SEALed Bride: A Bad Boy Romance (Includes bonus novel Jerked!) (33 page)

“Where’d you just come from?” I asked.

“The basement.”

“What, is there a gym down there?”

He grinned. “Yeah, actually. Your dad put it in a year after you left.”

I shrugged and turned away. “Okay, what do we have to talk about?”

He followed me into my room and I sat down on the edge of the bed. He crossed his arms and looked down at me.

“I’m sorry about earlier.”

“Which part?”

“The part where I got pissed.”

“That’s not really an apology.”

“Look Bren. I have to protect you. We can’t be fighting all the time.”

“That’s just it—you don’t have to protect me.”

“Oh yeah? Then why are you even here?”

I blinked and looked down. He had me there. Truthfully, I was just pissed at him for judging me, as if I hadn’t gotten enough of that back in New York.

When I first dated Vince, all of my friends were shocked. What was I doing with a man like him? Before, I was interested in pretty normal guys, the straight-laced type: stand-up farm boys and cute suburban skaters with manners. But something about Vince swept me up and took me for a ride, and nobody could figure it out.

Much less me.

“Look, I know. I’m just sick of the judging.”

He nodded. “I get that.”

I looked up at him, at his intense expression and his crossed arms making his biceps bulge, and wished we could stop with the bullshit.

“Truce?”

He nodded. “Truce.”

“How did you find out about the marriage, anyway?”

He grinned and sat down next to me on the bed, leaning back on his hands. “I went to see the Italians earlier. Pissed your dad off a little bit, but it had to be done.”

I blinked. “You saw his family?”

“Not his family. His people.”

“Oh. I see.”

“Did you guys run around with them much?”

I shook my head. “No, not really. He kept me separate from all that.”

“Probably because they wouldn’t have approved of an Irish girl.”

She laughed. “How could they not approve of me?”

“Clearly they’d be crazy not to, but you know how the Mob is.”

“Yeah, a bunch of thick-skulled idiots.”

“That hurts.”

“It’s supposed to.”

He grinned at me and shrugged. “Well, this thick-skulled idiot figured out your secret.”

“Okay, maybe you’re not
all
brain dead.”

“Most of us are, though.”

I felt myself relaxing around him for the first time in a while. He had such an easy way about him when his guard was down, and as soon as we had spoken our words of truce, he seemed to completely loosen up.

“So, what happens now?”

“Now, you kill time until we can find your husband.”

I cringed. “Don’t call him that.”

“What? It’s true.”

“I know, but it won’t be true for long.”

“I thought you couldn’t leave a Made Man?”

I gave him a look. “Cut it out.”

His grin got bigger. “Can’t take it anymore?”

I laughed and pushed his arm softly. “I can still take it.”

“Yeah, I bet you can.”

I rolled my eyes. “Good one. Really clever.”

He adjusted himself and moved closer to me. I could feel the heat rolling off of him in waves and I didn’t mind it at all.

“Like I said, I’m just a thick-skulled idiot.”

“True. You’re practically an ape.”

He paused and stared at me, his lips parting slightly. I could feel something begin to shift inside of me, something strong and overwhelming, as I looked into his intense eyes. I wanted to reach out and touch his face, to feel the stubble along his chin, maybe touch one of his full lips. There was concern there, and I knew he was worried about me. But the truth was, I wasn’t worried about myself, not since I had seen him come out of the shower in nothing but a towel.

“Bren, look, there’s something I should say.”

“No, it’s fine.”

I moved closer and pressed my body against his.

“I thought we shouldn’t do this,” he said.

He wrapped his strong arms around me.

“You smell terrible,” I said, making a face.

The truth was, he smelled amazing, and I felt myself practically shaking at his touch.

He grinned. “I don’t see you moving.”

“I’m just too lazy I guess.”

“Listen—“

“Are you going to say we can’t?” I interrupted him.

For a second he looked like I had slapped him, and before I could apologize he pressed his face against mine and kissed me hard. My lips parted immediately, returning his passionate kiss, and I pressed my body up against him. I didn’t care what I was doing, I didn’t care that my dad thought we were like brother and sister, I didn’t care that I was technically married to a psycho. There was only the tingling intensity running through my core as his arms tightened and his tongue touched mine, flooding my mouth with his taste.

It was our second kiss, and it was better than the first, which I didn’t think was possible. Maybe it had something to do with the years-long anticipation, but I felt my entire spine and skull reacting to him. His lips were soft as his tongue roamed around mine, and his strong arms gripped me close against his skin. I melted into his embrace, letting the sensation of his kiss wash over me. It was just a kiss, only a kiss, except it wasn’t. I had waited years to feel it again, and it didn’t disappoint.

And as soon as it started, it was over.

At the other end of the bed, my phone started to buzz. For some reason, that tiny thing pulled us out of whatever spell we were under. I moved away softly and looked in its direction.

“Need to get that?” he said.

“Yeah, I should.” Though I wasn’t sure why.

His arms let me go as I climbed over him. At the other side of the bed, I unlocked the screen and checked the message. Staring back at me was exactly what I had expected and dreaded. It was from a number I didn’t recognize, but the message could only have come from one person.

2671438423: Think you can hide out at daddy’s place? Come on, Brenna.

I stared at the message and let the implications settle in.

“What’s wrong?” Colin asked.

I looked back at him and he must have seen the fear in my eyes. He held his hand out.

“Let me see.”

“Okay.” I handed him the phone, in shock.

He read the message, but his face was completely blank. After a few seconds, he looked back up at me.

“I’m getting you a new phone.”

I nodded numbly. How did he know where I was? How did he find me already?

“This doesn’t mean he knows where this house is.”

“Yes, it does.”

He looked away. “Yeah, it probably does.”

“How does he know?”

“Your father is pretty famous in this city. It was only a matter of time.”

He stood up and I could see the tension in his muscles.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to sweep the block real fast.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m going outside to see if he’s lurking around anywhere nearby. I doubt he’s that stupid, but I need to do something.”

“Colin—“

He clenched his jaw and interrupted me. “Wait. I need to tell you something.”

“What’s going on?”

There was a short pause. I could tell he was struggling with something.

“Your dad is adopting me.”

I furrowed my brow, not really in the headspace to be able to understand that.

“But you’re an adult?”

“I know. It’s for the job. If I’m his son, then certain things will be easier.”

“When?” It began to dawn on me what he was saying.

“The paperwork is in my room. All I have to do is sign.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before?” I could feel myself getting pissed.

“Before what?”

“Before you fucking kissed me.”

“I’ve been trying to.”

I paused. “So you’re going to really be my stepbrother?”

He nodded. “Looks that way.”

The absurdity of the day washed over me, and that was the last straw. I couldn’t stop the laughter as it bubbled up out of me. I probably looked insane as I lay back on the comforter and laughed loudly, practically kicking my legs like a little kid. Colin looked at me uncertainly.

“Are you okay? Are you having some kind of breakdown?”

“I’m fucking great! I just kissed my stepbrother!”

He smiled uncertainly. “We’re not related yet.”

“Basically, we are! Oh my god, how messed up is this situation?”

He nodded. “Pretty fucked.”

And as soon as it came, the laughter left me. I looked up at the ceiling and sighed.

“When can you get me a new phone?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“Bren—“

“You should have told me earlier.” I looked at him. “I guess now we’re both liars.”

His expression didn’t change. “I’ll check outside.”

“My knight in shining armor.”

He frowned, stared at me for half a second, and left.

I watched him go, wondering how in the world I had gotten myself stuck between a psycho that I hated and a future stepbrother that I wanted more than anything.

T
hree days and she hadn't said a word. Not that I expected her to be chatty and act like nothing was weird between us, but I also didn’t expect her to go in full-on lockdown. No matter what I said to her, no matter what buttons I tried to push, she didn’t respond. Just a stony stare and silence. I would have preferred an angry and sarcastic remark to nothing.

But at least she was following orders and hadn’t left the house. If she wanted to be stubborn, then fine, she could be stubborn. She didn’t have to talk to me, but she did have to stay safe. Even if it was going to piss her off more, I’d make sure of that.

Three days. I’d gone on a few runs out into the wider world and left Bren in the hands of some of O’Brian’s trusted goons once or twice, but I couldn’t find Fabrizio. It was like the guy didn’t exist. There just weren’t any leads out there. Not a single one of my contacts in the underworld had seen him, let alone heard of him, and the Italians weren’t having much luck, either. As far as I knew, he hadn’t come around the house, or at least O’Brian’s expensive security system hadn’t picked him up on any of the cameras. I made sure to walk the perimeter a few times a day just to be safe, but I didn’t spot a thing.

Still, he was out there, somewhere, lurking and lying in wait. He wanted Brenna, thought she was his property. Fortunately, she didn’t have to deal with his insane texts ever since I got her a new phone, but still. The guy was obviously a psychopath, pure and simple. You’d have to be, if you were going to openly mess with the leader of the Irish Mob’s daughter. The guy must have had an actual death wish.

I stretched my legs and looked out over the buildings. I had really gotten used to living in O’Brian’s stately manse, especially getting to sit out on the roof deck. I had my own, but it wasn’t quite as nice. It was pretty early, and I sipped my coffee, going over in my mind Fabrizio’s possible hiding places for the thousandth time.

Concentrating was tough, though, when all I could think about was that kiss. It was exactly like the first time; electricity had run up and down my spine and it took all of my willpower, every single ounce of it, not to tear off her clothes and lick her soaked pussy top to bottom. I knew I wouldn’t be able to control myself a second time. I wanted her and I was ready to get what I wanted.

Then again, maybe it was better that she wasn’t talking to me. I wasn’t interested in talking with her, either. There was only one thing I wanted, and wanted badly. But maybe it was better if she let me concentrate on catching Fabrizio instead of concentrating on her sweating body riding my hard dick.

As I imagined ripping her tight jeans off her perfect hips, I heard the door open, and I looked up. Bren stood there staring at me. I gave her a grin, inwardly hoping she wouldn’t notice my hard dick pushing up against the fabric of my pants. It was almost like she had a sixth sense for when I was daydreaming about fucking her.

“Nice surprise seeing you here,” I said to her.

She shrugged. “I’m bored.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “You’re talking to me now?”

“I guess I’m really bored.”

She walked out and sat down with a huff. She was wearing tight black yoga pants that accentuated her perfect round ass and a loose navy blue hoodie. I was willing to bet she wasn’t wearing a stitch underneath it. I wanted to lift her arms above her head and slowly pull it off her, watch her nice tits slip out from the cotton, and her thick hair spill out all around her shoulders.

“I have an idea of what we can do,” I said, grinning.

“I’m sure you do,” she said, looking away.

“Come on, sis, don’t be that way.”

She looked surprised. “Don’t call me that.”

“Why not, sis? We’ll be related pretty soon.”

“Even if you sign those papers, you’ll never be my brother.”

I laughed. “Don’t be so ashamed of me.”

She rolled her eyes. “More like mortified to be anywhere near you.”

“I think that’s a lie.”

“All you Mob guys are the same. So cocky and sure of yourselves.”

“I bet you’re an expert on that, now.”

She gave me a look and was about to say something, but paused instead and stared at me with that sexy-and-pissed look she sometimes got.

“You’re taking me out somewhere,” she said finally.

I raised an eyebrow. “Am I now? Where are we going?”

“I don’t care, Colin. I’m going stir crazy.”

“You know it’s dangerous.”

“It can’t be that dangerous with my knight in shining armor around.”

I smiled at the nickname. She may have been pissed, but she couldn’t have been that pissed if she was going to joke around. Even if she was being as sarcastic as humanly possible.

“What’s in it for me?”

“I’m talking to you, isn’t that enough?”

I shook my head. “Not at all.”

She sighed. “What do you want?”

I grinned and sat back, considering. She must have been pretty desperate to write me a blank check like that. I’d have to be careful, though. If I said what I actually wanted, she’d probably storm off and I’d have to deal with the silent treatment for a few days more, or at least until Fabrizio was caught and shipped back to New York. Still, I wasn’t going to let a good chance pass me by. I knew exactly what I wanted in that moment, running my eyes up and down her body.