“Youcan leave,” she offers, her green eyes so bright, they knock the breath out of me for a moment. Her short frame stands upright before she slips her sweater off, leaving her in only a sports bra to highlight her breasts. Fuck me.
We may hate each other, but I can’t help the way my skin catches fire from her upper body half-naked and so beautiful in front of me. This woman, with her tanned skin, curvy body, long brown hair, and eyes so green they burn into my soul, could have me on my knees if she wasn’t so damn infuriating. And it isn’t just because she’s drop-dead gorgeous. No. She’s got one of the kindest hearts I’ve ever seen. The way she loves Graham… I’m almost jealous I’ve got no one who loves me like that. Unfortunately, she doesn’t offer me that side of her.
“You want to take a fucking picture to jerk off to later?” she says when my eyes are stuck on her breasts, which would fit perfectly into my big hands.Jesus, Leonard. Focus.
“Nah, I don’t have a demon kink,” I reply at the same moment she places the sweatshirt back on, this time the right way around. “Plus, you’re the one who undressed in front of me,” I remind her, but she walks away without responding. She truly is a demon.
“You didn’t have to look, pervert,” she says, but I’m the one who doesn’t respond this time because she’s absolutely right. I didn’t have to study her sexy chest, but I couldn’t help it. I’m only human, and it’s been a few months since I’ve had sex, making my body a little too excitable.
Chiara bends over to pet Benz again, and I suck in a sharp breath when she puts her arse on display for me. This woman. I groan as I walk past her and settle down on the small, ancient couch in the living room. The blue colour is faded, but Graham refuses to take any money from me to buy a new one. He also refuses to take any to move out of this safety-hazardous place, which is way too small for the brother of a Formula One World Champion.
My family had close to nothing when we were growing up. Jack, Graham, and I shared a room until we were well into our teenage years, and I finally started making some money. Not a lot, not nearly enough for my parents to stop worrying about our bills. Dad worked multiple jobs to finance my very expensive dream, but we were lucky with the people who wanted to sponsor me. I had many. I’m a talented race car driver. I know I am. Everyone does. That’s what I’m famous for. Talented and grumpy as hell. Fine by me.
I earn a lot of money now. Hell, I’m a fucking millionaire. But my brother is so bloody stubborn, he doesn’t accept any help. Not to mention, he’d never leave Starling, and there is no way in hell I would ever do something nice for that little demon. Nope. It’s not happening. It isn’t my mission to make her like me, it’s never been. All I want to do is spoil my brother a little with the money he deserves. He’s been working his arse off for years, and I know it’s his dream to open his own immersive art gallery with Chiara one day. I just wish he’d let me help him.
“Don’t think so much. It contorts your face and will give you wrinkles. You might have to start using botox soon to get rid of them, Grandpa.” I frown at her. I’m only four years older than her.
“At least I can afford to get botox. With the amount of frowning you do, you’ll end up a wrinkled mess in two years, begging me to pay for your procedures,” I spit back, causing her eyes to narrow at me. Fuck, it tugs on the corner of my mouth to see her upset with me.
“Leonard, Chiara, are you both behaving?” Graham asks, his voice low and firm.
“No,” we reply simultaneously, and I shoot her a side glance.
Chiara’s on the floor with Benz now. My baby is curled up in the devil woman’s lap like there’s no tomorrow, and I shake my head at the image. I should have trained my dog better to detect evil-incarnate.
“You two are so annoying, but I love you both, so I would like to spend the day with the two of you. Will that work?” he asks, and I stare into my brother’s dark brown eyes before giving him a slight nod.
“Iknow how to behave,” Chiara chimes in, and I force myself not to stare at her and roll my eyes so violently, it’d hurt.
“Can you even hang out with us today or will you be busy torturing innocent souls with your husband Lucifer?” I ask, causing amusement to sparkle in the demon’s eyes.
“Yeah, I should get your room ready down there,” she replies and tilts her head as she waits for a reaction. I refuse to give her one.
“Okay, let’s go. I’m in desperate need of some coffee,” Graham chimes in, ignoring Starling’s and my heated moment. He usually does since he has no patience for our bickering. I can’t blame him either.
“Benz, heel,” I say, watching my baby trotting toward me with grace and stopping right at my side. She sits like the good girl she is, waiting for me to put on her leash.
“Can I walk her?” Chiara asks after we’ve made our way downstairs.
“No,” I reply, instinctively gripping the leash harder.
There is no doubt in my mind how well she could take care of Benz. Hell, Starling loves her almost as much as me, more than anyone else in my family, but I can be a pain in the arse too. So, I don’t let her walk my daughter, and I want to smirk hard when Chiara flashes me an annoyed look.
“I want to walk her,” she insists, stepping in front of me to stop me from moving. God, she’s so bloody stubborn.
“No,” I repeat, and she sighs. The corners of her pouty lips curl downward even more.
“You never let me take care of her when you’re gone either, and I’m a dog walker. It’s only fair,” she says, and I furrow both of my brows. Graham lets out an annoyed sigh, but I ignore him.
“Benz is my dog!” I blurt out, getting frustrated with her relentlessness to get such a simple thing she deserves for loving Benz so fiercely. “And why the hell would I leave you in charge of her when I’m not here? I don’t like you.” Chiara gives me yet another eye roll.
“I don’t like you either, but I love her. I love her more than anyone else does, apart from you.” Yep. I just thought the same thing and it fucking bothers me how similar we think. It sends a shudder down my spine. “Please.” That word knocks me backward. It also drags all of the oxygen from my lungs because damn. She’s never asked me for anything before, but I like hearing her beg. I like it a lot.
“No,” I say for the third time, and Starling steps out of the way again, her arse-length hair flying in response.
“Stronzo,” she says, and Graham takes her hand as we continue to make our way toward the café down the street from their flat.
Iaman arsehole. I could have let her take Benz. I could even let her stay with Chiara when I’m gone, but I’m petty. I don’t do nice things for her, and she does none for me. It’s how we’ve always operated, and I plan to keep it that way, except, sensing how upset Starling is, my sweet girl pulls me to the woman I’m supposed to despise. She wants to walk with Chiara, and there is no way I could deny my daughter anything. Fuck me.
