Page 20 of Fragile Lives

He gives me a heavy stare. “We both know that you’ve got a kink.”

I raise a brow, curious how he knows about it. We sure as fuck never shared partners. To be clear, I’ve never shared partners with any other men I know, nor will I. Two women on the other hand…

“And what do you know about my kink?” I challenge.

“More than I care to, and I don’t want my sister near it. Are we clear on this?”

I hate being ordered around—it never sits well with me. It’s one of the reasons I always got in trouble in the Navy. But Alex is like family to me, and I don’t want to lose him because my dick leads me the wrong way. I’d never disrespect his family like that even without his warning. Even if the temptation is strong. So strong.

I’ve seen beautiful woman in my life—and Leilaisbeautiful—but she is also something else. The air around her is of a different color. It’s bright but has little, dark engravings, not visible to everyone. She has this aura of confidence and calmness. It clashes with her youth and purity, making her so unique. I like unique things. I like to collect them on my body in the form of art.

She is vibrant.

“We are.” I finally nod, deciding to end this conversation because otherwise, it won’t go anywhere good. He made his opinion known, and I accept it.

“Good,” he says, looking between the house and the road she disappeared on. “Something is up with her.”

“Yeah,” I agree easily, as I was thinking the same thing.

“You noticed that too?” He sends me a curious look. “She came back to the table acting differently.”

“Yep.” I cross my arms over my chest, hoping he’ll stop questioning.

No such luck. Well-deserved. “I thought it was because you said something to her,” he says, voice full of snark. I bite my tongue, trying not to let out a smart-ass remark.

“I thought so too,” I say instead.

“Really?” He turns to face me. “And what did you say to her?”

“Nothing that concerns you, Alex.” I meet his stare with one of my own. “She’s a big girl.”

“And she’s my sister.” He gives me one just as heavy.

“I know,” I say slowly, showing him Igetit.

“Alright. Let’s go back inside.” He shivers. “It’s fucking cold out here. I don’t know how you’re never cold. Fuckin’ beats me, man.”

“It’s my British blood talking,” I laugh. “It’s made of ice.”

“I doubt that,” he mumbles under his breath, but I still hear it and decide to let it slide. Too many deep conversations for one evening.

“You’re gonna be a father, huh.” I eye him as I say it—I’ve never thought of him as a dad, but now I see it’s happening. The right partner and the right time.

“Yeah.” He scratches his damaged cheek. “I’ll be the worst fucking dad on the planet.”

I laugh and smack him on the back. “You’ll be the best. I know that. Let’s go.”

With that, we go back to the house. Everyone moved to the living room. When I lean against the doorframe, Kenneth walks over to me, a steaming mug in his hand.

“Do we need to have a talk?” he asks tiredly.

“Alex already did.”

“Good.” His tone cheers up. “Saves me the trouble. I just want to add that you wouldn’t be the first guy whose nose I broke for her. I’m sure you wouldn’t be the last.”

I send him a curious stare, surprised to hear that. Not that she got around a lot, but that whoever got her first let her go. If I was younger and cleaner and had someone like her, I’d hold onto her with all my might. No number of broken bones would stop me.

“Did she date a lot?”