Broken Beast

"You really want me calling three times a week to brag about getting laid?" Liam looks to me. "Maybe only twice some weeks."

"No judgment," I say. "As long as you're safe."

He motions mostly and looks to his brother. "How long has this been happening?"

"Long enough," Adam says.

Is he defensive on purpose, because that's his usual MO?

Or because he's nervous his brother will find the truth?

"Uh-huh." He turns to me. "What about you, Danielle? Are you going to confess?"

"It's new. But… when you know, you know, right?" I look to Adam. Shoot him a loving smile.

His eyes meet mine. For a second, they fill with surprise, then they fix on me in a way that screams I need to see you naked.

He can't sell love.

But he can sell that.

Fuck. My cheeks flush.

Liam chuckles. "Should I leave you two alone?"

"Would you, if we asked?" Adam says.

"You know the answer to that, Adam." He turns to me. "Is it really that serious?"

"Why are you asking me?" I ask.

"Adam is a vault. Don't tell me you haven't noticed." He turns back to Adam. Raises a brow. "Or is it different when you're in lurrve."

"You'll find out one day," Adam says.

Liam shudders. "I hope not. I don't need the commitment, the compromise, the pain."

"Not a one woman kind of man?" I ask.

"No. But it's not about adding notches to my bedpost," he says.

"Uh-huh," I say.

"I enjoy the freedom. I do what I want, when I want, how I want. How many people in a relationship can say that?" he asks.

"How many people without money can say that?" I ask.

Liam chuckles. "True, very true. Astute observation."

"When did you learn the word astute?" Adam asks.

"New friend. Smart girl," he says.

"The kind of girl you'd like to do whenever you want?" I ask.

Again, he chuckles, delighted. "That's a new one. I'm going to add it to my repertoire." He looks to me. "I'm surprised to see Adam with someone so clever. How did you two meet?"

"Work," I say.

"You work at Pierce? And you came here?" he asks.

"My work." Ex work but same difference. "I sold him some art."

"Snoozeville," Liam says.

I look to Adam. Raise a brow. "Should we tell him?"

"Not yet." He smiles.

A full-blown smile.

It lights up his eyes.

My heart.

The entire fucking room.

Adam Pierce is smiling.

I need to see him smile again. Now. Later. Forever.

"Secrets!" Liam shakes his head in mock protest. "Rude! But I understand. You can't admit you secretly want me."

"How did you know?" I tease.

"I see the look in your eyes, Danielle. The lies that I remind you of your brother. To hide the truth that you want to throw me on the table and have your way with me."

"I guess I'm obvious, huh?"

"I'm used to it. But I can't. I'm sorry. I know you want me and I hate to turn down a beautiful woman, but I could never betray my brother." He holds his hand to his heart like he's reciting an oath.

"I guess I'll have to live with that," I say.

Adam laughs.

Actually laughs.

It lights up the entire house.

His joy is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

"You're delusional." Adam sits next to me. "You've sold your story for so long you believe it."

"There's nothing to believe, big bro." Liam taps his t-shirt. "The ladies go wild." He pulls the v-neck low enough to show off his chest-piece. "It's the tattoos."

"Did you mention the nude pictures yet?" Adam asks.

"Nudes?" My tongue slides over my lips.

"See." Liam winks at me. "The ladies want to see as much skin as they can."

Adam chuckles.

"And when you have a body this beautiful, it's an obligation." He looks to me. "You must understand, Danielle. You're as beautiful as I am."

"I'm surprised you admit that," Adam says.

"You've always had good taste in women," Liam says. "But only women. Has he asked you to sit through Bach yet?" Liam rolls his eyes. "Or, god forbid, watch one of those horribly depressing foreign films?"

"I love depressing foreign films," I say.

"Don't tell me you love Bach too." Liam makes a gag me motion.

A laugh spills from my lips. "You're so much like Remy."

"A hot man you're desperate to fuck?" he asks.

"Her brother," Adam says.

"Danielle. No. We're so close to perfect here." Liam shakes his head the horror, the horror. "I send you my nudes. You send me your nudes. We think of each other when we fuck other people."

"Sorry." I shrug as casually as I can. Liam is mentioning naked pictures like they're a fact of life. Not like he's seen me naked.

Has he?

Does he recognize me?

My social media is popular. And, yes, I don't show my face. But there aren't a lot of brown girls posting artistic nudes.

And Adam did invite me here.

Maybe his brother knows something I don't.

Maybe Adam fucked himself to my picture first thing this morning and that's why he's so relaxed and easy.