Insatiable (Steel Brothers Saga 12)

“Thank you,” he said softly.

“For what?”

“For everything.”

I stroked his chest, tangling my fingers through the hair coated with perspiration. Give him a few minutes before you pounce on him with questions.

I was determined. I closed my eyes and relaxed against his hard body.

Then—

“I needed to remember,” Bryce said softly, his breath tickling my forehead.

“Remember what?” I asked.

“Who I am.”

I lifted my brow. “Oh?”

“This won’t make any sense to you,” he said.

I moved away from him slightly and lifted my head to meet his gaze. “Try me.”

He closed his eyes. “I experienced some strange emotions today, after talking to”—he paused—“Dominic.”

“Dominic? Why?”

“I found out some stuff about Cade and my father. Stuff that shouldn’t have bothered me but did a little.”

“Bryce, you can be bothered about this whole situation. I certainly am.”

“No. You don’t understand.” Another pause. “Dominic told me that Cade was…was my father’s protégé.”

“Why would that— Oh.” I swallowed.

“Stupid as sh

it, right?” Bryce shook his head. “I was his son. I should have been— God, I can’t even say it.”

“He kept you out of that part of his life because you were his son. He loved you.”

“I know. It’s not enough that I feel tremendous guilt for that, but then he chose someone else to… I’m so fucked up.”

“You’re not fucked up, Bryce.” I swept his hair off his forehead. “You’re just a son who found out his father was a lot different than the great guy you remembered. I’ve been there. I get it.”

He opened his mouth, but I placed two fingers on his lips.

“Don’t. I know your father was worse than mine ever was.”

“That isn’t what I was going to say,” he said.

“Oh. Then what?”

“It’s the sliver of envy,” he said. “How fucked up am I?”

“Bryce, do you truly wish your father had brought you into his other life?”

“No! Of course not.”