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“I’m sorry,” Lo said, finally looking up, the pen he was holding suspended in mid-air. “I know you’re not talking to me. What are you—”
“Oh, look at that. It’s the consequences of your own actions, and I’ll explain later.”
It maybe wasn’t fair and in general Huxley was all about justice and equity, but all that went out the window when it had to do with his siblings, especially his twin. He exited the call and shoved the phone back in his pocket. Lo could chew on that for a few hours. Would serve him right.
Huxley gave his best lopsided grin to Shannon who seemed to be in a far better mood than when he’d greeted her. Perhaps they’d be getting somewhere after all, and who knew where that might lead?
Someone cleared their throat, and he had to shake his head to clear it. Right, yes, Hudson was still here, chaperoning.
“If you don’t require my services anymore,” the big man said, “I should get back out to the club.”
Huxley made eye contact with Shannon, and her plump lips stretched into a slightly embarrassed smile, like she’d forgotten Hudson was there too.
“I’m good. Thank you, Hudson.”
“Literally anytime,” he told her. “That’s what I’m here for.”
The owner dropped a nod in his direction and then headed for the exit, snicking the catch of the door shut once he’d left. Then they were alone.
* * *
Tamsyn
She still felt out of sorts after the rollercoaster of the past few days, but definitely better. Much better.
Was it wrong that when Huxley’s brother had showed up on the screen, the first thing that flashed through her mind was an image of herself sandwiched between the excessively handsome men, being ravished by them both? That was probably gross, huh? At least to them?
Not that she wanted the swords to cross or anything—it would be more than satisfactory for them to only pay attention to her and only her—but they’d probably be squicked if she even suggested it. That was… Well, that was really too bad is what it was.
Also, she hadn’t known she had a twin fetish but apparently it was something that turned her crank real hard. Or at least these two did. Huxley and…
Shit. She didn’t know the brother’s name and he probably didn’t take kindly to being referred to as Huxley Foster-Webb’s twin. It probably happened all the time and while he might be used to it, it didn’t mean he liked it, and he seemed kind of crabby to begin with. At least she could google it because it was commonly known information. To people other than her anyway. Ugh.
“I apologize on behalf of my lout of a brother. Somehow the home training didn’t really take.”
Goodness this man was charming. And no wonder. He was a politician. Although he’d said former. Why former? Hopefully not some disgusting scandal that had forced him to resign. Although if that were it, she couldn’t imagine the owners of Hive would’ve accepted his application. They were very protective of their membership, especially the bottoms and subs, and extra protective of their littles. No, it couldn’t be anything gross.
“Um, it’s fine. I might not give a stranger the time of day if I was trying to get in and out of the store in a rush either. I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions and yelled. Thank you for not writing me off as some insane harpy.”
Huxley chuckled, and it made her want to kneel at his feet. Have him grasp her chin, tip her face up and tell her not to worry. There was nothing to forgive and they understood each other now. She could feel the curl of warmth in her belly. And since Huxley was an identical twin (honestly, what were the odds?) and not just a massive twatwaffle, perhaps she’d be able to have that pleasure for real sometime.
“Lowell can be a real prick, but I swear that underneath the hostility and belligerence, he’s also a Machiavellian reprobate.”
Tamsyn couldn’t help the bark of laughter that escaped her mouth and was rewarded by a flash of a grin from Huxley who continued, “And to be completely fair, he’s also one of the smartest, most loyal, and hardworking people I know. So, not all bad. Just…mostly.”
She wasn’t sure about the antagonism, but she sure liked all the rest of those things. And much as she liked the look of Huxley, she’d sure as hell liked the look of Lowell too.
So much like his brother, but with slightly longer and disheveled hair, a dusting of stubble, black-framed glasses, a pen tucked behind his ear, and his shirt open a couple buttons to show off the hollow of his throat and a glimpse of dark chest hair. Hot.
“I can see why he might get called evil,” she teased, and Huxley nodded.
“Like I said, he’s been called worse. But I think mostly out of jealousy because he’s a fucking brilliant guy. His morality is a little more…flexible than some people’s, but he really does want to do the right thing. It’s just that his moral compass doesn’t always point toward true north. That’s what he has me for.”
“Should it concern me that the sainted brother is the one at a kink club?”
“Given that you’re here too? Probably not.”
He smiled at her again and her insides melted. This felt far more dangerous than her righteous anger. She knew what to do with that. This curling warmth that made her feel soft, though? Way scarier.
