Page 66 of The Boys Next Door

“That’s not enough of a reason.”

“Okay. It’s been good for us.”

“You mean for you. Was it all your idea?”

“No, Di. Believe me when I say it hasn’t been.” His finger found her belly button and traced it, making her giggle, just a little. A smile crossed his face. But he was turning away, his gaze moving across her bedroom to the huge tree in the window, and no way was she ready for this conversation to be over.

“How’d it start?” She gave Brendan’s hair a tug. “Tell me.”

“I don’t know.” Hazel eyes looked down at her, shadowed from lack of sleep. She’d thought Brendan looked older. Now, she saw he also looked lost. Had Brendan saidI don’t know,ever, in the past twenty years? “I don’t remember.”

“Yes, you do,” she said stubbornly. “Don’t give me that.”

There was a long pause. Brendan sighed. “It didn’t come out of nowhere. From the time we were kids, Ian got in trouble more. Even for the things I did. A couple times, I don’t know, I’d steal some cookies or smash a ball through a window,or put a slug in the DiStefanos’ mailbox, and Ian would automatically get the blame, ‘cause he did that shit all the time. I’d own up to it, but our parents wouldn’t really believe me. They didn’t want to. We figured out that we could switch places and get away with more if I was good and he was bad. I helped him, he helped me. We looked out for each other.”

“Past tense?”

“Maybe.” Brendan rolled onto his back to look up at the ceiling. “We worked well together. We were a good team, Di.”

“With girls too,” she murmured.

“Of course with girls.” A hint of Brendan’s dimples showed in his tired face as he turned to her. “You know that. Any complaints?”

She snorted, but a tickle of warmth chased itself down her body. Then she shook her head, rubbing her temples with one hand. “No. Yes. I don’t know.”

After a minute, Brendan took over, and she gave in to the feeling of warm fingers massaging her head.

“Is Ian mad at you?” she asked in a low voice. “I need to know.”

Brendan let out a long breath. “Can’t say.”

“Fuck that,” she snapped. Irritation made her flush hot. She squeezed her pillow. “Nowyou start protecting him?”

At the flash of hurt in Brendan’s eyes, Diana wished she could take it back. She draped her arm around his waist, trying to make up.

“I always have,” he said finally. He brushed her bangs off her forehead. “I told you, we looked out for each other. I’m being honest with you, Di. I don’t know what he’s thinking. He won’t talk to me.”

“You said you’re not fighting.”

“Well, we’re not beating the crap out of each other.” His smile flickered again.

“Brendan,” she said softly. Dark lashes blinked at her. There was so much she wanted to say, and she wasn’t at all sure what any of it was. “How about just being yourself?”

“How about it, Di?” Brendan’s face was very close to hers on the pillow, his arms around her, his gaze intense in a way she’d never seen from him.

She felt herself sandwiched between the twins again, letting loose in the club. Doing everything she’d always wanted to, and then some. Feeling more and less like Diana Cooper than ever in her life. She closed her eyes.

“I don’t know what to do,” she mumbled.

A sudden ache for Ian wrapped around her body. She saw him crouched in front of her record player, flipping through her LPs while she panted in Brendan’s arms. She heard his whispers overlapping hers as she lay tangled up with him, that night he’d climbed in her window alone. Sharing secrets. She regretted every word she’d said, and she wished she’d told him everything.

“You don’t have to do anything right now.” Brendan brushed his lips against the top of her head. “Just lie here with me.”

“Okay.” She snuggled closer. Brendan’s firm body felt more relaxed against hers, and she realized he’d been tense when he came in.

As they lay quietly on her bed, breathing together, warmth spread over her body at his muscular arm around her. She squeezed his back. And even though Brendan was just holding her, she’d been crazy to think she could cuddle with him like brother and sister and not feel anything. Her full breasts pressed against his chest. Her nipples puckered through her thin camisole. His hand on her stomach sent flutters through her skin.

When she shifted against him, his fingers stroked her hair. Oh God — just that touch made her shiver and hug her thighs around his leg. Her pussy tightened with need, and juices were starting to soak her boy shorts.

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