“Okay, that’s it,” he says after another thoughtful moment of reflection.
I clear my throat and tell myself that it’s not as bad as it seems. That he’s still trying to wrap his head around what he saw or may only be exactly what he just said—shock.
“Listen, this isn’t how I was expecting tonight to go. Like, at all. I could have easily kept this outside of work had I known that Xavier felt this way about me, but your bullshit accusations about how all I see in him is money is a good way to get your ass kicked,” I bark, pointing a finger at him.
Colin shakes his head woefully, which tells me that I may have missed something in his dissertation about why he’s acting so goddamn differently now.
“And if this is going to be an issue, as it clearly appears it is, then I’ll find a job somewhere else. But in the meantime, you’re going to just have to learn to work beside someone that has sex with their stepbrother.”
Even if we haven’t done anything past blowjobs and hand jobs yet.
“I’m trying to tell you that I want to be seen by you! By both of you!” he shouts, throwing his hands in the air. “You haven’t even noticed the crush I have on you. Either that or you’ve been willfully blind to it, but seeing what you can do with your mouth … God, Amos. It made me so fucking jealous that it wasn’t me on the receiving end.”
Oh.
I take in a breath, then let it out as I stare into Colin’s eyes. I have a feeling that he wants the idea of being with me and Xavier, but doesn’t realize what that would really entail.
My brother is a control freak. It has to be his way or no way at all, and he’s not exactly gentle when he gets what he wants. He has a habit of breaking his toys—using them and abusing them until he’s bored, then he moves on.
I don’t expect to be treated any differently, and I would feel like shit for getting Colin mixed up with the mind fuck I know is heading my way.
“Um,” I begin again, a little gentler as I rub the back of my neck. “I’m super flattered. I know how this sounds already, but now it’s your turn to let me finish.” Colin nods as he tries his best to keep the dejected look off his face. “Xavier is extremely territorial. Once he gets something, he doesn’t like to share it. Or let anyone even touch or look at it for that matter,” I continue with an eye roll. “I really don’t think this is something a sweet guy like you should be mixed up in,” I finish softly.
“Could we at least maybe try?” he asks, a sliver of hope tinting his tone. “No one would have to know. I don’t even know if this is something I want, honestly. But I felt something when I saw the two of you, and I want to feel it again.”
I swallow the hard lump in my throat as I cast a glance toward the kitchen. Suzie’s popped in and I can’t tell if it’s with an order or a complaint, so I just nod uncertainly.
This can work itself out later.
“I need to finish taking inventory. Go see what she needs,” I tell him, nodding at the young, pretty girl waiting patiently by the order counter.
Colin holds my eyes for another few seconds before he nods then goes out to take care of Suzie.
As I lean over and go back to the list, I pick up the pencil with trembling hands and let out a sigh.
He isn’t going to go with it, but if I can try to keep them apart, maybe he’ll go with it instead. Besides, Xavier isn’t a one gal kind of guy; another thing I know he’d never change for me.
Chapter Seventeen
Xavier
What, the, fuck did I just hear?
I glance around the diner. Everyone is staring at the door leading to the kitchen; Katy, Red, and all of the other patrons. I’m on my feet before I’ve even finished processing my shock and anger at hearing someone else raising their voice to Amos, not to mention what was said.
Is that kid for fucking real? He ran like his ass was on fire when he saw us out back, has accused Amos of being shallow, and now he’s wanting to cozy up with Amos? That’s one hell of a one-eighty, and he’s dreaming if he thinks I’ll let someone else put their hands on my brother or even look at him without my say-so. Not happening. Look, maybe, but never touch. Besides, I think we’d scare the shit out of the kid, though a twisted part of me is keen on the idea of showing him exactly how far we’re willing to go.
Amos is more than likely a real freak in the sheets, and an innocent kid like that would never be able to keep up with guys like us. I make my way out of the booth and toward the kitchen, past a stunned Katy who doesn’t even try to stop me this time. I catch sight of a flash of red as the door swings shut, and shake my head.
Little Red must be giving them a heads up that the shit is about to hit the fan. Amos is mine, he’s my brother, my fucking boy, and I’m not going to let some wide-eyed kid with dreams bigger than he is interfere with what I have in mind for him.
I’ve barely had a taste, barely scratched the surface of Amos’ skin, I want to dive in deep and make him bleed for me. It’s not about the harassment, or the humiliation, it’s about control. He makes me lose it, and it feels so damn good. He’s the only person who I will allow to wrest it away from me, no one else.
I burst through the kitchen door, rage burning in my stomach along with a desperate need I’ve never experienced before. Suzie is standing next to the busboy, whispering a frantic warning that everyone heard him. They fall silent when they see me, looking like deer caught in the headlights, and the busboy pales even further when he sees the expression on my face.
I smirk, drawing closer to the two of them. She runs, probably to get Katy but I stop her with a hand on her arm.
“I’m not going to do anything to him, I just want a private word. Maybe you can go calm down your customers and take a few orders while I do that?” I tell her, holding her in a loose grip until she nods and scurries off.