Bad Kitty

They’d talk. Much later. First she was going to make him hurt so good.

Five

Patrick didn’t hurry downstairs. He wanted to. His pulse had skyrocketed the minute he’d laid eyes on Nikki in that skintight bodysuit and glimpsed those flirty little kitty ears astride her dark hair. He’d become hard in an instant.

At least there was one benefit to the latest ridiculous getup his stupid twin had saddled him with. The miles of fabric hid his massive erection, which still ached though she’d been gone for fifteen minutes.

He had to have her. Every part of her body this time. Her pussy tightening around him, her breasts beading as he sucked each of them into his mouth. She smelled so good, like brown sugar warmed in the summer sun. He wanted to spear his tongue deep inside her, to taste every drop of her release when she came.

Soon. First, he had to make sure East’s guests would be fine without him. Last year he’d held on to himself longer. The night had been practically over when he’d begun his midnight pillaging. Unfortunately, this night was still young. He couldn’t escape just yet.

For the next twenty minutes, he made his rounds. There was plenty of food and drink and the selection of music kept the dance floor moving. All thanks to Missy, East’s housekeeper. If she were still there, he would’ve left caretaking the festivities to her but East had given her the night off so she could take her grandkids trick-or-treating.

He was, as usual, on his own.

Most of the guests assumed he was East and he didn’t dissuade them. Somehow the costumes East had chosen for him each year—he claimed he’d picked out both costumes for himself long in advance, not knowing he wouldn’t be able to attend the party—made Patrick think he’d planned the ruse. He probably got a kick out of trapping his twin in miles of hot, claustrophobic fabric.

They’d been pretending to be each other when it suited them since first grade. Playing the role of the smooth up and coming real estate magnate fit him as easily as the robe he wore. Especially since he knew he’d shed both by the end of the night.

He grinned evilly and adjusted his hood. Now that he’d done his duty, he needed to see to another sort of task altogether. He hadn’t meant to take so long. If his luck held, Nikki would be dripping and writhing from anticipating his arrival.

He should’ve told her to strip. To lay down on the old couch in the basement and pleasure herself until he got downstairs. But not to the point of orgasm. Just enough to keep her primed and wet for him.

“Someone looks pretty pleased with themselves.”

He glanced at the woman who glided up beside him and let out a mental groan. Abby. Why the hell had his brother invited his ex?

Because she’s a client, that’s why. When someone needs a house in central Pennsylvania who else would they call but Easton Nolan, house broker extraordinaire?

“Uh, hi, Abby. Nice to see you.” He started edging away. “Have a great time tonight, okay?”

“Only if you’ll join me.” Her silken purr stirred only displeasure as she rubbed against him. “The hot tub would be perfect on a cool night like tonight, East, don’t you think?”

Oh hell no. Easton and Abby? For real? Here he’d treaded so gently with Nikki, not wanting to disrupt East’s perfectly ordered business and set tongues wagging in their tiny, patrician town. Even though Nikki was East’s secretary, not his, people would talk. They always talked.

Of course, fucking her under the stairs at his brother’s party hadn’t been wise, but he’d practiced discretion afterward. Better late than never. He’d steered clear of Nikki after he’d returned from North Carolina, knowing how much East valued the clear delineation between business and pleasure. That whole thing about not being sure Nikki realized which brother she’d been with had slowed him down, too. Add in Nikki’s seeming adoration of East and Patrick hadn’t wanted to go there.

He’d tried to chalk their amazing night up to good timing—and possibly, mistaken identity—and leave it at that. Tried and failed.

And yet East was boning Patrick’s ex. An ex he’d dated for more than a year. Frigging great. Especially since they’d split because Patrick wanted to get married and she didn’t. It had been a couple years ago and he was way over Abby, but still.

Still.

“Damn, Ab, you can’t quite let go of the Nolan branch, can you?” he muttered, unable to disguise his bitterness.

“Wait. Patrick, is that you?” With one hand, she yanked down his hood. The other covered her mouth. “I thought you were East.”

“No kidding.” He gripped her shoulders, intending to set her firmly out of his way. Before he could, he glanced up and saw accusatory hazel eyes fixed on him from the doorway. Fuck. Apparently he’d kept Nikki waiting a little too long. “Abby, East’s not here. So you’ll have to hot tub alone tonight.”

Abby crossed her arms and refused to budge. “So you and East play little swapping games now?”

“Keep your voice down.” Catching Nikki’s sharp glance, he gave an internal shrug. He didn’t want everyone to know East wasn’t chaperoning his own shindig, but at least Nikki would know which brother she was about to bed.

Or couch. Or wall. As the stiletto fit.

As if they’d coordinated their actions, both Abby and Nikki whirled away, though Nikki did it with the added panache of a tail swish.

Patrick stared after them. His hesitation gave Nikki a running start, and he didn’t manage to reach her until she’d stopped beside her car. It was a windy, moonlit fall evening, the kind of night tailor-made for strolling hand-in-hand down shadowy streets while whispering sexy demands to your lover. The crackle of leaves, the teasing hint of woodsmoke on the air, jack-o-lanterns glowing from stoops…all set the scene for wicked seduction.