Resisting the urge to throw the phone, he laid it on the counter and scrubbed his face. Who was the woman he’d just taken a shower with, and why did she seem to feel obligated to show him a good time? For that matter, why was she even in his brother’s apartment? And why did he make that idiotic promise to Braedon? The woman on the king-size bed in the other room had not asked to be lied to, or used. Yet, by having sex with her and not revealing his true identity, that was exactly what he’d done.
He glanced at the phone, then picked it up and hit redial, growling when his voice message came on.
A promise was a promise, but if the woman insisted on continuing what they’d started, and kept calling him Brae in her soft, sexy little voice, he would not be responsible for what he said or did. Well, okay, he’d still be technically responsible, but he wasn’t a total idiot. He knew exactly where it would lead.
And, God help him, he wanted to go there.
Wrapping a towel around his hips, he walked into the bedroom, averting his gaze from the woman still spread on the bed, and dug in the first drawer he reached, hoping to find a pair of boxers.
What he found barely qualified as underwear. Maneuvering around the towel, he finally got the strings up onto his hips and his boys somewhat accommodated by the skimpy patch of fabric. The joining strap cut into his crack, separating his cheeks. How did Braedon stand to wear stuff like that?
“Braedon?” The woman was sitting on her knees on the bed, the corner of the sheet pulled to cover her still partially exposed breasts. “Come back to bed, baby. Let me make everything better.”
He hesitated. Sex with her was the best he’d experienced. Ever.
But it was wrong. He needed to remember that.
“Brae?” She dropped the sheet and raised to her knees, running the tips of her fingers over her mound and between her legs. “Don’t you want to come play? I’ll let you do anything you want. Just don’t shut me out anymore. Please?”
He blinked. Before he could censor himself, he’d stalked to the edge of the bed. “What is wrong with you, lady? Don’t you have any self-respect?”
Her eyes widened. For a second, he worried he’d given himself away. Then a slow smile curled her lips. She leaned forward and stroked her hand up his leg, under the towel.
“Okay, we can play it any way you want.” She crawled to the edge of the bed, and rubbed the tips of her nipples against his abs.
He felt it in the pit of his stomach.
“I know I’ve been a bad girl,” she cooed, stroking him ever higher. “Are you going to spank me?” She released him and turned her sweet ass to him, arching her back to give him a better view, and looked back over her shoulder. A look of what could only be called apprehension clouded her face for a moment before she flashed a shy smile. “I don’t mind, as long as you don’t leave a mark again. Maybe if you used something lighter, like a fly swatter, this time?”
What had his brother done to this woman?
Without thinking, he bent and kissed first one smooth cheek then another, hooking his arm around her hips and pulling her closer while he kissed his way up her spine.
She stiffened, then allowed him to pull her to him.
When he got to her neck, he kissed his way up, then ran the tip of his tongue around the shell of her ear.
She moaned and wiggled against his erection.
Gently taking her face in his hand, he turned her enough to trail kisses to her mouth. As his lips claimed hers, he turned her fully, pulling her against him, her breasts flattened against his chest, and followed her down to the mattress.
Penny returned Braedon’s gentle kisses with equal parts relief and abandoned joy. She’d been so worried he was still mad at her.
His kiss turned hungry. Deep and wet, it awakened a long dormant need in her. It reminded her of their first kiss, so long ago.
His hands caressed her from her waist to her neck. Gentle hands kneaded her breasts, rubbing her nipples to aching peaks of need instead of raw pain.
She moaned and arched her back, offering her nipples.
He took them greedily, sucking deep, as though he couldn’t get enough. It was just like old times…
No, it wasn’t. It was better.
Her heart fluttered in her chest. Thrills ran to her extremities. Something about Braedon had changed during the short time he’d been gone, mellowed. She liked it. No, she loved it, and needed more. She reached for his towel, not stopping until it fell from his lean hips. Laughter bubbled at the sight.
He leaned back, his eyes feverish with his lust. “What? What’s so funny?”
“Wh-why—” Laughter overtook her again. She wiped a tear from her eye and struggled for composure. “Why are you w-wearing my panties?”
4
B raedon leaned back, naked in his brother’s hot tub, and sighed. He stretched to toss the cell onto the patio table. Ryan had called him so many times, he’d lost count. Not answering was the best thing he could do for his brother. Ryan needed to know what it was like to walk in his twin’s shoes.
All of their lives, Ryan had been the golden boy, the good twin who could do no wrong. Well, that was about to change. Braedon could get used to living his brother’s life. What harm would it do to drag things out a while longer than absolutely necessary?
He took a sip of his longneck and closed his eyes while the jets jostled his cock. The only thing better would be to have some female company. He thought of his promise to Ryan. Would Ryan be doing Penny by now?
He sank down lower in the hot bubbling water. Nah, Penny was so uptight, she’d probably be pissed off for the next week. And even if she wasn’t, she’d pretend to be, to avoid sex.
Poor Ryan. Braedon chuckled. “Better him than me.” What had he been thinking? After he’d found out who her father was, it seemed like a brilliant plan to cozy up to her at the Christmas party. She’d been more than eager to spread her legs for him that night. And Charley Harding had been more than willing to loan him any amount of money if it kept his little girl happy.
Then, helpless as he sank deeper and deeper in debt, Braedon had allowed Penny to railroad him into an engagement. Well, to be honest, that and fear about what her daddy would do had forced him to pop the question. Lucky for him, Penny’s marriage train had been derailed after a few heated arguments. It wasn’t until Daddy Dearest had began putting pressure on him that Braedon had pushed to set a date. He’d thought it would buy him some time.
Didn’t happen. He rubbed his still sore abs and wondered how long the bruising would last.
For whatever reason, his lucky Penny had balked when it came time to actually choose a wedding date. Maybe she wasn’t as much in love with him as she claimed.
Closing his eyes, he slid lower in the churning water. Regardless of the reason, he had a reprieve. He prayed his brother would distract Penny until the current situation had been resolved. Then they could both ride into the sunset and go their separate ways.
No harm, no foul.
The warm water caused his sore abdominal muscles to contract, sending pain shooting through his trunk. Gingerly probing his ribs, he wondered if Charley’s goons had broken anything when they’d had their little “talk” the day before.
The lame-ass ringtone of his brother’s phone broke into his thoughts. Didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who was calling. Evidently Penny wasn’t impressing Ryan, either.
With a sigh, Braedon stretched to reach the phone. “Yeah?”
“Yeah?”