Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
He didn’t know how long he sat there, but Deacon came through the front door, sweat pouring from his body and his breathing labored.
They stared at each other for several long moments, and then Deacon strode down the hall and into his room. Thayer was left alone, with only the sound of the crackling fire to keep him company.
He thought back to the conversation he had with Deacon right before Jessa walked in.
Jessa. Even her name had his body coiling tight.
Their hushed argument had been about her. The scent Deacon had thrown off when Thayer had mentioned Jessa had been potent. His older brother was trying to stake a claim on a woman who didn’t know them from Adam, Thayer could sense that much.
If she knew exactly what they were, what they were capable of, she would run out of there screaming. It didn’t matter that his brother wanted her, because Thayer wanted her, too. That much was clear in the very short time they spent together.
It made absolutely no sense, but Thayer knew what he felt, knew that ignoring it would have been the smart and safe thing to do, but that he couldn’t just disregard it, especially where his brother was concerned.
Thayer loved him, would give his life for his brother, but there were times Deacon needed to be protected, even from himself.
The sound of the shower running broke up his thoughts, and he stood. Trying to take his mind off of the situation, he cleaned up the kitchen and then made his way down the hallway toward his room.
He stopped in front of her door and found himself closing his eyes and inhaling deeply. The sweet scent of green apples permeated his senses, and he forced a purr of pleasure from escaping.
What the hell is wrong with you? You’re standing outside her door like a stalker, like you can’t get enough of her.
Shaking his head at the absurdity of what he felt, he turned and stopped when he saw Deacon standing in his open doorway, a thick towel slung over his arm. For a suspended moment they stared at each other.
There was no animosity in Deacon’s gaze, but there was a deep understanding. Whatever happened within Thayer happened within Deacon as well. It was crazy and unrealistic … and so not going to happen. He would make sure she left before they were able to act on whatever the hell they were feeling.
It was safer for everyone that way.
Chapter
Six
The run in the fucking cold-ass weather hadn’t done shit for Deacon or his mood. He wanted to burn off the violent energy that slowly built inside of him over Jessa.
Even when he went into town and found a willing female, he had still felt like he was going to snap. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, couldn’t stop picturing her full lips that were just pink enough they called out to him like a siren.
He watched Thayer break their lethal stare and slip into his room. He could smell the arousal his little brother had for Jessa pouring off him like a fucking tidal wave.
For some strange reason he felt no jealousy brewing inside of him. The knowledge that Thayer wanted Jessa as much as he did was almost calming. He had never shared a woman with any man, didn’t have the mentality to even contemplate it, but the thought of sharing her with his little brother, the one person he trusted above all others, just seemed right … natural.
He shook his head and cleared his thoughts. Of course there was no way in hell that would be happening. She was a temporary placement in their life, and getting attached to something that would leave soon was moronic. Keeping his distance sounded like a good fucking idea.
That thought had his animal clawing for supremacy. The fucker wanted Jessa pretty damn bad, but he didn’t plan on submitting to him. He needed to take control of the man inside. Deacon was no good for her.
He was damaged in more ways than one, and he knew he could never have any hope of having a “normal” relationship with any female. The need to control pulsed inside of him. Thayer was another story. His brother was a good male and not scarred on the inside and out.
Deacon would have told him to take Jessa, show her the emotions that were clearly written on his face, but Deacon was a selfish bastard and couldn’t form the words to tell him that.
Shutting his bedroom door he shucked off his clothes and slipped into the bathroom. Steam from the scalding water filled the room and slicked his skin in dewy droplets.
The sting of the water felt like needles on his flesh, but he welcomed the discomfort. His dick was hard as steel, and he felt like a filthy asshole because of it.