Web of Lies: A Brook Brothers Novel

by Delaney, Tracie

  “Oh, Jax, you don’t look at all well. Shall I get you something to settle your stomach?” Millie asked.

  “Mightn’t be a bad idea,” Nate said. “Coz if he pukes over me, I’ll kill him.” The latter was said with the hint of a smile as his eyes searched for Dex.

  Whatever he and Jax had spoken about, it had lifted Nate’s mood. Her annoyance withered under his warm gaze, and she went over to him as Jax followed Millie into the kitchen.

  “Truce?” she said.

  He caught her hand and lifted it to his mouth. “Sorry.”

  “Me, too. I shouldn’t have pushed.”

  “I’ll go see if the car is outside,” Cole said, taking off upstairs. He was back a couple of minutes later. “Yep, we’re all set. I’ve checked with Calum, too. He and Laurella are on their way to the church.”

  “Oh God,” Jax muttered. He rubbed his stomach.

  “Fuck’s sake,” Nate said. “You’ve been living together for four years.”

  “Yeah, but marriage.” The green tinge was back.

  “Okay, let’s go.” Cole took hold of Jax’s arm and propelled him upstairs.

  Dex and Nate followed along with Millie.

  By the time they reached the church, Jax had calmed down. Paul, his best man, met them outside. He clapped Jax on the back. “Ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be,” Jax muttered, heading inside.

  “Want me to have a bucket on standby?” Calum called after him, receiving a cutting glare from Laurella for his trouble.

  “Thank Christ I’m not best man,” Nate said, taking hold of Dex’s hand.

  “Why aren’t you? Or Cole, or Calum?”

  “Imagine having to choose and then explain to the ones who missed out? Nah, we all agreed weeks ago that it should be Paul. Easier all round.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, I guess. At least I won’t have that problem. Elva will definitely be my maid of honor.”

  Nate’s gaze cut to hers. “I don’t remember asking, Titch.”

  Oh shit!

  Heat flooded her face, which was damned annoying. She wasn’t a blusher, yet since hooking up with Nate, the blood rush to her cheeks was turning into a regular occurrence. “I-I didn’t mean that. I meant—”

  Nate gave her a nudge. “Chill. It’s all good.”

  “Oh.” She made a dramatic sweep across her forehead with the back of her hand. “Phew.”

  “Phew indeed. I doubt I’ll ever get married.”

  A wave of disappointment crashed over her. Her stomach clenched, but she kept her face straight. It wasn’t that she wanted to marry Nate or anything, but for him to one day call her his girlfriend, and the very next basically tell her they didn’t have a future was a bitter pill to swallow.

  “Just as well, coz I’d pity the poor girl.”

  Nate pinched her side. Despite a despondent feeling weighing her down, she giggled. They took their seats, and moments later the wedding march rang out. As Indie started her walk down the aisle, Nate let out a huge yawn. Despite his bad manners and her dark mood, Dex suppressed a smile. Nate was his own man, and that went a long way in her book. Still, she flashed a glare his way—which he studiously ignored. His eyes did follow Indie, though, as she passed by them, and there was the smallest curve to his lips.

  It wasn’t a long ceremony, and in no time at all, Indie and Jax were walking back up the aisle, their faces shining as they looked at each other with mutual adoration, Jax’s earlier nausea nowhere to be seen. As the congregation followed the happy couple outside, Nate slung an arm over Dex’s shoulders and whispered, “Come on, Titch. Let’s get drunk.”

  * * *

  After the wedding breakfast and the speeches were out of the way, Nate led Dex onto the dance floor. He folded her into his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head. She nuzzled into his chest, breathing him in. He smelled delicious, of vanilla body wash and woodsy cologne. She burrowed her hands beneath his jacket, the soft cotton of his shirt warmed by his skin.

  “You survived,” she said.

  “Only just.” She felt his grin.

  “It was a lovely wedding.”

  He leaned back and coaxed her chin up. “What I said before, Titch, about marriage. I meant every word. I’m not the marrying type, but that doesn’t mean I don’t value what we have. I wouldn’t have made it through the last forty-eight hours without you. I might not be the guy to put a ring on it, but you are deeper inside my head than any woman I’ve ever known.” He hitched up a shoulder. “I just thought it was important to tell you where my head’s at.”

  I love you.

  Fuck, there it was again. It had to be infatuation. She couldn’t possibly be in love with a guy she’d only known for a few weeks. She liked him, a whole lot, but insta-love only happened in chick-lit books and sloppy movies.

  “Dex?”

  She blinked a couple times. “Sorry, I kinda disappeared there for a moment.”

  He gave her a crooked grin. “Where’d you go?”

  She touched a hand to his face. “It doesn’t matter. Life is short, Nate. You and I know that better than most. I try not to focus too much on the future but live for the here and now.” She laughed. “And to anyone over thirty, that probably sounds crazy coming from a twenty-two-year-old, but you get where I’m coming from.”

  “I do. I guess I wanted to be honest, especially after the whole girlfriend and boyfriend conversation yesterday.”

  “And you have been. Now show me your moves.”

  * * *

  “Oh my God,” Indie lamented, collapsing onto the sofa. She kicked off her high heels and rested her feet on Jax’s lap. “Husband, rub my feet.”

  Nate snorted. “You’re fucked, bro. Pussy whipped until you shuffle off this mortal coil.”

  Warmth filled Dex’s insides. The more time that passed, the more Nate slowly dropped his cold, distant attitude toward his brothers. Determined to keep the atmosphere light, she let her shoes fall to the floor and stuck her feet in Nate’s lap. She made sure to graze his cock with her heel. “Boyfriend, rub my feet.”

  Jax threw back his head and laughed. “No, bro. I think you’re the one who’s fucked.”

  Nate gave her a look that said she was in so much trouble. But that didn’t stop him kneading at her soles with his thumbs. Her head rocked back, and she groaned. “God, that feels good. You’d make a good masseuse. And with your looks, you might even pull in a little extra on the side.”

  Indie joined in with Jax’s laughter. “Dex, you are priceless.”

  “She’s fucking dead,” Nate grumbled.

  “Who’s dead?” Cole asked, appearing with Millie and Aimee.

  “Where’d you get to?” Jax asked him.

  “I got the munchies,” Millie said, pointing to a bag full of chips and dips that Cole had a hold of. “I’m always hungry after champagne. I’m going to put the baby to bed and then I’m tucking in. You guys want some?”

  “Not for me,” Indie said, getting to her feet. “Come on, Jax. Early start in the morning.”

  “When are you guys going on honeymoon again?” Nate asked.

  “Not until after the summer season is over.” Indie rolled her eyes. “The joys of running a hotel. Good thing we’re only newlyweds and not newly relationshipers.” She giggled. “I think I just made up a word.”

  Jax rose from the sofa and swept Indie into his arms. She squealed. “What are you doing, you crazy man.”

  “We might not be going on honeymoon for a few months, but that doesn’t mean I can’t carry you over the threshold.” He strode over to their bedroom, Indie’s giggles only cutting off when the door closed behind them.

  “Think we’ll turn in, too,” Nate said, standing.

  “Night, you guys,” Cole said. “See you in the morning. And try to keep the noise down,” he added, earning a one-fingered salute from Nate.

  Once they were inside his bedroom, he kicked the door shut and fell onto the bed. He loosened his laces and
kicked his shoes across the room where they thudded against the wall underneath the window. “What a fucking day. I thought sixteen-hour shooting days were torturous. Turns out weddings top trump that shit all day long.”

  Dex collapsed next to him. “I love your family.”

  Nate grunted and then rolled onto his side and got to his feet. He wandered over to the dresser and took a box out of the top drawer. An oblong black box tied with a pink bow. He tossed it on the bed.

  “I got us a present.”

  Dex sat up and crossed her legs. “You got us a present?” she said with a frown. “Why?”

  Nate smirked. “It’s definitely for us. Open it, and all will become clear.”

  Dex tugged on the ribbon. She peeled it away from the box and put it on the nightstand. Lifting the lid, she peered inside. It took her a millisecond to figure out what Nate had gotten them both, and then her eyes widened.

  “You can’t be serious?”

  “Deadly. I can’t wait to use this on you. I bet you’ll come like a fucking freight train.”

  Nate removed the vibrator from its satin casing. He pressed on the non-business end, and it buzzed loudly.

  Dex grabbed it out of his hands and quickly turned it off. “Stop it! Your family will hear.”

  Nate shrugged and snatched it back. “So? If you’re that embarrassed, I’ll tell them it’s your toothbrush—and you’re a thorough brusher.” He laughed.

  Dex did not.

  “You are not using that on me here.” Back in L.A.? Hell yeah. But with his family in the next room? Nope. No. Definitely not.

  Nate set it on the bed. He grabbed hold of her ankles and parted her legs. He burrowed beneath her dress and pressed a kiss through her underwear to her sex. Her body jerked with pleasure. “Have you used one before?”

  “No.”

  He eased aside her panties and gave her another kiss, then slipped his tongue through her folds. She groaned loudly and then clamped a hand over her mouth. She could hardly call him out for switching on Victor the Vibrator if she was going to make such a racket.

  “Aren’t you curious?”

  She raised up on her elbows. Her stomach clenched deliciously at the sight of Nate between her legs. “Yes, I’m curious. But let’s wait until we get home.”

  “I’m curious, too. I’m wondering how much I can torture you with this.” He picked Victor up once more. He didn’t turn it on, but he did roll the end over her clit.

  Her legs writhed beneath her.

  “A lot, I’m guessing,” she gasped.

  “Let’s see.”

  He pressed the button, and the buzzing noise started up again, this time with the tip of the fake penis against her clit. Oh, the sensation… so intense… so fucking amazing. She arched her back, moans of pleasure spilling from her lips, all thoughts of denying him this… denying her this experience… gone.

  “Let’s get you out of this dress,” Nate said.

  He left the vibrator buzzing beside her and stripped off her clothes. He undressed himself, then tossed their clothes on the floor. He picked up the vibrator once more and trailed it over her stomach. It tickled, and she giggled. Except when he moved north and pressed the tip to her left nipple, she didn’t giggle.

  No, she shouted, “Fuck me!”

  Nate burst out laughing. “I guess we can stop worrying about being overheard now. Worst is over.”

  Her face burned. She had no idea how she was going to face everyone in the morning. Nate, though, clearly didn’t care because he stuck to his word. He tortured her. By the time he’d finished with Victor, she could barely recite her own name. She’d come so many times, she was completely wrung out, and wet? God, so wet, that when Nate pushed inside her, he almost slipped straight out. She clenched her core, anchoring him deep within. He groaned.

  “Shit, Titch, if you’re gonna clamp down on my dick so hard, I need to use that on you more often.”

  “Shut up and fuck me, Nate,” she said, tilting her hips.

  “I love it when you talk dirty,” he said, grinning against her mouth.

  And then he kissed her, deep, hard, using lots of tongue. She’d loved the battery-operated help, but nothing matched the feel of Nate moving inside her. She clutched him tightly to her. Her body built toward climax once more. Holy fuck. How was that even possible? She peaked, then crashed, wave after wave of pleasure washing over her.

  She opened her eyes as Nate came. His eyes were clamped shut, and a faint sheen of perspiration dampened his forehead. His lips parted. He gave a throaty groan and then buried his face in her neck.

  A few seconds later, he pulled out of her and rolled onto his back, breathing heavily. “You kill me, Titch, but fuck if I can’t get enough.”

  Pleasure at his admission rushed through her. She leaned up on her elbow. “Ditto.”

  He reached for the vibrator and waved it in front of her face. “You got over your embarrassment pretty damn quick.”

  She poked him in the ribs. “Cocky bastard.”

  “You love it.”

  I love you.

  Not again. Her brain needed to take a goddamn vacation. Time for a change of subject. She snuggled into his side, her cheek resting on his shoulder.

  “I enjoyed today. Your family are wonderful.”

  “Yeah.”

  She twisted her head so she could look at him. “I know you were annoyed with me this morning for bringing it up again, but I’ve always been a tenacious bitch. Please tell me why you hate coming here so much.”

  A muscle ticked in Nate’s cheek, and his eyes stayed firmly fixed on the ceiling.

  “Drop it, Dex.”

  She pressed a hand to his chest. “Please, Nate. I—”

  “I said drop it, and I meant it.”

  “I only want to help.”

  “You can help by shutting the fuck up.” He pushed her hand away and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

  She rested her palm on his back, feeling the tension radiating off him, his muscles bunching. “Don’t shut me out.”

  He turned to her, and what she saw in his eyes scared her. He scared her. “I’m warning you, Dex. Either stop pushing this subject, or it’s over.”

  She widened her eyes then scrambled to her feet, pulling the sheet around her nakedness. How had they gone from such mind-blowing sex to talk of them splitting up? “You don’t mean that.”

  He stood, too. “What’s it to you anyway? Why do you care so fucking much?”

  “Because I care about you,” she said quietly. “And an idiot can see you’re carrying the world on your shoulders, but I don’t understand why. If your family were horrible, or they talked down to you, or were mean and nasty, I’d get it. But they’re not. They’re a family to be proud of, and you should be proud to be part of it.”

  Nate’s eyes flashed with such venom, she recoiled. He dragged on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and shoved his feet into his sneakers. “You haven’t got a fucking clue what you’re talking about. You know what? Go fuck yourself, Dex.”

  He stormed out, slamming the door so hard behind him she jumped. Tears sprang to her eyes, but she refused to cry. After what they’d shared, she couldn’t understand how he could be so cruel. So cold. Her early impressions of Nate Brook were dead-on. That was the real man. Nasty. Narcissistic. Thoughtless and selfish. Arrogant prick.

  Mentally exhausted, she pulled on some clothes, fetched her suitcase, and began packing her things. If Nate thought she was going to hang around here waiting for him to calm down and apologize, well, he could fuck right off. She wouldn’t be that girl. She opened the dresser drawer as a soft tapping sounded on the door. Definitely not Nate returning to beg for forgiveness. He’d have barged in and expected her to fall to her knees in gratitude.

  “Come in,” she called out.

  Millie popped her head inside. “Are you decent?”

  Dex shrugged. “Not sure I can claim that, but I’m dressed if that’s what you mean.”

&nbs
p; Millie closed the door behind her and came farther into the room. “So, I just had the skin burned off my face by Nate as he stomped out of here at full pelt.” She gave Dex a warm smile. “Want to talk about it?”

  Dex plunked herself on the bed and rubbed her eyes. “I’m not sure I have an explanation for what happened.”

  Millie sat beside her. “Take your time.”

  Dex flopped onto her back and hooked her arms behind her head. “Nate didn’t want to come here. To New York, I mean. Not just the wedding.”

  Millie laid down, too, and mirrored Dex’s pose. “Nate never wants to come here.”

  Dex twisted her head, hope spiking within her. “Do you know why?”

  Millie shook her head. “He visits so rarely, and when he does, he’s usually monosyllabic and brooding. These past couple days is the only time I’ve seen him say more than a handful of words, not to mention smile. I wasn’t sure he had teeth.”

  Dex chuckled. The more time she spent with Millie, the more she liked her. “Indie said the same the other day.” Her cheeks puffed up as she blew out a breath. “We argued because I questioned his reasons for staying away. I mean, you’re all so fabulous, I don’t understand why he’s so reluctant to spend time with you. Clearly, I hit a nerve. Or several.”

  Millie sat up and crossed her legs. “Nate’s hiding something so poisonous, it’s eating him up from the inside.”

  Dex frowned. That was exactly what she thought, but the fact Millie had picked up on it, too, when, by her own admission, she rarely saw Nate, piqued Dex’s interest. “What makes you say that?”

  Millie bit down on her lip. “Has Nate ever mentioned my past?”

  Dex snorted. “Nate doesn’t talk about any of you. He didn’t even mention Calum and Cole were twins, hence my stupefied look when I arrived on Thursday.”

  “Oh dear.”

  The two girls laughed. Then Millie grew serious. “I went to school with Calum and Cole. I actually dated Calum for a few weeks, before he grew tired of me and moved on.”

  “Wow,” Dex said, adding, “Poor Laurella.”