Page 113 of Bastard

“I love her.”

Mouths drop wide open. I catch Madelyn’s broad grin.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Why’d I let her talk me into this?”

I cock my head. “There’s still time to back out.”

McDuff kicks off his shoes and rolls up his sleeves. “Why do I get the feeling I’m a can short of a six-pack?”

I step into the circle, as does McDuff.

He grins at me, like he’s got all the time in the world.

I smile back, sweetly.

It becomes a waiting game. Unlike Diego, who always rushes in for the attack, McDuff bides his time. And he spends it trying to make me angry.

“Your brother has the temperament of a feral donkey.”

Diego curses. I laugh.

“Your mate over there—”

“You mean my husband?”

He pauses. “Your husband over there. The day he smiles is the day I wager my entire savings on a horse named Loser.”

“Better call the bank. Because my husband’s got a grin on him like he’s been three pesos shy of feeding you your dick.”

“Jaysus.” McDuff’s eyes dart toward Hayden then narrow back on me. “Ye really are the perfect match for him.”

He licks his lower lip.

I brace myself.

He licks it again, and then with lightning speed that contradicts every preconceived notion I’ve formed about this laid-back, easy-going man, he bursts forward.

I will myself to hold steady until he’s within reach, then I duck left, tangle my legs between his, throw my full weight to the right, and with as much force as possible, slam into his big, brawny body with everything I have.

“A dirty fighter, she is,” he cries out, toppling sideways and backward, then landing flat on his ass.

“Finn,” Clarissa calls out. “Sometimes you really are an idiot.”

Madelyn and her sister begin clapping. My brother shouts in victory. And Hayden, Dios, Hayden sweeps me up in his arms. Then, without a word to any of them, stalks off.

“I’ll hang onto your winnings for you, Luciana,” Madelyn calls out.

“Where’s he taking her?”

Hayden carries me around the side of the house and, as soon as we fall out of sight, presses me up against one of the large boulders that decorate our yard.

My thigh is lifted.

His erection freed.

And in one fluid movement, he pushes inside of me. “What if someone follows us?” I murmur.

“They won’t.”