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Grace wiped Ford’s semen from her body and rolled off the bed. Throwing the nightshirt over her body, she tried to button it with shaking fingers. Ford looked down at his deflating cock, still locked in the confines of the ring. This was not how he’d imagined the night ending at all. But the heights of pleasure he had achieved could not be dimmed even by the rude interruption of his brother-in-law.

He stripped the cock ring, wiping their mutual juices from it with the bedsheet, and placed it on the velvet purse by the bed. He stood and walked over to Grace, who still struggled with the buttons of her nightshift.

He covered her hands with his and stilled her frantic movements.

“Breathe,” he murmured. “We weren’t doing anything wrong.”

She nodded and attempted a smile. “I know.”

“Do you want to stay here while I talk to him?”

Grace quirked a brow, then her usual, confident expression filled her face. “No, of course not.”

“You’re shaking,” he noted.

“Only because I was taken by surprise. I am not afraid of him. And as you said, we weren’t doing anything wrong. This might be his house, but I helped him buy it, and I am allowed to use it.”

Ford pressed a kiss to her forehead, and she immediately relaxed in his arms. He pulled her further into his chest and drew soothing circles over her back. As he felt her pulse grow slower, he kissed the top of her head and moved away.

They quickly cleaned themselves and donned their clothing before walking into the main hall hand in hand. Hades paced the length of the room like a caged tiger.

“You!” He immediately whirled on Ford. “You were ready to kill me for falling in love with your sister and yet you spend nights here with Grace and think you’ll get away with that?” He advanced on Ford with menacing steps.

“I have a right to be here—” Grace started but Hades interrupted her with a sharp, sweeping gesture of his hand, his gaze fixed on Ford.

“I am speaking to him right now. I have no issues with you…” He couldn’t even look at her after what he’d witnessed. “Except for your taste in men.”

Grace quirked a brow and Ford pursed his lips. It was amusing to hear him say that, knowing that Grace had been in love with Hades half her life.

“Grace isn’t your sister,” Ford noted. “And she isn’t your property either.”

“She might not be blood,” Hades growled, “but she is my little sister, and I am going to make certain scum like you don’t take advantage of her!”

“I am older than you,” Grace countered.

Hades’ expression immediately changed to annoyance, his voice oddly brotherly in that moment. “Would you not interrupt, please? That isn’t important.”

“Four years older, in fact,” she continued. “And I own a brothel. I can take care of myself. I don’t need anyone looking out for me!”

“Yes, you do!” both men echoed.

A strangled noise drew everyone’s attention, and they turned to see Eloise covering her mouth with her hand. Ford’s heart softened at the sight of his little sister, rosy-cheeked and looking happy. She waved her hand and bit her lip, stifling her laughter. “I am sorry, I did not mean to interrupt.” Then she glanced at Grace with a knowing look. “Insufferable, aren’t they? I am glad to know I am not the only target of their overprotective behavior.”

Chapter 26

The argument didn’t last long after that. Grace asked to speak with Hades in private while Ford took Eloise to the kitchen and brewed her some tea the way Grace had taught him to do.

“We saw the light in the windows, and Hades thought it might be intruders, so he instructed me to stand outside while he investigated,” she explained why Hades unceremoniously burst into their room. “He didn’t think anyone would be there. Grace rarely leaves London.”

Ford shrugged. “We didn’t have much choice. We were being hunted.” Ford briefly relayed the troubles they’d run into and how they found themselves in this cottage, leaving out the most salacious details.

“So… Grace, huh?” Eloise asked with raised eyebrows.

Ford found his cheeks flushing.

“Are you blushing?” she whispered, leaning toward him over the table.