Owen

I grind my back teeth as I watch Bree, or Beatrice or whatever the hell her name is, walk out of the restaurant.

“Someone woke up with a thistle up his arse,” Aiden says, his lips twisting down. “Ye looked like ye wanted to murder the poor girl.”

“Or fuck her,” Shane adds with a knowing grin.

I glare at Shane, wondering if the man ever thinks with anything other than his dick. And knowing that even after last night’s scare, the man will probably never grow up.

“Screw off, both of ye.” I push my chair back, ignoring the raised eyebrows. I stalk after the woman, despite the fact that I know it’ll raise more than a few questions among the group.

But I’m pissed. And I have every right to be.

When I woke up with her scent still on the pillows, and her vanished from my room, something stirred in my chest, because I wasn’t ready to let her go.

For her, for one more taste, I was willing to break my own rule.

But hell, if I’d known who she was, I’d have gouged my own eyes out for even looking at her the way I did. She’s a kid. And not just any kid. She’s fucking family. Agnus would have my balls if she knew.

Guilt was the first emotion I felt after the initial shock of finding out who she was. Until I realized the brat knew exactly who I was.

She’d played me.

And I want to know exactly what her fucking game is.

I slam my palm between the elevator doors just before they close, startling an elderly couple waiting inside.

Bree’s eyes widen when she sees me. The same face, and the same body, that had rocked my foundation last night, now looked up at me with real fear. Good, she should be nervous. Because I’ve never been so mad in my entire life.

“Owen-”

“Not here,” I say sternly, stepping in, every muscle in my body tense.

The media would love the fight I know is coming. And I’ve learned from experience that there are eyes and ears everywhere.

The lift stops on the fourth floor and the couple gets off.

“I know you’re upset, and I’m sorry,” she starts, her hands twisting together. “But I never meant-”

“I said, not here.”

Her mouth clamps shut, but I catch her gaze, her blue eyes wide and filled with so much damn emotion that I almost forget my anger.

On the fifth floor, she starts to move to get off, but I place an arm out, stopping her.

“My room,” I growl.

She sucks in a shaky breath and nods, smart enough not to say another word until we’re in my suite and the door closes behind us.

“Owen, if you’ll let me explain-”

“All right. Explain,” I demand.

She inhales, then lets out a long, shuddering breath, and says slowly, “I thought you knew who I was. And when I realized you didn’t, I…”

“Ye what?” I narrow my eyes at her.

She glances away, clamping her lips closed.

I grunt, dragging my fingers through my hair as I start to pace the room, suspicion flooding my mind and dulling the rightness that I’d felt last night.

“Jeezus. I almost…we almost…” I rough my palms over my face. “Do ye have any idea the shit I’m going to get when the others find out?”

“They don’t have to. Nothing happened. We kissed. That’s all.”

I move towards her, towering above her small frame. But instead of shrinking back, she juts her chin out and matches my glare. I hold her gaze, the heat of her body drawing me closer, and hell if I don’t want to crush my mouth against hers, take her hard, punishingly.

I swear to God, my eye starts twitching because of the anger I’m holding back. Never in my life have I wanted to both strangle and kiss a woman so desperately at the same time.

“If Shane hadn’t called, I would have fucked ye, and ye would have let me.”

“So?” Her arms cross over her chest. “We’re both adults.”

“So?” I say with exasperation. “Ye’re…”

“I’m what?”

I drag my fingers through my hair and curse. “Ye’re family.”

“Family?” She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “I used to think that word meant something.”

“It means everything. And I’ll do anything to protect mine.”

Anger glitters in her eyes, and she says bitterly, “Always the hero.”

“Ye didn’t seem to mind last night. Or, maybe the whole damsel in distress act was another one of yer lies.”

“Screw you.” She tries to push by me, and I grab her arm, stopping her.

“Is that what ye want, sweetheart? Why ye came here?”

Her gaze drops to where my hand makes contact with her skin. I feel the tremble that races through her, and see her chest rise and fall on an unsteady breath.

“Are you upset that we almost had sex?” She meets my gaze, ice replacing the fire that burned there last night. “Or are you worried your precious Emer will find out?”

“Careful,” I grit out, tightening my grip, her words slicing a little too close to the truth. “Did ye come here to cause trouble between us?”

Hurt crosses her features for a brief moment, but she quickly blinks it away.

I barely hear the words when she whispers, “You’re hurting me.”

Fuck. I release her forearm, wincing when I glance down and see the red fingerprints on her skin.

“I’ll get my bags and go.”

“We’re not done talking.” Because I still haven’t figured out what I’m going to do with her, or what the hell I’m going to tell the guys when they ask me what the fecking hell triggered my anger this morning. There’s only so much asshole behavior I can blame on my damn headaches.

I step in front of her when she starts towards the bedroom.

“Let me get my bags.”

“Ye still haven’t answered my questions.”

“You haven’t asked me any, other than if I’m here to cause trouble. I’m not. I came here to see my…family,” she says the last word with a curl of her lips, and it sends all sorts of warning bells off in my head.

“Ye knew they’d be here. That I’d be here.”

Pink creeps up her neck into her cheeks, and she glances away. “Yes.”

“And last night? Was that part of ye’re coming home plan?”

“No.”

“Tell me the truth. What’s yer game? What is it ye want?”

“I’m not playing a game.”

“Is it money, a few minutes of fame that ye’re looking for? Or is it something else?”

She shakes her head and glares at me, but she doesn’t defend herself.

“If ye’re thinking about using this against me. Against the band-”

“Fuck you.” Hurt flashes in her eyes, but it’s quickly replaced by rage. “I can’t believe I ever thought you were…different. That I ever cared…” Her eyes are glassy with unshed tears, but to her credit, she doesn’t let them fall. She takes a few steadying breaths, then says flatly, “Thank you for making this easy on me.”

“What?” I growl out, expecting a threat.

“Forgetting about you.”