Chapter 187


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


    began to y, and Nichs led me forward in a dance.


    His jaw was clenched and he wasn’t looking at me. Evenpared 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.”


    Nichs huffed a sharp breath, too full of distain to be augh. Then he nced down at me and


    entirely dropped the fa?ade 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. Nichs’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,” Nichs hissed back. “You are always sneaking off with him. And then that


    night


    Why else would you knock on his door sote?”


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


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


    Nichs 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 fucking,” I snapped. I couldn’t believe he would think me capable of indulging in


    a carnal rtionship with Julian right in the middle of thepetition. It hurt me a bit, so Ished out,


    wanting to hurt him too. “Who said anything about getting our hearts involved?”


    “Piper.”


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


    No,” he said, firm.


    Then why did you kiss 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 clipped. 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, Nichs. 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,” Nichs said. His voice was softer now. “Please.”


    I’d heard enough. I pushed away from Nichs, 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


    1. me.


    “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 nced back at the door and


    found Nichs 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


    nned ahead. I bet he even knew I would fight with Nichs.


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


    fucking.”