Prince Albert(137)

"I can try to be quiet," he whispers. "I just don't know if you can."

"You have to leave," I order.

"Or what?"

Or my resolve will weaken. "Or I'll scream."

Gaige grins. "Scream my name," he says.

"I'm not joking, Gaige," I say, my voice firm. "Get out of my room. Right now. Or I will scream." I immediately regret the words coming out of my mouth. I want to take them back, to tell him to stay here. I want to slide down to my knees and take him in my mouth again.

But Gaige just smiles, leans in close to my ear. "How long do you think it'll be before I'm back inside that sweet pussy of yours? A day? A week?"

"We can't, Gaige," I tell him. But my voice is strained.

"Tell yourself whatever helps you sleep at night, darlin'," he says. "But I'll be right next door when you change your mind."

Only after he leaves and the door shuts behind him does my heart stop racing. Crap. I turn the shower on, ice-cold. Do cold showers actually work?

Ten minutes later, I feel exactly the way I did before – horny as hell. Except now I'm shivering and horny. Faking sick to avoid dinner with Gaige and my parents doesn't help me feel any better.





CHAPTER TWENTY

GAIGE



It's been two weeks since Delaney and I hooked up. Fourteen days. She's been carefully avoiding me, and I've been spending every waking moment in physical therapy and back on the bike at the track. And thinking about how to get back in Delaney's bed.

"This is an important night for your step-father," Anja says. I've just walked in the door, still wearing my riding gear, helmet in my hand, and she's up my ass already. "Don't walk through the house in those boots."

"I'll take them off in my room," I say. "Unless you want me to strip off everything right here in the foyer?" The housekeeper ducks out of the entryway, smart enough to avoid this scene.

"Have some class, Gaige," she sniffs.

"Cocktails, already, mother?" I ask. "Not even bothering to wait for the party?"

Anja sips from her tumbler. "You'd better not ruin this for Beau," she says.

"I'd better not ruin it for Beau?" I ask. "Ask yourself who of the two of us is more likely to ruin anything for Beau tonight."

"You know what I mean," she hisses. "I know what's going on with you and Delaney."

My heart stops cold in my chest, but I keep my voice calm. "What do you think is going on with me and Delaney?"

"You think a girl like that is ever going to look at you twice? Even if she weren't your sister, she'd be out of your league." She takes another swig from her glass.

"Step-sister," I correct. "She's my step-sister, not my sister."

"You're disgusting," she hisses. "It's disgusting."

"I haven't looked at her any way at all," I say. "Maybe if you weren't half in the bag all the time, you'd have a clearer view of things."

The door opens, and Delaney walks inside, stopping short when she sees us. "Hi," she says, her voice tentative. "I came home early to get ready for the event."

"Don't worry," I say. "Anja is already pre-partying herself. She's concerned that we all understand the importance of tonight."

Delaney nods, silent as she looks back and forth between us. "Um, sure," she says. "It's going to be a great event. Some of the reps from the Japanese manufacturer will be there, Gaige. I don't think you've met them yet, but I'll introduce you."

"Perfect," I say. I'm so preoccupied with Anja's intimations that I can't really think about anything else. If she were to tell Beau what she suspected about Delaney and I…

I remind myself that what she's saying is just the ravings of a drunk.

"I'm certain you'll make sure Gaige has everything he needs tonight," Anja says, looking at Delaney. She takes another sip from her glass, her expression smug, and I've never wanted to hit a woman, but I really want to knock that fucking glass out of my mother's hand.

Delaney's forehead wrinkles, and she looks from my face to my mother's and back again. "Absolutely," she says. "That's my job. So if you'll excuse me, I need to get ready."

I wait until Delaney is out of earshot before I speak. "Delaney didn't remember you as being quite so petty and vindictive," I say. "Unlike me. I know you've always been this way."

Anja smiles, her lips drawn tight. "Remember what I said, Gaige," she says. "Don't ruin anything for Beau. And stop looking at your sister."

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response, Anja," I say, before I turn and walk quickly down the hall. I don't want a response from her. I just want to get the hell out of this conversation.