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?” His brother’s strident whisper echoed in his ear. “Is that how you were taught to answer a phone? Did you even check the Caller ID? You had no idea who was calling.”
“Bullshit. I knew exactly who was calling. The same person who has called at least ten times in the last few minutes. The only person who has called. Man, don’t you have a life?”
“Yes, I have a life! And I want it back! I knew this was a piss-poor idea—”
“And yet you agreed to it. What does that say about your judgment, big brother?”
“Unless you tell me what the hell is going on, the deal is off, Braedon. I’ll tell your girlfriend everything. I swear, I will.”
“Chill.” He stood and reached for the towel he’d thrown over the patio chair. “I told you. I made some poor financial deals, took a few too many risks. Before I knew it, I was in way over my head. The guy who bankrolled me was getting pissy about repayment. I needed a way to lay low for a while. Then, out of the blue, you called and asked me to lunch.” He stepped onto the sun-warmed patio and toweled his legs. “It was a goddamned sign.”
“Define pissy.”
“Bodily damage, among other things.” Braedon reached into the fridge under the outdoor kitchen counter his goody-two-shoes brother had designed, and popped the top on another beer.
“Real or implied?”
“Both, if you want to know the truth.”
“And you want me to pretend to be you? What if they come after me?”
He took a swig. “How’s Penny?”
“What? Who?”
“Penny. Short, brown hair, light eyes. Never can remember if they’re green or blue.” He paused. “We share a bed. Is any of this ringing any bells?”
“She lives here?” Ryan practically shouted. He lowered his voice to a harsh whisper. “How did you manage to forget that little detail when we exchanged identities? I asked if you were telling me everything. You said yes.”
“No, I think my exact words were sort of . So…have you done her yet? She’s not much on sex, but if you get her primed just right, she’s a fair ride.”
Silence.
“I take it that’s a no? Don’t hold back on my account, big brother.”
“What’s wrong with you? You don’t care if I screw you girlfriend?”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
“She lives here, you sleep together. If she’s not your girlfriend, who is she?”
“Technically, my fiancée.”
5
R yan’s stomach lurched. Clutching Braedon’s phone to his ear, he sank to sit on the closed toilet. “What did you say?” he finally managed to choke out.
Braedon’s
