Page 32 of Fumbled Beginning

I lifted and tightened my leg around his and rolled my hips. He was hard and obviously just as sexually frustrated as I was.

“Rylee.” He pulled away and peered down at me. “I didn’t bring you here for this.”

I blinked slowly and took a minute to respond because, if he was telling the truth, I needed to find a way to change his mind. “Why did you bring me here then?”

“Because I wanted to prove to you that I’m not the guy that you think I am. You’re my best friend’s sister, not a quick fuck. I wouldn’t do that to you or disrespect my friendship.” He shoved a frustrated hand through his hair. “But it feels like no matter what I do, I’m going to mess this up somehow.”

“The last time I checked, I was a consenting adult,” I said firmly, letting him know Maverick didn’t get a say in this. “I don’t need my brother’s permission to sleep with someone.”

His eyes turned stormy. He looked pissed, and that flutter in my stomach kicked up a notch. “This isn’t just about sex.”

I blinked, stunned at what I just heard. “C’mon, JP, you expect me to believe that? Just because I’m Maverick’s sister doesn’t mean you have to treat me differently or pretend to suddenly have feelings for me.”

“Suddenly? Have you not noticed what an idiot I sound like whenever I open my mouth around you? How I can’t peel my eyes off of you.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, and I thought he would stop there, but he kept on going. “I’ve sat back and watched you date stupid men who weren’t good enough and didn’t deserve you. I had never touched you before because I was convinced I could never give you more. But I want to go on record and make it crystal clear that I thought about touching you so many times that I lost count. My head would explode whenever I saw you with some asshole that wasn’t me. I accepted the fact that we would never be anything more than what we were. And I was okay with that until recently. When I realized this attractionI have for you wasn’t going away.”

He said all that without taking a breath.

How could I have been so blind? Misread things so badly? “You’ve had feelings for me all this time and never once tried to make a move on me? Why?”

“Because I knew once I touched you, it would change everything.”

“What does that even mean?” I was afraid to ask but had to know. And goddamn it, why did I like the sound of that so much?

“Rylee, I don’t trust myself to answer that now.” He kept his body rooted in place. “I’m trying to keep my hands to myself. To keep my addiction to you under control. But a man only has so much restraint, sweetheart, so don’t go asking questions you’re not prepared to handle.”

The only thing I could focus on was the way his chest rose and fell. The clenched fists at his sides. The way my name sounded like a plea coming from his lips. JP stared me down like he was two seconds away from ripping my clothes off. And I was here for it.

Screw common sense—screw responsibility.

“I’m more than ready, JP. I’m done pretending that this chemistry between us doesn’t exist. So, let’s solve the mystery once and for all and see what kind of magic we can make together.”

CHAPTER9

RYLEE

His eyes flared,and my body flooded with warmth. JP leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. His mouth was just the right amount of pressure as he kissed me with a passion I’d never felt before. The strokes of his tongue were controlled and calculated, which only made me want more. I gripped the back of his neck tightly, drawing him closer. Electricity raced down my spine as he took control of my mouth.

“Is this what you want?” Strong fingers slipped into my scalp and twisted my hair. His voice was strained, borderline frustrated.

“Yes.”

His jaw clenched as he stared at me. I could see the conflict in his gaze. He was at war with his loyalty to my brother and his attraction to me. We both knew once we did this, it would change everything. My eyes pleaded with his to choose me. Choose us. Even though there wasn’t an “us’ yet, I wanted there to be.

He tipped my head back, forcing me to meet his gaze. “You’ve been driving me insane, Rylee. I haven’t been able to think about anyone but you.”

A little moan popped out of my mouth before I could stop it. “The feeling has been mutual,” I confessed, feeling my throat grow thick with emotion.

He gripped my chin; his eyes had a wild look to them. “What did you just say?”

I know I’ve been sending him mixed signals, but couldn’t he see how much he’s affected me? Maybe I hadn’t been as honest with him as I should have been, and it was time to make my intentions clear. “I’ve dreamed of this moment and now I’m kicking myself for all the time we’ve wasted.”

JP emitted the hottest growl I’d ever heard. “Why the fuck didn’t you say something sooner?”

“Because I didn’t think my attraction to you would turn into anything.”

I saw the moment it dawned on him. “My reputation scared you away?”

“Yes.”

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