Page 7 of Second Goal

She takes another step back, arms crossing over her chest and shrugs. “I owed a friend some money. That’s all.”

That douchebag is her friend?Bullshit.

“Money for what?”

Her shoulders lift, then fall, and she glances away. “Just an old debt.”

I can’t tell if she’s lying, but I know for certain she’s not telling me the whole truth.

The muscles in my jaw hurt from clenching my teeth together when I ask, “And thedebt, is it paid in full now?”

Her throat bobs when she swallows. “Yes.” That slight hesitation before she answers tells me she’s lying.

“If you need money—”

“I don’t need your money, Blake. I just need you to...” She stutters over the words, bottom lip trembling. And I see a sliver of vulnerability when I take a step toward her. “I... need...” Her eyes close.

“Need me to do what?” God knows I’ll give her anything she asks for.

A soft sigh escapes her lips and when she looks up at me, the vulnerability is gone. “Just stop treating me like a child.”

Anything but that.Because if I start treating her as the woman I know she is, I won’t be able to stop myself from taking what I want.

“I’m looking out for you.”

“Why?” I hear her frustration in that one word.

“Because I care about you, Kiley. You’re family.”

She glares up at me. “You’re not my brother.”

When she starts to move away from me, I place my palm on the wall, stopping her, then lean closer, my other hand cupping the back of her head. “You’re right. I’m not.”

Maybe it’s the adrenaline still pumping through my veins from seeing that asshole’s hands on her. Or the thought that something could have happened to her. But I’m sick of ignoring the aching need to touch her. To kiss her.

Avoiding this pull between us is becoming more than just torture, it’s becoming impossible. But still, I’m fighting it. Or at least my heart and brain are. My body seems to have a mind of its own. Especially when she leans into my touch, eyes fluttering closed, lips parting on a little whimper.

“Kiley,” I groan. If I don’t step away right now, I know I’m going to do something I’ll regret.

“What?” There’s a dare in her eyes, a challenge.

Step back, my brain warns.

Her tongue darts over her bottom lip, and every muscle in my body tightens dangerously.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t touch you.”

Her fingers are curled around my shirt and her mouth is close enough to mine I can feel the warmth of her breath on my lips. “Why?”

“Hell if I can remember,” I growl out, my self-control completely disintegrated.

I’m losing myself in her, and there’s not a damn thing I can do to stop it.

I crush my mouth against hers, my tongue slipping over her lips. She whimpers and I groan and the whole fucking world explodes around me. With a greedy hunger, I kiss her hard, lifting her so that her legs are straddled around my waist, my cock aching to be released from the confines of my jeans, desperate to sink insideher, to claim her.

It’s a primal need. One that I can’t make sense of. I just know there’s no stopping now.

Until a series of loud bangs interrupt us.

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