Page 26 of A Kiss at Midnight

“Byron will come. We’ll let this go and never speak of it again.”

Tyler’s eyes narrow. “Is that an order?”

“Come on, Tyler! You know it’s not that way with us. You’re just itching to fight. Our sanity — yours, mine, and Byron’s — depends on us getting past this.”

“If you’re letting it go so well, then explain this woman in your bed.”

“I don’t know what in the hell is going on with Jewel. Call it temporary weakness, but that weakness just ended. I’ll use her for sex and then ship her away after this is over.”

“We’ll see,” Tyler says with a smirk that makes me want to crush my brother against a wall with a bulldozer.

“Look. I don’t need this woman for anything more than sex. So what if she hasn’t been with another man before me? I don’t give a damn. She’ll certainly be with a lot of men after, a lot of men who will probably offer more than I ever will.”

“That’s probably the only truth you’ve spoken about her... and yourself,” Tyler says. He sounds as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.

“Thanks for all of the helpful words of advice, little brother,” I snap.

Tyler’s grin widens. “You know I’ll be here for you anytime you need to be kicked off your pedestal.”

I don’t bother responding. I don’t know why I came to Tyler, why I felt the need to share, but it seems that whenever we brothers have a problem, we always end up on each other’s doorsteps. It will be this way for life.

I leave Tyler’s house, get into my car, and make my way to the office building. Work is good. It’s what I need. I won’t think about my parents, won’t think about Jewel Weston, won’t think about any of it. I clear my mind and focus on numbers.

It’s what I’ve done in the past, and it always works... so why in the hell isn’t it working now?

Chapter Review

Chapter Sixteen

Jewel

The smell of musk andspice drifts pleasantly across the pillow and into my sleep-fogged brain. I inhale, wondering where I’ve smelled this before. Then my eyes fly open, and I twist my head to look around, my body stiffening until I realize I’m alone.

The night before comes flooding back to me, and my face flushes as I remember the incredibly erotic night. It had been out-of-this-world amazing, but I’m not supposed to feel this way. I’m supposed to be doing this for one reason, and that reason isn’t for myself.

Still, I can’t keep my eyes from closing in soft remembrance as I think back over our time together. After falling asleep, or, more accurately, passing out, the world went blissfully dark. Sometime in the night, I woke to find Blake’s head buried between my sore thighs and it hadn’t taken him long to send me spiraling into another beautiful orgasm.

When he moved up the bed and brushed my lips with his incredibly hard arousal, I didn’t hesitate to open to him. I took his velvet skin into my mouth and sucked until he released his pleasure onto my greedy tongue.

We didn’t speak, didn’t acknowledge the power of our connection. He simply pulled me back into his arms and I once again fell blissfully asleep. Now, as I sit up in bed, I wonder what’s happening. This time with Blake Astor is a constant up and down, and yet I’m not close to being miserable. Is it because he keeps throwing me off balance?

Today is Saturday so no work, but I’m not sure where Blake is. I sort of like having his huge apartment to myself. He could be downstairs, but I don’t hear a sound so maybe he’s gone.

I smile as I get up, then walk into his bathroom and gasp at the large sunken tub and glass-enclosed shower big enough for six people. My mouth waters at the thought of using either one, but I don’t think I should. Granted, he brought me into his bedroom, but I’m not sure if he’ll want me to leave now. I shouldn’t take advantage of the super-fancy facilities here... should I?

Grabbing a thick robe I find hanging on the wall, I wrap my petite body in it and return to his bedroom. I crack the door open and look both ways. No one had been in his apartment the day before, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be someone today, and Ireallydon’t want to meet anyone for the first time while doing the walk of shame from Blake’s bedroom in his bathrobe.

The coast is clear, so I sneak down the hall and make my way downstairs. It doesn’t take long for me to figure out I’m alone. I need a shower. I find a guest bedroom with a nice shower... not as nice as his, but still better than the one in my apartment.

Dropping the robe, I climb into the shower and stand beneath the hot spray for several minutes without moving, the water and heat a welcome relief to my stiff muscles. My body was put through a workout the night before, using muscles I hadn’t known existed. I have a feeling I’ll be sore for days.

Once I feel better, I turn off the shower and put the robe back on. I need to find my clothes and do the walk of shame back to my apartment. I move back downstairs... and that’s when I notice a bag on the counter.

Maybe if I don’t open it, I can pretend ignorance. I’m sure it has another skimpy outfit inside that won’t be at all comfortable. I can’t find my dang clothes though. Is he playing a game with me? I have no clue.

A buzzing sounds, and I turn to see my phone plugged in on the counter. I move over and see several messages showing on the screen. I start a cup of coffee then move over and pick it up.

I hope you slept well. Make sure you get plenty of rest this afternoon because tonight will be... aerobic.

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