Page 371 of Power Play

Cade’s expression changed. “Hey.” He lifted one hand, motioning for me to bring the anger down.

Bliss didn’t flinch. Her eyes remained locked with mine, clear and steady despite the way Cade’s arm tightened around her waist.

“I wouldn’t,” she said. “It would only hurt her more, and after your stunt last night, she can’t handle much more.”

A rude laugh left me. “My stunt? She gets what she deserves.”

Bliss went completely still. Cade closed his eyes like he could already see the morning deteriorating around him, and Bliss climbed off his lap.

“You don’t want to hear what I have to say, but you sure as fuck are going to.”

“Am I?” I looked at the guys and laughed before dropping my sunglasses enough to meet her stare over the top of them.

“Yes. I’ve earned that as your friend because I have always been your friend, Ryan.”

She turned toward Cade with an expectant look that belonged on the face of a spoiled teenager demanding parental support.

Cade stared back. “Don’t look at me like that, Pip.”

“Are you going to say something?”

“I am.” He stood and moved her gently out of his path. “I’m going to shower because I’m not doing this shit again.”

Her mouth fell open, and he kissed her forehead.

“In Pip’s defense, you were a massive dick last night.”

I started to answer, but Cade held up one hand.

“I understand why,” he said. “I’m only making my position clear so I don’t get cock-blocked tonight.”

Bliss smacked his chest. Cade caught her wrist, pulled her against him, and wrapped both arms around her.

“You make her cry, and you and me have problems,” he told me over her head.

I nodded, completely unbothered. “She cries at everything, so be specific.”

Bliss smacked his chest again as if my answer was somehow his fault. Cade laughed into her hair and squeezed her tighter.

“We’ll talk. Let me shower before your friendship tribunal begins.”

He released her and headed toward the stairs.

“Coward,” Bliss called after him.

“Preserving my relationship.”

“You carried me out of bed without asking.”

“You wrapped around me like a fucking vise, Pip.”

“You could’ve woken me.”

“You bite when you’re startled.”

“That happened once.”

Cade looked back from the staircase. “It happened last night.”