Page 39 of The Sweetest Risk

“He’s going to kill you.”

I kiss her palm and shrug. “Let him kill me. I’ve lived through worse things.” I lean down and nuzzle my face into her neck, planting small kisses against her sweaty skin.

“That’s hyperbolic,” she says breathlessly. I can feel her relax with each kiss that touches her skin.

“No, babe, it’s not.” I bite her earlobe. “The worst thing I’ve ever gone through was not being your man all these years.” I press my lips against her temple, “Not being able to hold you when you had a broken heart. Not being able to be there for you when you were sick.” I kiss her forehead and stroke her jawline. “Yeah, I guess I was around for the big moments because I am Bradley’s best friend and he invites me to everything. But I really just wanted so badly to be a part of your life. If I couldn’t have you as my girlfriend, I’d at least have you in my life as an enemy.” I look into her eyes, which are starting to fill with tears. I wipe away one that is traveling down the side of her cheek. “I took what I could get from you. And just for the record, I’m not scared of your brother. What I am scared of is losing you again to another man. That’s never going to happen again.”

Brooke pushes my hair away from my forehead and wraps her arms around my neck. She kisses me and I feel her body shift to the side as she drapes her leg around my hip. Her hands find my chest and press hard against it. I decide to give in because Iwant her so badly to never stop touching me the way that she is right now.

We flip over so I am now the one on my back and Brooke fully straddles me. I can feel myself all over her inner thighs and pussy and that makes me want her even more. She is a fucking sight to see. My hands grab her ass and spank it again.

“Mmmm, never stop doing that,” she groans in my ear as she leans down and puts her breasts right in my face. I take each one in my mouth and suck hard. The sounds coming out of her mouth are everything and I can tell she is getting so turned on. Her hips are starting to move against me as she holds onto the headboard this time.

“Well lucky for you, I don’t think you will ever have to worry about losing me, Tristan. I’m yours.”

Brooke then eases down onto me and I hold onto her hips.

“Damn straight you are, Cupcake. All mine.”

20

“Do you need any help setting the table, Mom?” I walk into the kitchen and open the cabinet that has all the dinner plates. I get out five beige plates and start placing them on the table. “I take it that Jen is coming tonight?”

My mom walks out with a big bowl full of salad and places it in the center of the table. “Yes. Oh honey, we actually need one more.”

That’s odd. It should be five: me, Bradley, Jen, Mom and Dad.

“Bradley didn’t tell you? Well I guess not, by that crease on your forehead. Tristan is coming.”

The last dish slips from my fingers and shatters all over the tile floor.Tristan is coming?I haven’t seen him since Casino Night, or rather the next morning, and that was a week ago. Ithas been such a crazy week at work. We have been texting every day but our schedules didn’t work out to actually get together in person. My hands start to get clammy and flashbacks from that night make me hot.

“Brooke! What is the matter with you?” My mom peers at me with concern. “Don’t move. There are shards everywhere. Let me get the broom.”

“Sorry Mom!” I yell after her. Why is Tristan coming to dinner? He has not been to Sunday dinner in a few months.

“Here,” my mom comes back with a broom and dustpan and starts sweeping.

“Mom, let me do it. You can finish setting up since apparently I have butterfingers today.”

She huffs and hands me the broom. I carefully sweep the shards. Is this supposed to be a sign from the universe that tonight is going to turn out awful? That Bradley is going to sense that Tristan and I slept together? That we couldn’t keep our hands off each other that night and Tristan gave me an out-of-body experience each time he made me orgasm? I hope that Tristan is on his best behavior.

No matter how hard that is for him to do.

I amin the middle of watching a rerun of Jeopardy with my dad when the doorbell rings. Thinking it’s my brother and Jen, I get up. “I’ll get it!”

I open the door without looking through the peephole and Tristan is awaiting me on the other side. He has a bottle of wine and I would be lying to myself if I didn’t want to immediately take him upstairs and show him how turned on I am by the sightof him. He of course is wearing a Dallas Storm t-shirt with jeans and a backwards hat.

I am wearing a short, pink, floral sundress. Tristan licks his lips and rakes his eyes all over me. “Hello, Cupcake. You actually look nice tonight.”

What the hell?My stomach feels like a giant boulder just fell in it. I am about to flip him the bird, but then he leans in and whispers, “Remember, everyone has to believe that we still hate each other. You look gorgeous tonight, as always.”

I smirk as he hands me the bottle of wine, breezes past me, and greets my parents.

“Tristan! It’s so nice to see you!” My mom gives Tristan a big mama bear hug and pats him on the back. “It’s been too long. I know you hate Brooke, but you don’t hate us.”

I close the door behind me and lean on it. Tristan glances over at me. “You’re right, I don’t hate you or Mr. Beckett. Just Brooke.” He discreetly winks at me and my stomach does a full-on somersault.

My dad gets up from his chair and shakes hands with Tristan. “Nice to see you, Tristan. You’re having an impeccable season.”

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