“They started it,” I said, then held out my hand for the gun.

  “You can slit his throat,” Blaise told me.

  “I’ve got enough of his blood on me already,” I said.

  He pulled his Glock from its holster and handed it to me. “Then, do it.”

  The one person who had remained silent and I hadn’t looked at was Sax. I couldn’t do it yet. He’d just seen a side of me he hadn’t known existed. I hadn’t known it existed. Things would change now. For both of us. We weren’t kids anymore. I’d just stepped off into a dark place I wasn’t ever coming back from.

  “How many times did she bite you?” Gage asked.

  I shot him an annoyed glance, then turned to Timothy Arnold Hall and pulled the trigger.

  Twenty-Four

  Gypsi

  I kept my eyes closed when I woke up. Trev’s arm was around me, and his front was pressed to my back. He was warm, hard, smelled incredible. The weight of his arm over me gave me fluttery feelings in my stomach. I snuggled closer to him, and his arm tightened its hold on me. Last night, we had watched a movie in his theater after heating up the enchiladas that Ms. Jimmie had left for our dinner.

  The Godfather Part II had taken on a whole new meaning for me. I’d gotten so absorbed in the movie that Trev tossed a kernel of popcorn at me. It had then turned into a popcorn food fight before we somehow ended up with Trev’s mouth between my legs.

  Warm breath tickled my neck, and I opened my eyes just as Trev placed a trail of kisses along the curve of my neck and shoulder. This sleeping together and the snuggling were new to me. I’d never done this kind of thing with Tyde. I liked this. A little too much. I had to be careful to not get attached to it.

  Garrett and Mom would be coming home tomorrow. I had to talk to her and figure out what this all meant for me. Would I really stay here? Trev rubbed his stubbled jaw along my skin, and I realized I should be asking if I really wanted to leave. But this wasn’t going to last.

  “You feel so fucking good,” Trev whispered as his hands moved down over my body. “I like waking up this way.”

  I was glad he couldn’t see the goofy smile on my face. “Me too,” I admitted.

  He kissed my back as his fingertip made a circular caress around my belly button. “You live here, and we can just share a room.”

  I laughed.

  “What? Siblings share rooms. This is a big bed,” he said while still leaving kisses on my back.

  “Siblings might share a room when they’re little. But grown stepsiblings don’t,” I pointed out.

  “We can start a new trend,” he murmured.

  “When we end this, that would become awkward. You’ll want me to have my own room then.” The thought of this ending made me feel sick to my stomach.

  “I was thinking about that, and I don’t see why we can’t continue the steps with benefits idea. I mean, you’ll live here. I’ll live here. There isn’t going to come a day I see you and don’t want to fuck you. We can make it a permanent benefits setup.”

  I closed my eyes, wishing that it were as easy as all that. But right now, I was feeling things I’d never felt before. It was dangerous territory. We had no future together, and it was only a matter of time before my heart was wrapped up in all this. Trev was easy to like. I was starting to think he might be easier to love. Even if our parents weren’t getting married, Trev didn’t want a relationship. He was a player. At some point, he’d want to fuck other girls, and I was going to have to deal with it.

  Trev rolled me onto my back and hovered over me. His hair was all mussed, and his eyes were hooded from just waking up. My heart beat faster in my chest, just looking up at him. Yep, I was in trouble.

  “What’s going on in that pretty head of yours, Lollipop?” he asked, shifting so that I could feel his erection on my hip.

  “That as nice as that sounds, I don’t think it will work,” I told him.

  He frowned and brushed a curl from my cheek. “You getting tired of me already?”

  I laughed. He was so far off; it was funny. A grin tugged at his lips as he watched me.

  “Come on, Lollipop. It’ll work. We get along. You like me, right? We have fun together.”

  I nodded. “Yes to all those things. But sex can get tricky after a while.”

  His thumb ran along my bottom lip. “How’s that?” he asked in a husky voice.

  “Well, I can’t promise you that when you have sex with someone else, I’ll take it well. I will try not to get jealous, but I don’t know yet. And long-term, that could be a real issue.”

  A slow grin spread across his lips. “Jealous, huh?”

  I slapped his arm. “It’s not funny. I am serious.”

  “I’m serious too,” he assured me. “Do you seriously think I am going to have the energy to fuck someone else? You’ve been keeping my cock pretty damn busy.”

  I winced. “I’m sorry.”

  “Whoa. No sorrys. That wasn’t a complaint. My cock is available and ready for you anytime you want it. I like that my Lollipop is a nympho.”

  I shoved against his chest to get him off me, but he laughed, grabbing my wrists and pinning them above my head. My breathing quickened. I liked being held down. His eyes studied me, then dropped to my chest.

  “This turns you on,” he said, looking back up at me.

  I tried to scowl at him. “According to you, I’m in a constant state of arousal.”

  He smirked. “And I said, I like it. I fucking love it.” His hand pushed between my thighs as he checked my entrance with his finger while he continued holding my wrists with his other hand. “So wet already.”

  “Mmm,” was all I could say as he began to play with me.

  “You sleep in my bed and give me this pussy like you’ve been doing, and, Lollipop, I won’t need other girls.”

  I shook my head. “Don’t say that. You think it now, but that’ll change.”

  He shoved two fingers inside me. “I’ve had a lot of pussy,” he said through his teeth. His fingers tightening on my wrists. “None have been this fucking good. I just want you on my cock.”

  He began to pump his fingers in and out of me. I couldn’t argue when he was doing this. I’d talk about it later.

  “Oh, that’s good,” I panted.

  “I got something better,” he said in a raspy voice as he moved over me.

  I opened my legs and lifted my hips. Trev held himself over me with one hand planted beside my head. The other hand still had my wrists. I watched his mouth go slack and his eyes close as he sank inside me with a low, deep groan in his chest.

  “Fuuuck, this is the way to wake up.”

  “I’ve never had morning sex,” I breathed.

  “Me neither.”

  A laugh escaped me. “Sure you haven’t.”

  He stilled and looked down at me. “If I wake up with a girl in bed with me, I am in a hotel, and I get the fuck gone.” He leaned down and brushed a kiss over my lips. “You’re the first girl I’ve fucked on this bed, Lollipop. First one I’ve woken up to and wanted to fuck again.”

  He needed to stop this. His words were getting to me. I had to keep sex and my heart separate. I just wasn’t sure I could anymore.

  “Then, fuck me,” I said, lifting my hips to meet his thrust.

  He gave me a wicked grin. “Always.”

  The sun beat down as I walked with Trev to the stables. I had started asking questions about horses over breakfast, and when he found out I’d never been around them, he’d decided that was changing today. I wasn’t sure I wanted to ride one just yet, but I didn’t tell him that. I was afraid he’d turn it into his mission to convince me otherwise.

  He had supplied me with riding boots and explained they were an old pair of his sister-in-law’s, and then he’d put one of his cowboy hats on me. I at least looked like I knew what I was doing, going to see the horses. A blonde woman walked out of the stables just as we reached it. She was stunning with platinum-blonde hair, curves, big boobs, and tanned skin.

  “Morning, Maddy,” Trev said, and she turned to see us.

  Maddy was the sister-in-law, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t instantly relieved. I was already doing it. Getting jealous of other girls around Trev. This was a problem, and we’d just gotten started.

  She turned her gaze to me and beamed brightly, only making her more attractive. “You must be Gypsi,” she said. “I’ve been wanting to meet you. I met your mom in Kentucky, but you were being kept busy with this one and Sax.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” I replied.

  “Maddy loved me first. Blaise stole her away and locked her in his dungeon. It was a tragic tale,” Trev sighed.

  Maddy rolled her eyes. “Sure it was. And I wanted to be locked in that dungeon.”

  Trev looked down at me. “Tell her who the better-looking brother is.”

  I glanced back at Maddy. “Uh …” I didn’t know how to answer this.

  “Lollipop, you’re letting me down here,” he urged.

  “Well, it’s an awkward question.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “Are you telling me you think Blaise is better-looking than me?”

  I shook my head. “No, but, well, this is his wife, and I just met her. We might all be family soon—”

  “Gypsi—or is it Lollipop?” Maddy said, shooting a knowing look at Trev, then turning back to me, smiling. “I’m used to him. He likes to stir the pot. But I’m glad you think Trev is the better-looking one. I’m possessive like that.” Then, she winked at me.

  Trev let out a short laugh. “You’re possessive. Have you met my brother?”

  Maddy blushed.

  “Blaise’s obsession with his wife is borderline criminal,” Trev whispered as if she couldn’t hear him.

  “And I like it,” she informed him.

  “Because she likes criminals,” he continued to whisper.

  She cocked an eyebrow at me. “Easy there. I hear you’re giving Gage a run for his money.”

  Trev stilled beside me.

  This time, Maddy laughed. “You’re a Hughes, Trev. It’s okay.”

  He nodded, but whatever she’d meant by that bothered him.

  Maddy seemed to notice it, too, and she took a step toward him and patted his arm. “I’ve never seen your brother so proud,” she said softly.

  Trev seemed to relax a little, but he didn’t say anything.

  “I’ve got to go get Cree and take him to his first dentist appointment. Wish me luck,” she said, then waved before walking out toward a luxury SUV.

  “Let’s go see the horses,” Trev said to me, touching my back and leading me into the stables.

  “Jeez,” I breathed, stopping inside and looking around.

  “What?”

  “This isn’t what I was expecting.”

  “Why?”

  I turned around, looking everywhere in awe. “It’s so nice; I’d live in here.”

  He chuckled. “The horses who live here are worth a lot of money.”

  “I can’t imagine what their rent is,” I teased.

  “Come on, Lollipop. I’m starting you out easy. Sunshine isn’t a thoroughbred. She’s a quarter horse, and she’s retired from her barrel-racing rodeo days.”

  “I thought all you had were racehorses.”

  He shook his head. “We’ve got others too. We breed racehorses, but on a ranch this size, you need other horses. Sunshine was bought for Maddy. She doesn’t like riding the thoroughbreds.”

  We stopped at a stall, and Trev whistled. Sunshine turned around to see us, then walked over to Trev.

  “She’s gentle, but she has excellent bloodlines. You’ll get a similar one.”

  “What?” I asked, looking up at him.

  He nodded his head toward the horse. “A horse. You’ll get one like Sunshine.”

  “Why am I getting a horse?”

  “Because when your mom becomes a Hughes, you’ll be one too. If you’re a Hughes, you have a horse.”

  I shook my head and laughed. This family was crazy.

  Twenty-Five

  Trev

  Gypsi walked into the bathroom that night when I was stepping out of the shower.

  “Hey, Lollipop. Miss me?” I asked.

  She held up her phone and showed me the picture on it.

  I dried my hands and took it from her so I could see it better. It was a woman’s hand with a diamond the size of a fucking apple on it. Lifting my gaze, I looked at Gypsi. “I’m gonna assume this is Fawn’s hand. No other man but my father buys a diamond that damn big.”

  She nodded, her eyes a swirl of emotion. Did she think this meant anything was going to change? It wasn’t.

  “Looks like it’s official. We get to share a room. I’m not complaining,” I replied.

  She looked back down at her phone. “It’s just that talking about it was one thing… It happening is another,” she said softly.

  I wrapped the towel around my waist and took her phone from her, then put it on the counter. “No, it’s the same thing. We are good. Nothing changes.”

  She blinked several times. “But does she know?”

  “About the fact that she’s engaged to a Mafia boss? Yeah. He would have told her before putting that ring on her finger.”

  Gypsi’s surprised expression wasn’t making me feel better about this.

  “I just think … well, I haven’t had much time to think about it all. I mean, we’ve been …” She paused.

  “Fucking like rabbits,” I finished.

  She nodded. “Yeah, and it distracted me. But it’s real now. Mom is going to marry Garrett. Then, I will be expected to live here too.”

  I grinned. “Yep. I’ll make room in the closet.”

  She sighed, running her hand through her curls. “Stop joking. I need to think.”

  “I’m not joking, Lollipop. I mean, yeah, about the closet. You can use the one in the white-and-gold room. Girls have so much shit.”

  “Stop! You do that thing … the make me laugh thing. It distracts me. Then, you smile, and that’s even more distracting. And I forget that I am in this limbo, unsure of what happens next. You haven’t even told me what you did with Tyde. You just promised me the stalking was done.”

  I’d fucking tortured him, then put a bullet in his head. Yep, wasn’t telling her that.

  “My smile distracts you?” I asked, liking that part of her rant.

  She waved a hand at me. “See, you’re doing it.”

  “Doing what?”

  She scowled at me. “Being cute and sexy and distracting.”

  Fuck, I liked when she said stuff like that. Made me stop worrying that she was gonna end our benefits thing. She wanted it as bad as I did.

  I let my gaze travel down her body. “I’ve got better ways to distract you.”

  “Trev, stop it. I mean it.” She turned and stalked out of the bathroom. “And put on some clothes!”

  “Hey, you’re the one who came storming into the bathroom while I was showering.”

  “Just cover all that up. I have to think.”

  Grinning, I looked at my chest in the mirror and touched the fresh bite over my nipple. “Or I could spread your legs open and eat your pussy.”

  “UGH! Trev!”

  Laughing, I went to the closet and grabbed some sweats and a T-shirt. No use in putting on briefs. They’d be in the way. I wasn’t letting her think too hard. She might think her way out of living here. And waking up with her in my bed was not something I was willing to give up yet. She smelled so good, and I liked feeling her soft skin against my body. I was keeping that.

  She had left my rooms when I came out of the closet. I walked out into the hallway to look for her. Glancing down at the bedroom she was supposed to be sleeping in, I saw the door was open. I doubted she was in there. I turned and went for the stairs.

  I heard Sax’s voice before I reached the top step. He was in the foyer, talking to Gypsi. The smile on his face as he looked at her made my stomach clench up. I didn’t like it. He needed to take a few steps back. Then, she laughed.

  Oh, fuck no. I was the one who made her laugh. I started down the stairs, trying not to glare at my best friend.

  “Sax,” I called out. “Didn’t know you were here.”

  Gypsi turned to look at me, and I winked at her. She blushed, and, fuck, I wanted Sax to leave now.

  “Yeah, thought I’d stop by and see you. Heard Garrett put a ring on it.”

  Was there a fucking challenge in his eyes?

  I stepped up and slid my hand around Gypsi’s stomach and left it there. “Yeah. Want to have a celebratory drink with us? Lollipop is moving in permanently now. I figure that calls for the good stuff.”

  “I didn’t say I was moving in,” she said, staring up at me.

  “You are,” I replied, not taking my eyes off Sax.

  Sax cleared his throat. “So, the stepsibling thing isn’t an issue?”

  He was here because he thought we were gonna stop fucking. What the hell did he think would happen? She’d open her legs for him next?

  “No,” I replied.

  He nodded. “That’s good then. You up for a game of pool?” he asked me then, as if he hadn’t just been trying to find out if Gypsi was available.

  “Oh, can I play?” Gypsi asked.

  Her head was tilted back as she looked up at me.

  I grabbed her face and kissed it hard. “I might even let you beat me.”

  “I’ll get the good whiskey. Lollipop, do you still have some bottles of that juice you like in the room?” Yes, I was laying it on thick. Sax needed to know how unavailable Gypsi was.

  She nodded, completely clueless to what was going on here, and I was relieved. If she knew, she’d be mad at me.

  “Go pick out whatever snacks you want to take up,” I told Sax. “All I have up there are peanut butter and chocolate snacks.” He needed to know just how thoroughly I took care of her. She didn’t need him.