Hating You, Loving You (Inked Hearts 4)

How about a birthday fuck? How about a birthday coming on my face until my lips are numb?

"I only give birthday spankings." My voice is steady even though my heart is pounding against my chest. Fuck, the thought of bending Kaylee over that table and—

"Okay." She presses her lips together. "Let's go. Right here, right now."

"You can handle eighteen?"

She nods.

She can't, but it's tempting anyway...

"Let's go, Brendon." She takes my hand and places it on her hip. Her eyes meet mine. They bore into mine. They demand every thought in my head. Or at least all the ones about stripping her naked. "Or did I call your bluff?"

"Bend over and plant your hands on the glass if you want to find out." She is calling my bluff. And now I'm calling hers.

Only this is one time—

My sister saves me from my filthy thoughts. She bounces out the door, throws her arms around Kaylee, and pulls her from her seat. "Stop hiding from all the guys at the party."

"Your brother is a guy."

Emma scoffs. Her nose scrunches. It lights up her dark eyes—the same deep brown as mine. She runs her fingers through her violet hair and just barely restrains herself from rolling her eyes.

Kaylee's fingers brush the back of my hand as she turns toward Emma. "Sorry, Em, but it's undeniable. Just look at him."

Emma sticks out her tongue and mouths gross. "Mr. Look What a Brooding Bad Boy I Am will be here tomorrow." She grabs Kaylee's hand and pulls her toward the door. "These other guys won't." Emma looks to me. "You don't have to stay and supervise."

"Nice try," I say.

Emma laughs. She blows me a kiss then turns back to her best friend. "Don't wait up."

Kaylee's eyes meet mine. "Did you mean it?"

One part of me did. The rest of me knows better. I play coy. Shrug.

"I'll collect eventually."

"Birthdays only."

"Even so."

I watch her round hips sway as she walks away.

Fuck, that dress...

Fuck me.

How the hell am I going to get this girl out of my head?

Get Tempting Now

Author’s Note

Can I admit something? I’m writing this the morning I have to upload Hating You, Loving You to Amazon. I’m not usually a procrastinator. Deadlines stress me out and stress makes me shut down.

I try to stay a book ahead. I don’t announce release dates until the manuscript is with the proofer and the cover is done.

But there are certain things I always put off. Epilogues are one. Author’s Notes are another. The former is my private goodbye to the book, the point where it’s really over. The latter is my public goodbye. There’s no denying it now.