Page 47 of Brewing Temptation

“My high school sweetheart wasn’t the only one I wasn’t enough for. We were twenty-one. Apparently, one dick doesn’t satisfy my kind of woman.”

“Ew,” I said, wrinkling my nose and earning a dark chuckle that did not help in the between-the-thighs department. Laughter should not be a turn-on. And yet…

“I seem to break them, or something. Anyway. I walked in on her inourbed withmyquarterback behind her and my tight end—ahh, the irony—in front.” He tongued a molar as he shifted the truck into park. “I was so distracted I got hurt in the next game and never got to play again. Turns out, she’d fucked her way through the roster, some two or three at a time. Out went football. Out went the barefoot blonde.”

“Geez, Jameson, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. Better off on my own.”

“That’s a pretty jaded way to look at it.”

He shrugged. “Two loves in my life, both cheats, the only common denominator was me. Ask my brothers. I’m good at breaking beautiful things. Can’t always explain it.”

“You have to see why this doesn’t make sense. That’s not your fault.”

“Still. Easy enough just…being me. If somebody needs a good time, they know where to find me. And let’s face it, I’m no Paxton. I was born for the sea.” Conversation, obviously, abruptly over, he slid out of his truck onto the pavement, beelining around the front and hauling the door open before offering me a hand down. When I swallowed, it was hard—audible—but I accepted, this time mesmerized as he held my stare. Finding my feet, Jameson kept his hand on my elbow, but he didn’t budge, all kinds of up in my space. The feel of his body against mine, his hand still wrapped around my bicep, the heat of his breath on my face. I could only stumble rigidly through the motions of breathing.

“Smart girls know when to keep their distance.”

“Do you think I’m smart?” I asked back, the words breathless. Jeez Louise, how was I supposed to even think with him that close, let alone as those stone eyes tried to light me on fire? One dimple threatened to make an appearance as the corner of his lips twitched. A girl could only besmartfor so long. Especially as his pupils dilated, gaze darkening as it fell to my mouth. It didn’t help that my old pal tequila had very,verydifferent plans in mind.

“I hope so.” And then he was backing up, sending some asshole cousin of rejection cooling my desire with way too much ruthless enthusiasm. He motioned across his yard to Rhyett’s adjoining one. Eyes still locked, I sucked in a breath, skirting past him and towards the house as my heart attempted to tunnel out of my body. I kept my eyes on the grass, where they were safe, until I got to the door and fumbled with my key, hands shaking enough that finding the damn keyhole was comical.

“Cold?”

Jumping like a freaking cat, I whirled on him. “Shit, Jameson, what the hell?”

He blew out a breath, laughter hidden somewhere in the sound. “I’ve been with you the whole time. Not my fault if you’re not observant.”

“Sweet baby cheeses.”

“You gonna let yourself in?”

“Yes,” I snapped. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure you’re home safe.”

“You’re enough to give a girl whiplash, you know that?”

“Hence. Distance.”

“Jiminy Cricket.” Rolling my eyes, I turned back for the door, hands still shaking with some combination of misplaced adrenaline, mind-boggling confusion, and cold. His broad palm encircled my hand as he steadied me, the hard—and I do meanhard—heat of him suddenly flush with my ass, chest to my back, free hand hovering over my waist as he guided the key into the slot. When the front door fell open into Rhyett’s meticulous, dimly lit hallway, I couldfeelhis freaking smile against my hair before he stepped away, leaving me achingly cold before I had the chance to turn in his arms.

“Goodnight, Noel.”

My mouth was too confused and stunned to respond.

There wasn’ta world in the universe where I could climb into bed smelling like Jameson Rhodes and not reach for every girl’s little pink best friend in my nightstand. So, after chiseling away the layers of makeup, I hopped into the shower instead, washing three times to ensure the biohazard that was a shell of hairspray had been properly dissolved before conditioning.

One touch. One touch of his hand against mine, his palm on my back as I stepped into his truck, and my senses had scrambled like three eggs in a bowl of seasonings and milk. Palms slick with lemon soap, I ran them over my body, massaging aching calf muscles, running over the curves of my breasts. My breath came faster, and I thought for a moment, head spinning. I repeated the motion, sighing as sudsy palms slid smoothly over my sensitive nipples. Jesus, the man had my body buzzing, and he’d never so much as said he was interested. I repeated the motion again, the jolt of pleasure enough for my lips to fall open.

Steel-blue eyes flashed in my memory; that oh-so-rare, knock-your-knees-out smile burned in my vision. The feel of his body pressed into mine for the half a freaking second he’d been there to steady me. Some tiny part of my mind was yelling that this was a horrible idea, another screaming that he’d basically insulted me for wanting him, but they were both held down and drowned ruthlessly by the image of his face as he caught me naked inthis very window. My clit throbbed.

Oh, holy shit.

I couldn’t remember the last time my blood felt electrified like this. Couldn’t remember a time when every piece of me thrummed to life. Distance from the past.That’s why I came here. And hell, if it wasn’t working.

Gliding one hand over my breasts, stretching a pinky to one and thumb to the other, I massaged the sensitive tissue as my other hand slid down and settled between my thighs. Oh,holy shit. Alert, pulsing, and needy, I pictured him flush against me, his dick hard where it pressed into my low back, remembering the warmth of his hand around mine. Stupid? Desperate? Self-destructive? Maybe. But I let myself massage my breasts and stimulate my clit and pictured Jameson Rhodes.

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