Page 31 of Naughty & Nice

I can practically see the fuse getting shorter and shorter in my mind.

“Fuck,” I hiss a little louder this time as I spin around and rest back against the wall. My hand lifts and my fingers dance over the delicate skin of my throat where his calloused hand just was.

My eyes flutter closed as I remember how it felt.

No one has ever touched me like Wilder has.

Something inside me burns red hot as I remember each time we’ve collided.

I need to put a stop to it. But…

“Fucking hell, Noelle. You need to get a grip,” I mutter to myself.

A shriek passes my lips when there’s a knock at the door.

Sucking in a deep breath, I try to force down the feelings that Wilder has ignited within me.

It’s not going to be him on the other side.

It’ll be Hendrix coming to check that I’m okay. Every time he looks at me, I fear he’s going to be able to see the truth written as clear as day in my eyes.

I count to three with my eyes closed and then reach for the door, pulling it open before I have a chance to talk myself out of it.

A loud gasp rips from my throat when I discover I’m wrong.

To many others, Hendrix and Wilder will look completely identical. But to me, they’re totally different people in every way.

Yes, there was a time when they were able to pull the wool over my eyes and trick me with some twin-switching. But that hasn’t happened for many years.

“What?” I snap.

It’s not often that Wilder looks bothered by anything, but as he stares back at me, guilt and concern are more than obvious in his expression. The sight makes my breath catch. He looks so much more like Hendrix right now.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“We’re going to hurt him,” I state, knowing without doubt that I’m right. “And I?—”

“We won’t,” Wilder says firmly, cutting me off.

“How? How won’t we? This,” I say, gesturing between us. “It never should have happened. It shouldn’t still be happening. That out there,” I say, throwing my hand out in the direction of the kitchen. “It was… it was?—”

“Hot?” Wilder asks with his signature smirk appearing on his lips.

“That is not what I was going to say,” I say firmly.

“You know it was,” he says, ignoring everything I just said.

“What do you want?” I ask, holding the door as tight as I can in fear he’s going to force his way inside and make this whole situation even worse.

“He wants you. You know that, right?”

“Wilder,” I warn.

“I’m not playing games. My brother is so madly in love with you that he can barely see straight. I might have fucked up back there, but did you see that look in his eyes? He wouldn’t hesitate to hurt me if it meant protecting you.

“You are the most important person in his world. And something tells me that you feel exactly the same.”

My eyes bounce between his as my heart rate picks up.

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