I wasn’t an asshole, though. I had challenged him, and he rose to the challenge. I needed to keep my word and try to make our marriage work. I just didn’t know how. Six years of sleeping with the man, but I had no idea how to be in a relationship with him.
And, then, there’s the money.
God, the money.
There was no way I was putting my name on any of Gabriel’s accounts.
No. Fucking. Way.
I’d be willing to let him pay my rent and utilities if he needed to prove he was the breadwinner, but there was no way I was going to give myself access to his money. Nope. Not happening.
I was pulling a couple of towels out of the linen closet when the doorbell rang, and I actually contemplated freezing in place, hoping that whoever it was would go away. But when the bell sounded second time, I told myself to quit being a tool and answer the damn door.
When I pressed my eye to the peephole, I saw Gabriel’s profile and wondered what he was doing knocking? And why the hell was he off work so early? I swung the door open, and when Gabriel turned towards me and smiled, I realized why he had knocked instead of letting himself in.
What the hell was Michael Buchanan doing here?
I opened the door and stepped to the side, letting him in. I shut the door and turned to him, crossing my arms over my chest. “Gabriel’s not here, Michael,” I said, positive that’s the reason he was here. I mean, why else would Michael Buchanan make an hour’s drive commute if not to see his twin?
He ignored me, making himself comfy on the couch. Once he got comfortable, he grinned up at me and it gave me chills how gorgeous he was. Michael had a small sliver of a scar underneath his eye that he’s always had since I’ve ever known him, and that was the only way I could tell them apart physically.
And while he was Gabriel’s exact replica, Michael had an aura about him that made him untouchably stunning, whereas Gabriel was hot as sin.
“I’m not here for Gabe, Justice,” he answered through his smile. “I’m here to see you.”
My arms dropped to my side and nervousness took over. I’ve never spoken with Michael in any real capacity growing up. He’d greet me, make a casual remark or tease a little, but we’ve never really spoken or had a conversation. “Wh…why?”
Michael cocked his head at me and kept his smile in place. Those damn dimples were fucking with me. “Why don’t you come sit down, Sis,” he instructed as he patted the cushion next to him.
No fucking way was I sitting next to this man. He might be here to chop me up into little pieces because I was making his brother unhappy. Nope. Instead, I took the armchair facing the couch, and did my best to ignore the pang in my chest when he called me Sis. “What are you doing here, Michael?” I wasn’t a coward, but the last time this man was in my apartment, I was screaming at his brother like a certified psycho.
“Do you love my brother?” he asked, point blank.
I’m sure my face conveyed my shock. I was not expecting him to get so personal, so quickly. It was a few seconds before I could answer. “Y…” I cleared my throat. If we were going to do this, I didn’t want to sound like a tool. “Yes, I do.”
“Why?”
This time I didn’t even try to mask my shock at his question. I was completely dumbfounded as that was not a question I was expecting. “W…what do you mean, why?”
Michael leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, clasping his hand together in front of him. “I mean exactly that, Justice,” he replied smoothly. “Why do you love Gabriel?”
Was this a test?
“I…well…” I trailed off, not sure how to answer him.
His brows rose. “You don’t know why you love my brother?” But before I could answer, Michael went on. “See, that’s the one thing I don’t understand with all of this. You accused my brother of some serious neglect-to which he fully admits to-but to hear what you think of him…well, why would you love someone who mistreated you? How could you fall in love with someone who treated you badly? I’m not accusing you of anything, or trying to insult your feelings, Justice. I just want you to help me understand, if you will.”
I stared at his face and saw Gabriel and my eyes started to water. I didn’t know the answer to Michael’s question because a little bit of the truth was starting to seep through the cracks of my righteousness.
Gabriel didn’tmistreatme, per se. Whenever we were together, he was always attentive and spent every second being wrapped around me in some way, shape or fashion. Those times were wonderful. It was the times when he was away that were sad and unbearable.
Michael’s smile faded into a small, understanding grimace. “Can I tell you what I think?” I nodded mutely, tears still in my eyes. “I think you fell in love with Gabe because Gabe’s a great guy. I think you fell in love with him because all the times he was with you, he wasreallywith you. Nothing outside you guys being together matter to Gabriel, and you can’t tell me he didn’t show you that side of him,” he said, defending his brother. “Gabriel fell in love with you three days after meeting you, Justice. He fell in love with you and didn’t know anything else after that. I can see why you would think that it was just sex for him, but if it was just sex…what made you fall in love with him?”
The tears fell as Michael made me relive every time I’ve ever been with Gabriel through a new set of eyes. They fell as I remembered all the times Gabriel would jump on me the second he saw me, consuming me, as if he hadn’t seen me in years. I remembered all the times he would massage and worship my body in between bouts of sex. I remembered the bubble baths. I remember all the dinners we cooked together. I remembered the little notes he’d leave me after I fell asleep.
But what I remember most was the night we lost our virginities. I had blocked out his words because I had been too young, too nervous and too enthralled with Gabriel Buchanan to actually understand what they had meant at the time. But I understood now.
Gabriel had covered me with his body, and piercing me with those intense green eyes of his, he had said,“Years from now you’re never going to have to search the back of your mind to remember this night, Justice, because I plan on giving you this night for the rest of your life.”
