“I need you to kiss me.”
His mouth crashes into mine, hot and insistent, his tongue sliding against mine as the strobe lights flash around us, the words barely out of my mouth. He tastes of whiskey and bad decisions.
The metal rings of my dress dig into my ribs as he pulls me closer.
Through the wall at my back, the bass thrums, vibrating up my spine as his body presses mine. The night air is cool and sweet, the strangers dancing obliviously around us. His teeth graze my bottom lip as his hand slides up my neck, claiming and possessive. My mouth feels swollen, branded by his kisses.
“You are so damn beautiful. And that little dress? Hot as fuck.”
My hands grab both sides of his face, pulling him close as my mouth seeks more of what he has to give.
“Declan.” A male voice cuts through our bubble. “Man. Time to leave.”
He pulls away, his brown eyes looking into mine before glancing over his shoulder. “That’s my brother. I’ve got to go.” He squeezes my hand. “Can I have your number?”
Inhaling deeply, my hand runs down his chest. “I don’t think so.” I reach up and kiss his chin. “It was fun.”
I don’t look back, joining Hannah on the dance floor. My lips still tingle from his kiss, and for the first time in my life, I regret not giving a man my number.
Chapter 2
Declan
Ilock my computer and head out of my office, checking in with my assistant before stepping into the corridor that overlooks the floor. Production is in full swing, this part of the mill responsible for initial log cuts.
The steady sound from below reverberates through me, and a flash of memory from my business trip to Austin two weeks ago is so vivid it’s like I’m there. Dance music pulses around me as I watch the curvy beauty approach the bar with her friend, hand-in-hand. Her long, chocolate hair almost reaches her waist, straight and silky, with the ends slightly curled. I can’t tell what color her eyes are, but her teeth gleam straight and white as she laughs at something her friend says.
When she puts up her arm to wave at the bartender, what looks like a simple short dress turns into temptation in motion. The sides are cut out maybe two inches, revealing nothing, some silver rings fastening the front and back together, revelaing just enough skin to entice. Instead of heels, she’s wearing gray cowboy boots that match the dress, bright embroidered flowers sewn into the leather. I can’t stay away, and when she sees me onthe dance floor, we’re drawn to each other, or chemistry off the charts.
Forcing myself out of my damn memories, I’m now at the computer room that oversees the equipment. My younger brother, Gunnar, is checking in with the sawmill operator. I shake my head to clear it and enter. Only certain staff members have badge access to this room.
My brother is watching live camera feeds from different areas of the production line, monitoring that logs are being properly scanned and cut according to the optimization software’s recommendations. It’s an important job, and we pay him well.
After a quick conversation with our guy, Gunnar nods to the hallway, where he gets out his phone. “You seen this?” It’s a social media account for the handle @axemanblue.
“I don’t have time for this, Gunnar.” I start to pivot when my brother grabs my shoulder.
“Take a closer look.”
It’s the shirtless torso of a guy chopping wood. I click a video, instantly recognizing the tattoo on the guy’s lower abdomen. “Motherfucking Ford.” I shove the phone back to Gunnar. “I’m going to kill our baby brother.”
It takes a bit, but I find him in our uncle’s office, where the two are on a video call. Not bothering to wait until they’re finished, I take a seat at the conference table and flip through the thirty or so social media posts for @axemanblue. The account has only been open for a couple of weeks, and it’s already got 30,000 followers.
Damn. I set the phone down, and my mind drifts back to Austin and the woman who said no to my number and yes to kissing me senseless. I’m usually a little more discreet with hookups. I at least wait until I’m in a hallway or outside or at least alone before kissing a woman.
“Dec, what’s going on?” Lucas Wilder, my uncle, sits across from me, frown lines etched in his face. He raised me and my brothers after our parents died, and his loyalty is fierce. He owns half of Wilder Industries, with me and my brothers each owning a quarter stake of the remaining half.
I’m too pissed to speak, so I slide my phone across the table as Ford takes his sweet-ass time joining us. Our youngest brother is the most feral. He does what he wants when he wants and could give two fucks what anyone thinks. Okay, that’s not true. When it comes to business, he’s all in. But outside of that? He’s a loose cannon, just waiting to go off.
“Axemanblue?”
The one word from our uncle’s mouth stops Ford mid-stride. He runs his hands through his light brown hair, his Caribbean-blue eyes shining. He plops into the chair farthest from me, likely because he knows I’m about to smack him.
Gunnar takes care of that for me.
“Ow, motherfucker.”
“What the hell, Ford?” I scrub my hands over my face.
