Lennox slides his arm around my shoulder and squeezes. “That’s right,” he says, grinning proudly at his brother. “She said yes. Show them the ring, Sunshine.”
I don’t want to. This all feels terribly wrong. My stomach is tight, and my whole body feels shaky and weak. I can’t even meet Maddox’s eyes. Dread weighs my hand down, but Lennox picks it up and holds it out to show them the small ring he got me until we can afford something nicer. I should be happy. I’m engaged. We’re announcing it to his family. He’s happy, all smiles now as he shows off his girl and the ring. So what is my problem?
Maddox stares at my hand for a second, and then he laughs and shoves the bite of chicken in his mouth, blackened skin included. “You get that at the pawn shop or K-Mart?”
Lennox glares. “At least I bought it with honest money.”
“Money is money,” Maddox says. “Nothing honest about it. But I like the ring.That’shonest.”
“What does that mean?” Lennox growls.
“Boys,” Valeria warns.
“It says someone’s settling,” Maddox says, leveling his brother with a stare. “That’s she’s okay with second best.”
I feel Lennox tense beside me, and I grab his hand before we can have a repeat of the fight in the bedroom. “Or maybe it says that love matters more than money,” I say. “That a marriage matters more than a ring.”
“You should trademark that,” Maddox says. “The universal slogan for a consolation prize.”
“Rae’s not a consolation prize,” Lennox snaps.
“Oh, I wasn’t talking about her,” Maddox says, smirking down at me. His hand lands on my knee, and my whole body goes rigid. I hate the way I feel when he touches me—I hate that I love it. Despite everything he’s done, and no matter how much I tell myself I hate him, I can’t stop the way my blood flows hotter at his touch. I still crave it despite the cruelty of the man attached to those hands, wielding that touch like a deadly, seductive poison.
“Lennox isn’t a consolation prize, either,” I say, forcing myself to focus and not be distracted by the warmth of his hand on my knee. “He’s a man who knows that a girl’s worth lasts more than one night.”
“Someone’s pissed she got played,” Maddox taunts. “Aw, does your pussy still hurt?”
“Not from you,” I shoot back.
“That’s enough,” Valeria says, smacking her hand down on the table. “I will not have this talk at my dinner table. Rae, you’re part of the family now, so you’re going to have to learn to get along. Lennox, have some compassion for your brother. Maddox, I know you’re upset, but could you at least try to find some happiness in your heart for your brother?”
“Oh, I’m very happy for him,” Maddox says, his fingers biting into my flesh. “He gets to enjoy all this every night. Who wouldn’t want that for his brother, his twin, the person he loves and trusts most in all the world?”
He relaxes his fingers and moves his hand up my thigh in one motion, pushing my dress with it. I almost yelp at the contact of his warm, strong fingers stroking up the sensitive skin of my inner thigh. I want to slap it away, but I know Lennox will pounce the moment he sees Maddox’s hands on me. Tonight’s supposed to be the night we move into our new place, not a hospital. And the way these guys brawl, that could very well be the end result if we don’t keep it under control.
“Good,” Valeria says, turning to us.
“Yes, ma’am,” I say, managing to keep my voice normal despite the racing of my pulse.
“She’s right,” Lennox grumbles, glaring at Maddox. “Just because you don’t see any use for a girl after one night, doesn’t mean she’s useless. And just because I saw something of value that you missed, that doesn’t mean you can come in and take it from me.”
“I said, that’s enough,” Valeria snarls. “I will not have you fighting under my roof.”
Lennox answers in Spanish, his tone heated, and they argue for a minute.
While they’re distracted, I shoot Maddox a murderous glare. He gives me a cool smile in return and hooks his foot around the leg of my chair, scooting it up until I’m pressed against the table. His hand is now buried deep between my thighs, pushing against the heat at my center. I think I’m going to faint when he strokes his little finger slowly against my panties. An explosion of tingling heat rushes over my body, and it’s all I can do not to close my eyes and moan. I fight to swallow, casting a desperate glance at Lennox. How can I alert him without sending him over the edge and getting him killed?
I glance at Maddox again. He’s watching me, a smug smile pulling at the corners of his lips. He knows what he’s doing. He knows that if I tell Lennox, Lennox will pounce, and Maddox will get what he wants—to beat the shit out of his brother. He’s bigger and stronger, and this time, I have a feeling he won’t hold back.
Lennox and Valeria fall silent, and tension crackles in the air over the table. Maddox’s finger traces the seam of my lips through my underwear while he takes a sip of wine and sets his glass down. My clit throbs at his touch, and I feel blood rushing between my legs, swelling my flesh and wetting me in anticipation.
“Has terminado?”Maddox asks, quirking a brow at his brother.
“Si,”Lennox grunts, then turns to me. “Sorry.”
I nod and almost choke when I feel Maddox’s little finger move to my other thigh as he adjusts his hand, so his middle and first finger slip under the damp fabric of my panties. There’s no way he won’t feel how wet I am now.
I want to die of humiliation.