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I pressed Madeline’s back, still not looking at her, and led her toward the back entrance leading out toward the greens. She went with me, but her body was strung so damn tight that she didn’t need to say anything. I knew she was angry or nervous or both. I was going to fix it, whatever it was.
Taking her out into the night, I kept walking until I had her to the empty clubhouse. Opening the door, I gently pushed on her back to get her to go inside the dark building. She went and crossed her arms over her chest defensively when we were finally away from the view of others. Putting space between us, like she couldn’t stand to be close to me. We both knew that was bullshit, but right now, she was upset.
“What are you doing?” she snapped at me.
Her gorgeous eyes were full of anger, hurt, and pain. I hated it.
“I needed you alone.”
“Why? Where’s your date? The one you aren’t ashamed to show up with?”
Her voice cracked on the last question, and my chest felt like it might explode.
Jesus, did Garrett not understand this woman was my kryptonite? She made me so damn weak. He’d had to let her come here and make herself more of a target than she already had been to begin with. I had to protect her, and she clearly did not get that.
“You think I’m ashamed to be seen with you?” I asked her, trying to figure out where in the hell that idea had come from. “Did you look in a motherfucking mirror before you left the house? There wasn’t one heterosexual male in that goddamn building not salivating over you. And Garrett fucking knew it.”
I closed the space between us, and she backed up until she hit the wall behind her.
“I don’t believe you. Words mean nothing. It’s actions that count. And you chose to bring someone else. I can see why. She’s exotic and stunning. She belongs in your world. She’s everything I’m not.”
Her eyes were glistening with unshed tears, and I had never detested anyone as much as I did myself in this moment.
“Helena is beautiful, yes. But she has nothing on you. Nothing,” I said, lowering my voice and touching the side of her cheek.
“I don’t believe you,” she said again. “You chose to bring her. Not me. And Garrett wanted me here. It was YOU who was embarrassed by me. This was not about my safety. Garrett didn’t think it was dangerous.”
I grabbed her waist and tugged her against me. “I was protecting you. I don’t want you to be a fucking target. If my enemies see me with you, they will know that you are the one weakness that can destroy me. I didn’t want another woman on my fucking arm. But I did it because you would be safe. Garrett believes the family is enough to keep you safe, but it isn’t. I want you to have some chance at normalcy. Not parading you around in front of everyone was the only way I could think to do it. As for my date, I chose Helena because she’d rather lick pussy than touch a dick.”
Madeline’s surprised face almost made me want to laugh.
“She’s … she’s …”
“She’s a lesbian, yes. She’s a friend, and she knows how to play the part,” I explained.
Madeline’s arms slowly uncrossed, and she let them fall to her sides. Her gaze dropped to my chest, and I let her soak in what I should have just fucking told her to begin with. Then, she’d have been safely tucked in my house, waiting on me to get home. But after the way I had just acted in there, like a caveman beating on his chest, there was no question as to who was in my bed.
“Trev came to get me after you left. Garrett wanted me to come. I was hurt,” she said, not looking up at me.
“I know,” I said, sliding my hand over her hip. “He also dressed you in something he knew would turn me into a raging lunatic.”
She lifted her eyes to me finally. “I didn’t like her touching you. I don’t care if she prefers women.”
“I’d never visualized ripping my brother’s arm from his body before tonight,” I replied.
A soft smile touched her lips. “He was doing what he had been told to do. Don’t be mad at him. I think he was secretly scared.”
“He should be. He enjoyed it. Don’t let that fucker fool you.”
She laughed softly.
I ran my hand down over her thigh and pulled the dress up until I could get my hand inside the crotch of her panties. “Open your legs,” I told her.
Her eyes went wide. “We can’t do this here.”
“The hell we can’t,” I said, shoving her legs open. “You show up in a dress that barely covers your ass and heels that make your legs look like they go on for fucking days, then, yes, baby, I’m getting a taste right here.”
