Whispers of a Broken Halo by Abbi Glines

She said nothing as I led Bryn inside.

“I’m s-s-sorry. I didn’t know who Saul’s dad w-was, or I would have told you before we got here,” she whispered as I moved us quickly past everyone, thankful Cullen’s eyes were on the screen as he played the game with Drake, who was shouting at the images on the television.

“It’s part of my j-j-job. This kind of thing was b-b-bound to happen,” she said.

I started up the stairs with my hand still on her back. She was right; this had been bound to happen. It had, and I fucking hated it.

We reached my room, and I moved her inside first, then followed, locking the door behind me.

“How many times has he been in there?” I asked her.

She shrugged. “Several.”

I ran a hand over my hair and looked at her. She was wringing her hands nervously and biting her bottom lip. I had brought her up here to see if she was okay. Not to drill her with questions. But the more I let myself dwell on the fact that Archer had seen her tits, the more my blood boiled.

“Did he recognize you?” I asked.

She nodded.

I stalked toward her and grabbed her arms, then pulled her to my chest. “I don’t like knowing he’s seen you naked,” I said between my clenched teeth, trying like hell to get ahold of my rage.

Her eyes grew wide as she looked up at me. She was scared, and it was my fault.

“It’s my j-j-job,” she said again.

“I fucking hate knowing anyone has seen you naked,” I said, then jerked her dress up and slipped my hand inside her panties. “This has only been touched by me, and I own it. It’s mine.” I looked down at her chest, then back at her. “Those tits are mine. I don’t share.”

The fear in her eyes was still there, but she was breathing rapidly now, and her nipples had hardened. I slid a finger inside her, and she made a soft sound as her mouth fell open.

“Tell me this is mine,” I said, hoping hearing her say it would ease this possessive monster clawing in my chest.

“It’s yours. You know that,” she panted.

That wasn’t enough.

“Say, This pussy is yours, Rio ,” I demanded.

She licked her lips. “This p-p-pussy is yours, Rio.” Her eyes fluttered as I began to move my finger through her now-wet folds.

“That feel good, baby?” I asked, giving her clit attention with my thumb.

“Y-y-yes,” she breathed.

“You’re gonna come on my hand like a good girl, so I can lick your sweet juices off,” I said in her ear before kissing her neck, then moving to her mouth.

She leaned into me, moaning. I loved the way she tasted. Her lips had become another one of my addictions. She flicked her tongue against mine as she rode my hand. This was never going to get old. I’d thought it had to. It always had. But Bryn had the ability to drive me wild with lust over and over again.

“Come for me, baby,” I said against her mouth.

She rocked harder on my hand and panted into my mouth, “I am! I am!”

I held on to her while she jerked and shook in my arms.

“Ahhhhh,” she cried out, throwing her head back.

I had done that to her. Me. I was the one who made her feel this. No one else.

When she was done, I pulled my hand out and did just as I’d said. I licked it clean while she stood, watching me. Her eyes flared.

“I wish we didn’t have to go back down there,” she whispered.

“If Cullen wasn’t here, I’d keep you up here and fuck you all night,” I said. “But for now, I have the taste of your pussy in my mouth to satisfy me until he goes to bed.”





Chapter Forty-One

Bryn

He was jealous. I had to bite back a smile as I thought about his reaction earlier. He might not love me, but he felt more than lust. I knew jealousy wasn’t something I should be happy about, but I was.

After swimming, Cullen had fallen asleep on the sofa, watching a baseball game with Drake and Benji. When Benji had arrived, having yet another person here tonight who had seen me topless had worried me, but Benji acted like that night never happened. He never looked my way or made me feel uncomfortable. I liked him.

Rio was outside on what I now knew they called a deck with Saul and Archer. I hadn’t gone, too, because Archer had kept watching me during dinner. Rio had kept his hand on my thigh, and I caught him glaring at Archer more than once. I’d been thankful Archer had a business call while we were swimming in the pool. He might have seen me topless, but the idea of wearing a bikini in front of him bothered me.

Henley walked over and handed me a brownie. “Dairy-free and gluten-free, but it’s delicious,” she said.

I took it from her. “It’s also chocolate,” I replied, then took a bite. She was right; it was incredible. “Can you figure out how to do this and make it calorie-free too?”

She laughed and finished chewing the bite she had in her mouth. “I wish!” she replied.

Rio walked back into the house then, and his eyes went from me to Cullen, then back to me. He came over to me. “The guest bedroom is right beside mine. He’s slept there before. You good with us staying here?” he asked me.

I nodded while chewing another bite of my brownie.

“Ready for me to take him up?”

I nodded again, then swallowed. “I’ll go get the bed ready,” I told him.