My brows knitted. “You’re right. I don’t. What I do know is that Vera needs her brother safe and sane.”
“I don’t want you touching her,” he said.
Don’t tell him you’ve already touched her.Don’t say it. Don’t say it.
I shoved my hands into my pockets and paced, trying to keep my cool.
“What game are you playing?” Julian roared, grabbing my shoulders and slamming me against the wall. His breath hit my face, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple.
“I need her,” I blurted, lifting my arms in surrender. “You’re not the only one fighting for someone. But here’s the truth—we’ve both been burned by our pasts. She told me about her shithead ex, Ace. How you saved her from his abuse. I want to be the man she can love and trust, but she needs time.”
Something flickered in his eyes. Sanity. Slowly, his grip loosened. We stood there, staring at each other. The same dark-mocha eyes Vera carried—steady, honest, and fiery—looked back at me.
“That’s right, Professor. Your sister needs time to ditch her baggage. But it doesn’t change what I feel for her.”
“Sorry to hear.”
“Why? I’m not sorry. I’m glad I met her.”
His voice flattened. “How did you meet?”
“She works for my friend, Brenton McCormick.” That was all I gave him. My hot nights with Vera weren’t something he needed to hear. Not if I wanted to walk away without his fist in my face.
MANHATTAN BLUES
Alistair
Julian, Vera, and I slipped into the Waldorf Astoria just before midnight, the marble lobby gleaming under chandeliers. I lingered as the siblings exchanged a quiet goodnight, an easy intimacy in the way they smiled, before Julian stepped into the elevator and vanished behind its mirrored doors.
“How did it go with my brother?” Vera pressed close, her body warm against mine. Her voice dropped, laced with worry. “Do you think he suspects anything about us? I don’t want him to know yet—not with everything he’s dealing with.”
“Do you trust me?” I tilted her chin up, brushing my mouth over hers.
She kissed me back, soft but certain, before pulling just far enough to whisper, “I do. With all my heart.”
My thumb traced her cheekbone. “I won’t let you or your family down.”
Her eyes softened. “Thank you.”
I let a grin tug at my mouth. “One more thing. Your room… or mine?”
The door shut behind us when we reached her hotel room, and I wasted no time. My hands locked onto Vera’s waist as I pressed her back against the wall. Every second apart had been a slow burn, and now I starved for her.
“Remember this?” I ground my cock against her hips, savoring the way she arched into me.
Her breath hitched, her nails biting into my shoulders. “Alistair, please.” Her body trembled, already giving me everything I craved.
“Please what? Please stop?” My mouth curved against her ear.
“Please keep going.” Her hand slid down, grazing the bulge straining my pants.
I chuckled low, dragging my tongue along the jasmine warmth of her throat. “I believe you’ve met him before.” I unzipped, letting my grin spread slow and wicked. “In fact, you know him well.”
“Oh, I missed him, Scotty,” Vera whispered, her fingers shoving my trousers down to free the thick length of me.
The air between us crackled, charged. “You on anything?” I murmured, already aching to bury myself inside her.
Her eyes flicked up, sharp even through her haze. “Are you clean?”
