Page 31 of All for Love

“Can’t argue with that.” I shrugged, my lips tugging up at the corners. “I definitely had the intention. The first time, anyway. The second time, she kind of sprang on me, but by the time we got to the sex, I’d formed the intention again. I formed it so hard.”

Kaden looked at me over his shoulder, and his features were twisted into an interesting mix of disgust, worry, and anger. “We’re not talking about her that way. I don’t want to know who did what or when. Stop acting like this is a joke. It’s not.”

“Relax,” I said, waving a hand at him. “Mercedes and I are good. I won’t tell you how good since you just told me not to, but we’re good. We both knew what we were doing, she knows what she’s gotten into with me, and it’s really not a big deal.”

“Not a big deal?” he murmured. Suddenly, he stopped pacing and turned to face me, jabbing his finger at the air between us. “You’re an asshole, Kody. I just didn’t think you were a heartless one.”

“What are you talking about?” I folded my arms on my desk as I stared at the seriousness in his eyes and imagined an angry thundercloud above his head. “I’m not heartless. I told you, she knows what she’s gotten into. She’s not going to get hurt. I’d never hurt her.”

“It might not be intentional, but you are going to hurt her. Her vagina has a direct line to her heart. She’s that type of woman, but that set aside, have you thought about what this could do to Dad and Margaux?”

“Of course, I have, but they’re not going to find out. Mercedes and I have already agreed to play nice in front of the family, and even if they do find out, it’s not like it’s illegal. They’ll be pissed at first, but eventually, they’ll understand and they’ll get over it.”

“No, Kody. They won’t just get over it,” he fumed. “This could really hurt them and Margaux is the best thing that’s happened to the old man in a long time. I refuse to let your selfishness tarnish their honeymoon period. End of story.”

“I’m not tarnishing anything, and I’m not being selfish. Seriously, I have been very generous with her. I swear. She comes first. Every—”

“Kody.” His jaw ticked with a vein popping out underneath it.

I finally shoved my chair away from the desk, threw my arms out to my sides, and pushed to my feet. “What? What do you want from me here?”

His eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “I want you to stop.”

“Oh, really? Because it seems like you came in here to lecture me. Bicker a bit and just expect me to take it lying down. Did you bring the pineapple you want to shove up my ass, or can I have one delivered for you?”

“Spare me the act.” His teeth gnashed together as he narrowed his eyes at me. “You are being selfish and you damn well know it. How do you think it’s going to affect Dad and Margaux when, not if, you hurt Mercedes? You may have it all planned out for them not to find out, but life happens and they will find out eventually. There’s no two ways about it.”

“I’m not going to hurt her,” I repeated. “If they find out, they find out. Mercedes and I are two good-looking people who are attracted to each other. That’s not a crime.”

“Stop being an asshole,” he retorted. “You’ve already said this thing between you isn’t serious, so why risk it? Why risk hurting her, Dad, Margaux, and their relationship for nothing more than a fuck?”

“It’s a good fuck, but that’s not what this is about. This is about you coming in here and laying down the law for some arbitrary reason.”

“Dad and Margaux getting hurt is not arbitrary,” he seethed. “You’ve just proven how selfish you are, though.”

I crossed my arms and raised my chin, my feet planted wide apart. “We’re not talking about this anymore. I didn’t barge into your office and insist you stop sleeping with Brooke. If I had, you’d have sent me straight to hell, so that’s what I’m doing.”

He blinked hard before he scoffed. “My relationship with Brooke is nothing like what you’ve got going on with Mercedes. We’re not just hooking up and she’s not my stepsister.”

“Stop pretending that the word stepsister means anything in our situation. It doesn’t. She’s the daughter of the woman our father married. Nothing more.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” He mirrored my stance with his chin slanted up, his arms crossed over his chest and his muscles bulging. “Keep it in your pants, Kody. You can screw literally anyone else you want, just keep it out of the house.”

Mercedes walked in and stopped in her tracks, turning a furious shade of pink. She looked from Kaden, to me, and back again as her eyes filled up with tears.

As soon as I saw the moisture shimmering in them, some kind of primal protectiveness was triggered somewhere deep down inside me. For the first time in my life, I considered taking a swing at my twin. A real one—not a joke or a wrestling match like the ones that took place when we threw down back when we were toddlers.

But first, I had to make sure she was okay. I opened my mouth to speak, but her shiny, wet eyes met mine, her lips parting as she glared daggers at me before she spun around and ran out. Where she was going, I had no idea, but if I had to guess, I’d say it was the women’s washroom.

“At least I didn’t make her cry,” I said.

Kaden pointed at me. “Fix it. Now.”

I’d been planning on going after her anyway, and that was why I did it. Not because he suddenly thought he could order me around. Without another word, I marched out of my office and hurried down the hall to look for her, hoping I could smooth things over after my boneheaded brother had gone and done the exact thing he’d been warning me against.

He’d hurt her, and right now, I hated him just a little bit for it.