It took a heavy dose of self-control not to shove Austin away. Connor gritted his teeth.
“Dad said you’re coming bowling with us?” Laurence asked.
Connor nodded.
“We’re booked in for eight, so we’ll probably have to go in ten minutes or so to make it in time,” Laurence said.
“Right. I’ll shower quickly.” Connor glared at Austin, who clung to his arm now. “Do I need to call you a taxi?” he asked through a clenched jaw.
Austin smiled coldly. “No need. Bowling was my idea after all. I’ll wait with Laurence downstairs. In a minute.” Austin reached around Connor to push the door closed in Laurence’s face.
“You—”
“Did you fuck someone?” Austin hissed. He shoved Connor, a surprising amount of strength in his smaller body, and Connor’s back struck the door with a thud. Austin gazed up at him intensely.
Connor stared back, revealing nothing in his expression.
“You mean like you did?” Connor asked.
Anger filled Austin’s eyes. “We’re apart two months, and you—” He jutted his hand at the door. “You fucked that little twink, didn’t you?! I bet he sucks your dick in here like a needy little—” Austin hit his chest. Connor caught his wrist to prevent another strike, and after a few seconds of furious hisses and grappling, Connor had both of Austin’s wrists pinned. Austin was strong but not stronger than Connor.
“Shut up, Austin,” Connor said, pissed off. “We’re not together, and I can get with whoever I like. Not that I got with Laurence. We’re brothers.”
“Who?”
“Nobody—”
“I know what you look like after getting your dick sucked,” Austin said, furious. “Was it Edith’s new husband?”
“No—”
“That other brother then?”
“Fuck off!” Connor snapped.
Austin glared at Connor like he was planning his murder. “Let’s pick up where we left off,” Austin said, that furious expression still in place. “I know you had special plans for that night.”
Connor bristled. They were meant to have sex for the first time that night. It was supposed to be romantic and good, but it had turned into an utter shitshow.Kind of like this conversation…
Connor released Austin’s wrists and pushed him back. “Forget it, Austin. We’re done.” He opened the door to find a wide-eyed Laurence frozen in place. Connor didn’t know how much of the argument he’d heard or if he’d picked up any of it. From the worried way he looked at Connor, he’d heard some of it.
“Let’s wait downstairs,” Austin said pleasantly.Two-faced little minx, Connor thought. Austin snagged Laurence’s hand, pulling him along to the stairs. Laurence glanced over his shoulder to Connor, a little frown tugging down the corners of his mouth.
Connor watched Laurence and Austin go downstairs, the sight of the two of them together irking him greatly. Necessity deemed he shower; once out, he slapped bandages onto Adonis’s bites and changed clothes in a rush. As he left his room, Nick stepped out of his, too.
Nick spared him a glower before walking to the stairs.
Connor stared at the back of his head, and before he could stop himself, he grabbed Nick’s wrist.
Nick spun around, eyes sparking fire like he was about to take a swing at Connor. Connor regarded him calmly. “Don’t leave Laurence alone with Austin. That shit where they were alone in my room, with the door closed? Don’t let that happen. He may look sweet, but he’s far from it.”
Nick snatched his arm back from Connor. “Sounds like someone you’d be friends with.”
“You hate my guts, I get it. Just don’t let that happen again, asshole,” Connor muttered, stepping around Nick to rush down the stairs. He found everyone in the kitchen drinking tea. Austin was chatting to Trevor while Laurence studied Austin with a furrowed brow.
Trevor looked at them as they stepped into the kitchen. “Ready to go, boys?”
“Can’t wait,” Connor said dryly.
