Page 51 of Threaded Lies

“He wouldn’t…” Do that. But I don’t finish the sentence because he would, and the look on Holden’s face says he knows he would.

It’s amazing how even after all this time, my first instinct is to protect and defend my brother.

“He would, Rowan.” Holden steps inside my door and shuts it at his back. “You should have heard him whining after you left today. How you’re going to set the company back, cramp his style, cause delays and problems because you’ll be on a power trip…”

“He was just pissed because you hung the picture up to remind him that was the second time you one-upped him.”

“Power move.”

I study him, my smile soft and this silly playfulness so welcome after all the heaviness between us the past two weeks. “I thought the flex was buying the painting and then cutting it up and destroying it?”

“Ah, yes. Maybe I’m reserving that for when I need to make an even bigger power move.” He reaches out to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear.

My breath hitches and I fight every urge I have to lean into it.

The sudden shift in the air between us is palpable.

I take a step back, needing the clarity I think the space will afford me, and gesture to the papers as I set them down on the table beside me. “These don’t fix everything. They don’t erase the hurt or the confusion or the massive lack of communication on your end.”

“You’re right. They don’t.” He steps toward me again. “But I’m a man of my word and I have the contract for you to sign at the office. I was thinking that might help fix it a little bit.”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” He chuckles. “Are you forgetting that you played a role in this too? You’re not absolved from not confronting me over seeing it.”

“Yeah. Right.” I roll my eyes. “Hey, Holden. You’re intensely secretive and have plans for world domination, but are you fine with the fact that I went in your top drawer and saw some contracts I wasn’t supposed to see?” I snort. “Because that would have gone over well.”

He struggles with an answer and rightfully so, because he knows I’m right. He knows the gut-check reaction from a man as intensely private as he is would have been explosive.

“I’m a reasonable man, Rowan,” he says softly. “For you at least.”

“What if I say no?” I whisper as my eyes dart down to his lips and then back up to his eyes.

“You won’t.” His fingers trail down my bare arm, tickling my skin, and causing me to swallow forcibly.

“What if I need more than that?”

His groan is a seductive sound that ghosts over my skin. “I’m sorry, Rowan—”

“I don’t want your apologies.” The warmth of his breath hits my lips. “You’re not forgiven.”

His eyes are locked on mine, and I see the edges crinkle as he smiles. “You didn’t let me finish. What I was going to say was, I’m sorry, but I did nothing wrong other than protect you.”

“You think you’re clever, don’t you?” I murmur as my body hums with an anticipation I’ve never felt before.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” His lips are a whisper away from mine.

“You are but you broke my trust, Holden. That’s a hard thing for me to give away.”

“What will it take to earn it back?” His warm breath feathers over my lips.

“A lot more than a contract and some printed emails.”

“Noted.” He brushes his lips ever so slightly against mine. “How about we start with this, then?” Another kiss. I fight the urge to lean into him and the comfort he alone provides me. My reason tells me I need to resist. That I need to make him work harder for me. That he needs to fucking grovel.

My desire, on the other hand, screams a whole different story. It says touch me, take me, fuck me.

He cups the side of my neck with his hand so that his thumb can rub absently back and forth over the dip in my collarbone.