Neil releases me and steps away. His jaw drops half way open and he does a double take, like he can’t believe Bryan had the audacity to walk into his home. “You have no right to be here.”
Bryan grins and slips his hands into his pockets. He’s wearing dark jeans and a fitted T-shirt that reveals his delicious body. A worn leather jacket hangs from his shoulders and his hair is still damp, like he just rolled out of bed.
“Do I smell coffee?” Bryan ignores Neil, shoves past us, and grabs my cup off the counter. “Still drinking it black, huh, Hallie?” He winks at me, before gulping down my drink.
“Holy shit.” Maggie appears with dripping wet hair and her jaw dragging on the floor. Her eyes dart between Neil and Bryan like she’s anticipating an explosion.
Bryan leans back on the counter, which makes his jacket open, revealing more of his toned chest and that clingy shirt. When he grins, he seems like the old Bryan, complete with a lickable dimple. “Hey Red,” he nods toward Maggie with his magical smile.
“Hey yourself.” Maggie laughs, and looks over at me and then Neil.
Neil looks appalled and remains frozen for a few seconds before he puffs up, angry. “Get out or I’ll call the police.”
Bryan shrugs like he doesn’t care and doesn’t move. “Go ahead. You call them and I’ll call my friends, and get things rolling.” He pulls his cell phone from his pocket and holds it up. “Well, go on.”
Neil glances at me and then Bryan. “You said one night.”
“Yeah, I changed my mind. Last night didn’t go as planned, and I figured why not ask for more? If you say no, you lose everything. It’s kind of a no-brainer, so I went for it.” Bryan speaks to Neil, but he’s watching Maggie when he talks.
After resting my empty mug on the counter, Bryan walks over to me. “Ready?”
“You said you’d call.” My hands are balled at my sides and I wish I was taller so I could yell at Bryan eye to eye.
He offers a typical Bryan Ferro grin and shrugs. “Yeah, I’m whimsical like that. I thought I’d drop by and pick you up. Besides, I needed to make sure that your douche boyfriend doesn’t touch you.”
“These weren’t the terms. You cannot change your demands like this.” Neil is agitated, but Maggie leans against the doorjamb with an amused look on her face. Neil inhales slowly, trying to keep his temper under wraps, but it’s there, brewing, and Bryan is stoking the fire.
“Actually, I can. It goes with the whole agreement we made last night, right Hallie?” Bryan watches me for a second and then adds, with false sincerity, “Oh, I’m sorry, you didn’t get a chance to tell him yet?”
“Bryan.” I warn, but he doesn’t stop.
He walks over next to me and drapes his arm over my shoulders. “Last night I told her that one night wasn’t enough. Sorry, I thought you already knew, and it’s not like it’d matter to you anyway because it’s all the same. I slept with her before, so what’s one more night, right?” Bryan’s voice turns razor sharp as he says the last few words. He releases me and steps toward Neil, so they’re close enough to punch each other. “You did say something to that effect, didn’t you?”
Neil squares his shoulders. He won’t be told off by a Ferro. He thinks Bryan’s a spoiled brat and gives him the most condescending look I’ve ever seen. “It’s not like you to want a woman more than once. Doesn’t that go against the Ferro code of honor-less actions? I’ve heard your sister—”
Before Neil can finish the sentence, Bryan’s arm darts out. He grabs Neil by the throat and hisses, “If you value your life, you won’t finish that sentence.” Bryan’s twin sister seems to catch bad press way too often, which is horrible because she’s really sweet. They never run that kind of story though, it’s always stuff about the Ferro heiress and her brainless, chasteless actions.
Bryan tightens his grip and then releases. Neil sucks in air and rubs his throat, but doesn’t look away. I want to scream at Bryan, but I don’t. Instead, I ask, “What do you want, Bryan?”
His green eyes drift back my way and his gaze softens. “You.”
He says it like I’m all he wants in the world, but I know that’s not true. I’m what he wants right now, for punishment or pleasure, I’m still not sure. Bryan holds out his hand. “Come on, I have our day planned.”
I glance at Neil, but he won’t look at me. For a second, I think about saying no, but Maggie is standing there smiling. I want to keep that happy expression on her face and to do that I need money. Taking Bryan’s hand, I slip my fingers into his warm grip.