Mortimer Carole - Rourke: Steele Protectors 4

My husband, Peter

Where the hell do you think youre going?

Rourke gnashed his teeth even as he came to an abrupt halt, knowing better than to try to walk away from his brother Atticus.

Bathroom, he answered without turning.

Then you just walked past one.

A scowl marred Rourkes handsome features as he turned in what was one of the spacious marble hallways of the London hotel where his twin brother Logans wedding reception was now being held.

Atticus, the eldest of the Steele brothers, wanted to know where Rourke was going?

Anywhere the hell away from the hours of gushing love and happiness that was Logan and Augusts wedding! From helping his twin into his wedding clothes earlier today to the best man speech Rourke had just delivered to the assembled guests.

Not that Rourke had anything against love. It was better than hate and some said it kept the earth turning. Rourke was more inclined to think that was due to it orbiting the sun, but he doubted the romantics in the world would agree with him.

Just as he scorned the idea of loving someone with your heart. No one could feel emotion with their heart. It was simply the organ of the body that pumped the flow of blood around the body. People loved because of the endorphins released into the brain when they saw someone they were attracted to and/or possibly fucking. It had absolutely nothing to do with the heart.

Rourke winced as he acknowledged this cynicism wasnt quite the attitude he should have brought to his twins wedding. But years of suffering through an unrequited attraction for a particular woman would do that to a man.

Are you going to give me a truthful answer or what? Atticus continued to stride down the hallway, as formally dressed as Rourke in the dark gray morning suit, paler gray waistcoat, a white shirt, and black bow tie. Even Atticuss long hair had been confined at his nape today.

The jackets of the suits they all wore had tails, for fucks sake. The six of themLogan the bridegroom, Rourke the best man, the other four brothers as groomsmenall looked like a load of fucking penguins strutting about the place.

What the hell has put you in such a bad mood? Atticus demanded when he reached Rourkes side.

He snorted. Im not sure how much time you have before Jenna sends out a search party!

Atticus smiled at the mention of his fiance. Maybe five minutes, if were lucky. He shrugged. Theres something to be said for having a woman to love and who loves you as much in return. So much so that we instantly miss each other when were apart.

This sickly and nauseating sentimentalism was exactly what Rourke had hoped to step away from, if only for a few minutes. Yeah, Ive noticed.

Hey, dont knock it until you try it, his brother warned. It was Jenna who noticed you slipping away from the reception after your best man speech and thought it would be a good idea if I followed you.

What the fuck for? Rourke wasnt even going to qualify the suggestion of him falling in love with an answer.

Atticuss dark gaze narrowed. Well, that uncharacteristic aggression, for one thing.

And for another?

She was wondering if your unusual mood is because youre more affected by Logans marriage than youve let on.

Rourkes mood wasnt only due to the hours of sugary sweetness he had been forced to endure today. No, some of it was due to the close proximity of some of the guests. A female guest. Sophie Hammond, in particular. The beautiful woman, ten years younger than Rourkes thirty-three, who worked as a receptionist at Steele Protectors, the company owned by the six brothers.

She looked absolutely stunning today in a clinging gown the exact same color as her sky-blue eyes. Her hair spilled in heavy and loose bouncy curls down her spine. Long blonde hair Rourke had too often fantasized about coiling around his fist to hold Sophie in place while he bent her over the nearest flat surface and fucked her from behind. Just one of many fantasies Rourke had had about Sophie since she came to work for the brothers company three years ago.

Fantasies that would no doubt shock her out of her little vanilla mind if she ever knew about them.

Most especially because it was Rourke thinking them.

Oh, he knew what impression he projected: suave, sophisticated, and most of all, charming. Rourke knew because it was a veneer he deliberately nurtured so that no one saw the darkness in the man behind the mask. The dark needs that would make an innocent like Sophie scream, and probably not in a good way.

Thank God she hadnt brought anyone with her to the wedding, or Rourkes charming veneer might have slipped completely when he decided to pulverize the other man into the ground.

As it was, it seemed several members of his family were aware he wasnt behaving with his normal easygoing manner. Sorry, but Im really not following you, he prompted Atticus. Affected how?

Hes your twin, and twins have a special bond

Rourke snorted. Hes my very slightly younger brotherwhich I take great pleasure in reminding himand hes been a pain in my arse, along with everyone elses, for most of his life. August deserves a medal for taking him on, he added affectionately.

He really was happy for Logan and August. His twin tended to live life by his own set of rules, and his default mode was to be rude and abrasive, which pretty much pissed off everyone he came into contact with. Even August had wanted to kill him when they first met.

Come to think of it, August deserved more than a medal for marrying Rourkes twin

Atticus grinned. True. He sobered. But

There is no but, Rourke reassured. Look, in the last few months, Ive watched you, Logan, and Bryce all fall in love with, admittedly, amazing women.

The older man snorted. Now I can definitely hear a but!

He sighed heavily. The six of us have been single for so long, I guess a part of me thought it would always be that way.

The Steele brothers, perennial bachelors, against the world? Atticus drawled.

He shrugged. Something like that.

A couple of months ago, I would have agreed with you, Atticus mused. Now I cant imagine not having Jennas toiletries in our shared bathroom, her clothes in the closet next to mine, and items of her sexy underwear littering my previously tidy apartment.

Rourke gave a wince at the latter. TMI, bro.

Atticus gave a low chuckle. Seriously, Im pretty sure our parents, especially our motherwho has already started dropping broad hints about wanting grandchildrenwould have had something to say if none of us had ever married.

Yeah, in light of three of his brothers having recently found their soul mates, Rourke could now acknowledge it had been a stupid assumption to have made. But he had made it. Then Logan had fallen in love. Followed by Atticus a few weeks later. Then, just days ago, Bryce had announced he was also getting married to the love of his life. Haydn and Lucan seemed no more interested in being shackled than Rourke was, but there was no guarantee it was going to remain that way, for either of them.