Not really. There’s no such thing as peace when Reed Royal is staring at you. No, glaring at you, and he’s been doing it for the past hour.
Easton is still downstairs doing God knows what, and the twins are fast asleep in a pair of nearby loungers, so Callum’s the only company I’ve got, and Reed clearly isn’t happy about it.
“Darling!” Brooke calls from the sundeck. “Come rub lotion on my back!”
Callum avoids my gaze, probably because he doesn’t want me to see his sex eyes. “You okay down here alone for a bit?” he asks.
“It’s fine. Go ahead.”
I’m relieved to be left alone, but the relief doesn’t last. The tension rises all over again when Reed moves toward me with predatory strides. He rests his forearms on the railing and keeps his gaze straight ahead.
“Ella.”
I can’t tell if it’s a greeting or a question. I roll my eyes. “Reed.”
He doesn’t continue. Just keeps staring at the water.
I sneak a peek at him, and my heart does that irritating flip it always does when Reed is around. He’s masculinity personified. Tall and broad, his gorgeous features chiseled to perfection. My mouth grows dry as I admire his arms, sleek with muscle, rippling with power.
He’s a good foot taller than me, so when he finally turns to look at me, I have to tilt my head to meet his gaze.
Those blue eyes flick over me, resting briefly on my tiny denim shorts and tight halter top that ties at the neck. They focus on my navy-blue-and-white deck shoes, and the corner of his mouth quirks slightly.
I wonder if he’s about to make fun of my shoes, but his almost-smile fades when a husky moan echoes from above us.
“Yes.” Brooke’s throaty voice makes Reed and me cringe.
A male growl follows the request. Callum apparently has no problem getting busy when his sons are close by. I find that disgusting, yet at the same time, I can’t bring myself to hate him, not after his confession that he’s still grieving for his wife. Loss makes us do crazy things.
Reed bites out a curse. “Let’s go.”
His steel grip captures my arm, making it impossible to do anything but follow him toward the stairs that lead below deck.
“Where are we going?”
He doesn’t answer. He pushes open the door and marches into the luxurious main room, which is furnished with leather couches and glass tables. Reed bulldozes past the full kitchen and dining area toward the cabins in the back.
He knocks on an oak door. “East. Wake the fuck up.”
There’s a loud groan. “Go away. My head is pounding.”
Reed walks into the cabin without knocking. I peek behind his broad shoulders and see Easton sprawled on a massive bed, holding a pillow over his head.
“Get up,” Reed orders.
“Why?”
“Need you to keep Dad occupied.” Reed laughs sardonically. “Well, he’s occupied enough at the moment, but I want you up there in case that changes.”
Easton pushes the pillow off his face and sits up with a groan. “You know I’ve always got your back, but listening to that woman is my idea of a nightmare. Those squeaky noises she makes when Dad—” He stops midsentence when he notices me behind Reed.
I can’t see Reed’s face, but whatever his eyes are conveying causes Easton to heave himself out of bed. “Gotcha.”
“Keep the twins away, too,” Reed says.
His brother disappears without another word. Rather than stay in Easton’s cabin, Reed walks next door and gestures for me to follow him inside.
I stay put, crossing my arms. “What do you want?”
“To talk.”
“Then talk here.”
“Get in here, Ella.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
I drop my arms and walk into the cabin. Something about this guy…he issues a command and I obey. I fight it at first, sure. I always fight, but he always wins.
Reed closes the door behind me and runs a hand through his windblown hair. “I’ve been thinking about what we talked about before.”
“We didn’t talk before. You talked.” And my pulse speeds up because now I’m remembering what he’d said.
If I have to fuck you so you don’t ruin my family, I’ll do it.
“I want you to stay away from my brother.”
“Aw, are you jealous?” As Callum would say, I’m poking the tiger, but I don’t really care. I’m tired of this guy telling me what to do.
“I get it, you’re used to a certain lifestyle,” Reed says, ignoring my taunt. “I bet guys were lining up to drill you at your old school.”
My heart stops when he grabs the bottom of his shirt.
“You have needs.” He shrugs. “Can’t fault you for that, and yeah, I haven’t made it easy for you to make friends at Astor Park. Not a lot of guys have the balls to go against me and ask you out. They think you’re hot, though. They all do.”
Where on earth is he going with this? And why—oh my God, why is he taking off his shirt?
I gape at his bare chest. He has a six-pack that makes me drool, and his oblique muscles are tight and delicious. Heat spreads through my body. I clench my thighs together to try to stop the throbbing between them, but it just makes it worse.
He grins at me. Oh yeah, he’s fully aware of the effect he has on me.