when the guestroom door across the hall from mine was flung open, and Connor came storming out.
“I mean it, Teeg,” he growled. “I’m not playing around!” He spun and faced the doorway. Teagan appeared at the entrance with a stony look on his face.
“I’m not playing either. I’m completely serious,” he replied, his voice cool.
“Bullshit!” Connor burst out. “There are rules about this!”
Teagan shrugged, and Connor’s face turned an alarming shade of crimson. Teagan’s face remained passive as he said, “I’m not one to follow the rules. You know that, Con.”
I froze to avoid detection as they stood facing off, but they were oblivious to my presence. Connor breathed deeply, clenching and unclenching his fists as he reined in his temper. But his shoulders remained stiff as he glared at the other man in the hallway. After several tense moments, he spoke through his teeth. “I’m warning you, Aldridge. Fuck this up, and I’m coming after you.”
Teagan stiffened, but his voice was calm and serious. “I won’t, man. I can promise you that.” Connor gave a slight nod and turned to head for his bedroom. He was halfway down the hallway when Teagan’s soft words halted him mid-stride. “Don’t you fuck up either, bro.”
Connor’s shoulders rose tightly, and he took a deep breath before looking back at Teagan. He gave a curt nod of acknowledgement, and then shook his head quickly before continuing on down to his room. The door slammed behind him.
A deep sigh pulled my attention back to Teagan. He was watching me intently, eyes dark and unreadable, and when I met his gaze, he walked across the hall and leaned against the door jamb. He had changed into a pair of loose basketball shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt, which showed off just enough to be distracting. My eyes wandered up his well-muscled legs, over his hips and trim waist, and across well-defined abs and chest. I absorbed his broad shoulders with complete female admiration, pausing at his arms, gazing once again at his tattoo before lifting my eyes to his face—first to his full lips, then finally meeting his eyes.
Beneath his dark, tousled hair, his eyes were smoky, skimming over me much in the same way I’d just done with him. My mouth suddenly dry, I swallowed and studied Zver’s dark coat pattern. My calves were burning from squatting for so long, so I shifted my weight to my rear, sitting cross-legged. Then I risked peeking up at Teagan. He stood there, head tilted slightly, studying me thoughtfully. He met my gaze briefly, then looked at the dog next to me. Smiling, he shook his head and said, “Any idea how he got in here?”
I shook my head. “No clue.” I didn’t really care. I liked the big lump of fur—and he knew it. I smiled down at him, and he licked his chops before flopping his head into my lap. Before I could stop myself, I giggled.
Teagan watched the interaction with a grin. “You know, if this keeps up, I may have to bring you back to school with us. Zver’s going to be beside himself without you spoiling him.”
I laughed for a moment, but the tension in the hallway hadn’t entirely disappeared. “Teagan, can I ask you something?” I said timidly. He nodded with a smile. “What was that just now? Between you and Connor?” I held my breath and waited.
He straightened from the door jamb and rubbed the back of his neck. His eyes closed for a moment, and then he let out a heavy sigh before meeting my gaze again.
“Aislinn, babe, I’m sorry. But I can’t tell you that,” he answered regretfully. “If Con wants you to know, he’ll tell you.”
I nodded, disappointed. I was also trying, but failing, to ignore the flutter of delight at hearing him call me babe again. That was something I could become addicted to.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he added. “I’d tell you if I could, but this is between me and your brother.”
It was impossible to ignore the sudden burst of giddiness. Scarlet heat
“I mean it, Teeg,” he growled. “I’m not playing around!” He spun and faced the doorway. Teagan appeared at the entrance with a stony look on his face.
“I’m not playing either. I’m completely serious,” he replied, his voice cool.
“Bullshit!” Connor burst out. “There are rules about this!”
Teagan shrugged, and Connor’s face turned an alarming shade of crimson. Teagan’s face remained passive as he said, “I’m not one to follow the rules. You know that, Con.”
I froze to avoid detection as they stood facing off, but they were oblivious to my presence. Connor breathed deeply, clenching and unclenching his fists as he reined in his temper. But his shoulders remained stiff as he glared at the other man in the hallway. After several tense moments, he spoke through his teeth. “I’m warning you, Aldridge. Fuck this up, and I’m coming after you.”
Teagan stiffened, but his voice was calm and serious. “I won’t, man. I can promise you that.” Connor gave a slight nod and turned to head for his bedroom. He was halfway down the hallway when Teagan’s soft words halted him mid-stride. “Don’t you fuck up either, bro.”
Connor’s shoulders rose tightly, and he took a deep breath before looking back at Teagan. He gave a curt nod of acknowledgement, and then shook his head quickly before continuing on down to his room. The door slammed behind him.
A deep sigh pulled my attention back to Teagan. He was watching me intently, eyes dark and unreadable, and when I met his gaze, he walked across the hall and leaned against the door jamb. He had changed into a pair of loose basketball shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt, which showed off just enough to be distracting. My eyes wandered up his well-muscled legs, over his hips and trim waist, and across well-defined abs and chest. I absorbed his broad shoulders with complete female admiration, pausing at his arms, gazing once again at his tattoo before lifting my eyes to his face—first to his full lips, then finally meeting his eyes.
Beneath his dark, tousled hair, his eyes were smoky, skimming over me much in the same way I’d just done with him. My mouth suddenly dry, I swallowed and studied Zver’s dark coat pattern. My calves were burning from squatting for so long, so I shifted my weight to my rear, sitting cross-legged. Then I risked peeking up at Teagan. He stood there, head tilted slightly, studying me thoughtfully. He met my gaze briefly, then looked at the dog next to me. Smiling, he shook his head and said, “Any idea how he got in here?”
I shook my head. “No clue.” I didn’t really care. I liked the big lump of fur—and he knew it. I smiled down at him, and he licked his chops before flopping his head into my lap. Before I could stop myself, I giggled.
Teagan watched the interaction with a grin. “You know, if this keeps up, I may have to bring you back to school with us. Zver’s going to be beside himself without you spoiling him.”
I laughed for a moment, but the tension in the hallway hadn’t entirely disappeared. “Teagan, can I ask you something?” I said timidly. He nodded with a smile. “What was that just now? Between you and Connor?” I held my breath and waited.
He straightened from the door jamb and rubbed the back of his neck. His eyes closed for a moment, and then he let out a heavy sigh before meeting my gaze again.
“Aislinn, babe, I’m sorry. But I can’t tell you that,” he answered regretfully. “If Con wants you to know, he’ll tell you.”
I nodded, disappointed. I was also trying, but failing, to ignore the flutter of delight at hearing him call me babe again. That was something I could become addicted to.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he added. “I’d tell you if I could, but this is between me and your brother.”
It was impossible to ignore the sudden burst of giddiness. Scarlet heat
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