Page 59 of InfraRed
My head tilts to the side, lips still close to him, but my eyes are on her. “Just issuing a friendly warning. Abrotherlywarning ifyou must.”
Scarlet explodes across her cheeks as she spins on her heels.
“Next time, keep your hands—and eyes—to yourself before you lose them,” I grind out, then release him to go after Casey.
She only makes it a couple of feet before I grab her, halting her steps. “Where do you think you’re going, Sunflower?”
“Trying to go home.” Her voice is barely above a hissed whisper as those blue eyes bore into mine with venom. She’s pissed, and I like it because no one else gets this from her. There’s no one else she’s comfortable enough with to be this raw and honest with her emotions. “Let go before someone sees.”
“Sees what? An overprotective brother?” I pull her to my chest, earning a gasp as her palms slap against my chest. Those flawless oceanic depths stare up at me with wariness and want clashing in their midst. A shudder ripples through her body as my lips brush the shell of her ear, and a smirk slides across my face as the responsiveness of her body to mine. Even in anger and fear, despite her words or what she tries to convince herself, her body doesn’t lie. It’s why I hate myself for needing her words so often, but with her, it’s not consent I need. I need her, not only unafraid to admit what she wants but to own it, willing to say it aloud to everyone. “Or do you see a very jealous man who doesn’t appreciate another man’s hands on his woman?”
Her lashes flutter against her cheeks. She loves that I claim her, but she cannot let go of what her mind is telling her.
The mind is a strange thing. It’s where logic and reason reside. Without the heart, it would die. You can follow your head, denying your heart for a while, but eventually, the organ that pumps life through you will reign, whether you like it or not.
Trust me. Even hundreds of miles away, I learned that lesson.
Her lips part with a stuttered gasp. She’s in my arms, her lipsa breath from mine. We’re blocking the sidewalk, no doubt drawing attention from those exiting the rehearsal space and many others, but they may as well be invisible as I lose myself in those endless pools that stare at me with astonishment and adoration she cannot conceal.
“Y-you can’t say things like that,” she breathes against my lips.
“I can say anything I want, especially when it’s true.”
“Some-someone might see us—hear you.”
“No one is paying attention to us,” I lie. “But even if they were, I wouldn’t care.”
“We… you… You said—”
“I would give you time.” A silky strand falls across her face, and I twine it around my fingers before tucking it behind her ear, then allow my knuckles to skim her neck before I drop my hands and step away. I’ve pushed her enough for now, but I won’t deny her look of disappointment and loss gives me great satisfaction. “I will give you time, but time doesn’t change that you are mine. And when someone thinks they can take what’s mine, I will show them why they never will. I don’t share or play well with others, Casey. You need to remember that now.” I jerk my head toward the car, gesturing for her to go. She bites her lip, feet not moving. I lift a brow, wanting to grab her, barely resisting. “It wasn’t a request, Sunflower.”
Her shoulders pull back, and her chin tilts up.That’s it, baby. Show everyone how strong you are.The cutest pout purses her lips as she stomps toward the car. A deep chuckle rumbles in my chest.
Shoving my hands in my pockets, I follow with thin pressed lips to hide my grin. “Nice job playing the spoiled, bratty little sister.” I tease as I reach around where she leans against my car with her arms folded across her chest giving me the stink eye.
“He wasn’t trying to…” Her hands wave in the air in annoyance. “He wasn’t interested in me like that.”
I open the door and gesture for her to get inside, not acknowledging what she just said because she’s oblivious to her beauty and the effect it has on men. She starts to slide into the passenger seat, poking her tongue out at me, when I grab her arm. “Better watch who you stick that tongue out at. You might not like how I put it to use.”
Her brows dip in confusion before leaping to her forehead as a tiny noise escapes her. I shove her into the car with her mouth hanging open, then return to my side. Unasked questions bore into the side of my head as I start the engine. The ticking of the turn signal chimes through the car as I check the mirrors and pull into traffic, noticing Will merging a couple of car lengths behind me. Finally, I give the unspoken curiosity in the air my attention. “Don’t just stare, baby. You didn’t use to hold back with me.”
“Actually, I held back a lot.” I’m sure I’m not meant to hear it, but I do. It makes my teeth grind to keep the questions in my head at bay; questions I probably don’t want answered.
“Ask what you want, Case.”
“It’s… Well, it’s two things, actually. One question and one statement.” She watches me, I guess waiting for a response.
“Okay. Ask me your question.”
“Why me?”
Fuck, my jaw is starting to hurt with how often I find myself grinding my teeth to hold my tongue. Snapping at her will make her shut down, if not trigger a damn panic attack.Patience.It’s what I keep reminding myself she needs. She doesn’t say it, but I know she’s got a lot of trauma because of her psycho bitch egg donor.
Silently, I count to ten in my head as I try to find the words to answer her question.
Another funny thing about the heart, it doesn’t like a lot of bullshit talk. And emotions can’t be explained with words. Not really. We try, but how do you explain feelings and sensations, and even if I could, it doesn’t answer her question.
“Casey,” I sigh, accepting that nothing I say will help her understand, “one day you will look in the mirror and you’re going to see what I do. You’ll see how beautiful you are. And I don’t mean just physically, but, baby, you’ve turned into the most stunning woman I’ve laid eyes on. What I mean is you’ll see the kindness that radiates out of you. Your heart is huge. You’re loyal and gentle and so goddamn strong. You accept people for who they are. You don’t try to change them. You never ask for anything, but you’re always willing to give. You listen without saying a word, knowing sometimes a person just needs to vent. You never judge. In fact, you search for reasons to excuse behavior you shouldn’t, taking blame on yourself when others treat you badly. And I fucking hate that you do it, but it’s another reason I…” I clear my throat, stopping myself before I say something I’m not ready to say and she’s not ready to hear. “The question should never be why you. It should be how in the hell could it not be you?”