“Good night, Tigress.” I ended the call without another word and walked out of my bedroom.
I ruffled the long hair on top of my head and went down the stairs, heading for the kitchen. Though hearing Babygirl’s voice had given me a momentary peace, I still called up Xavier because I needed William to know just why I’d seemed so calm with him.
“Talk, asshole,” my friend answered on the second ring.
“I’m going to text you the code to my father’s garage. You can take out your rage on his car,” I chuckled.
He burst into laughter. “Are you fucking with me?”
“Do I ever joke about shit like that?” I cocked an eyebrow as I entered the kitchen.
“I guess not,” he admitted.
“So go on, knock yourself out.” I ended the call and sent Xavier the text just as I said I would. Then I opened the fridge to fish out a bottle of pineapple juice.
“I’d have thought you were more of a beer guy.”
I sucked in a breath when I heard Alyssa’s voice from behind me. I spun around to find her sitting on a stool at the kitchen island, drinking a glass of something amber-colored. Did she get into the liquor while she was waiting? I hadn’t expected to find her there, but, then again, Alyssa had been spending more and more time with Logan, so I shouldn’t have been surprised that she hadn’t just gone home.
“I don’t drink much.” I got out a glass to pour my juice into and went back to ignoring her. The fact that she was Megan’s little sister bothered me.
“I see,” she murmured thoughtfully. I turned away from her then and leaned against the counter. I slid my phone into my pocket and lifted the glass of pineapple juice to my lips. I gave her an assessing look, not bothering to appear anything but cold. It was the kind of look I frequently offered to women and girls I found unattractive to make sure that they knew not to try it on with me. “You always have such a strong scent. Did you know? I can smell it from here.” She gave me a sliver of a smile, and I cocked my head to one side, unsure what exactly she was trying to tell me.I continued to stare flatly at her until she stiffened up and quickly turned her gaze elsewhere.
Clumsy flirtation did nothing for me, especially not when it came from her. I loved my independence, and I was always the one who made the decision to get with a woman. Besides, there was no way in hell I was going to make a pass at my brother’s girlfriend.
“Where’s Logan?” I asked her quickly, taking a sip of juice. The sweet pineapple taste hit my tongue, and I instinctively licked my lower lip. Alyssa watched this completely involuntary movement and looked embarrassed. I kept my face blank. Her discomfort was not my problem.
“Still upstairs with Chloe. So I came down here for a drink.” She gestured toward her glass, and I said nothing in response. Instead, I rifled through one of the cupboards looking for a bag of pistachios. I was craving them, and I’d been forced to leave behind the ones I bought in Detroit when Selene forced me to go grocery shopping with her.
I smiled slightly at the memory.
Sometimes, just thinking of my Babygirl’s ocean eyes let a little light into the darkness that surrounded me.
“Shit,” I hissed when I couldn’t find a single bag. I should have reminded Anna to get some more.
My shoulders slumped, and I let out a disappointed huff like a little kid. I’d never been a big eater, and I’d trade just about any fancy meal for a bag of pistachios.
“We’re going to eat soon. Did you come here looking for a snack?” Alyssa asked teasingly, reminding me that she was still there. I turned to see that she’d gotten off her stool. Her high-heeled boots elevated her slim figure, and her short woolen dress highlighted her curves.Logan has good taste, I thought. We both appreciated a certain harmony in the female form.
“Yeah, but apparently I’ll have to wait for dinner,” I answered in a bored tone as I gulped down what was left of the juice before putting the glass in the sink. I was about to leave when Alyssa, in a single impulsive movement, grabbed me by the hips and pinned me against the kitchen counter.
I looked at her in bewilderment.
I didn’t even have time to process what she meant to do before she wasup on her tiptoes, kissing me. She pressed her hot lips to mine and teased me with her tongue, coaxing my mouth to open reflexively. I could taste her lipstick as she laid claim to me, bold and aggressive. I reciprocated her deranged show of desire but only for a few seconds. She panted against my mouth with a strange gleam in her eyes. Her arms held me tight until I managed to wriggle free from her and push her away.
“All the girls at school say your kisses are addictive. I wanted to see for myself,” she shrugged. I was frozen, staring at her. Typically, I had full control in any situation with a woman. I was almost always the one making advances and coaxing them to give in to me. In that moment, however, I was literally rendered speechless with shock. I knew women wanted me; there was nothing I could do about that, but I’d never expected this kind of move from my brother’s girlfriend of all people…
My brother’s girl…
“What the—” I wiped my lips off disgustedly with the back of my hand.
“Fuck!” Logan shouted from the kitchen doorway. I whirled around to look at him, and the reality of the situation finally dawned on me—the knowledge of what he must have just witnessed. My brother’s eyes were wide, his breathing rapid, and he stared in horror at both Alyssa and me. “What are you doing? What the hell is going on?” he shouted so loudly that his girlfriend flinched.
No, no, no, goddamnit!
I didn’t want Logan to misconstrue what had just happened. I also wanted to know what the fuck his girlfriend had been thinking and why she’d done it, but I turned away from her and went to him instead.
“Logan…” I began, horrified, but he just backed away from me, shaking his head.
