Page 41 of I Wanna Be Your Lager

YOU’LL GET IT. I PROMISE.

Lach

Why is it the one woman who I actually enjoy spending time with and want to always be around has to be my best friend’s sister? Does the universe hate me that much? I rest my hand on the shower wall as the water stings my back. Throughout my twenty-nine years of life, I know I’ve done things I’m not proud of, most of them in my younger years. Ditching school, running from the cops, and stealing Christmas wreaths from one neighbor only to turn around and sell them to another neighbor. Being older and wiser, I don’t deserve punishment now.

I rise to my full height. The water beating down on me, I blow out a deep breath and scrub my hands down my face. It’s like I have an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, except I have Eve on one shoulder, looking sexy as hell like the temptress she is. Fuck. I want it. I want her. All of her. Then on my other shoulder I have Jake, arms crossed, glowering at me like he’s five seconds away from ripping my head off Mortal-Combat style. I’m torn because I can’t have both, and I kind of like my head attached to my body. Why couldn’t she be anyone else’s sister? In the cab of the truck, with her tucked against myside, it felt real. Natural. Like we’re destined to be together, our souls intertwining, our hearts beating as one. For once, a chance at happiness was within my reach. Then Jake happened.

Turning off the water, I step out and half-ass dry off before tugging on a pair of sweats. As I open the door, I run the towel through my hair. I come to a halt when I notice Eve staring at me, lips slightly parted. Lust swirls in her irises as her gaze wanders from my face, down my chest, and to the waistband of my sweats before repeating the same perusal in reverse. The desire in her eyes tells me everything I need to know. My willpower dissipates into a cloud of dust.

Eve saunters past me, her coconut scent lingering in the air before she disappears into the bathroom. The door closes behind her, giving me a few minutes to collect myself. I blow out a deep breath as I walk across the room. I toss the towel on the back of the desk chair. Turning around, I flop back-first onto the comforter. My legs hang over the end of the bed, and I throw my forearm over my eyes.

We only have one more night alone together, then our little make-believe fantasy bubble bursts, and it’s back to reality. I’ve already crossed the line with Eve, so it’s not like I can take it back. One more night with her wouldn’t make things worse; instead, maybe it will rid her from my system. Several minutes pass, and I’m still lying on the bed. The hairs on my arms rise. I feel her before I see her. Sitting up, I lean back on my elbows. She’s standing a few feet away. Her wet hair drapes over her shoulders. Nothing but a towel is wrapped around her. Fuck me. I didn’t even hear the water shut off or the door open. In a few short steps, I could be standing before her, pressing my lips to hers. With a small tug, the towel would fall to the floor. For the rest of the night, I can pretend she’s mine. But that’s all it can be. Pretend.

Before I can speak, she stalks toward me. Her heated gaze locks onto mine, unwavering and intense, the silence punctuated only by the rapid beat of my heart. The towel shifts back and forth with every sway of her hips. She stops between my legs, her hands on her waist, a slight smile playing on her lips as our eyes meet.

“Tonight’s our last night together before we’re back in Harbor Highlands. What does that mean for us?”

I rest my hands on her hips. The towel is rough beneath my fingers. Her soft, bare skin would feel so much better. “That’s the million-dollar question.” I bow my head. The weight of uncertainty is heavy in the air.

Her fingers softly comb through my hair. “Then let’s have one more night.”

I want nothing more, but it’s not that simple. I peer up at her. “As long as you’re around, I don’t think it can be only one more night.” My heart thunders in my chest.

“It doesn’t have to be.” Her fingers slide from my hair down to my cheek. I lean into her warmth.

“But—”

“Don’t say Jake. For once, I want my brother out of the equation. This is about you and me.”

My grip on her waist tightens, and I peer up at her, swallowing. Hard. “And what do you want?” My tone is low and deliberate, each word measured and precise.

“I think it’s obvious what I want. I want you. I want to be with you. I want to continue this with you.” She motions between us.

I can’t keep lying to myself. “I want you too, so fucking bad.”

“So it’s settled.” She inches herself closer. Her teeth sink into her bottom lip as she drags a finger down the seam of the towel wrapped around her. “We keep doing this.”

I drop my hands to my sides, and she freezes.

She rolls her eyes. “Then there’s Jake,” she says with an exasperated sigh. “We’re both adults. We’re capable of making adult decisions, and this is one of those.”

“I know you’re right, but?—”

“He’s your best friend,” she finishes. “Let me ask you this: do I make you happy?”

I ponder her words, their weight settling heavily on my chest. Right now, at this moment, she’s my only happiness. I nod.

“If Jake is a friend, wouldn’t he approve of your happiness?”

She’s not wrong. He should be thrilled about my happiness, no matter the source, even if it is his little sister. “I know, but I need to tell him. This has already gone further than it should have.”

Bending over, she slides her hand up my thighs just like the night at the hotel bar, the sultry gleam in her eyes included. “You want to stop until you get Jake’s approval?” Her tongue peeks out, swiping across her bottom lip. My gaze follows hers, a slow descent from my eyes to my lips, lingering before the return journey. Fuck me. All it takes is one look from Eve—those piercing hazel eyes—and my logic short circuits, a wave of inexplicable attraction washing over me.

“We do this on one condition. We don’t tell Jake. Not yet, anyway. Not until I can figure out how to handle it.”

“The secret’s safe with me.” She lifts her leg. The bed dips as her knee sinks into the mattress. Then the same thing happens on the other side until she’s straddling my lap. All the blood rushes to my dick as she lightly runs the pad of her finger across my chest. “There’s only one other thing I want.” Her voice is low and seductive.

I curl my arms around her, holding her to me. “What’s that?”

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