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  I grinned. Dante really shouldn’t have said that. Although he did have a mischievous glint in his eyes, so perhaps he knew exactly what he was doing.

  “Ugh, I’ll annoy him about it later. Now where’s my nephew?”

  “Here,” Liora said, coming into the room with Logan in his car seat.

  She barely had a chance to set him down on the counter before I started unbuckling him from the straps. I picked him up and cradled him to my chest.

  “Hello little man,” I whispered, stroking his cheek.

  “See, I told you having your sister here would mean a live-in babysitter.”

  I ignored Liora’s comment and took Logan into the conservatory, staring down at his little squishy face. The most precious baby ever. I noticed Brent pull out a chair for me and I carefully sat down, making sure not to jog Logan too much.

  “He has that newborn smell,” I sighed.

  Logan closed his eyes and promptly fell asleep. I hoped for Liora and Dante’s sake he wouldn’t become one of those babies who fussed all the time.

  “You look good with him,” Brent said, his voice low enough only I could hear it.

  “You think?”

  I looked over at him and realised Fi had been right. He had this shine to his gold flecked hazel eyes, like I was the one person in the world he wanted but couldn’t have. Had he really always looked at me in that way? Glancing at Fi, I found her watching us with a smile on her face.

  Ugh, fuck, it’s so obvious, isn’t it?

  “Logan’s lucky to have you in his life.”

  I felt my cheeks grow hot.

  “Just Logan?”

  “Anyone who has you in their life is lucky, Jen.”

  That isn’t what I wanted to hear.

  “Even you?” I whispered.

  His eyes flashed with pain for the briefest of moments before he looked away.

  “Even me.”

  Not wanting to press the matter any further, I looked down at my nephew. My body ached with longing. I wanted a partner, a husband and a baby of my own. I’d never put much thought to it before. Now, I knew for sure I wanted those things, but not just with anyone. I wanted them with the person next to me.

  How could I convince Brent to take a chance on me? Would he risk it all if I laid my cards out on the table? The thought of him rejecting me yet again terrified me. I don’t think my heart could take it. I hadn’t asked him for an actual relationship last time though.

  Deal with Max first, remember? Then you can broach the subject of a future between the two of you.

  I shook myself internally. I still didn’t know how Brent intended to help me with Max. When we were alone, I’d have to ask him. Though I suppose he hadn’t had much time to think about it with Logan’s arrival.

  My phone buzzed in my pocket. I adjusted Logan slightly so I could pull it out.

  MAX: I’m taking you to dinner tomorrow night, sweet pea. If you misbehave again, I won’t let you off so lightly.

  My throat constricted. Whilst Brent told me he wouldn’t let Max hurt me again, I wasn’t sure how he’d achieve that if I ended up losing my shit for the second time.

  “Everything okay?” Brent asked, leaning over to me.

  I didn’t get a chance to hide the text on my phone. His expression darkened. I wanted to run but I had a sleeping baby on me.

  “Give Logan to someone else and come with me,” he hissed before rising from his seat.

  The tone of his voice left no room for argument. So I did as he said, I got up and carefully handed Logan over to Ellie who was closest and walked out of the room on Brent’s heels. No one really noticed us leaving since they were all engaged in conversation.

  Brent took me downstairs to his flat. When we reached his living room, he made me sit down on the sofa whilst he paced back and forth in front of me.

  “I don’t trust him not to hurt you again.”

  “I can’t not go.”

  “I know. I need time to find his weaknesses and work out how the fuck he found out about the debt in the first place.”

  He ran his hand through his hair agitatedly.

  “What do you mean find his weaknesses?”

  “I dig up dirt on people and make sure nothing comes to light which shouldn’t. It used to be for Zach as well, but now it’s just D.”

  I blinked. On some level I’d known Brent worked for my father as well as Dante, but it sounded like he’d been closer to my dad then I realised.

  “What do you mean for my dad?”

  “I was under Zach’s payroll until he handed over the company to you four. I had no choice, Jen. But before you ask, no, I didn’t do anything illegal for him. I kept his secrets to protect the company and D. That’s all.”

  It hadn’t even crossed my mind that Brent would engage in anything illegal. I mean I knew my dad had, but he was a piece of shit so it came with the territory.

  “It doesn’t matter. It’s in the past. So what? You’re just going to dig into Max’s background? How will that stop him? He has all the power, not us.”

  He shook his head.

  “You’re just going to have to trust me on this.”

  He’d asked me that last night. To trust him.

  “So you’re not going to tell me what you have planned?”

  “No.”

  I stood up and got in his face.

  “You can’t tell me you’re going to fix it and then shut me out like it doesn’t involve me.”

  “Jen—”

  “No, don’t you Jen me! I’ve told you so many times, I’m not some damsel in distress nor do I need rescuing.”

  He exhaled sharply, staring down at me with an intensity which almost made me flinch back.

  “I’m not trying to rescue you. I’m trying to protect you and your siblings from having their names dragged through the mud.”

  “I don’t need protecting.”

  “I beg to differ.”

  I shoved at his chest. He stood there and took it, not budging an inch.

  “Does it make you feel all fucking manly or something? Oh look, Jen’s in danger, let me save the day.”

  I had no idea why I was getting angry at him, only that his refusal to tell me what he had planned riled me up.

  “Contrary to what you might think my world does not revolve around you and whether or not you’re in danger, Jen.”

  My chest burnt at his words and tears started to prick at the corners of my eyes. They were like a fucking dropkick to the heart. I never expected his world to revolve around me, but I wanted to be his world. His everything. The girl he’d do anything for.

  I took a step back, finding my anger evaporating and distress rushing through my veins instead.

  “I deserve to know,” I choked out, fighting back those tears threatening to fall.

  Did he have to keep breaking my heart further?

  He doesn’t know how you feel.

  “I told you, I need time. You only just told me last night so give me a fucking break.”

  I backed away further, wanting to be away from him before I blurted out something I shouldn’t.

  “Fine.”

  His expression turned soft.

  “I don’t want you to worry.”

  I shook my head.

  “You don’t have to face him tomorrow.”

  He closed the distance and tugged me against his chest. I struggled weakly as tears started to fall without my say so.

  “I know you’re scared, but you need to be strong for me, okay? I promise I’ll fix it.”

  He didn’t get it. Yes, I was scared of Max, but I wasn’t acting out for that reason. Brent happened to be the reason. He kept stabbing at my chest with his words. My heart couldn’t take it any longer. I wanted him so much and it just plain hurt.

  A pitiful sob fell from my lips unbidden.

  “Shh, don’t cry. It’s going to be okay.”

  I shoo
k my head, clutching at his t-shirt. Why did he always make me feel so vulnerable? How did he have this much power over my emotions? Why had I let him in?

  He tucked his fingers under my chin and raised my face up towards his. His hazel eyes were full of emotions I couldn’t work out.

  “You don’t need protecting, but I’m going to do it anyway. I care about you too much to let him get to you like this.”

  “That’s… that’s not why I’m crying.”

  “Then what’s wrong?”

  I choked back another sob.

  “You. I’m crying because of you.”

  His expression became stricken. I hadn’t meant for those words to come out.

  “Me?”

  I tried to pull away, not wanting to have this conversation I’d unwittingly started.

  “What did I do?”

  “Let go,” I sobbed.

  “No, tell me what I did.”

  I shoved at him, desperate now to be as far away as possible before the truth tried to escape my mouth. All the words were on the tip of my tongue. Words like I want to be with you and I love you.

  “Jen, please, you can’t say that then run.”

  “Let go.”

  “No.”

  “I hate you.”

  His eyes darkened. I knew he couldn’t stand me saying it. I’d always known.

  “Not this again. You do not hate me. For fuck’s sake, what did I do?”

  I wrenched out of his grasp finally, backing away with my chest heaving and tears streaming down my cheeks.

  “What did you do? What did you fucking do?” I pointed at him. “You made me want you and then dropped me like I mean nothing, all because I’m Dante’s sister. Am I not worth more than that? Don’t I mean anything to you? You say you care about me but how can I believe that? How can I trust you when you keep hurting me? Tell me how!”

  He surged forward and gripped me by the shoulders.

  “You mean more to me than you know.”

  “Then prove it to me because right now, I don’t know how the hell you feel about me.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Brent

  Why did it keep coming back to this? I couldn’t stand the way her blue eyes watered and the tears streaming down her face. Nor the agony in her expression. I’d done that. And it hurt worse than I ever thought it could. My heart burnt with it.

  So I did the only thing I could think of to take it away. My hand tangled in her beautiful dark hair as I brought my lips down to hers. Jen’s hands went to my shoulders, a small mewl of protest erupting from her throat.

  She told me to prove how I felt. Words weren’t cutting it. I needed to show her. As I tugged her closer, my tongue swept into her mouth, claiming her in a brutal and unforgiving kiss.

  Jen is mine.

  The words banded themselves around my chest. The need to make her aware of the fact laced my veins. No one else could have her. Especially not that scumbag Max fucking Graves.

  My hand tightened in her hair. I pulled her head back and stared down at her. Jen’s blue eyes were wide with lust mixed in with confusion.

  “Show me you want me,” I practically growled. “Show me I’m yours.”

  She searched my face for a long moment before she lowered herself to her knees with my hand still in her hair. Her hands went to my jeans, quickly dispensing with the buttons and zip. I jerked slightly when her fingers ran over my cock before she freed it from my boxers.

  Fuck knows what had gotten into me but Jen seemed to be on board with it. I doubted she let anyone else tell her what to do.

  Hold on, this isn’t reminding her of Zach or Max, is it?

  I stopped her from wrapping her lips around me. Her blue eyes were cautious as she looked up at me.

  “Do you want this?”

  “Yes, I want you, all of you.”

  As if to show me, she leant forward and ran her tongue up the underside of my cock, making me shiver. Her small hand gripped me at the base and she took me in her wet, hot mouth.

  Honestly, I never thought I’d ever see Jen on her knees wanting to bring me pleasure. She’d always been so independent and scornful of anyone trying to tell her what to do.

  My fingers tightened in her hair. Shit her mouth felt amazing. She sucked me with long drawn out strokes as her fingers worked me. If she kept this up, I’d be coming down her throat in no time at all.

  “Jen,” I almost whimpered like a fucking baby because what she was doing to me was heavenly and I never wanted this to stop.

  How the fuck could I keep resisting her?

  You can’t. You love her. You want her. Just give in.

  She hummed, the vibrations thrumming along my cock. Her tongue curled along the underside of me and her blue eyes stared up into mine, taunting me with the desire simmering in them. The sight of her on her knees for me was utterly maddening. I couldn’t help myself any longer. My hips jerked forward, the urge to pound into her driving me.

  She pulled back, breathing deeply before she rose to her feet and placed both hands on my chest. Jen pushed me back until I practically fell into the armchair behind me. She straddled me and her hands came up, cupping my face.

  “You don’t have to choose,” she whispered. “Don’t you see? I’m already yours and you’re already mine. We’re meant to be together. Stop trying to hide from it. Stop using him as an excuse. Be with me, Brent.”

  I blinked, trying to work out if I’d heard her correctly.

  “You want an actual relationship with me?”

  I needed her to be clear about what she was asking me.

  “Yes.”

  My blood pounded in my ears.

  She’s mine.

  My hands curled around her waist, holding her to me.

  “I’m yours and you’re mine.”

  She nodded, her blue eyes intent on mine.

  All my arguments flew out the window. I wanted to give in. Give into what I’d craved for so long.

  Her.

  “Okay,” I whispered, sealing my fate and binding myself to her.

  Her eyes welled with tears all over again. I couldn’t stand it. Reaching up, I brushed my thumb under her eye, catching the tear which leaked out.

  “Don’t cry.”

  “I never thought you’d say yes.”

  Honestly, neither did I. And yet my heart’s desire was sitting right there on top of me, offering herself to me. This time it was different. Before, she’d only said she wanted to continue sleeping with me. As much as I adored being inside of Jen, I couldn’t risk my friendship with her brother for sex. But for something more? For a relationship with a future? How could I turn that down?

  “You never asked for everything with me before.”

  “I didn’t know I wanted it until you told me no when we were away.”

  There were things I had to admit to her about how long I’d wanted her, but all of that seemed insignificant right then. All I could see and think of was her.

  “My firestorm,” I whispered before she kissed me.

  There was relief in that kiss, like she needed this more than she was letting on. When she pulled back, she rested her forehead against mine.

  “I wasn’t going to say anything until after we handled Max, but I need you so much it hurts. I don’t know how you became so fucking important to me, but you are. I can’t be without you.” She sighed. “We’ll get through this, won’t we?”

  I nodded. I didn’t know quite how yet, but we would.

  “I’ll find a way, Jen. I meant what I said, I’m going to protect you and your family, okay?”

  “I know.” Her lips met mine. “I know.” The kiss became heated. “Take me to bed and show me I’m yours.”

  The passing consideration someone might notice we’d disappeared together flittered across my mind. Then I was on my feet with her wrapped around me and striding towards my bedroom, shoving all other thoughts aside.
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br />   I laid Jen out on my bed like the very first time I’d had her here. I stripped her down until she was bare before me, her milky white skin stark against my dark sheets.

  “You belong right here,” I murmured as I leant over her. “In my bed. With me.”

  “Show me.”

  My clothes came next. Her hands ran up my bare back, nails scratching across my skin and driving me crazy. I gripped her thighs, pressing her legs open and settling in between them. The sharp pant which escaped her lips when I slid inside her made my heart thump harder.

  I love you. You’re mine.

  “Mine,” I growled against her lips as I kissed her.

  “Yours,” she whispered against mine.

  My fingers entangled with hers on the bed, pinning her there whilst I fucked her long, slow and deep. Assuring her with each thrust I’d never let her go. My eyes fixed on her brilliant blues, telling me she accepted everything I gave her.

  Would she understand when I told her I’d loved her almost half her life? That even as she’d been a fifteen year old and completely out of bounds, I’d wanted and needed her anyway. I wanted to help her heal. And now I’d been given the chance to finally after all these years.

  Jen was mine. A girl I could hold on to. A girl who no longer flinched away at the thought of my touch nor turned her ire on me. The only girl to ever have my heart.

  “I won’t leave you in the dark again,” I told her, my voice barely above a whisper. “I won’t push you away. I’m right here. Where I’ve always been.”

  I hadn’t meant the last part to slip out but she didn’t look annoyed by it. She just smiled.

  “I know.”

  Words failed me. Did she? Did she really understand? I wasn’t ready for that conversation quite yet. I wasn’t ready for any of this, but life has a funny way of giving you exactly what you want at the strangest fucking time.

  Shoving away those thoughts, I watched her as she panted and moaned whilst I fucked her. Was there ever a more beautiful sight then Jen beneath me? Her face flushed, eyes wide and breathing heavy. Perhaps when she was on top of me, her naked form on full show whilst she took her pleasure from me. Either way, Jen was my fucking world. And now she really was all mine.