I don’t go anywhere far; I simply slip down the wall and sit by my open door, making sure I have a direct view of Zane helpless in the middle of my empty bedroom. I watch him tug and fight and try in every way possible to get free. I know I’m cruel and this is punishment I would hate to have bestowed upon me, but he made me feel how every other guy does - like I’m an object.
I allow ten minutes or so to pass before I decide I’m going to indulge myself while I allow Zane to sit and panic. I pull myself up, and button the shirt all the way as I head for the stairs. I take note of how quiet the house is as I descend each step, which makes me happy that my brothers are all occupied and won’t ask questions. When I make it to the kitchen, I see them all sitting in the garden just like when I came home. I ignore them to go to the freezer and pull out a large tub of chocolate ice cream. The first scoop melts on my tongue and I groan in pleasure. The second and third follow in quick pursuit and I fall into one of the barstools. However, when I hear laughter, I drop the spoon and run up the stairs. Shit. I know that laugh, it’s Carlo; I didn’t know he was inside, but he is! And I all but run into him when I make it to my bedroom. He’s standing chortling in hysterics at Zane while Zane cries out for help.
“Fuck,” I swear as I rush into motion.
The moment my hands touch Zane’s, his struggle stops and I can feel the heat radiate from him as he kneels vulnerable, humiliated and, quite possibly, enraged.
“Where the fuck did you go?” he asks me, his tone becoming fraught. “And why is your brother now here?!”
“I told you I like power,” I say, pulling me back, stalling my release of him. I lean my head over his shoulder, making sure he feels the intimacy I’m forcing on him. “You ever use me as a means to fit in and this, what I did, will be something you beg for, got it?”
“Don’t sound so menacing, sweetheart, it’s not you,” he snarls as I struggle to undo my own handiwork. “This isn’t you getting even.”
“I didn’t know Carlo would walk in!” I declare and shot a death look at my brother who’s crying and unable to do anything but stare. He catches my glare and finally leaves us. “I just wanted to make you sweat a little!”
“Hey, Enzo! You’ve gotta see this,” Carlo yells out, walking down the corridor. “There is some kinky shit going on up here.”
“You are so dead, Amelia!” Zane bellows as I finally free him and he quickly reaches up to tear the scarf from his eyes and cover up his modesty.
I start to laugh as I stand back up. “That’s the push and pull of us, Zane. Death threats, breakups, make ups, expensive liquor, intense sex,” I say, pausing to grin at him wickedly, “Power.”
All I do is swing the belt of my robe around and strut away. When I hear him groan, I know payback’s definitely been served.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Are you going to be in a mood with me forever?” I ask, talking directly to Zane’s back.
He doesn’t move much. If anything, he merely bristles on his seat. I’ve garnered the same reaction from him for days. I know I deserve it, but at the time, I didn’t think I did. He pissed me off and I got payback. How was I to know that Carlo would walk in?
“C’mon, Zane,” I try to coerce him into idle chitchat, but he doesn’t budge. This makes me walk around the kitchen counter, working my way to the front of him as he sits waiting for the others. “I’ve said I’m sorry.”
“You left me in the middle of your room stark fucking naked, Amelia!” he bellows at me, his words a ferocious roar to me. “And to top it off, your brothers haven’t let me live it down for the better part of three days! So, I’m sorry if your apology isn’t helping to improve my mood.”
“Look, you used me to make yourself look like one of the guys. I don’t appreciate that and you should have known that. Christ, Zane, you should have known above everyone else, and you didn’t. So, I took matters into my own hands.” My explanation does nothing to dwindle his harsh, dark expression. “Zane,” I say exasperatedly. “The definition of a Femme Fatale is an attractive and seductive woman, especially one who will ultimately cause distress to a man who becomes involved with her. It’s textbook. That’s in my blood now, and it’s something I use to make it through events like that one the other night.” I then lean across the counter at him, keeping my eyes wholly on him. “And just because we have potential doesn’t mean you get an exception to my rule. Make a joke of me; I’ll make one of you. That job was done three days ago. Now, grow up and get over it. ”
Zane’s eyes go wide, and I see the absolute humiliation smother his beautiful face. “He saw everything!”
I bite down on my lip to splutter my laughter. “Just be thankful the room wasn’t cold and you’re a well hung male,” I sarcastically tell him, standing back up. “Be an alpha Zane, beat back! It’s banter, get used to it if you’re really hell-bent on being a part of this horde.”