Page 64 of Release Me

In true Rian style, he flips back to his old friend humour. ‘In that case, fuck the fireworks, feign a headache, and meet me in my bed in ten minutes.’ He forces a wide smile, but there’s no missing the ache in his eyes.

‘How about we join your family for the fireworks, then feign we’re tired, because we’re the only couple who didn’t sleep earlier.’

Couple.

Ha. I wish…

‘Deal.’ He presses a kiss to the tip of my nose. ‘Now take that “fuck me” look off your face, or they’ll know what we were up to.’

‘I have a feeling they know already.’

Chapter Twenty-Seven

RIAN

‘Nice of you to join us,’ Sean comments as we step into the drawing room. His eyebrow flicks up. Out of all my brothers, he’s the one I actually admitted my feelings for Rebekka to first. The others joke and tease and make their innuendoes, but Sean knows the depth of my feelings, the extent of my obsession with her, and judging by the concern etched into his expression, he’s concerned about the fallout of this.

So am I.

God help me, I wish things could be different.

I knew she was exceptional the first time I saw her at her engagement party.

But now? Every hour I spend with her knots me tighter. Draws me in deeper. I want her so badly it hurts. Not just sexually. In every way.

But it isn’t fair.

Not to her, not to me.

Whether I like it or not, she’s married, and if Anthony ever discovered how far I’ve strayed, the friendship between us would become a war.

Not that he feels much like a friend these days. I barely recognise the man as the boy I grew up with.

Worse still, if Rebekka left him for me, she would lose everything—the publishing house, her reputation, her privacy. The press would devour her alive, and I’d be the villain in every headline.

This can’t possibly end well.

Which is why we have to stop.

For her sake. And for mine. Because this thing between us doesn’t just have the potential to shatter my heart, it has the potential to obliterate both of our worlds.

After tonight, I’ll let her go.

Just… not yet.

‘Rian was just showing me the library,’ Rebekka answers Sean smoothly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

‘I bet he was.’ Avery nudges Ivy, the two of them grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Clearly they don’t have a problem with their friend evening the score with her husband. Knowing them, they probably encouraged it, but still, it doesn’t make it right.

‘It’s something else, isn’t it?’ My mother’s eagle eyes dart between Rebekka and I like she’s only seeing us for the first time, and right there in that split second, I know she knows. I never could hide anything from her, not even when I was a kid. She presses her lips together with a thoughtful expression. ‘Drink?’ She motions to the tray of champagne filled flutes. I reach for one and pass it to Rebekka, then head towards the sideboard where a crystal decanter is filled with our family’s finest whiskey.

Scarlett rises from her seat, smoothing a hand over her silver, sparkly dress. ‘Right, now we’re all here…’

‘You couldn’t be pregnant again?’ Caelon’s jaw almost hits the floor.

Scarlett’s laughter trickles from her tongue. ‘No!’

‘But I’m working on it.’ James winks at Caelon.