Eric forced his hands to unclench. “I waited. You and Piper didn’t get together, and then, a few days ago, you called me to her house. A stalker was after her. She was in danger. I’d been waiting—waiting all that time…and I could lose her to some sick SOB? No, not happening. I was done waiting. I was done holding back. If you wanted her that way, you should have manned the hell up sooner.” Eric gave a fierce shake of his head. “I should have stepped up sooner. You see, I don’t care if it pisses you off. I don’t care if you’re furious at me. I want Piper. By the grace of God, she seems to want me, too. I intend to have her for as long as she’ll let me.”

Ben gaped at him.

Eric lifted his hand and pointed his index finger at his brother. “But you don’t get to look at her like she’s some kind of villain. You don’t get to hurt her. You’re mad, fine, be mad at me. Yell at me. Curse me. When you’re back on your feet, you can even try to kick my ass. Fair warning, you’ll fail. Because you always do. But you can try.” His hand dropped. “But you can’t take out any rage or hurt on her. I won’t let you. I’ll stand between her and any pain out there. I’ll stand between her and…” He shrugged. “Everything.”

“Why?” Ben’s question seemed strangled.

Eric lifted his eyebrows. “You’re a smart guy, bro. Graduated at the top of your law class. Don’t you know the answer to that question?”

Ben shook his head. But his eyes said…yeah, he knew. “It’s not just sex.”

“It’s Piper.” That was all that needed to be said. “Watch your mouth and watch your eyes. Don’t look at her with fury again. No one hurts her, not even you.”

Ben’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t…dammit, I can barely think.” His eyes squeezed shut.

Eric stared at his little brother. “You’re going to be protected. I’ll keep my guards on you. He won’t get another chance to come at you.”

Ben’s eyes opened, and he gave a slow, negative shake of his head. “It’s not me that he’s…gonna want.”

Piper.

“It’s…you.” Fear flashed in Ben’s eyes. “He wanted to destroy her lover. It’s not me. It’s you. He—he knows that now. He’ll be coming after you.”

Good. That was exactly what Eric wanted.

Chapter Fifteen