Page 26 of The Brothers Next Door

My eyes narrowed at him a moment as I considered whether or not there was an angle. “We’re talking dating, relationship, sex, it’ll all be shared?”

“You get us both.” He said it matter-of-factly, like it was an everyday thing for him. Hell, maybe it was. I was just getting to know them, perhaps this was what they did frequently.

“Both.” I swept my tongue along my lower lip. My mouth and throat had suddenly become dry. His gaze dipped and focused on my lips, sending my pulse racing. My eyes suddenly narrowed at him. “I’m not the kind of girl that can be used as some sort of fuck toy…” I hated the taste of those words in my mouth but that had to be said.

He frowned, taking my hands in his and giving them a squeeze. “That’s the furthest thing on our minds. You’d never be considered that.”

I nodded, blushing.

“We both genuinely like you and want to get to know you better.”

The heat in my cheeks intensified, as I was feeling foolish for having blurted that out. “Sorry, it had to be said for my own peace of mind.”

“Of course, totally understandable. But if you’d want to choose one…” His eyes displayed his apprehension. “We’d respect that as well.”

“Why didn’t Darrin come here as well?”

Nate grimaced, giving me a lopsided smile. “He figured you’d toss me out on my ear.”

Taking a deep breath in, I slowly released it. God, so many things could go wrong, but then again, so many things could also go so right. I won’t lie, the idea of having both those gorgeous men fawning over me, caressing me, filling me, had its appeal. I’d simply guard my heart and have a good time. Sure, I hadn’t been completely serious on the Wonder Wheel simply because I didn’t expect to be faced with that situation, but lo and behold, that was the exact situation I was being faced with currently.

It was too good to be true—how could any woman in their right mind pass it up? Two men to lavish attention on me. Smiling, I nodded. “Okay, let’s give this a try. What’s the worst that could happen?” Despite asking the question, I knew there were a whole lot of worst case scenarios that could happen.

“Good. Good.” Letting go of my hands, he released what seemed to be a nervous chuckle as he stood.

“Were you nervous?” Smiling, I stood with him, giving him a playful punch to the shoulder. “I would never have guessed the man that picked me up at the club the other night could be nervous over anything.”

“I’m relieved, quite frankly. It’s not every day I share a woman with my brother. I figured either you’d go for it, or slap me for suggesting it. Figured the odds were fifty-fifty.”

“Uh-huh.” Walking him to the door, I wondered what the good night protocol was now. Stopping at the door, Nate grasped the door handle, but didn’t turn it. Instead he turned back to me, pausing a moment, and then slipped his arm around me, pulling me into his arms.

I fell into him, slipping my arms up his chest and lacing my fingers behind his neck. His body was so hard against me, his frame overshadowing mine. As he lowered his lips to mine, my lips parted.

His hands slipped down my back and to my ass. Both hands grasped my buttocks and squeezed, pulling me tight against him, my pelvis rubbing against his groin, which was sporting the beginnings of an erection.

When his lips touched mine, a jolt of exhilaration raced through me. Memories of our night together came rushing to my mind and I moaned. I wanted him, here and now. We’d already agreed to continue dating so what would it hurt?

“Stay tonight,” I whispered, tearing my lips from his and looking up at him for confirmation.

He stared down at me a moment and my heart sank. The look he gave me wasn’t one of lust, but of regret. “I want to, you have no idea how much.”

“But…”

“But I can’t.” Releasing my ass, he placed his hands on my shoulders and gently pushed me back. “Not right yet.”

A frown emerged from my lips as I cast my gaze downward, slightly embarrassed.

“We need to do this right, to make it work.” Leaning into me, he grazed my jawbone with his lips and then placed a quick kiss on my neck. “Next time we’re together, you’ll have two men, not just one. Can you wait for that, baby?”

Let’s go get Darrin now! A voice in the back of my mind yelled out, but I didn’t say the words. Instead, I nodded. “Next time.”

He ran his thumb along my lower lip and I inhaled sharply. The man was such a damned tease. “I’ll be in touch.”

Pulling away, he grasped the door handle again, but unlike last time, he twisted the knob and opened it, letting himself out.

Ohmygod. My entire body deflated as I stared at the closed door a moment. Two men. So much could go wrong. They were brothers, for Pete’s sake. There was a possibility I could come between the brothers. I’d never be able to live with myself if that happened. Maybe I could call after him and say no, it was a bad idea. But he seemed to be confident it would be all right and I felt exhilarated over the idea. All I could do was trust he knew better than I did and enjoy the ride while it lasted. Just don’t get attached, I told myself, though I knew that was easier said than done.

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