Loving The Better Brother novel Chapter 29

My chest was against Tristan’s chest, my face buried against the warm line of his neck, and his hand rested securely at my waist. From the outside, we must have looked intimate.

“This is fucking crazy,” I whispered under my breath, my lips brushing lightly against his collar as I spoke.

His hand tightened slightly at my waist, a silent warning to keep quiet.

“They’re here,” he muttered.

Outside the car, Marcus’s voice sounded even closer.

“I knew that was your car,” he began, his tone casual but edged with curiosity. “I was right to think you’re with someone, too. I saw two silhouettes the moment I got out.”

I internally clicked my tongue. Of course, he recognized it! Tristan’s car was hard to miss. I believed this was the only unit in the entirety of the Hale line–a car he made just for himself.

Serena’s heels clicked softly against the pavement as she stepped closer to Marcus. I could imagine her posture perfectly, even though my vision was occluded by Tristan’s nape.

“Hi, Mr. Hale,” she said sweetly. “It’s been a long time since we’ve met. The last time was the shareholder’s meeting, right?”

There was something in her voice that made me squint my eyes. It was the same tone Milie and Samantha used back in the office.

Recognition dawned slowly.

Don’t tell me—

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Chapter Tapping That

yo

Fusted

She’s also interested in him?

The thought made me squirm a bit.

“Stay still if you don’t want to get caught,” Tristan whispered against my hair, though I could hear the faint amusement in his voice.

“Well?” Marcus continued, clearly not planning to leave anytime soon. “Why won’t you introduce the lady to your brother?”

My stomach flipped.

“Is it the same one in your room the other day?”

My breath stilled.

“I don’t have to tell you,” Tristan said smoothly.

“She’s sleeping,” he added. “I don’t want to wake her up.”

Before I could process that bold–faced lie, his hand moved to the back of my head, fingers sliding gently into my hair. He began stroking it slowly, like one would soothe someone resting against them.

The gesture was intimate enough to make heat creep up my neck.

“Leave,” Tristan said calmly.

Marcus chuckled softly, the sound infuriatingly familiar.

“Always so secretive, huh? This is the first woman you took home in what–four years?” He paused, as though savoring the tension. “The last one was—”

“Stop it,” Tristan cut in, and the sternness in his voice made me freeze a bit.

Four years?

The last one?

Tristan had been with someone before?

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choto Tappu That

Finished

The question was quickly answered in my mind.

Of course, he had. He was successful and devastatingly attractive, even at a young age. It would have been absurd to think otherwise.

I was just surprised that it had never been public. There had been no headlines about him dating, and he’s been known as the most wanted bachelor for years already.

“Oh,” Marcus continued, amused. “Do you not want me talking about your first love-”

“Enough,” Tristan said.

Although Marcus appeared undeterred, he stopped right away when Tristan’s voice became stricter.

“Anyway, we’re having dessert,” Serena chimed in smoothly, breaking the tension between the two brothers. “Do you want to join us?”

Her voice was casual, but the intention beneath it was crystal clear.

She wanted the two Hale brothers together.

She wanted Marcus at her side and Tristan on the other. I’ve known Serena long enough that she was that type of person.

Even now, in this ridiculous situation, power dynamics were playing out like a chessboard.

“Sur-“Tristan began.

I pinched his side lightly, halting his statement. He chuckled, the vibration rumbling against my cheek.

“Sorry, he corrected himself smoothly. “I’ll take this sleepyhead to her place soon. Maybe next time.”

Sleepyhead?

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Chapter Tapping That

I pinched him harder.

However, he no longer reacted.

There wasn’t going to be a next time!

Borshed

Marcus was silent for a moment, which made me uneasy about what he was going to say next.

“I’m curious, though,” he finally said. “Who is this woman? Is she one of your business partners?”

Tristan did not answer him again.

Instead, his hand continued its slow, almost absentminded stroke through my hair.

“Go now, Marcus,” he said evenly. “Don’t let your date keep waiting for you.”

There was a moment of silence before Tristan spoke again.

“Otherwise, she’ll leave you, too.”

I stopped breathing for a moment.

Serena’s hand must have tightened around Marcus’s arm because I heard the faint scrape of fabric.

Marcus did not laugh this time.

The tension between the brothers was no longer subtle. I could feel Tristan’s heartbeat steady and controlled beneath my palms, but there was something simmering underneath it.

Marcus clicked his tongue softly.

Then I heard movement. He was getting closer to the two of us.

Marcus stepped nearer–near enough that if I lifted my head even slightly, our eyes would meet.

He leaned down slightly, his voice lowering.

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Frihed

And then he said, “Your woman has a nice ass, by the way. The small curve of her waist just emphasizes the cheeks.”

My entire body went rigid.

“I wouldn’t mind tapping that.”

I felt Tristan stiffen under my hold, too.

“So, keep her close, big bro. She might be in my arms… and in my bed soon enough.”

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