Chapter 3
Had anyone been around to witness the spectacle in my living room, the three of us would have dropped jaws. I stood between Gage and Ian, my arms spread wide, a palm flat on each of their chests.
If they wanted to kill each other, they’d have to get through me first.
“This isn’t happening here,” I warned.
Ian withdrew first, his shoulders dropping in concession, but then his gaze veered to my disheveled hair and bare feet before swinging to take in Gage’s naked torso. He spun me around so he shielded me from Gage.
“How could you be such an idiot, Kayla?” His verbal attack astonished me; it was so unlike Ian to lose his temper, especially with me. “A whole year, and you’re still falling for his bullshit?”
“Is it really that shocking?” Gage asked.
“She’s still falling for yours after eight.
” He ripped Ian away from me, and his jealousy crowded the atmosphere in the room.
“I bet there’s plenty you’ve kept from her.
Does she know about your infamous reputation, or does she still think you walk on water? ”
Ian balled his hands, and my own began to shake. This wasn’t going to end well.
“Shut your damn mouth. That was a long time ago.”
“Not long enough,” Gage said. “I certainly won’t forget.”
Ian shook his head. “Doesn’t matter what I do or say. You won’t budge.”
Gage lurched forward, his face twisted in hatred. “You have no idea what you did that night!” He pushed Ian against the wall. “No fucking idea.”
I settled my hand on Gage’s shoulder, but my touch only made him flinch. “Gage,” I said, keeping my voice low, but steady, “calm down.”
He flung my hand off and stepped away. “I’ll calm the fuck down as soon as he leaves.”
Ian laughed, a bitter, spiteful rumble that chilled me. “You’re crazier than I thought if you think I’ll let you hurt her again. If anyone’s leaving, it’s you. I’ll drag you out myself if I have to.”
I’d never before seen this side of him. Ian was synonymous with gentle, loving, kind. Not hateful, though obviously, his brother brought out his temper. My foolish actions did too. I was hurting him, and I hated myself for it.
Make a choice, Kayla, and stick to it this time.
Three choices. One stupid beyond recognition, one safe and comfortable, and one so lonely the thought made me ache.
“You don’t deserve her,” Ian said.
Gage went rigid, and I sensed things were about to get even uglier. I planted myself between them again. “This needs to stop. I’m not a possession you can fight over.” I almost rolled my eyes at the thought. There were so many women worthier of this shit than I was.
“As soon as he’s gone,” Ian said, stepping closer, “I’ll convince you there was never a fight to begin with.”
Gage snickered. The bastard actually snickered.
I shot a finger toward the front door. “Get out. Both of you,” I said through gritted teeth.
Ian took a step back, uncertainty on his face, while Gage crossed his arms. His mouth turned up in a self-satisfied smirk. I wanted to hit him.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “We have things to discuss, or did you forget? I suppose we can forgo the boundaries, though I doubt you’ll like that arrangement since you didn’t take to it the first time around.”
His cocky tone unraveled the last thread of my patience, and I shoved him toward the door. “Get out of my house!”
He stumbled backward, his sapphire eyes narrowing, and yanked the door open. “You’re making a mistake. Trust me—you’re not going to like the outcome.”
I slammed the door in his face and stood stock-still for a few moments, listening to the clock on the wall tick away the seconds, keenly aware of Ian behind me. A fist pounded, making me yelp.
“I need my damn clothes!”
I stalked to the bedroom and gathered the last of his things before throwing them onto the porch without a second glance.
The door banged shut again, and I sensed Ian’s gaze on me, though he didn’t move.
His presence only now caught up to me, and I fell into a state of shock, much like I had last night when Gage surprised me with his visit.
A whole year…
And I was still just as fucked up and confused as ever. A tear leaked down my face. I angrily brushed it away. “Why did you guys come here? I would have been okay.”
Now he was moving, the softness of his flannel shirt rustling through the quiet as he neared me. I felt his heat, though he didn’t touch me. “He got out of prison a few days ago, and I knew he’d come straight for you.”
Which would explain why Ian had called more than usual this past week.
“I couldn’t stand the thought of him hurting you again.”
“He didn’t.” Not this time. This time, Gage had sent me soaring.
“I need to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me.”
I bit my lip.
“Are you in love with him?”
The space between us weighed heavily with silence, yet the roar in my head overshadowed it. In love with Gage Channing. Now wouldn’t that be stupid? I gave him the only answer I could. “I don’t know.”
I was afraid to turn around and see how my words impacted him.
Without warning, his arms came around me, and I tensed before sagging against him.
His face nestled against my hair, nudging the strands aside and exposing my neck.
His mouth caressed, open and hot and making me shiver until I melted.
Ian still got me going and the realization came as such a relief.
“Did you sleep with him?”
A shameful sigh escaped my lips. “Don’t make me answer that.”
“You just did.” The agony in his voice cut deep. He tightened his arms around me. “Give me one night, Kayla. If you can walk away from me afterward, then I’m gone for good.”
“I don’t deserve one night with you.”
His protest vibrated against my collarbone. “Let me decide that. You need to stop blaming yourself.”
He turned me around until we stood face to face, and his hands rose to frame my cheeks.
“I want to show you what making love is really about because I think you’ve forgotten.
” His lips settled on mine and it was the briefest touch, the smallest of teases, yet achingly sweet all the same. “Let me love you.”
“What if we do…and I still…let him come back?” I couldn’t fathom it, had trouble saying the words even, but I didn’t trust myself and I didn’t want to hurt Ian anymore than I already had.
“Then I’ll let you go.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I can’t do that to you.”
“One night, Kayla. We’ll go out and have a good time. No strings attached.”
“There’re always strings.”
“You’re right, but I’m cutting them now. Give me one chance to show you…”
My heart thumped at his words. “Show me what?”
“How much I still love you.”
My mouth trembled, so I bit hard on my lower lip. Part of me wanted him.
Wanted to find out if I could still be normal.
But I feared the larger part of me that wanted Gage too much—the part that would hurt Ian because of the stronghold from which I couldn’t break free.
“One night,” he said again. “Besides, I think it’s time we put all of our cards on the table. Gage is right—I have things I need to tell you, and I want you to hear it from me.”
“Okay.” The word was lost somewhere among the roaring in my head, and I knew I was making another mistake. Another wrong choice. Would I ever stop?