Page 28 of Falling For My Best Friend's Brother

“You scared me. Jesus.” I was panting, one hand pressed against my chest.

Unlike mine, his eyes were full of mirth as he stared back at me, which was shocking because it was nothing like the judgmental look I expected. Rather, he seemed… amused. I had to be overthinking it.

“Good evening,” he said simply.

Trying to gather the rest of my dignity that hadn’t died a painful death last night, I gave him a curt nod. “Good evening.”

Things were awkward. My fingers trembled. I intertwined them behind me so Knox wouldn’t see. A part of me wanted to walk away. Screw frugality. I had enough money in my bank account to order food every day of my life until I was hundred, and still have a small fortune left.

Another part, the part that recognized the immaturity in that reasoning, knew the adult thing to do would be to apologize for what happened.

It was true that I’d been in my private space, but if Knox found me, then something must have drawn him in. Maybe I’d been moaning too loud. I was known to be a screamer. And I should have checked that the door was actually closed. My room was right next to the bathroom. He might have been on his way there before my outrageous actions offended him.

I took a tentative step forward, lips pressed together, eyes cast to the ground. My mouth opened but only air puffed out. I didn’t dare look at his face; he must have been so disappointed. Not because I was pleasuring myself, obviously—that was none of his business—but because I didn’t have the common sense to do it without alerting the entire apartment.

Clearing my throat, I tried again, forcing sound into my voice. “Listen, uh… I wanted to apologize for last night. My horniness was not an excuse. I shouldn’t have… been so loud and careless about it.”

It had to have been thirty seconds without a word from Knox. My forehead creased as I bit my lip. Was he so dismayed that he wouldn’t even humor me with a response? My heart sank. This was it. There was no doubt that he was already judging me a million ways to Sunday. I could just imagine what was going through his mind.

A young girl with no control over her desires. What a shame.

When I looked up, however, I was surprised to find that Knox didn’t look disappointed, or even angry. A line had formed between his brows and his head was quizzically cocked to the side. He blinked once, twice, as if he couldn’t understand a word I was saying.

“You’re sorry?” he finally asked, his voice packed full of shock. “Why?”

I was getting confused myself. “I shouldn’t have—”

“But you did nothing wrong. Hell, I should be the one apologizing for watching you.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong? I was touching myself, and you saw me!”

He wanted to say more; I could tell. But he held his tongue, as if deciding it wasn’t worth it. Instead, he stood and walked around the counter to the stove.

“Sit,” he threw a towel over his shoulder just as he grabbed a plate.

Deciding it would be best to follow his lead and forget about this whole thing—it was already embarrassing enough—I did as he ordered. For the first time since I walked into the kitchen, I noticed that there was a pot on the stove. My stomach growled, reminding me I’d barely eaten anything since yesterday afternoon.

Knox opened the pot, and a coconut-y scent drifted in the air. I waited as he dished out a generous portion of rice and coconut chicken sauce before placing it in front of me. Seconds later, he added a glass of water.

I looked up at him, gratitude filling me. “Thank you.”

Knox nodded once. “Eat.”

I did, and for the duration of the meal, nobody said a word. My eyes connected with Knox’s a few times, and I wondered what he was thinking. I was so hungry that I kept eating even as my mind reeled. But moments later, when my plate was almost empty, something funny happened.

Knox opened his mouth as if to say something but then stopped, seemed to think about it for a second, and closed it. He gave me one last glance, then walked away toward the hallway. I sat there, confused, as I scooped the last portion of rice on my plate and shoved it into my mouth. What was his problem?

Then, a second later, Knox reappeared. His face was blank but his sapphire eyes, deep and penetrative, told a different story.

“You called out my name.”

I spluttered, blinking furiously. “What?”

“Just before you came, you called out my name.” Something flashed in his gaze, hot. “Were you thinking of me?”

I could feel the heat creeping up from my neck to my face, and the shame from earlier came flooding back. I was a fool. The biggest one on earth. Wasn’t I the one cursing him in every known language a few days ago? Hadn’t I been so close to throwing him out becausehe was the rudest, most antagonistic asshole I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting?So, why the hell had I said his name as my orgasm overtook me?

The worst part was that I didn’t even remember doing it. My thoughts had been focused on reaching climax and, like everyone else, the image I’d conjured up in my mind to aid with that task had been a very erotic one. A man, who I was just realizing looked a whole lot like Knox, and a woman with red hair who may or may not have been me.

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