Page 27 of Unbound

I lean in closer, my skin warming. “Something did happen between us, but then he said he wouldn’t touch me again if I told him not to. I didn’t, but it’s been two weeks since then. I just figured he … didn’t want to deal with my emotional roller coaster. I’m kind of a mess.”

Sterling is headed back with the jacket, moving toward us through the growing crowd. He stands a head above almost everyone.

Duke leans closer. “I promise you, he’s thinking you don’t want him—that’s it. I know my brother. He’s obsessed with you. Let me prove it to you. I’ll make a move on you, and he’ll kick my ass.”

I gape at him, shaking my head. “Duke, no. I don’t want you to⁠—”

“Shh, trust me. If I try to kiss you and he comes after me, you gotta invite him into the bed tonight. He’d never actually hit me over a girl he’s not into. Deal?”

My heart is pounding in my chest. I want to say no. This is crazy. Duke is a maniac.

But on the other hand, part of me wants to know if he’s telling the truth. Also, the idea of Sterling punching his own brother over me makes my toes curl inside my boots.

I feel myself nodding as Sterling wraps the jacket around my shoulders.

“How are the tacos?”

9

STERLING

My idiot brother has been a pain in the ass all night long. He keeps bumping into Eden, asking her if she likes this song and even going so far as to ask her to dance.

He’s such a man-whore.

I didn’t realize how bad it was until tonight. I finally butted into their third dance together and got rid of him. Eden had never danced before tonight, but she leaned into me and let me lead, eyes shimmering in the overhead lights. I knew getting her out of the house tonight would be the right move. She’s been cooped up for weeks.

When we finally get home around one a.m., Duke is singing so loud that I’m concerned he’ll wake up the neighbors.

I get the door open, letting Eden go in first before shoving my way in ahead of Duke.

“Where am I gonna sleep? Can I share the bed with you, E?”

“No,” I growl, resisting the ever-present urge to strangle him with my bare hands.

“Then I want the couch,” he protests.

“No. You get the floor.”

Eden has kicked her boots off. She stands up straight, exhaling as she rolls her neck.

“Here, let me give you a shoulder massage,” Duke dares to offer, stepping toward her.

I see red. Before Eden even has a chance to respond, my right hand has fully wrapped around my brother’s neck. I shove him against the wall, my left hook making its way around to deck him in the side of his face.

I don’t even feel the pain as I pound into him. He starts laughing like the complete psychopath he is after the second hit.

“I knew it!” He knees me in the gut, temporarily loosening my hold on him.

“Touch my wife again, and you’re a dead man.” I throw him to the side.

He crashes into the floor lamp, knocking it over as the blood from his nose splatters on the floor. Eden is standing back by the couch, face so pale that I’m afraid she’s not breathing.

I release an exhale before stepping closer to her. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

Her lips are parted, eyes wide. But she doesn’t look afraid, like I expected. She looks … intrigued. She licks her lips, nodding.

“Is he … is he okay?”