willing pussy night after night. Grace isn’t your typical fling. What the hell are you doing? You’re going to hurt her when you toss her aside again. That’s a major asshole-dick move.”
“I have no intention of tossing her aside.”
“Come on. It’s what you do. Brody La Rouge, Billionaire Bachelor. Untouchable. Untamable. Every single woman is dying to get a piece of you. Or better yet, dig in her claws and ride you for all you’re worth.”
“She’s not like those women.” I tense as something shifts inside of me. Those words carry the weight of truth with them.
“And how is she different?”
“The women I date are more of a pass-the-time-and-scratch-an-itch kind of thing. Grace is different.”
“Again, how is she different?”
“I don’t know, just feels different. She always was different from any of the chicks I dated in high school.”
“Dated?” His brow wings up in challenge. “I don’t remember you dating anyone in high school. Hanging out and fucking, maybe, but you never went steady with any chick. Never have.”
“I was with Grace.”
He arches a brow. “We always wondered about that slowdown of yours, but you bounced back pretty damn quick after…”
“I know. I was a fucking putz back then.”
Asher’s right. It’s been my motto nearly my entire life, but it doesn’t matter what he says.
“This feels different.”
“So you keep saying, but I bet you find some way to fuck this up. Don’t you think you did enough damage for one lifetime? If you’re not serious, you need to walk away while you still can. Before you hurt her again.”
I cringe because while my intentions are good, Asher’s right. My reputation speaks to a major fuckup looming in my future, but I refuse to let old habits ruin whatever is happening between me and Grace.
“I’m not going to fuck this up.” If I say it enough times, maybe the universe will manifest my desire and make it true. Lord knows I can use a little help. Although, why leave it to fate? “I want her. And I’m going to make her mine.”
“Why?” Asher’s not sure if I’m full of shit or telling the truth. He should support me, but it seems as if he’s more in Grace’s corner than mine. I don’t like the way he keeps pressuring me about Grace and my intentions.
“For the first time in my life, I see a future with her in it.”
“Whoa, that’s big.”
“I know.” I glance toward the main house. “Is this how you felt with Evie?”
“Pretty much. The moment I saw her, it felt like getting struck by lightning. I couldn’t walk away. The need to be with her overwhelmed me. To protect her became the only thing I cared about.”
“I walked away from Grace.”
“And did major damage as a result.”
“I wish I could take it all back. Go back in time. Erase that damage.” I rub at the back of my neck and stare at the rafters. A decade ago, my feelings for Grace terrified me. Perhaps that’s why I did what I did?
“Unfortunately, you gotta deal with what you did.” Asher levels a stare at me that says It’s time to step up and deal with the shit you caused.
I give a shake of my head because I really made a mess of this. I was young, bold, blessed with good looks, impeccable charm, a stellar physique, but completely lacking humility. I preened like a fucking cock, strutting my stuff to all my classmates, playing up my reputation until it reached near legendary proportions. The fact I used Grace, and destroyed her, meant nothing to me.
All that mattered to me—was me.
“I was such an ass back then.” I glance at the house. Regret surges through me knowing I hurt the woman inside.
“We all were self-absorbed assholes.” Asher claps me on the shoulder. He’s right about that. We aren’t called the ‘infamous La Rouge triplets’ without reason.
“Any advice?”
“Beg.” Asher tosses his head back and laughs. “Be humble. Listen to her. Don’t let things be about you. Put her needs first. Isn’t that what a good Dom does?”
“You’re having a lot of fun with this, and that’s what a good man does.” I don’t deserve a title like that, not after what I did to the one who was supposed to be under my care. I fucked that up fifty ways to shitville.
“Heck yeah, I’m glad not to be the one in the hot seat for once. I got my girl. Once again, I’m first. Now, I’m just waiting for you and Cage to