understood what she meant. This was disturbingly intimate. My one-night stands were hollow by comparison, because even with my dick inside them I’d never felt so close to someone.
Her bra strap slipped down. I pushed it over her shoulder, a mistake, because Liana’s softer-than-silk skin made me wonder about the rest of her body. I had a fantastic view of her cleavage, the hem of her tank blocking everything I ached to explore. I played with that loose strap as my cock begged me to rip it off.
Liana seemed to sense the change in temperature. She fiddled with my buttons, sliding them in and out of their holes, teasing my chest. The temptation to kiss her overwhelmed me. Ignoring it wrenched at me. It felt wrong, like smothering a kitten. I wanted it to grow, but Michael was due any second.
I couldn’t summon the energy to ask her to stop. She grazed my abdomen, her fingers like little fire wands. She trailed them over my pecs, stroking my head, her touch massaging.
My frown lines disappeared. I melted into her, lost in a tide of relief.
Her lips brushed my ear.
A fist hammered the door, yanking me from the moment.
Liana dug her nails into me as Michael’s greeting drifted inside.
Fuck off, Michael. “Let yourself in!”
He murmured something. A key scraped the lock, and the door opened and slammed. His shoes clipped the floor, the echo growing louder. The anticipation shot my veins with adrenaline.
I adopted a somber expression.
Michael strolled in, talking a mile a minute. “Sorry I’m late. I had to rush home and console my very upset wife. Took ages to leave, and then I hit traffic in the Pike. You know how it—goes.”
Michael gaped at us. His eyes bugged out at Liana, who still sat on my lap. “What are you doing?”
Liana’s arms slipped from my neck, but she kept them on me. Heat tingled my skin as her frosty blues swept over me and stabbed in Michael’s direction.
“Nothing.”
“That’s not an answer.” Michael pivoted at me, his voice rising. “Vinn. What the fuck?”
My mouth went dry.
Out with it. “So, we’ve been dating for a while.”
He rolled his eyes. “Jesus, relax. I know you were only doing it for Nico’s benefit.”
“No, Michael. It’s the truth.”
He wet his mouth. “Wait, so you’re actually dating?”
“Yeah.”
Michael’s chest swelled, but he didn’t explode. His hands clenched and released, as though practicing his death grip.
“It’s been a few months,” I clarified, as Michael turned the shade of a tomato. “I never asked because I knew you wouldn’t approve.”
“I’ll deal with you later.” Michael ripped his gaze from me, addressing Liana like an outraged father scolding a child. “Get off him. Now.”
“You don’t tell me what to do anymore.”
“Oh, really?” he snarled. “You can kiss your rent goodbye—”
“Fine. I’m not going back there, anyway.” Liana faced me, beaming with a smile that raced my pulse. “I’m moving in with Vinn.”
“You’re what?”
“We’re together.” A joy I’d never seen before shone in her eyes and bubbled in her rushed words. “And there’s nothing you can say to stop it.”
My heart hammered. The pit of my stomach churned.
Why did that sound real?
I wiped the shock from my face and squeezed Liana’s shoulder. “Your brother and I need a talk.”
Judging by the nails piercing my skin, she objected to leaving me alone.
I fixed her a glare. “Just do it, hon.”
Liana let out the smallest scoff and slid from my lap. Then she patted Michael’s arm. “Don’t hurt him.”
Michael seemed unable to speak. He was like a robot, his head jerking toward me. He didn’t utter a sound until she disappeared into my room.
“You motherfucker.” Darkness rippled from Michael as his fist unclenched, the key fob dropping to the floor. “Behind my fucking back.”
The hurt bled through his voice, trembling in the air like electricity in a lightning storm.
I stood. “I knew you wouldn’t approve.”
“You never asked!”
I crossed my arms. “I tried. Whenever we touch the subject, you always make your opinion of me very clear.”
“Now I get it.” He slammed his palm into my chest, shoving me backward. “Leo DiMaggio was in your way.”
Yes, he was. “She was mine, and you were throwing men at her.”
“Fuck you. You’re juggling six women at any given time.”
“Judge me if you want, but—”
“You’re supposed to be my best friend. Jesus Christ, you were the one guy I thought I could count on!” Spittle flew from Michael’s mouth as he let loose. “I’ll kill you.”
This was going well.
He’d never looked at me with that demented