Page 25 of Lane

“That’s right, because we can take care of it later, off the books, in the privacy of my home.” Lane leaned forward and brushed his lips over my cheek. “I can be sweet and sinful. It will be a mystery which one you’ll get. See ya later. Thanks for my follow-up.” He opened the door and walked out of it, leaving me to wonder what the hell I’d just gotten myself into.

10

LANE

“Oh, good, you’re not working,” I said as I strolled into the gym and found Raiden lifting weights. He was shirtless, which I preferred, every inch of his upper body bare for my eyes to soak in. There were muscles for days. Luckily, no one else was in here to watch me eye Raiden up and down.

He put the weights on the rack and gave me his full attention. Sweat glistened on his skin, drawing me closer. He was like a shiny penny I found on the ground, calling my name, beckoning with its promise of good luck. If only luck was all I needed to get him and Alton on the same page and communicating with one another.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

I stopped a couple of feet from him and tapped my chin. “Do you know what Barrett told me?”

“With him, it could be anything.”

“You’re supposed to be the easier-going twin. The one who’s lighter and happier. Yet, all I get is how I see Reghan. I don’t get the fun side of you. Why is that?”

“I’m not sure who to be with you. You mix me up inside.”

“You didn’t seem so confused when you were kissing my throat the other night.”

“I was asleep.” Okay, this wasn’t getting me anywhere.

“Guess who I saw this morning?”

“Barrett?”

“No, smart-ass. Alton.”

His eyebrows lifted. “He’s here?”

“Nope. I took a car to his office and paid him a visit. A pretend one where I needed a follow-up on my illness.” I fake coughed for effect.

A genuine smile lit Raiden’s face, making him more gorgeous than he already was. “That had to have gone over well.”

“Like you, Al’s torn up, not sure what to do with me or you.” I stepped closer, bringing us only inches apart, as I looked up into his eyes. The height difference had me salivating. I wanted to hook my legs around his waist as I’d done with Alton. “He kissed me.”

“He did?” No anger was in his words, just curiosity.

“Mmhmm. I did it first but then he took over, initiating the next one. He demanded entrance, Ray. His tongue…” I groaned. “If a man can kiss me to the point I have to pry myself away, I know he’ll be amazing in bed.” Lifting my hand, I brought it to Raiden’s sweaty chest, tracing a line down the center. I dropped my voice to a whisper. “I put my legs around his waist and held him by the tie to keep him close. He wants me, and you too. I told him to leave you to me.” My fingers trailed south, stopping at the waistband of his shorts.

He gripped my wrist, not painfully, just enough not to allow me to go farther. “This isn’t a game.”

“No, this is a strategy. Without me, you two won’t ever get together.”

“You say that as if I don’t want you as well.”

“You both do, but it’s not easy connecting the dots here. I’m the line drawn from point A to B. I’m not in this for fun, although I’m always up for that. This, between the three of us, could bevery real if you want it to be. I’m old enough to be done playing around. The question is, how bad do you want us?”

Raiden erased the remaining space separating us, wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me close with enough force to push the air from my lungs. “I could have killed Jack for touching you.”

“You have no idea how much of a turn-on it is when you protect me, but I can handle myself.”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t. That doesn’t mean I’ll stand on the sidelines. It’s not in me.”

“Say you want to be with us, Ray.”

“It’s not going to work.”

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