Bradford Brawler (Bradford Bastard 2)

“Boyfriend?”

Brielle rolls her eyes and keeps marching back toward our group, dragging me along beside her. “Would you have preferred I called you the bastard next door or a regular donkey fucker?”

I stop walking and pull back on her hand, circling her until she crashes right into my chest. Using my other hand, I take her chin between my fingers and raise her gaze to meet mine. I lower my voice, making sure I have her undivided attention. “You called me your boyfriend.”

Brielle huffs and glances away. “It was the only title I could think of to lay claim on your stupid ass so that dumb bitch would see that we’re more than just … I don’t know what. But don’t get things twisted here, just because I’m giving you a chance to make things right, doesn’t mean I’m automatically yours.”

“I know that,” I tell her, snaking my arm around her waist, “but that doesn’t mean that hearing that word on your pretty lips didn’t get me hard as fuck.”

Her gaze drops between us, and just to prove my point, I gently grind my hips and let her feel just how worked up she’s got me. A devilish grin cuts across her face as she raises her gaze back to mine. “Sucks to be you, doesn’t it?” she tells me, her eyes sparkling with mirth. “I hope you enjoy blue balls.”

And with that, she releases my hand and steps out of my arms before heading straight back up the hill to our group.

I follow behind her, my stare glued to her perfect ass, unable to stop picturing the way it looks when I fuck her from behind. She’s got me right where she wants me. When this whole thing started, we were playing by my rules, but now, I’m not even sure we’re playing the same game. Brielle Ashford now holds every last card in the palm of her hand, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Fuck, I’m such a sucker for this chick. I don’t even recognize myself anymore. But if I’m completely honest, I think I like who I am with her. She makes me feel as though I have the whole fucking world at my feet. As though I could take on anything and survive.

I reach the top of the hill just in time to catch the end of Riley’s question. “—your ribs healing?”

I drop down beside Jax who has some random chick on his lap and glance toward Bri as she raises the side of her tank, showing off the bruises left by Colby’s boot. The sight of the marks that fucker left on her body sends pain slicing through me, and the guys must feel the same because I hear them sucking sharp breaths through their teeth.

Bri shrugs her shoulders. “It still hurts like a bitch,” she says, settling her tank back into place, “but it’s easier to manage now. I think the bruising makes it look worse than it really is.”

“Fuck, babe,” Jax says, his arm tightening around the random chick, who eats up his affection like a fucking buffet. “Are you sure you should be out tonight? Don’t try to bluff us. We’ve all had broken ribs, plenty of them, and they fucking suck. I know that’s hurting more than you’re letting on.”

Bri shakes her head. “Honestly, I’d rather sit here in pain with you guys than be stuck at home with my mom. At least you guys have the decency to believe I didn’t hurt Addison.”

Hudson leans forward in his chair, his elbows braced against his knees as he briefly glances toward me. He holds my stare for a moment before he swivels his gaze back to Bri. “Your mom really thinks you did it?”

She falls back against Jax’s Silverado, propping her foot against the tire. “I don’t know. It’s been so hard to read her lately. All week she’s been looking at me like I’m a stranger and there’s this disgust in her eyes. She hasn’t outright accused me of anything after we talked it all through, but I can’t help but feel that she thinks I’m guilty.”

“Shit,” Ilaria murmurs from beside her as she reaches for another drink. “You can always come and stay with me. We have a pool house. It’s full of Mom’s old crap, but we can clear it out if you want to stay.”

“Thanks,” she says, giving Ilaria a tight smile while the idea of her moving away makes something ache in my chest. “I’ll keep that in mind, but honestly, I think a big move like that might make things worse.”

“Okay, well the offer still stands. There’s no expiration on that,” Ilaria says as Chanel and Arizona nod in agreement, wanting what’s best for Brielle.

“You know,” Riley says in a tone that has me sighing as he smirks at my girl. “You have a bruise. I have a bruise. We were practically made for one another. So, if you really do wanna find somewhere to crash, my place is looking pretty fucking good.”