“Um…” I instantly register the implication. “That’s not?—”
“You need to find someone else to fuck with,” Miles cuts in, suddenly right there beside me. His fingers lace around my wrist, and he tugs me toward one of the beach houses, as Ryan throws his hands up in surrender.
“What are you doing?” I demand, tugging my arm away from him.
He releases it, spinning around to face me. “What the hell were you thinking? Flirting with some guy to make Emmett and Brody jealous?”
My eyes widen, and then the guilt settles in. “I didn’t… I mean…”
“I get it, they left you,” Miles says, still fuming, and then peering around me at the others. “But that’s no reason to go stirring the pot any more than you already have. Emmett can handle the sharing, but Brody? Brody has been through more than enough with his ex-wife. Don’t go playing with their hearts, just because you’re the prettiest face in the room.”
“Wow,” I swallow the anger boiling up in my chest. I shake my head and then stalk off through the sand dunes, heading toward one of the empty beach houses.
“Where are yougoing?” Miles chases after me, following me across the sand.
“Away from you,” I snap, folding my arms across my chest. “I don’t…” I stop as I reach the deck of the unoccupied beach rental. “I don’t know what I’m doing any more than they do!” I throw my hands up and cover my face, letting out a groan.
Miles hovers above me, his cologne filling my lungs. “Youallare definitely… diving into something unusual.”
I drop my hands, taking in his expression, which is a mixture of emotions I can’t read. “I think I was just hurt by the fact that everyone just…leftme.” The emotions flood my chest, and I find myself fighting back tears. “God, I’m so fucking stupid.”
Miles lets out a sigh. “It was pretty shitty of us to just walk away.”
“I don’t want to be just the girl that they want when we’re on the boat,” the words come tumbling out of my mouth before I can stop them. “I want to be the one that they cling to on the outside, too.”
“And honestly,” Miles pauses, “Youare.There are just a few people here they know, and I’m sure if they knew how you’d felt, they’d be standing right here, in the same place as me…” His voice trails off as his smile fades. “And I have to admit, I’m pretty damn jealous of them.”
My heart jumps in my chest. “You’rejealous?”
Miles lets out a chuckle. “Well, yeah. I am. I am jealous. I’m jealous of the way Brody and Emmett have caught your attention.” He steps forward. “That they have the balls to tell you how bad they want you…”
I swallow the lump in my throat, the muscles in my legs tensing as Miles comes closer. “What are you trying to say?” I breathe out the words, barely audible.
“I’m saying thatIwant you, Georgia.” His tone is husky as he shoves his hands into his pockets. “I’ve thought you were the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life, and I’m not exaggerating. There’s something about you that’s justirresistible.”
A smile tugs at my lips, and I reach for his arm. I tug it gently, but he resists my pull. “What?” I peer up at him.
He frowns. “I’m not going to just be the third guy you fuck around with.” He shakes his head. “I’m not like Emmett. Idon’t just fuck for fun. I’m not like Brody either, begrudgingly heartbroken but still unable to give in to pressure.”
I step back, growing increasingly confused. “Okay, so what do you want from me then?” I fold my arms across my chest. “Because you’re saying that you want me, and then you just rejected me, Miles.”
He leans forward, his nose brushing mine as he lowers his voice. “I need you to admit that you actuallywantme. I don’t want you to play me like you did the bartender. I saw the way you flipped your pretty hair and faked your laugh. I don’t want to be together to make Emmett and Brody jealous. I want you to want me just as fucking bad, Georgia.” His breath is hot against my lips, and everything in me pulls toward him, my mind flashing with the first time we met—the way he asked questions about me to get to know me…
The way I realize he’s subtly wanted me this whole time.
I grab a fistful of his shirt and pull him to my mouth.
Miles kisses me, his tongue slipping through my parted lips and canvassing my mouth like he’s starved. I let out a light moan as his hand slips around my waist and pulls me to him.
His erection presses against my lower stomach, and I gasp into him, surprised at the way he reacts to me. His lips break from mine, and he sucks in a deep breath.
“We can’t do this here, Georgia,” he whispers, turning his head back to the crowd. “I want you so fucking bad, but I’m not going to take you in front of everyone.”
My pussy aches at his words, and I nod, just as he interlocks his fingers with mine. “Back to the boat?” I breathe out.
“No,” he grins. “This place,” he nods to the house, “is vacant. I think this is the perfect place for me to show you how good I can make you feel.” He tugs me toward the outdoor staircase, and I let him tug me into a jog.
I follow after him, anticipation and arousal thrumming through my body as my feet pound the steps. Miles leads the way to the second floor, and then tugs me toward the third.
