“Why so curious about Ethan?”
She shrugs. “Just seems like Bella’s type. Tattoos, cocky, crude, direct, and completely unobtainable. I was wondering if I should keep her away from him or introduce her.”
Again, I relax. “Ethan has been a workaholic since the day he graduated. He’s known his father’s business backwards and forwards since he was a kid. When his dad got sick, Ethan was eighteen and barely graduated from high school, but he still took over because his dad wouldn’t allow anyone else to do so.
“He can’t dissect a frog, explain Einstein’s theory of relativity, or quote Shakespeare, but he can handle a multi-million dollar merger like no one else. But he’s a wildcard under a business suit. He’s had to work hardcore since his dad got sick. He turned his dad’s business into an empire. The Noles men aren’t originally from money. Now it’s a prominent name in Sterling Shore, especially since Tria’s father married my aunt. Ethan is close to stepping down from his business which is based in Chicago. He’ll start taking a role like what I have. But he’s ready to finally party full time like he parties when he comes home.”
She nods, taking it all in. “Then I won’t introduce them. Sounds like he’s ready to be wild.”
I laugh at that. “Ethan has always been wild. He’s just going to have more time to do it when he moves back home for good.”
I finally reach a room on the far west end. Kode and Tria will be in the room on her right. Dane and Rain will be in the room on her left. And Rye and Brin will be in the room across from her.
At least all the talk about Ethan and Tria’s psycho ex has calmed my need to take her like an animal.
Kode and Tria left before us, but I doubt they made it all the way to their room, since it’s quiet in there.
“You’ll be fine here. But you know where my room is if you need me.”
She takes a shaky breath before pushing open the door, and she turns to lean against the jamb, facing me. She starts to say something, but she seems to decide against it.
“Will you check in on Angel before you go to bed?” she asks softly.
I smile while leaning just a little closer, putting my shoulder on the other side of the jamb while slanting my body, putting my face almost even with hers.
“Of course. Anything else you need?” I ask softly, enjoying the small shiver she doesn’t mean for me to see.
She shakes her head, her lips not moving, and I stare at her mouth as the inner battle within me rages on. Finally, I sigh while pushing off from the wall, and I walk away before I say or do something stupid.
Allie Thrash is a problem for me, and I don’t know what the hell to do about it.
The sound of Maverick’s laughter hits me just as he and Corbin head through the east wing, moving down the hallway.
“Wren! Damn, dude. She’s definitely hot and sweet,” Maverick says, waggling his eyebrows, and my fists clench.
“Told you he’d get that look in his eye,” Corbin drawls, grinning over at me. “He got all pissed at me when I joked around the other day.”
I roll my eyes as both of them laugh, and Maverick follows me into my room, holding up a bottle of Jack.
“Looks like you could use one of these,” he says.
Corbin sets down two glasses, and I walk over to my dry bar to grab one for myself.
“You know what?” I mumble, moving toward them. “I’ll take more than one.”
Maverick grins. “I don’t envy you. Drink up.”
Chapter 20
ALLIE
Thump.
Thump.
“Ahh…”
Thump. Thump.
“Right there!”
Thump. Thump.
“So fucking good,” he growls.
Then the pace quickens, and the headboard slaps the wall harder. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
My eyes are wide in horror as I listen to the sounds coming from next door. I can’t help but feel like I’ve read this book before.
“Kode!” Tria screams, and he releases something that’s a mixture of a growl and a guttural noise.
I cringe, realizing I’ve just heard something much too intimate. It’s two in the morning. Do they not sleep? Rye and Brin were doing the same thing just across the hall and woke me up over an hour ago. That’s when Kode and Tria started.
But I think it’s finally over. Maybe I can get a few hours of sleep—
Thump. Thump.
“Ahhh…”
Thump. Thump.
Growl.
I sit upright, glaring at the wall across from me. You have to be kidding me. Who is over there?
Thump. Thump.
“Harder!” Rain says loudly, and I curse while throwing the covers off me. I feel like I’m stuck in a porno, and I’m twisted because I’m a little turned on and envious. I’m hella envious.
Then the sounds behind my bed stir up again when Kode apparently finds it in himself to start all over with Tria. That can’t be normal. It sure as hell can’t be healthy.