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"No, I can't."

"Bullshit. What didn't he tell me?"

"You really want to know?"

"Obviously."

I hate feeling like I'm not in the loop. I hate how Jax makes me feel stupid.

I hate the rumbling in my gut telling me that what happened between Cayden and me last night was too good to be true.

What if this is all a trick? What if they're all just fucking with me as they're fucking me, laughing at me behind my back while I go ahead and get invested?

It wouldn't be the first time.

Jesus, what if this is Richard all over again?

Jax pulls me out of my spiral with a hand on my shoulder. The weight of his grip is steadying, somehow, even though a part of me wants to push him away. He tucks a finger under my chin until our gazes lock.

"You know what being in the service together does to guys, right? We're brothers. Forever."

"Okaaay…"

"That means no one gets between us. Especially not a woman."

And there's that churning in my gut again. Great. So it really is as bad as I think.

"Message received." I start to shrug out of his grip, but he holds on tight this time, refusing to let me pass.

"No. I don't think it has been."

"Bros before hoes, blah blah blah. He can't be with anybody—

He speaks over me. "None of us can be with anybody. No one leaves, not for anyone."

"Well, enjoy your little monastery, then. Hope you all love your right hands."

When I try to peel away again, he's having none of it. He slams me back into the wall. The movement takes me completely by surprise. I turn my gaze up at him, stunned, but he's looming over me, crowding me in with his bulk, and he smells so good. My blood is up, the arousal of anger bleeding into the arousal of a hot, hard body so close to mine.

I shake my head, but he doesn't let me get a word out.

"None of us can be with anyone unless she's willing to be withallof us. Unless all of us want to be with her."

Oh.

Oh.

He hasn't left me any room to doubt, but my mind instantly revolts. No, there's no way that can be right.

And even if it was…

"So what, you're the hold out?"

I have no idea if Sergio or Deandre wants to get with me, but Jax hates me. He always has. Right?

Doubt creeps in.

And then he leans closer. I shiver uncontrollably, my skin tingling with hot, wrong desire when he puts his lips right nextto my ear. "I'm the one who told Cayden he needed to fuck you first. Because otherwise I could never, ever dothis."