Take Me Again (The Knight Brothers 1)

The truth was, for the time she’d been in California, she hadn’t been thinking at all. She’d been feeling. Operating on sexual desire and emotional need. From the time she’d met him, Sebastian had understood her. Filled a need no one else ever had. And now, as adults, they’d come together like two pieces of a puzzle that had taken a long time to fit.

But now they were back in the real world and she had to think forward. Think smart.

Sebastian walked her to her door, pulling her luggage in one hand, his in the other. She let them in and he deposited her bag inside her room before meeting up with her again in the living room.

“Any chance you’ll come up after you unpack?” He treated her to his sexiest, most charming smile.

The one that made her weak in the knees and soaked her panties. But it wasn’t just sex she wanted from him, it was the emotional security he provided her, the knowledge that they made a good team, were a strong pair, that had her shaking her head and saying no to his question.

Though she and Sebastian had been sharing a suite in California, the fact was, they lived in separate apartments in New York. No matter what she felt for him, London, her job, and her life awaited her. The sooner they got used to being apart the better.

“I’m tired,” she said. “I didn’t rest much on the flight, and we have to be up early tomorrow to meet with Ethan.”

His grin turned into a frown. “Why do I get the feeling you’re pulling away?”

She rubbed her hands over her arms and turned away, not wanting to face him. It was one thing to pull back, another to look him in the eye while doing it. Not when all she really wanted to do was throw herself into his arms. But she lived in reality. So here they were.

“Hey.” He grasped her and turned her around. “I have a question for you.”

“Okay…” she said warily.

“Why are you still here?”

“What?” She hadn’t anticipated that question.

“Why are you still here, in New York? You said you came for Ethan, but when he sent you away, you came with me. And now we’ve wrapped things up. We’re talking to Ethan in the morning. Is your flight home booked?” As he spoke, his hands on her forearms felt like a brand, a reminder that she belonged here, with him.

And she couldn’t let that sway her. Although she’d put work out of her mind, she had checked in with her bosses while she was away, assured them she was returning. She’d bought herself another week, that was it. They understood her leave of absence but wanted her back as soon as possible.

“I’ll take your silence to be a no,” Sebastian said, releasing her arms. “Which brings me back to why? Do you still want to be here? Or are you avoiding Mr. Perfectly Nice?”

She didn’t want to talk about any of this. She still had a week left, and in that time, Ethan would need her once he found out about Mandy’s cheating. Or was that just an excuse? Because she wasn’t ready to leave Sebastian, her conscience asked her.

She glared at him. “Why are you pushing me so hard just because I said I was tired?” she asked, more annoyed with herself but taking it out on him.

“Because of what we shared in California. Because of what we feel for each other, even if you’re not ready to admit it. And because I want to know.”

Without warning, he pulled her in and pressed his lips to hers. She let him in immediately, her body responding to his without thought or concern. It was only her mind that was driving her crazy. Her tongue glided against his, everything inside her flowering open for him. She curled her fingers into the material of his shirt, beginning to pull his tee shirt out of the waistband of his jeans.

And then suddenly she was standing alone. He’d pushed her away and met her gaze. “I want you to admit that you came here for Ethan but you’re still here now for me.”

“It doesn’t matter why,” she said, her lips still tingling from the force of his kiss. “I’m not here for good and we both know that. I’m leaving in a week,” she whispered. “And it’s better that we start to separate from each other now.” Before she got even more attached to him than she already was.

“If that’s what you need to tell yourself in order to sleep at night, go right ahead. I’m not going to deny there’s something strong between us,” he said, his voice softening. “I refuse to ruin a good time between us with an argument. If you want to sleep, sleep.”