CHAPTER TWO
Justice
Waking up with a warm, naked body draped across my chest breaks all my rules but I’ve never been good at following rules, not even my own, and I quickly discover that it’s the best one I’ve broken yet.
The morning sun creeps in through the blinds, lighting up my room while I stare at the ceiling and wonder what the fuck I’ve gotten myself into. I knew last night would happen eventually, I waited for it, for her to turn legal, but I was not prepared for it to rock me the way it has.
Ryanne Lockwood is like a secret addiction, my drug of choice, and I’ve fought my need for a long time for both our sakes. Last night that changed and I’m stuck with what to do now, guilt eating away at me as I hear my brothers beyond my bedroom door. It changes everything. She changes everything.
Carefully, I shift out from under her, the scent of her shampoo fading from my skin as I throw on my jeans from the night before. I quietly step out into the kitchen, coming face-to-face with my brothers. They sit at the small table in the midst of a heated argument.
Their attentions come to me, their eyes burning into my back as I grab a mug from the cupboard.
“Good morning, big brother.” Brax greets me first, sounding obnoxiously cheerful. “Rough night?”
I ignore the question and pour myself a cup of coffee. When I turn back to face them, I find Knox’s hard gaze on me, betrayal written all over his face. Braxten looks more amused than anything. It’s exactly what I expected from them both.
“Knox and I were just discussing how hurt our feelings are that you didn’t share with us last night.”
The thought of them touching Ryanne has my blood heating, a possession I’m not used to feeling. “Knock it off, Brax. We both know she’s not like that.”
“Exactly,” Knox says, voice hard. “So why did you do it?”
My eyes narrow at his accusing tone. “Why not? Since when are we not allowed to step outside the circle? It’s been done from time to time.”
At least by Brax and me. Never Knox.
“Maybe, but she’s different and we all know it.”
He’s right and it’s why he’s so mad. She has the power to change our relationship, a promise we all made for Knox’s sake. It’s exactly why I’m caught in a hard place, a dilemma I never thought I would find myself in. I’ve always been good with keeping my emotions out of this shit but not when it comes to Ryanne.
“So you’re just going to turn your back on us now?” he accuses.
I tense, every muscle in my body coiling tight. “I’ve never turned my fucking back on you, Knox. Not last night and not now!”
“All right, you two,” Brax cuts in. “Let’s call it a morning and hug it out.”
Knox and I ignore his attempt to play off the situation, our hard eyes never straying from the other’s. The fear and betrayal in his though has me backing down first. It’s this reason right here that I’m fucked.
“I’m not leaving you, man. It was just one night. Nothing more.”
A noise to my right has me regretting the words when I see Ryanne standing there. My cock hardens at the sight of her this early in the morning. She looks like she’s been fucked within an inch of her life and I know good and well she has been. The tiny strap of her dress drapes down her arm and her auburn hair is mussed, tangled around her pretty face. A face that’s pinched in hurt and anger.
Shit.
Brax lets out a low whistle, making the moment even more fucking awkward.
“Yeah, don’t worry,” she speaks, flashing Knox a tight smile. “What happened last night meant nothing.” The pain written all over her face proves she’s a damn liar. “Carry on. I’ll see myself out.”
I quickly intercept her, her small body crashing into mine as she tries to make a hasty exit. “I’ll drive you home. Just give me a minute.”
Her furious eyes snap to mine, hands pushing against my chest. “Get the hell out of my way. I don’t need a ride.” She storms past me, bolting out the door.
“Happy belated birthday!” Brax calls out seconds before she disappears.
I shoot him a hard look.
“What? I didn’t get a chance to say it to her last night.”
Shaking my head, I grab the keys to his truck and run out after her, knowing damn well she won’t be getting on my bike with me.
“Sure, go ahead. You can borrow my truck.” His parting shot follows me outside as I leave out the back door, racing down the metal stairs just in time to meet her as she comes walking out the front of the building.
She tries to continue past me, her feet stomping the hard cement.
I snag her arm, refusing to let her evade me again. “You’re not walking home. Get in the truck.”
“Fuck you! I don’t take orders from you or anyone else.”
I yank her against me, her tight little body reminding me of everything I did to it. “I’m not letting you walk home. So we can do this the easy way or the hard way. You decide.”
She lifts her chin; the pain embedded in her light hazel eyes ramps up my guilt even more.
“Let’s get this over with.” This time, when she pulls away, I let her go and lead her over to Braxten’s truck.
Silence settles between us as I drive her home. Her body is pressed up against the door as much as it can be while she stares out her window, ignoring my presence.
“We need to talk about last night.”
“There’s nothing to say,” she grits.
“There’s a lot to fucking say, especially since I didn’t use a condom.”
It’s a risk I was willing to take, even if it was a stupid one. There was no way I was going to have anything between us.
The only reaction I get from her is tense shoulders. Otherwise, she remains silent.
“Are you on the pill or not, Ryanne?”
“Don’t worry about it. You’re safe and as you already know, I’m clean.”
“I wasn’t worried about that and you don’t have to either. I’ve always used one.”
A bitter laugh escapes her. “Well now, how lucky am I that I got something from Justice Creed that the rest of the town hasn’t.”
I grip the steering wheel tighter, my cock hardening at her sass. “You want a fight? Is that what you want?”
She shakes her head but says nothing else.
“Look, I’m sorry for what you heard back there. I didn’t mean it. Shit’s complicated right now.” It’s a poor apology and I know it but I’m not used to apologizing for anything.
“That’s what happens when the three of you fuck the same girl at the same time, shit is going to get complicated.”
Her flippant answer strikes a chord. “Don’t pretend you know what you’re talking about when it comes to my brothers and me, Ryanne. You don’t have a fucking clue.”
She finally turns to me, her eyes spitting fire. “No? Are you saying the rumors aren’t true?”
It’s so much more than rumors. More than what everyone knows. I wish I could explain that to her but I can’t. “My relationship with my brothers is complicated. They need me.”
“And they can have you,” she says, her bottom lip beginning to tremble. “I’m not competing with them or anyone else. I knew what last night was. I knew what I was getting myself into and I’m walking away now.”
It’s the response I should be happy to hear but I’m not. The thought of never touching her again leaves me feeling nauseous.
I pull up to her street, making sure to park away from her house. For her benefit, not mine. I don’t give a shit what her parents think of me but I do care what they do to her. The only thing she will get by associating with me is trouble, which is why I should have never let last night happen in the first place.
When she reaches for the door, panic infiltrates my chest.
“Ryanne, wait.”
She ignores me, pulling on the handle.
“Will you fucking wait?”
She whips around to face me again but this time there’s tears streaming down her cheeks, the sight of them are a complete gut punch.
“Just save it! I don’t want to hear any more. I’m hurting enough right now and you’re only making it worse.”
Without another word, she flees the truck, walking out of my life and never looking back.