Pain And Pleasure 18+✓

Thirty

Holding a small grocery bag in his hand, probably containing food or snacks, Jake halts right where we are standing. That angry teenager with a flinty face is what I'm seeing right now. He looks at me, then at Adrian, and his forehead creases.

"Where are you coming from? Is Isla alone inside?" I ask him.

"Sally's with her. Who is he?" Like a father to his errant daughter, Jake throws Adrian a condescending look without any civility.

Everyone says that you're a hooker! I saw you going to that hotel! His words pierce back into my skull and I know it's exactly what's inside his head right now.

"Saying hi is the appropriate thing to do, Jake! Why are you being like this?" I scold him because behaving like a delinquent is not what I taught him to do.

And despite his ill-natured looks, he's never the type to be unnecessarily rude.

Full of judgment, he now stares at me, and that anger in his eyes flames up. "Is he—"

"I'm Adrian," that deep voice interrupts with gentleness. Our collective attention shifts to my dominant lover. "You must be Jake, right?"

"Yeah, so what?" Jake replies, his voice suddenly hard as if he's trying to prove his authority here.

I nearly laugh in response. This kid!

Adrian smiles and takes a nonchalant step toward him, no offense taken from my brother's remark. "I guess your sister was right. You're a little tiger indeed."

"Whatever, dude. Why are you bringing her home? Who are you?" Jake's voice bears no fear, as anyone would be easily intimidated by Adrian's majestic aura.

Panic strikes gushes over me as I wait for Adrian to respond.

Our relationship is nothing but a complex sizzling affair, without any name to officiate its validity. It's there, but it's too dark to be seen with mundane eyes.

I focus on Adrian. What will he say about our relationship?

I don't even know what I am to him and it never mattered until now.

"I'm her boyfriend," Adrian replies simply.

What? I choke quietly, eyes broader.

"Boyfriend?" Jake's voice turns low in a startled manner, parroting my thoughts exactly. "You're her boyfriend?" he repeats, staring at Adrian dubiously.

"Yes, I am," Adrian answers and looks at me. As shock amplifies my heart rate, he gives me a small smile before turning back to Jake. "Adrian Castle. Pleasure." As though what he's doing is nothing worth worrying about, he outstretches his hand toward Jake.

I need a breather. I sigh heavily to pull myself together, hoping my knees won't give me up as if he's just proposed to me to truly be his girlfriend.

"Jake." My brother accepts his gesture.

I watch the two of them in turns, and the tension is real. Are all brothers like this? Overly protective of their sisters regardless of their age? It's as if the late Mister Lincoln is back to life.

Dear God, let this pass smoothly.

I clear my throat as the boys part their hands. "Well, Adrian has a lot to do in the morning so he was just leaving. Go ahead inside, I'll catch up with you in a few minutes," I tell Jake.

Adrian creases one eyebrow at me.

What now? He doesn't want to leave or something? I can't dwell much as Jake throws a dubious look at me, then at Adrian, seemingly in doubt. But without saying a word, he climbs onto the stairs leading to our flat and leaves us alone.