Page 82 of Somehow You Knew

When Hazel left this morning, she barely said two words to me, which has been our norm since last weekend—when she went off on me and then asked me to spank her.

The number of times I’ve jacked off to that mental image is probably unhealthy, but fuck if I didn’t want to color her ass red for calling me on my shit.

I shouldn’t have left those drawings on her bed. But I worked on them in my spare time at the tattoo parlor last week—when all I could seem to think about was her. So I guess I wanted to give her something that would make her think of me.

Andthat’s the fucking problem. I told myself I wouldn’t let my feelings get involved, but here we are. And I think it’s safe to say that Hazel is developing feelings too—the most prominent of which is lust.

God, I want nothing more than to fuck her and finally release all this pent-up energy between us. Giving in would solve a lot of my immediate issues—sexual frustration being the main one. But the aftermath would be messy, and Hazel doesn’t deserve that.

She doesn’t deserve the lack of a real future she’d have with me. Because she deserves everything.

“You sure you don’t want a beer?” Dallas holds out an ice-cold Coors Light.

“Nah, I’m good.” I pat my stomach. “Trying to watch my figure.”

Part of me wants to say the hell with it and give in, but I’ve already had more alcohol than I’m supposed to since I moved to Carrington Cove. If Miranda found out, she’d give me the lecture I’d deserve.

“You have to have a few beers with us next weekend while we’re in Blossom Peak.” Parker comes up behind me, slapping me on the back.

“I’m not a big drinker, but I’ll probably have a couple.” The Sheppard brothers stand side-by-side, studying me now. “What?”

“Shall I go first?” Penn asks his brothers.

Parker shrugs. “Sure. I’ll follow your lead.”

Dallas doesn’t say anything, so Penn continues. “What are your intentions with our sister?”

My pulse spikes. “Excuse me?”

Penn takes a step closer to me. “Look, I’m going to be the first one to admit that I wasn’t pleased with the circumstances of this marriage. But after seeing you two together and getting to know you these past few months… You fit in well with our family and you’ve proven that you have Hazel’s back, so continuing to have you as a brother-in-law wouldn’t be so bad.”

Parker nods. “Yeah. What he said.”

Dallas clears his throat. “But you two have obviously not talked about what’s going on between you.”

“And what’s going on between us?” I ask, crossing my arms and hating how transparent our issues are that even her brothers are picking up on them.

Parker smirks. “At dinner last weekend, she looked like she either wanted to murder you or jump your bones.”

Penn smacks Parker on the back of the head. “Don’t say shit like that about our sister.”

Parker scoffs. “Are you seriously naïve enough to think that those two haven’t already fucked?”

I decide that’s my moment to chime in. “Don’t fucking talk about our sex life, all right? Mainly because we don’t have one…not that it’s any of your business.”

Dallas takes a few steps toward me. “Look, I’m not a moron. I see the way you look at our sister, man. All I’m saying is don’t fuck with her feelings. If this is just platonic for you, keep it that way. Hazel feels shit hard, and the last thing I want is to watch her try to pick herself up after you tear her down.” He pauses for a second before making sure I hear his threat fully. “Because if you do? I’ll make damn sure you feel every ounce of that pain.”

“I see.”

“As intimidating as my older brothers are trying to be, take it from the three of us,” Parker tosses his thumb at his brothers. “We all had moments with our women that required us to make some fucking decisions. I recognize that same look on your face, man. Just make sure whatever you decide that our sister knows where you’re at mentally. She’s going to get hurt in this no matter what, but the level of that hurt can be diminished if you figure out whatyouwant.”

I nod, not sure what else I’m supposed to do.

Parker claps his hands. “Good. Now, before we can accept you fully into our family, we have devised a way for you to prove your loyalty.”

Penn shakes his head. “I wasn’t in favor of this, but apparently I’m being dragged into it anyway.”

I turn my attention to Dallas. “What the hell is going on?”