Page 8 of Her Brother's Best Friend

Her eyes go wide, but only for a second before she’s able to school her reaction back down to nonchalant. But I’ve already caught what she wants to hide. The thought of living with me excites her. She can fight it all she wants, but little by little, I’m going to break down those walls. I’m going to earn her trust again.

Cass laughs and grabs my attention. “You think saving me the other night gives you some kind of hold over me, don’t you?” Her eyes narrow and her sharp arrow of judgment hits me right in the chest.

“I’m not the one holding on to something here, Cass.”

She turns, so she’s fully facing me and her cheek twitches. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Playing games hasn’t gotten me far with her, so I’m going for the truth. “You’ve had me by the balls for years now. Ever since Kyle dared me to kiss you, you’ve held it against me. When are you going to grow up and see I’m in love with you?”

This time when her eyes go wide and her mouth gaps open, she’s powerless to stop them. Her reaction can’t be schooled off her face. Or, maybe she doesn’t want it to be.

“Luke,” she whispers. “That’s not fair. You broke my heart. You can’t say things like that to me anymore.”

“The hell I can’t.” I’m up and hovering over her. “It may have taken a jackass manhandling you for me to openly admit how I feel, but Cass, I’ve been in love with you since the first day I sat next to you at your parents’ dinner table. Do you have any idea what a thirteen-year long case of blue balls does to a man?”

She thinks she’s quick, but not quick enough for me to miss her glance at my crotch. Yeah, baby. It’s hard and pulsing to be inside you.

If Cass could crawl over the back of my couch, she looks like she would with the way she presses her body into the cushions to avoid me. “What are you so afraid of? I’m not going to hurt you.”

Her eyes darken, and her lips part for a painful second before she speaks. “You already have.”

My chest tightens. Cass’s words pierce my heart. “Years ago, baby. You can’t hold the actions of a sixteen-year-old against him forever. Come on, Cass. Give me a shot at making it up to you.”

“You’ve had seven years to make it up. Why now?” She eases off the back of the couch and leans in an inch closer. I wouldn’t have noticed except that one little movement has her knee skimming the crotch of my pants and my cock quivers at the touch.

“I watched you walk in the bar with that guy. I sat at my table pretending to care about the guys. Pretending to follow along with the game.” I drag my thumb over the curve of her jaw. “Pretending I didn’t still have feelings for the woman sitting with her old man feet away.”

She laughs. It’s high and tight and sounds like daggers being thrown. “He wasn’t my old man.”

“How was I to know that, Cass?”

She shifts, and her lips contort in an almost smile that has me panting. “So, it wasn’t until you thought I was off the market that you remembered how you felt about me?”

I suck in a breath. Cass hurt me. Square in the chest, her words hit like a cement filled fist. But I deserve the pain. I’ve done her wrong, and now I have to do whatever she asks to make it right. “I’ve spent every day trying to forget how you make me feel.”

“And you’ve said nothing?” She narrows her eyes at me. “Luke, you’re the kind of man who sees what he wants and takes it without regret. How am I supposed to believe you’ve spared me your attention to protect me?”

Fuck. My balls clinch like Cass has them in the vice of her grip. “Come on, Cass. You’ve got to give me an inch here. What’s it going to take for you to give me a chance?”

Her hand moves to my chest, and her gaze hits mine so hard I grab the arm of the couch to keep from coming undone. “What about Kyle? He’s never liked the thought of you and me together?”

“Kyle’s a lot of things to me, but boss man he’s not. You let me worry about him if there is anything to worry about.” And there will be. He’d fucking kill me if he knew Cass was even sitting in my apartment right now. But I have a plan. Get Cass to fall in love with me so hard Kyle has no choice but to accept our relationship for the sake of Cass’s happiness.

If that doesn’t work, well. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Right now, Cass is almost in my arms. I’m not going to waste a second of this sweetness thinking about anything but her.

4

Cass

Luke doesn’t seem concerned about it, so maybe I should let it go too, but I can’t get Kyle out of my head. He’s the one guy who’s been a constant in my life.

Luke drops a palm to my knee, and my whole body heats a degree. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted. The guy I’ve held all the others up against for comparison. The visitor who comes to me in my dreams. And now he’s here, telling me he loves me and touching me so sweetly and all the bad memories and pain are slipping away with each promise he makes.

Luke reaches for my hair and tucks a piece behind my ear. His palm cups my cheek, and I see a side of him he doesn’t show often. Luke is a guarded man. He has every right to be after a rough childhood being tossed from foster home to foster home. But, with me, that guard comes down, and I’m the only person who sees through the tough exterior to the tender-hearted soul buried underneath.

My heart swells in my chest, and I lean closer until our mouths are only a breath apart. “Brother aside, I’ve wanted you since I first met you, Luke. I may not have known what that meant back then, but I sure do now.”

“That’s all I needed to hear, baby.” His hand reaches behind my head and cups my neck, bringing me closer until the distance between us dissipates, and his hot mouth covers mine. He’s sweet at first, testing the waters. His body snuggles up to mine, and I’m moving into his lap, lips still locked, eyes closed, consumed by the aura of Luke.

---