Page 52 of The Mastermind

So were you.

His arm brushed against mine, and a zap of energy skated down my spine.

“He can be overprotective.”

Remi shifted to face me, and his fingers brushed down my cheek. “That’s what big brothers are supposed to do—protect their younger siblings.”

“What about you? Why areyouworried about me?”

The aqua in his eyes transformed to a different shade. I’d seen the tundra glaciers that could chill an entire room and the potent blue flame that burned hotter-than-normal fire––that shade was dangerous, yet I was drawn to it. This new fluid aqua current swimming in his eyes was different, as though a new emotion displayed itself to me at this moment.

Did he even know he was revealing himself to me? My heart quickened, knowing I had the power to move him. To move an unmovable man was like having the ability to shift a mountain.

His fingers traced my jawline, then moved over my lips, sending shivers up and down my body. I loved how my body came alive from his seductive touch.

“What do you think, Sexy Dot?” His voice came out low with a huskiness that urged my lips to open and released a soft sigh.

I hadn’t expected him to respond to my question with a question. I wanted to hear him say that he cared forme. Not because I was Grayson’s sister, but because I was Audri, the girl who had wondered about him but never had the courage to do anything until now.

His thumb tantalized my lips while his eyes stared into mine as though he needed to tell me a secret story.

Yesterday, I learned life is unpredictable. I could’ve easily died. I could’ve lost the opportunity to do what I wanted, go after what made my heart leap. Courage and desire spiked in me, and I slid my tongue out and licked his thumb. A flash of heat flickered in his eyes, and I smiled.

“I think you want me.”

I expected him to retort with a slick line. Instead, he cupped my face with both hands.

“Yeah, I do.” He crushed his lips to mine and kissed me.

The contact sent a jolt to my core, and lightning flashed in my brain. It was the storm I’d been waiting for, the kind that cleared out stagnant energy and illuminated what I wanted, despite my fears. The urgent kiss roared in my ears as an explosion of trapped emotion burst in me, and I sensed the same for him.

Need and desperation poured out of him and into me. His lips molded over mine, eliciting delicious sensations I had never known. I wanted more of it.

“Remi ” I moaned, and his tongue swept in, exploring, teasing, taunting. My arms wrapped around his neck, and my fingers dug into his hair, needing more of him.He broke the kiss and licked the spot above my lips.

“I’ve always wanted to kiss that sexy dot of yours. It’s mine now.” His voice took on a guttural tone I felt in my stomach. There was a certain sound that could penetrate my ears and travel through my body, alerting my cells and organs to wake. His voice was that powerful sound.

“Kiss me, and you’ll know the power of this line segment.”

The seriousness on his face prevented the laugh that wanted to escape. Instead, I smiled. “Oh, I already know its effectiveness. I love how it curves around my mouth and seduces me.”

His lips tilted. “Smart ass.”

I pressed my mouth to his lips, and he devoured me like a starving man in need of sustenance to survive. I was his nourishment, and he was mine. We took from each other and gave to each other. He tasted like a mix of lemon, mint, and something uniquely him. The flavor enticed and intrigued me. I relished his taste and masculine scent. He smelled of a musky cologne that teased my pheromones.

Remi lowered me onto my back and prowled over me like an animal in heat. His hard body pressed against me, and his cock throbbed between my legs. I wrapped my legs around him, wanting him more than I realized. He kissed the column of my neck while his hands roamed my body, sending shivers through me. When he palmed my breast, I leaned in to his touch.

The ding from my electric tea kettle cut through the space and changed the energy in the room. He paused, mumbled a curse, and separated his body from me.

Sitting back on the couch, he scrubbed a hand down his face. “I shouldn’t be doing this. Weshouldn’tbe doing this.”

He got up and went into the kitchen to pour hot water into the tea mugs, leaving me staring after him.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

REMINGTON

That powerful kissknocked me out of my well-defined perimeter. Audri had a way of persuading me to do things I wouldn’t normally do. I had set clear boundaries between her and me. Boundaries that should not be crossed, no matter what.

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