I’m not arrogant in my assumptions. I saw it last night. I saw the jealousy in his eyes, in the way his jaw clenched and the tone of his voice, over Henry.I heard it when he spat out hisoffensive question. Ifeltit in his kiss and the touch of his hands.
Then I saw it in his eyes.
It was all there in those beautiful blue-green eyes of hiswhen he pulled back. After I told him to shut up and fuck me.He wasn't just there for some quick fun.
I’m glad he stopped it. It would’ve been messy. I can’t give him what he wants. I can only do sex. I don’t want the emotions. Emotions are what get you hurt. In my case, in every sense of the word.
I stay in my room all morning, waiting on time to leave for the bus. Until this point, all our travel has been by plane. Liam said that now most of it will be on the bus, although we’ll still stay in hotels a lot.
A knock sounds at my door that I ignore. I’ve been ignoring it all morning. I know it’s Jake. I know he wants to talkabout last night. I don’t, and I’m not.
“Cara,” he calls out. “Maddoxsaid we’re leaving in ten minutes.”
I don’t respond. I’ll leave this room in tenminutes and not a minute before. I don’t want to talk about last night. I don’t want him to tell me what I know he’s been trying to tell me fora fewweeks. This trip was supposed to be about helping out Jake and the band. I wantedit to be at least a little fun. This has turned out to beanything but fun, and it’s only been a few weeks.
“Cara, come out of the room. I won’t bring it up.”
I ignorehim. I will keep ignoring him until Ican’t.
Am I being immature and childish? Probably.I’m not proud of it.No.I just don’t know how to deal with him right nowor his feelings right now.Or deal with what I’m feeling.I’m not even sure what it is I’m feeling. I do know it scares me, and I know I don’t want it or need it.
Ten minutes pass, and I hear Maddox and Dane’s voices outside my room.I grab my bags and pullthe door open.The guys are standing in the suite's entryway, huddled together while Lyra sits on the couch with her elephant, looking ready to go back to sleep.
I walk to my brother and Maddox, giving them each a hug, but I can’t look at Jake.Being near him is bad enough. Thechemistry and attraction between us are tangible.
A look passes between the three of them. Dane’s eyebrows scrunchwhile Maddox smirks. Jake answers their silent question with a slightshake of his head and a huff. My brother shakes his head in response.
What the hell? Do they know?
I know Jake and Dane are best friends, but I never thought he’d tellmy overprotective brotherthat he is attracted to me. And I never thought he’d live through the day if he did. Dane can’t seriously be okay with this. Can he?
And Maddox knows? Which can only mean Ryder knows. And, of course, Angel knowsbecause he’s Jake’s other best friend. Iexpectedhim to know.
Dane looks at me. Hisfurrowed brow quirks in question. I duck my head, turning my attention to Lyra.I hear Maddox cover a laugh with a cough, making me secretly smile. Madsy has my back even if my traitorous brother doesn’t.
“Ready to go, pretty girl?” I ask Lyra, ignoring the stupid male species in the room.
“Uh-huh,” she tells me with a big toothy smile.“We goes on a bus.”
“We sure are.” I rub her head with a smile. I wonder if it looks as forced as it feels because I suddenly feel sick knowing that now I’m going to be stuck in a tiny space with Jake for hours at a time.
“Ready?” Dane is watching me witha strange look. I’m not sure if it’s disapproval or worry, but it’s pissing me off.
“Ready.” I give my most saccharine smile.One I know he’ll know is fake. The same one he knowsbrings out my wrath if pushed.
I reach to grab my bag just as Jake grabs it. “I’ve got it.” I look up and see those blue-greeneyes boring holes in me.I know I’ve probably frustrated him these past weeks by avoiding him. He’s probably wondered what he did wrong other than staying with me that night when Iasked. But today, I know hesaw it coming. It’s whyhe slammed the brakes and why he’s tried so hard to talk to me this morning.
In the parking lot of the hotel sit several buses. The guys all grin when they see the solid black entertainer buses withSons of Sinwritten across them in glowing red and white letters. It’s not a fancy design,but it’s theirs. Dane designed it for them years ago.
Three of them, I’m told,belong to the band. There is the bachelors’ buswhere Maddox, Ryder, and Liam will stay. When Maddox and Ryder are done in there, the whole thing will needto besterilized.There’s the couples’ bus that isfor Dane and Angel along with Cami and Josephine.
Then there’s what they’ve all decided to call the baby bus. It’s for Jake and Lyra and completely set up to make them as comfortable as possible.
The bus door opens, and Jake liftsLyra to the top step. She takes offwithout a word, ready to explore. He gestures with his hand for me to go first. I bite my lip and shake my head.He blows out a hard breath and scrubs a hand, roughly,over his hair.He turns, grumbling under his breath, to go inside.
I move behind himwith my head down. Which is why I run right into his broad back.“Holy shit,” he gasps as hedrags that large hand over his day-old scruff.
The physical contact with himhas heat blazing a path into my belly until it reaches between my thighs. Moisture pools at my center, causing me to stifle a groan.
