With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

He’s not some goddamned sexual
    experiment. God, I can’t even believe you.” Keaton threw his arms up, let out a hoarse yell and stormed around the couch. Catching Matt’s gaze, he ran his fingers through his short platinum hair, making it stand on end.
    Matt averted his attention, looking down. His face and neck heated, and the butterflies in his stomach
    increased. They’d been down in the living room for fifteen minutes, and they were getting nowhere fast.
    He’d tried to blend into the background by being still and quiet, but apparently it hadn’t worked.
    Keaton whirled back around to Aubrey, who sat in one of the damask armchairs in front of the unlit
    fireplace. “Well? What the fuck do you have to say for yourself?”
    Aubrey flicked a glance to Matt and crossed his hands over his still-bare stomach. Unlike Matt, who
    was now fully dressed, Aubrey had only put on his jeans, nothing else.
    Matt had to admire Aubrey’s ability not to get ruffled. He felt exposed enough with the shield of
    clothes. He couldn’t imagine facing Keaton and Chay in nothing except his jeans. But why wasn’t Aubrey
    upset? At least just a little. That expressionless face was something Matt was growing wary of. Was
    Aubrey about to light into Keaton or did he not care what his brother thought? Matt tried to swallow the lump in his throat without much luck.
    Aubrey looked up at his glaring brother. “Butt out. It’s none of your damn business. What’re you
    doing here anyway?”
    “We came to watch the place while everyone is on vacation. And it damned sure is my business. I’m
    the one who was stupid enough to place him in your care.” Turning toward Chay, Keaton frowned. “You
    could help, you know.”
    Chay, who sat on the couch next to Matt, shrugged. “Matt’s old enough to know what he’s doing.”
    Matt gave Chay a slight nod in appreciation, but what he wanted was for his friends to go away.
    Chay patted his leg. “How are you? You fitting in okay? You like school?”
    Oh thank you, Chay. Grabbing the opening like a lifeline, Matt took a deep breath. His stomach was still in knots, and his neck ached from the tension, but he was thankful for the diversion. “Yeah, I love it here. I’ve made friends at—”
    Turning on Matt, Keaton scoffed and rolled his eyes. “I’m surprised at you. I really am. I would’ve
    thought you knew better. You have to know you’re just a diversion, right? He’s not going to commit to
    With Abandon
    you, Matt. He’s not even gay, for crying out loud. He has a fiancée.” His voice was soft, concerned in its censure.
    Matt sank back into the couch cushions, resisting the urge to expose Aubrey and Tara’s true
    relationship. Shame washed over him at being thought of as a sexual experiment. He knew he wasn’t, but
    he couldn’t say so without outing Aubrey. Darn it, this sucked. It was hard not to resent Aubrey at the moment, which made Matt feel even worse. Tears prickled the back of Matt’s eyes, but he blinked them
    away. He would not pressure his mate. He wanted to though. He wanted to demand that Aubrey tell them
    everything. Did that make him selfish?
    “Leave him alone, Keaton.” Aubrey’s voice was stern and the closest he’d come to sounding angry.
    “If you want to be pissed, be pissed at me, but I will not allow you to talk to Matt like that.”
    “Won’t allow me?” Turning back toward his brother, Keaton put his hands on his hips. “I want some
    answers, damn it. And I want them right fucking now. What in the hell were you thinkin’? Do you hate me that much? That’s it, isn’t it? You knew Chay and I were coming out to watch the place for Mom and Dad, and you did this on purpose. So I’d catch you. It’s some sick, twisted way for you to get back at me.”
    “Oh yeah. I hate you. What about the whole ordeal with Jonathon?” Aubrey snorted. “I hate you so
    damn much I saved your mate”—he glanced at Chay—“and you by killing your psycho ex-boyfriend. Yeah
    that sounds like the actions of someone who despises you, dumbass.”
    Matt looked from his mate to Keaton and back again.
    Aubrey glared at Keaton. “Why’re you making this about you? This doesn’t have anything to do with
    you, and if you don’t stop yelling at me, I’m going to kick your ass.” Aubrey, unlike his brother—whose ever-present accent became worse with anger—didn’t have even a hint of his Southern inflection. Matt
    didn’t know if that was a good