Rush(122)

Or maybe it was because she was their baby sister and all they could see was her tied down naked to an ottoman and being flogged. She winced at the sight she must have presented. She could understand why Jace had lost his mind. Who wouldn’t if they’d walked in on what they’d witnessed?

But she had to make them understand.

She was on her feet, determined to go back into the living room, when Jace burst into the bedroom, his eyes blazing. He immediately came to her and enfolded her in his arms.

“Are you all right?” he demanded.

There was an edge to his voice that told her how shaken and angry he was. This was quickly spiraling out of control and she had no idea how to make it stop. How to make them understand. Emotions were high. There was no way for either of them to see reason.

“Jace, I’m fine,” she said, forcing her voice to remain level so she didn’t worsen the situation. “What did you do to Gabe?”

“Nothing he didn’t deserve,” Jace said darkly. “Come on. I’m getting you the hell out of here.”

He took her hand and dragged her toward the bedroom door. She had no choice but to follow him. And it was fine because she only wanted to go to Gabe.

As soon as they entered the living room, Mia saw Gabe sitting on the edge of the couch, his head buried in his hands. Concern filled her and she started to go to him, but Jace pulled her up short.

“We’re going, Mia,” he bit out.

She frowned and yanked her hand away. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Gabe looked up then, and his eyes were distant and vacant. Carefully encased in ice as he stared at her.

She hurried to Gabe and knelt in front of the couch where he sat. She reached up, tentatively touching his arm, but he flinched and shrugged away her hand.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly, dread filling her chest and her heart until it squeezed the breath right out of her.

“I’m fine,” he said in a stiff, formal voice.

“Talk to them,” she whispered. “Explain. I’m not leaving you, Gabe. We have to make them understand. You can’t let them think what they’re thinking. Make this right. We were going to tell him anyway. Make him understand.”

She was pleading with him, but what else could she do? Fear was making her desperate. Irrational. And Gabe was worth her pride. He was worth anything.

Gabe stiffly rose and put distance between himself and Mia. She pushed to her feet, confused by his mood and demeanor. Dread knotted her throat. She didn’t like the way he was looking at her. The resignation in his face. The acceptance. Acceptance of what? What had Jace said to him? What had Gabe said to Jace?

And then when Gabe spoke, her blood turned to ice. She froze, too stunned to do more than gape in astonishment.

“You should go,” he said in a curt voice. “It’s better this way. You were becoming too emotionally attached. I don’t want to hurt you. It’ll only be harder if we wait. A clean break will be easier and less…messy…later.”

“What the fuck?” Mia demanded, her shocked expletive exploding in the strained silence.

“Mia, let’s just go, honey,” Ash said in a gentle voice.

She could hear the pity in his tone, knew he felt sorry for her and that he thought she was making a complete fool of herself. They were seeing just another woman in Gabe’s life being rejected, cut loose. Shoved away so he could move on to someone else.

To hell with that. She wasn’t leaving without an explanation. Without trying to reach the man behind that coldly imposing mask. She knew the real Gabe. Had felt his warmth and tenderness. She knew he cared about her no matter the cluster fuck going on in this room right now.

She shook her head, her refusal adamant. “I’m not going anywhere until Gabe tells me what the hell all that bullshit he just spouted was about.”

Gabe looked right through her, his expression and eyes indifferent. Cold and remote. She was sure it was a look many a woman had received from him when it was time to part ways. It was a look that said, “I don’t want you anymore. Don’t embarrass yourself.”

Fuck that. She’d already sacrificed whatever pride she had over this man. There wasn’t anything much more embarrassing than having your brother walk in on you during bondage sex. There wasn’t a much worse way she could embarrass herself.

“Gabe?” she whispered, her voice strained as the knot grew larger in her throat.

She hated the pleading note to her voice. Hated that she couldn’t salvage her pride when it came to this man. She was precariously close to begging, and she didn’t care.

“It’s over, Mia. You knew it was only a matter of time. I told you in the beginning not to fall in love with me. That I didn’t want to hurt you. I should have ended it already. You’re becoming too involved and that just makes it worse in the long run. Go with Jace and forget me. You deserve better.”