Chapter l187

Chapter 0187

+15 BONUS

On the dance floor, Nicholas placed his hand on my hip. I placed mine of his shoulder. The orchestra

began to play, and Nicholas led me forward in a dance.

His jaw was clenched and he wasn’t looking at me. Even compared to our previous dances, his

movements now were stiff and unnatural.

He was mad at me, unjustly, and knowing that made me equally mad at him.

“You can’t keep me from talking with your brother,” I said. “You can’t dictate who I talk to at all.”

Nicholas huffed a sharp breath, too full of distain to be a laugh. Then he glanced down at me and entirely dropped the façade of humor.

“It’s inappropriate for you to leave in the middle of the celebration to run off and fuck my brother.”

I missed a step and stumbled over my own feet. Nicholas’s firm grip was the only reason I stayed upright.

“What?” I hissed. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Don’t lie to me, Piper,” Nicholas hissed back. “You are always sneaking off with him. And then that night

Why else would you knock on his door so late?”

“I am not having S** with Julian!” I said the words too loud. A few of the dancing couples around us

stopped to turn and look. I was so embarrassed I wanted to die.

Nicholas urged me to keep dancing and he led me away from that group.

Julian would not be a good lover for you, Piper. He’s selfish. He’s going to break your heart.”

“Apparently we’re just f**king,” I snapped. I couldn’t believe he would think me capable of indulging in a carnal relationship with Julian right in the middle of the competition. It hurt me a bit, so I lashed out, wanting to hurt him too. “Who said anything about getting our hearts involved?”

“Piper.”

“Is this why you k*ssed me that night? You thought I’d jump from one brother to another?”

No,” he said, firm.

Then why did you k*ss me?”

He looked away from me again. “It was a mistake.”

+15 BONUS

Ouch. That hurt worst of all. “You can’t mean that.”

“It didn’t mean anything, Piper. Not to me.” The words were cl*pped. They didn’t sound true. But he still

said them. He wanted me to believe them.

“If you believe that, then it shouldn’t matter who I fuck,” I said.

His hand clenched on my hip, bunching my dress into his fist. “He’ll hurt you.”

“No, Nicholas. You’re the only one doing that.”

That seemed to shock him, and he stumbled this time. He caught himself quicker than I did however,

and was never in danger of falling.

“Just stay away from him,” Nicholas said. His voice was softer now. “Please.”

I’d heard enough. I pushed away from Nicholas, ending our dance. He hesitated but eventually let me go.

“You’re such an asshole, Nick.” I blinked back tears from my eyes.

I turned from him then, and found Julian where he waited at the side of the dance floor. He smirked at

“Trouble in paradise, Piper?”

I was in no mood to humor him. I shook my head, hoping he would take the hint. “I need to speak with

you. Now.”

Julian shrugged but took my arm. Together we left the main ballroom. I glanced back at the door and

found Nicholas watching, his face dark and brooding.

Julian led me to a sitting room, where we sat at a small table. Brian was already there and poured us each a cup of coffee. I looked at Julian. Of course he would know that I would want to talk to him, and he

planned ahead. I bet he even knew I would fight with Nicholas.

“Let me guess,” Julian said, as he added sugar to his coffee. I took a sip of mine. “Nicholas thinks we’re f**king.”