I have to keep up the act. Keep pretending that I’m still the playboy I made myself out to be.
“It was from one of the women I was telling you about,” I say.
“What did she say?”
I shrug. “The usual. Probably wants to make another deal with me so she can try to win me over like she did the last time.”
“Another deal?” Nova’s head rears back. “You’ve made deals with other women?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
“What?Pfff.” She rolls her eyes and backs away with a wave of her hand, dismissing my observation. “Why would I be jealous of my brother’s flings? That’s weird.”
A slow smile creeps to my face as I watch her try to convince me—and herself—that she’s not jealous.
What an interesting reaction.
Nova glances at me, catches my smug grin, and stomps to the toaster on the counter facing my back. She grabs the strudels I popped in for her. “What deals are you making with these women anyway?”
I bite back a laugh as she rips open the packet of thawed icing. “Why does it matter? You’re not jealous, so I shouldn’t have to explain myself, yeah?”
“I’mnotjealous.” She spins toward me and stabs a finger in my direction. “Is it wrong that I want to know what deals you’re making?”
Fascinated as I am, I don’t understand her reaction. It’s not like I’m some saint who hasn’t touched a woman. Hell, Nova was the first person I went to after I lost my virginity. We’ve always had a close relationship, and we talk about everything. There was never a line drawn between what we could and couldn’t tell each other.
Until I caught feelings for her.
I shove away from the counter and close the gap between us in two strides. Nova squeaks as I cage her in from behind with my hands on either side of her on the counter. I nestle my groin against her soft ass, earning a shaky breath from her.
“No kissing. No cuddling,” I murmur into her ear.
Nova’s shoulders tense, and she goes completely still. “What are you?—”
“No hickeys. No sex facing each other. I don’t give oral. I don’t fuck bareback.” My fingers circle her throat, and I stroke my thumb over her pounding pulse. “And most importantly, no catching feelings. If any of these rules are broken, then the deal is off.”
Silence fills the suddenly small kitchen, stretching for what feels like an eternity.
What is she thinking about? Does she think I’m a heartless bastard for having emotionless sex with women I don’t give two shits about?
Nova sets the strudels on the counter and peeks at me. “Those are your rules?”
“For the deals you’re not jealous of,” I say with a half-assed smirk.
She turns forward and stays quiet for another moment. “So do you need my help with her, then?”
“Only if you’re up for it.”
“What’s the plan?”
“Later. Let’s focus on part one of that lesson I promised you.” I drop my arm and take a step back to put space between us. The more I touch her, the harder it is to stop when I want more.
“Part one?” She side-eyes me and carries her breakfast to the island before taking a seat.
“Yep. There are two parts to this lesson. First, you need to know the steps. Later, you’ll put them into practice.” I sit on the chair beside her, then grab the bottom of hers and yank her next to me until our legs touch.
Nova doesn’t flinch at my attempt to be closer to her, despite my earlier need to put space between us.
“Okay. I’m listening.” She bites into her strudel and closes her eyes at the first taste of the strawberries and cream. I wait for her to moan like she’s been doing lately; however, it never comes.
