40
“You really don’t have to do this you know, I’m not paralyzed. I can still shave by myself,” I say, smiling to myself at the look of concentration on Sierra’s face as the razor blade glides along my cheek.
She’s sat on the edge of the bed with her left leg pulled under her, her body twisted to face me. I can’t bring myself to look away from her. Every single time I look at her I have to catch myself because there’s no way in hell that this amazing, beautiful woman could ever be mine. Is there?
It broke me seeing her so distraught when I woke up yesterday, and the thought of nearly leaving her curdles in my stomach.
“I know, but I want to take care of you. Let me play nurse a little while longer?”
“You got a uniform to go with the role?” I smirk.
“Didn’t know uniforms were your thing?” Her eyes flick to mine, her lips twisting into a smile.
My hand slides up her leg. “Never used to be until I pictured you in one.”
“Stop talking or I’ll cut you,” she says.
“There’s no need to be so aggressive, princess. Do I need to call Ray in here to rescue me?”
A smile tugs at her mouth as she takes another swipe down my cheek.
Ray stopped by yesterday after Sierra told him I was awake. The last thing I wanted was to worry him, and I hated the look on his face when he saw me, but I can’t deny how good it was to see him.
“I suppose with both my hands being free, I can put them to some good use…” My fingers edge up her thigh, the thin stretchy fabric of her leggings do nothing to hide the heat radiating from her pussy.
She gasps when my fingers graze her clit. “Alec, you really want me to cut you, don’t you?” she says with a giggle.
“How about we make a deal? You don’t draw a single drop of blood and I’ll make you come on my hand.”
Her eyes flare with desire, a pink tinge staining her cheeks. With a small nod, I circle her clit through the fabric, knowing the friction of it is hitting the perfect spot that will soon have her falling apart for me.
Her teeth bite into her bottom lip as she fights to keep her composure, her hand trembling slightly as she brings the blade to my opposite cheek.
Don’t cut me, princess. I want to watch you come…I say to myself.
I’m so focused on making her come that I don’t hear the door click open behind her.
“Someone’s feeling better,” Rafe comments.
“Fuck.”
Tearing apart, Sierra releases a scream as I draw my hand back like I just got electrocuted, and by some miracle, Sierra doesn’t draw a drop.
“Rafe, what the fuck?” Sierra asks, that pink tinge on her cheeks now a flaming angry red.
“Be thankful it was me and not Gage who just walked in.” The amusement in Rafe’s voice is unmistakable. “He went to get coffees. He’ll be here in a minute, so I’d wipe that ‘I just got caught with my fingers in your sister’s pants’ guilty look off your face, pronto, dude.”
“Rafe,” Si chastises.
He holds his palms up in surrender. “Just trying to help you out, sis.”
Si looks back to me and smiles softly, the blush fading from her face as she takes my hand and brings it to rest on her thigh, her hand covering mine.
At that moment, Gage walks into the room, immediately noting Sierra sat on my bed.
I know he can see us holding hands, and it doesn’t seem to bother Sierra in the slightest. She straightens her spine defiantly and I love her for it. This is the moment I’ve been dreading, coming clean about our relationship despite Gage’s warnings, and as much as I feel guilty of going behind his back, I don’t regret it. I’m unapologetically in love with Sierra, and after the past couple of days, not even her brothers can keep us apart.
I refuse to allow a single thing come between me and the woman I love.
“Sierra, can you give us a minute?” Gage asks, not letting a single emotion show through his tone and his unreadable expression.
She turns to lean over me, dropping her lips to mine before she hops off the bed.
“Be nice.” I hear Sierra warm, placing a single kiss to both Gage’s and Rafe’s cheeks before slipping out of the room.
Gage hands Rafe a coffee then drops into the chair beside me while Rafe perches on the foot of my bed.
“How are you doing?” Gage asks, handing me one of the cups.
“I’m fine.” My attempt at being modest fails to convince either of them, but they don’t press for more.
“Well, you look like shit,” Rafe chimes in and I laugh, something that shouldn’t hurt but makes the ache in my head that much worse.
“We’re glad you’re okay. Don’t know what we’d do without you, man.” Gage’s smile is sincere. “I’m sorry about your house, Alec. It was your parent’s summer house, right?”
“Yeah. I have many happy memories there from when I was younger, it’s one of the reasons I took Sierra there.”
“And we’re grateful. The change in her since you left is undeniable. Despite what’s happened the last few days and from what I heard from Della and Reese while you were away, she’s happy.”
“Yes, I like to think she is,” I agree.
“But I think we have you to thank for that. Am I right?”
My stomach lurches. “How long have you known?”
He leans back in his chair. “I’m not stupid. Give me some credit for not being a total moron. I’ve known long before you even left.”
I take a deep breath. “Gage, I understand if you no longer want me working for you. I broke your trust and betrayed our friendship and for that I am sorry. I know what I’ve been doing with Sierra is highly unprofessional on my part, but I love your sister more than anything and as selfish as it may sound, I refuse to give her up.” I don’t think I take a single breath as I lay it all out flat, spilling my guts and it feels surprisingly good.
“Alec, I’ve known there was something between the two of you for some time now, I saw how you looked at each other when you met last year, and quite frankly it’s about fucking time,” Gage says.
I blink at him, my mouth opening and closing as words fail me. He makes it sound as though he’s been waiting for it to happen.
“Alec,” he begins, leaning forward on his elbows, “you think I don’t notice how you look at her? How you watch her when you think no one sees? The way you look at my sister is no doubt the same way I look at my wife every single day. I knew something would happen between you two sooner or later, I just wanted to see the lengths you’d go to, to go after what you want.”
“So, you’re saying the whole ‘I’ll chop your balls off and feed them to you’ threat was a test?”
“And you passed with flying colours,” he replies with a satisfied grin.
“You bastard,” I scoff, shaking my head as a smile grows on my face.
“You chose to fight for my sister. Sierra deserves the best, and all I’ve wanted for my sister was for a man who would stop at nothing to keep her safe, to never put her in harm’s way and love her with every part of him, I’m in no doubt that man is you, Alec. I know you’d never let anyone lay a finger on my sister. Sierra’s lucky to have you fighting in her corner and that you’re there for her in a way Rafe and I can’t be. You are one of the best men I know, and I’m sure I can speak on behalf of Rafe when I say this, but I for one am proud to call you a friend.”
“Damn straight.” Rafe nods in agreement, slapping a hand on my leg. “You’re one of us, Al, and I’m glad our sister has you.”
“Thank you, it means a lot.”
“You don’t have to thank us, Alec, it should be us thanking you.”