker. Now it was time for him to be real.
“I’m lonely, Marcus.” Marcus’s body jerked slightly, clearly uncomfortable with this revelation. “I’m twenty-five. I want a man of my own. I want a stable relationship. But right now, that’s impossible.”
“Because I’m smothering you?”
“No, because you scare off every potential guy I meet.” He looked up at his brother. Good, he was still listening. “Most guys I go on a date with either are using me to get close to you, hoping that they can get in with the Shadow Vipers, or they run off screaming when they find out that you are my big brother.”
“What?” Marcus asked, his voice cracking just a bit.
“People know that you have a bit of a temper and that you are very protective of your younger brother. Most guys are too afraid of what you might do to them if they even try to touch me.”
“Like how I beat the shit out of Blade today.”
Ace nodded. “Yes. But what made today so much worse was that Blade and I are in love with each other.”
“What? What are you talking about? The dude is straight. He was only using you to get himself off, probably because his latest hooker left him with blue balls or something. The guy is a pig,” Marcus argued. He took another sip of his whiskey and turned to face the window once again.
Outside, the guys were trying to look busy, checking the bolts on their bikes while lingering way too close to Marcus’s room. They were probably trying to figure out if their leader and friendwas being murdered by his younger brother and whether or not they should step in.
Loyalty and family were strange.
Do you protect your leader from the crazy younger brother trying to gouge his eyes out? Or do you step in and try to get both your brothers to see reason, and then try to convince them to bring back your other brother?
Nothing in life was simple.
“No, Blade isn’t. I won’t get into who he is or isn’t because that’s his story to tell, when, and if, he is ever ready. All I know is that he loves me. He has for quite some time, which is amazing because I’ve been in love since I first laid eyes on him. With Blade, I know that his feelings are genuine. He’s not using me to get to you, and he’s not going to run off just because you are my brother. In fact, he’s been hiding his feelings for me out of fear of losing you and this crew if you didn’t approve.”
Marcus stood up and began pacing the room. He looked agitated and conflicted. He was battling that voice that told him to protect his little bro at all costs, and the other voice that said he was being an idiot.
“I guess a part of me always feared that whoever tried to date you would only end up breaking your heart. By me getting in the middle, I was saving you from that heartache.”
“But in the end, you only added to my loneliness and unhappiness. You drove away the one man I have been pining over all these years.”
“Please. That douche was never going to be good enough for you. Even if he is bi or questioning, or whatever. You need someone smart and rich and powerful. Someone who will treat you like a queen and never do anything to hurt you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I found someone who is exactly like my big brother. He is kind and sweet, and oh so fucking funny. Plus, he’s got a huge dick and knows how to plow myass.” Ace ducked as his brother threw a scrunched-up sock at his head.
“That was way more information than I needed. And also a little disturbing.”
Ace chuckled.
“The point is, all I really need is someone with a good heart who will always be there for me when I need him. Blade has always taken care of me. He’s even followed me on a few dates, just to make sure the guys weren’t total creeps. One guy, he actually punched the shit out of. It was kind of hilarious. And totally something you would do.”
Marcus sat his ass on the corner of the table and crossed his arms against his chest.
“Damn, he really does sound like me.” The corner of his lip turned upward in a half smile.
