“He does. And I’m sure if it weren’t for Logan yesterday then he wouldn’t have needed to break that promise.”
“Logan’s a fucking cunt… sorry,” he winces, glancing over at me.
“Don’t. I fucking agree. It just proved that I met the right twin the day I turned up for a date and Carter was waiting for me.”
“I told him not to do that either.” Spike rolls his eyes. “I told him it would end in disaster.”
“Has it?” I ask, and he looks over with his brows pulled together.
“Has it what?”
“Ended in disaster.”
“I guess that all depends on what comes next.” He falls silent, but it’s clear it’s only because he’s trying to find the right words. “Titch is… one of a kind. Any woman would be lucky to have him…”
“But?” I add, encouraging him to say more.
“Yeah, go on. I’m intrigued too,” an amused, deep voice comes from the doorway.
“Aw fuck,” Spike laughs.
I jump from my seat and run to where he’s propping himself up against the doorframe. “Are you okay?” I ask in a rush, looking him over.
“Yeah, doll. I’m good.” His voice is deeper than usual, and the pain is clear in his eyes.
“If you needed something, you should have called me.”
“I needed a piss.”
“Okay, well, you should go back to bed.” His hand lifts, his fingers threading into my hair and forcing me to look at him.
“I’m okay. You can stop worrying.”
“I’ll remember to say the same thing to you after you think you’ve found me dead on the floor, shall I?”
His eyes narrow. “Not funny.”
“I’m well aware.”
“I think I’ll come and join you for a bit. Your conversation seemed stimulating.”
Spike chuckles. “What? I wouldn’t be your friend if I didn’t warn her what you’re really like.”
“A man needs to have some secrets,” he complains.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell her how you had an obsession with the Spice Girls. Oh… whoops. Sorry!”
Carter launches a cushion at his friend while we all laugh. Carter winces in pain as he moves, and I hate that I can’t do anything about it right now.
“Do you need any more painkillers?”
“Nah, I’ve taken the ones you left beside the bed.”
“Okay, good. Coffee?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
The guys chat away while I make us all a fresh drink. “You hungry?”
“You plan on cooking, doll?”
“I can try. Or I’m much more skilled with ordering something? What do you fancy?”
“McDonalds,” they say in unison.
“What’s that, some kind of tradition? Carter gets the shit kicked out of him and you both enjoy a McMuffin after?”
“Yeah, something like that,” Spike mutters, suddenly sounding less excited about the food.
“Hey, I didn’t get the shit kicked out of me,” Carter complains, pulling me into his side once I’ve placed the mugs on the coffee table.
“Really?” Spike asks, his eyebrows almost hitting his hairline. “Do you even remember if you won or lost?”
“No,” Carter mutters sadly.
Reaching up, I press my lips to the rough underside of his jaw. “You won,” I whisper, not wanting him worried that he can’t remember.
I can’t see his lips but I feel his smile. “Fuck yeah, I did.”
“I didn’t tell you to stroke your ego.” He shrugs, because it seems that’s all I did.
“Don’t look so fucking pleased. It shouldn’t have happened,” Spike barks, pushing himself to the edge of the sofa.
“I know, I—”
“No, Titch. I don’t think you do.” The two of them stare at each other, tension crackling.
“I’m… uh… just going to use the bathroom, leave you two to…” I trail off, feeling like I’m imposing on a conversation they need to have alone.
Carter squeezes my hand as I move, as if he doesn’t want me to leave, but I’m not sticking around while they hash this out. It’s between them.
I close the bedroom door behind me as their silence continues. Blowing out a long breath, I gather some fresh clothes and take them through to the bathroom.
The deep rumbles of their voices start to fill the flat, but I turn the shower on and leave them to it. If Spike needs to rip Carter a new one for his behaviour last night, then he is more than welcome.
By the time I wrap a towel around my body, I feel like I was able to wash a little of last night’s anxiety down the drain, and now knowing that Carter is going to be okay, I breathe a little easier. That is, until a raised voice from the living room fills the now quiet space around me.
I can’t make out what Spike is saying, but it’s obvious that he’s angry. Furious, actually.
I rush to drag on my clothes before pulling the door open and stepping into the bedroom. His voice is clearer, but it’s not until I get to the door that I can decipher the words.
“I don’t know how you’ve done it, but you’ve got a fucking good woman in there, and for some reason she’s fighting for you right now. Trust me when I tell you that there aren’t many of those in this world.
“This is what you’ve spent so long looking for, so why the fuck are you pulling this shit now? You’ll fucking lose her, and you’ll end up back where you started with meaningless hook-ups with women who aren’t worth fuck all. She won’t stick around and watch you self-destruct like I have for past fuck knows how long.
“Do you have any idea what it’s like for us to watch you do that to yourself? Fuck, man. Just because your family are a bunch of cunts, it doesn’t mean that we all are. We fucking care about you. We want you fucking safe.”
When Spike’s voice gets even louder, angrier, I pull the door open and step into the room. The last thing we all need is these two fighting. Thankfully, when I look around, I find Carter sitting where I left him, looking a little sheepish, but the man who really captures my attention is pacing back and forth in front of my kitchen with his fists clenching and the muscles in his neck pulled tight.
I glance between the two of them before walking towards him.
“Spike,” I say softly, coming to stop in front of him and placing my hand on his forearm. He stops, but he doesn’t look at me. Instead, he just blows out a long breath.
“I’m… I’m sorry.” When he risks a glance up at me, all I see is the concern for his friend.
“It’s okay. I get it.”
“You can stop whispering about me now.”
A chuckle falls from Spike’s lips at Carter’s words. “I think I need to go and get some fresh air. Maybe you could get him in the shower or something, he fucking stinks.”
“Fuck you, man.”
Spike shakes his head, finds his shoes, and disappears from the flat.
“Well that was heavy,” I mutter, thinking back to Spike’s little rant.
“It’s nothing less than I deserve. I promised him I wouldn’t do it again, and look.” He pushes from the sofa, albeit slowly, and holds his arms out at his sides. “He’s a good guy, and I betrayed him. He has every right to be hurt.”
I nod, totally agreeing. “Things aren’t always that black and white,” I mutter as he stalks towards me. It doesn’t matter that he’s covered in yellow and purple bruises; my core still clenches with desire as he approaches.
“Nope. Never,” I whisper.
He doesn’t stop until there’s only an inch between us. The heat of his body seeps into mine, making me wish I was in his arms once again. But as much as I might want to wrap my own around his waist, I know I can’t. It’ll hurt him too much.
He lifts his hand and wraps it around the back of my neck as he stares into my eyes. His swelling has reduced a little now, so he’s able to open his almost properly.
“Thank you,” he whispers. It’s so sincere that it h
as a ball of emotion clogging my throat and tears burning the backs of my eyes.
“W-what for? I’ve not done anything.”
“That’s what you might think. But to me, you’ve done everything. You found me, you came for me, you… accepted me.”
A sob rumbles up my throat at the crack in his voice.
“Carter,” I sigh, wrapping my hand around his forearm, hoping it’s a safe place to touch because I need this connection with him right now. “You’re incredible. Accepting you was never an issue. It was accepting how you made me feel that was the problem.”
His eyes search mine, begging for me to say more, but I don’t get the chance. The buzzer rings out loud through the flat, putting an end to the words I’ve been building up to say to him.
“Fucking hell,” he spits. “If that’s Spike, tell him to take another trip around the block.”
Carter steps back and allows me to go to answer the door. I don’t know why, but something tells me it’s not Spike. He needed more breathing time than that.
Dread sits heaving in my stomach as I lift my hand to the door. I tell myself that it’s because it’s probably my parents making an impromptu visit and I’m going to have to explain the battered and bruised man in my house. As much as I might be dreading that conversation, I won’t shy away from it. He’s my husband, and, planned or not, I won’t allow him to doubt this, us, any longer.
Pulling the door open, every muscle in my body pulls tight at the person I find staring back at me.
“What are you doing here?”
“Is he here?”
“None of your business. How did you find me?”
“It wasn’t hard once I discovered your name, sweetheart. So I’ll take your avoidance of the question as confirmation. I need to see him.”
“No.”
His eyebrows almost hit his hairline. “I’m sorry?”
I guess no one says no to him very often.
“I said no. You’re not welcome here. Not now, and not ever.”
“Fucking hell. Fair play.” He lifts his hand and runs it through his dishevelled hair. He turns as if he’s going to leave before spinning back to me. “Look, I just wanted to apologise. Yesterday got out of hand.”
“You think?”
“Just let me see him. Let me say my piece and I’ll be out of your hair.”
“You don’t deserve to see him.”
Logan’s chin drops, but only a second later Carter’s voice calls from inside the flat.
“Just let him in, doll. Let’s see what he’s got to say for himself.”
“But…”
“It’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.”
I blow out a breath. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours yet since these two were face to face, and that nearly got Carter killed. This isn’t going to end well.
I stand aside and allow him to walk in. My heart thunders in my chest as I imagine the worst outcomes from this. I tap my back pocket, ensuing my phone is in there in case I need to call for someone.
Spike will be back soon, it’ll be fine.
I don’t need to give Logan directions, seeing as once you’re past the entrance my flat is open plan.
I know the moment his eyes land on Carter, because he sucks in a deep breath.
“Fucking hell, what happened?”
“You did,” I seethe from behind him.
“What? I didn’t do this.”
“No, but you caused it.”
“Enough, Dan,” Carter says softly, although his hard, angry eyes never leave his brother. “Let’s hear what he’s got to say, then hopefully he’ll fuck off as fast as he came.” He tilts his head to the side and waits.
“I’m… I’m sorry, okay?”
I scoff, not accepting his words. I might have only met him once, but it’s going to take a hell of a lot more than one pathetic apology to make up for what happened yesterday. “I’d had too much to drink, and I let my mouth run away with me.”
Carter is silent as they stare at each other, their identical green eyes locked onto one another. I’ve no idea if they have any kind of twin connection, but, as silent words pass between them, I assume there must be something there.
“I was harsh, I know. But you’ve no idea what it’s like.”
“Being the perfect one who always makes our parents proud. Yeah, it must be really fucking hard for you.” Carter rolls his eyes.
“It’s not like you imagine. They’re over the top, overbearing. Constantly wanting more from me. Nothing is ever good enough. The pressure, it’s… unbearable.”
“So you drink?” I add, assuming where this is going.
He hangs his head, an uncomfortable silence settling around us.
“If you want my sympathy, it’s going to take a little more than this sob story to get it.”
“I don’t. I just… fuck. I don’t know. I’m lonely. Miserable. And…”
“You thought I might want to be your friend after all these years?” Carter pushes from the sofa, pain etched into his features. His shoulders are set as if he wants to fight, and I panic. I step forward and between the two of them, hoping like hell that my presence will be enough to stop him.
“No, I just…”
“Wanted to apologise,” Carter says, sarcasm oozing from him as he takes a step closer.
“Carter,” I warn quietly.
“I won’t,” he mouths silently.
“I’m checking myself into rehab on Monday, I just thought you should know. I won’t be contactable should you…” he trails off. I can’t imagine these two talk regularly, so it’s not really an issue. “I was hoping that once I’ve sorted myself out, maybe we could… start again.”
“We’ll see.” There’s no emotion in Carter’s tone, and it scares me. “You can see yourself out.”
“Oh…okay. Yeah. I… uh… hope that heals soon.”
“Do you?” Logan goes to reply, but the front door opens and heavy footsteps head our way. “Oh fuck.” The edge to Carter’s voice only increases the dread already filling my body.
It takes only a second for me to turn from Carter to see what’s about to happen, but even that is long enough for Spike to have Logan pressed up against my living room wall with his hand around his throat.
“You’re not fucking welcome here,” he spits in Logan’s face. Spike’s voice is low and menacing. It shows a whole other side to him that I wasn’t expecting.
“I… I… was just…”
“I don’t give a fuck. You. Are. Not. Welcome.”
Spike pulls his arm back. Carter and I both call for him to stop, but it seems nothing will get through his red haze as he slams his fist into Logan’s face.
“Fucking hell, Spike,” Carter calls, his body vibrating with his own anger and his need to do something.
“Don’t,” I warn, holding my hand up to him. He does not need to get in the middle of this right now.
“Spike,” I cry, turning to him and tugging on the arms he’s holding Logan up with as hard as I can. “Enough, Spike. Enough.”
He throws another punch, Logan’s nose spraying blood everywhere before he seems to come back to himself.
He looks from Logan to me and his eyes widen in shock.
“Get the fuck out of here,” I bark at Logan. “And if Carter wants anything to do with you, then he’ll find you. Not the other way around. You got that?”
With one last look at his brother, Logan turns with his shoulders lowered and leaves the flat.
Once I know he’s left and shut the door behind him, I turn to the two still standing in my living room. Both of their eyes are dark with fury and their fists are curled.
“What was that motherfucker even doing here? Why the fuck did you let him in?” he snaps at me.
I open my mouth to respond, but I don’t get a chance.
“Out, Spike,” Carter roars, his voice like I’ve never heard before.
“But—” He turns to his friend, but the second they lock on each o
ther, a little of Spike’s fight leaves him.
He nods before turning, muttering an apology to me and leaving the flat.
“Carter, what’s—”
“Do you stand by what you said last night? What you made me promise?”
“Uh…” I try casting my mind back, but I feel like I’ve just got whiplash.
His hand lands on my waist and slides up, his thumb grazing my nipple, making it pucker under his touch. It continues higher until his fingers are around the back of my neck and his thumb caresses my cheek. His body presses against mine, his hard cock against the softness of my stomach.
“Carter,” I half moan, half chastise. He shouldn’t be doing this, he’s in too much pain.
He leans forward, his lips brushing the shell of my ear and making me shudder. “You made me promise to take it out on you. That if I needed to fight, I had to use you.”
I swallow, and I swear it’s the loudest fucking swallow of my life.
“I need you, Danni.” The hand that’s still on my hip clenches almost painfully.
“Yes. Yes, whatever you need. Take it.” I gasp when his tongue runs up my neck. “Take. It.”
Everything falls from my head. My concern for him. My anger at his brother. My shock at Spike’s reaction. Everything but him and what happens when we connect.
He drops his hands to my arse and lifts me. A grunt of pain falls from his lips, but when I glance at him to tell him not to, the look of determination and need that’s written all over his face stops me. Instead I hold on to his shoulders in the hope of taking some of my weight and follow his lead.
By his own admission, this isn’t the first time he’s been in this state. I need to trust that he knows what he’s doing and when to stop.
My arse connects with the granite countertop and he releases his hold on me in favour of pulling my oversized jumper over my head.
“Naked. I need you fucking naked.” His eyes are wild as they flit over my body. My muscles clench as I wonder what he’s got in store for me.
Reaching behind my back, I undo my bra and pull it from my body as Carter drops his joggers and kicks them off.
His length is hard and desperate. I want to reach out for him, but he stops me by dropping his lips to my exposed nipple and sucking hard.
“Fuck,” I cry as he bites down.
Trick You: A Brother's Best Friend Romance (Rebel Ink Book 2) Page 24