“It’s Kady. I’m so, so sorry, I didn’t know you just got out of the shower, I was too busy fighting with my sister to hear the water running. Fuck, I’m so sorry.” I want to explode into a million pieces.
“Cora. It’s fine. I’m decent.”
I release a long breath and turn around.
Except he’s most definitely not decent.
But at least he’s wearing a pair of boxer briefs. They don’t leave much to the imagination—I can definitely see the outline of his cock and wow, is he actually half hard right now?—but at least he’s covered.
“Tell me what’s going on,” he says.
I give him a rundown of what happened downstairs and how Kady ran off. “It was such a stupid argument but now she’s gone. I’m worried she’s going after Jaxson.”
“That’s not happening.” He pulls on a shirt and steps into some jeans. “She has no clue where he’s headed even if she wanted to follow.”
“We need to go after her. Something’s going on with her and I don’t understand what.”
“No.” He stares at me, hair wet, body hard and beautiful, and all I want to do is scream in his face.
“Nolan, please. I don’t have a car or else I’d do it myself. Just lend me your keys, I’ll drive around—”
“No, Cora. We’re not going after her.”
I stare at him and my mouth falls open. I try to find the words to explain but nothing comes out. He doesn’t understand. if we don’t do this right now, Kady might do something drastic and stupid, and I’m terrified that she’s running on the edge right now. I’ve never seen her like this before and it’s freaking me out, and I don’t want her to be alone, not with whatever’s going on inside of her right now. I need to find her, explain that I’m not doing any of this to hurt her, that I love her, make her see what I’m here for her no matter what, and maybe things will be okay. Maybe I can get my sister back.
“Nolan,” I whisper and my voice comes out choked.
He doesn’t soften. Instead, he walks toward me, big and menacing. I back up until I bump against the doorframe and he leans over me, pinning me there with his eyes.
“Kady made her choice. She ran away. I’m sick and tired of dropping everything to go chase after your sister so we can fix her mistakes.”
“You can’t mean that. We have to help her.”
“I do mean it. If I have to choose between you and Kady, it’s you every single time.”
“Nolan.” I shove at his chest but it’s like pushing a marble column. “You asshole. It’s not a choice between us at all.”
“You’re not used to being someone’s priority, are you? When you’re the most important person to someone, that means everyone else can go get fucked. You’re my number one, Cora. You’re the person I’ll do anything to protect.”
“But she’s the one in trouble.”
“And she’s going to keep on being in trouble,” he whispers and there’s no pity in his eyes. I try to push him again but he knocks my hands away. His other hand snakes into my hair and pulls tight, and I gasp as he pins me to the doorframe with his body. “What don’t you get? Kady made her choice.”
“You forced this on her. You made her lure Jaxson into a trap and now she’s feeling too guilty to think straight.”
“Do you really believe that? Little miss innocent Kady Stone? Like she doesn’t know exactly what she’s doing.”
I glare at him, blood boiling with a wild mixture of desire, hate, anger, and dripping lust. Flashes of the night before whip through my mind. “Don’t be a prick. Help me keep my sister safe.”
“I mean it. Kady’s been involved with guys in the ORB for way longer than you realize. You think your sister’s a saint?”
I shake my head fiercely, even if it hurts with is hand in my hair. “I know she isn’t. I remember her bringing home plenty of biker assholes back in the day, but still—”
“Kady will come back when she’s ready.” His lips brush against my neck. “She can handle herself.”
“I’m going to find her.”
“No, princess, you definitely are not.”
“So what, are you going to keep me here?”
He nods slowly and stares into my eyes. “Yes. I am.”
“Nolan.”
He kisses me and I whimper into his mouth. “I’ll hold you here as long as I have to, Cora.”
“Please,” I whisper as he kisses my neck. “Help me find her.”
“Your sister’s an adult. She can handle herself.” He pulls me from the doorframe and turns me toward the bed, backing me up. I gasp as he pins my arms behind my back and kisses my throat. “But now that I have you here, I’m not letting you go anywhere.”
“Nolan,” I moan as his hands touch my body and I’m lost.