Standing His Ground: Greer (Porter Brothers Trilogy 2)

“Oh, God … Oh, my God … I’m dying …” she wailed.

Greer lifted himself up, pulling her up until her knees were straddling the phone with Greer on his knees behind her, his arm over her shoulder, grasping her breast in his rough hand, while the other hand tightened on her panties.

“Fuck me back harder.” His voice was calm, while hers became shrilling.

Afraid Dustin and Logan would hear her on the top floor, she strangled her cries until they became unintelligible pleas.

Greer moved slowly and steadily as she lifted her arms, circling his neck behind her, and laying her head on his chest. She listened to his heart beating, realizing that he might appear calm, but his heart was pounding like a sledge hammer. Why wouldn’t he allow himself to let go?

He removed his hand from her breast, tugging her arms down so she couldn’t rest on his chest. The sudden momentum had his cock surging high, reaching her center and driving the throbbing pulses higher.

She had once heard that, when a helium-filled balloon was released into the sky and reached a certain point, it exploded, just as he was as he groaned into her neck, joining her to fall onto the bed.

“Greer?”

“Um-hm?”

“I’m just making sure.”

“About what?”

“That we’re still here.”

Greer laughed. “Where else would we be?”

“I could have sworn …”

“What the fuck is that?” Greer moved off her back where he had landed on her.

“My phone.” Holly giggled, trying to move Greer so she could reach underneath her for the phone.

When she finally found it under the crumbled sheets, luckily, it was facing up so she could see it was Diamond calling. She let the call go to voicemail, knowing she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep. Greer had judging from the faint snoring coming from him.

She climbed out of the bed and gingerly picked up her cell phone, carrying it to the bathroom.

“Lie back down,” he ordered groggily, not lifting his lashes.

“I have to wash my phone,” she said, trying not to laugh when she saw him trying to wake up enough to get out of the tangled sheets.

“Give me that phone.”

She turned on her heel, taunting him by wiggling it by the corner. “I thought it was for me.”

“Woman, it will be all for you as soon as I get done watching it.”

23

Greer stood in front of the door, taking his cell phone out of his pocket. He muted the sound, not wanting anyone interrupting him before putting it in the front pocket of his shirt.

Knocking on the door, he saw Jessie Hayes come out of her apartment with a basket of laundry.

“Hey, Greer.”

“Jessie.” He nodded at her as the apartment door he was standing in front of opened.

He had to take a half-step back when Diane jumped into his arms, giving him no choice but to catch her or get knocked into the metal railing behind him.

“Excuse me,” Jessie stepped around them, going toward the steps that led down to the lower floor.

Greer didn’t give a flying fuck what Jessie imagined he was there for. The thing that mattered now was pushing Diane off him.

Brushing her to the side, he went into her apartment and turned once he was inside. He saw Diane close and lock her door with a seductive smile that had fooled him too many times before. When she would have rushed into his arms, he put out a contemptuous hand, pushing her back.

“I’m here to talk. Nothing else.”

The smile disappeared, her face becoming guarded. “Honey, what’s wrong? You said you texted me that you missed me—”

“I did miss you … when you came over last night. You should have called instead of taking off before I could see you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

“You’re a terrible liar, you know that?” Greer shook his head at himself.

“I don’t—What are you accusing me of?”

“I’m not accusing you of shit. I’m flat-out telling you that I know you’re responsible for trashing my house yesterday.”

“I didn’t …”

At least the lying slut was smart enough to be afraid of him. Greer saw Diane edge toward her cell phone sitting on her coffee table.

“You going to call Knox? Go for it. Or are you going to call Luke? Or the Hayes?”

She lowered her lashes. “Knox.” The woman couldn’t lie if she had her hand on a stack of Bibles.

“You want to call Knox, don’t let me stop you. I was trying to keep him out of this for old time’s sake, but if you want him here, I have no problem with that.”

“Maybe you should just leave.”

“I will when I’m done.” Greer held out his hand. “I want my ma’s ring back.”

“I don’t have it.” Her voice became shrill in her denial.

Greer dropped his hand to his side. “I know you were the one who trashed the house.” His lips curled scornfully. “You’re the only one I showed those quilts to that my ma made.” When she still tried to deny her responsibility, he continued, “The thing about the cedar chest that struck me was how it was opened. The latch was opened with the key still in it. You’re the only one who knew where that key was hidden. You watched me take it out from under the floorboard where I had hidden it. You thought the fire would erase any evidence that you were there. As criminals go, you are dumb as shit.” He held his hand out again. “I want that ring. It’s not yours.”