The Test of Limits
Blake
“Need a second helping?” Toby gave me a pointed look as I poured a second round of cognac.
The lad was obviously worried I’d go haywire, although he was worried for good reason. I always had a short fuse when it came to Sienna’s past.
“Hell, tonight’s a bloody special occasion. When was the last time I saw the blasted chap?” I pretended to ponder a moment before I scowled. “Oh, right, it was when my fist connected to his jaw after he had an all-nighter shagging my wife.”
“She wasn’t your wife then, nor was she your girlfriend. Seriously, have you forgotten your own shenanigans? You certainly didn’t pine over your lost love, either. You went and shagged any woman who sparked your fancy, which, by the way, went on for quite some time, in case you have forgotten those infamous misadventures of Knightly’s atrocious spiral out of control bender.”
I demolished my second drink. “I was heartbroken, you toff, in case that escaped your notice.”
“So was she. It was just unfortunate that you happened to be there when she came home from it. Besides, would you rather it was someone else? He’s been there for her in ways you couldn’t even fathom. You should be grateful she has him instead of no one at all. There are things that are hard to talk about, and it eats at you, it eats your soul.” Toby cleared his throat before giving me a reprimanding look. “Things could be so much worse. Think of Amelia for a second. It was tragic because she had no one to talk to.”
Amelia.
I couldn’t think of her or even hear her name without feeling a great deal of remorse. I was callous and could’ve handled her differently, had I not been so selfish with my own designs of happiness that never included her. She had come off as this confident woman who gave it as good as she got and never took anyone’s rubbish; therefore, when I proposed a no strings attached relationship I hadn’t thought once it could mean more to her than what it really was. After all, at first glance, she reminded me of myself—hungry for power and proving to everyone we would be able to thrive in the business arena. Yet, little did I know, the Spanish beauty was daydreaming about a future with me.
Subsequently, when the time came that I had to cut my ties with her, she simply went off her rocker and went ballistic on me. She tried to hurt everyone I cared about and became successful with her revenge. Even in death, she had left a big, gaping hole in the lives she’d affected. With such fierce vivacity, it was truly tragic how she had taken her life because I couldn’t give her what she had craved the most. My love.
Toby was right. Things could’ve gotten out of hand with Sienna, but with Matthews’s guidance and perseverance, she had come out okay. I might even admit she was much stronger this second time around than the first time we had attempted being together. She had always been feisty, provocative to the point of torture, and loved with her entire being. But the second chance we had been handed was something else altogether; everything became heightened ten times over. The feelings and emotions were amplified to the point it was hard to control them. It was either we learned to find a middle ground or we’d sink together. Like I previously mentioned, we were simply nonsensical.
“I’m not about to attack him or anything—far from it. I suppose one of the things that troubles me most was how I always felt threatened by him.” My admission was a huge revelation, and one I couldn’t fathom admitting at times. I was a prideful man, and the idea of being threatened by a man like Kyle Matthews was comical, yet it was the honest truth. “It’s quite hard to see him any differently, but I suppose I better start doing something about that before Sienna starts giving me the evil eye.”
“Very well.” Toby nodded towards me before he checked the watch on his wrist. “Can we get out of this forsaken library and join our better halves?”
Approximately fifteen minutes later, the guest of honor arrived. Lucy, Sienna, Toby and I were all there in the foyer to greet him, but it was Sienna who eagerly almost ran to him and gave him a huge hug. It only took one look to know that my wife had been missing him immensely. I wasn’t sure how I stayed rooted on the spot, however I did; even though every fiber in me screamed in protest, wanting to snatch her away from the man who had the capability of stealing her from me.
“It’s lovely to see you again, Kyle,” Lucy interrupted Sienna and Kyle’s mini reunion before Toby did the same thing.
“I heard about the wedding; congratulations to you both.” Kyle shook hands with Toby before his well aware eyes landed on me. “Blake.” He nodded in greeting before I inserted both of my hands in my pocket, willing myself to greet him back.
“Kyle,” I said without a smile as I looked him squarely in the eye. “Welcome back to London.”
Sienna came in between us, smiling before she gave me a you’re going to get in trouble if you don’t behave kind of glare and ushered Kyle into the house. I was the last one to follow, and all the while, I noted everything about them, wondering how in the world I had gotten in between their bond. Because, from where I was standing, it was obvious these two had more than friendship. It was apparent in the way he gazed at her, his eyes almost caressing with that longing look that gave away his feelings for her.
“Freya said dinner will be ready in about ten minutes,” Sienna announced as we all gathered in the living room, lounging with our drinks. She then turned to her best friend, ex-lover slash once almost fiancé. “How about I give you a grand tour of the house?” she offered while I was almost sure she was trying to kick me in the groin.
“How about not, Sienna. The man just barely got here, let him unwind and relax.” My temper was getting the most of me, yet I couldn’t help feeling miserable. Pretending to be noble wasn’t a strong suit for me. I was a Neanderthal at best when it came to the woman I loved above all else. Could anyone really blame me?
My suggestion was immediately brushed off by her overly bright smile and eyes ready to commit murder. “Never mind Blake. He promised to behave tonight,” she said out loud before she dragged Kyle away to her studio.
“You promised to behave?” Lucy chortled. “My, this ought to be funny. You already look pained as it is. Another hour of this and you’ll be on your deathbed.”
Was I really that easy to assess? To my friends, well, yes. They had known me when I was at my worst, and when I was at my happiest. Right this moment, however, I wasn’t sure which category best suited my emotions.