Entangled Heart (Ashby Crime Family)

Jamie flashed a satisfied grin without a hint of apology. “What were you thinking about, I wonder? And why are you always so jumpy?”

Nope. No way. Not going there. I jumped over it to my own question. “Busy day policing the city’s bad guys?”

He set the paper bag with the red logo on it on the coffee table and laughed. “Something like that.”

“You’re not as slick as you think you are, Jameson Ellison.” My words caught him off guard, and for a short moment, guilt flashed in his eyes, but he covered it quickly.

He straightened up and headed toward the kitchen. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Is that how you wanna play this?”

I pushed off the sofa and followed him. “The Ashbys own a few cops in the tri-city area and someone gave them the heads up that the Feds were coming to question Sadie. Do with that info what you will.”

It was kind of sweet and a little insulting that he wanted to protect me from the chaos.

Jamie handed me a beer, his expression unreadable. “Then why did you come?”

“Because I’m fucking hungry. What did you bring? I’m famished.” I grabbed the bag and plopped on the couch, removing sandwiches and fries from the bag.

I spread our mini feast out on the coffee table and popped a fry into my mouth. “You bring ranch dressing with these?”

“I did.” Jamie handed me a little plastic container and I dipped a fry into it.

“You know, Madds, if you aren’t comfortable over there anymore, you can always stay here. I have two bedrooms and we can split the bills.”

It was a generous offer and not all that surprising but a terrible idea.

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

His brows dipped in confusion. “Why? We’re friends, and this could help us both.”

“Because,” I sighed heavily. “That kiss the other day proves we can’t be the kind of friends who live on top of each other, or we’ll be naked all the time.”

A thought that appealed to me more than it should. Bumping into Jameson fresh from the shower? Yes, please. Early in the morning with messy hair and pajamas? Hell, yes, please.

He blinked twice and grinned. “Again, I don’t see a problem with that.” He bit into his sandwich on a chuckle.

“I value your friendship too much to risk you’ll get bored and run away rather than tell me you want to start banging someone else.”

He sighed and raked a hand through his hair. “I would never do that to you, Madds. Besides, maybe that kiss was a fluke of nature and if we tried it again, it would be awful. Like siblings kissing.”

There was a gleam in his eyes that worried me but also turned me on. My nipples beaded tightly against my t-shirt, and I worked hard to suppress the shiver that went through me at his challenge. “Okay, kiss me again and if it’s awful, we can be roommates.”

I should’ve listened more carefully to the warning bells that sounded in my head, instead I shrugged and issued my own challenge. “If you’re sure your ego can handle it, I mean, I’m pretty sure it was the heat of the moment and all that.”

Jamie huffed out a laugh to let me know what he thought of that. There were no words, just action as he reached out to me and pulled my body flush up against his, an action so strong and commanding it soaked my panties instantly. One big hand tilted my head back as it cupped my face and seconds later his lips were on mine, strong, capable and totally in charge.

My whole body smoked from the heat his kiss stirred within me and when his other hand began to roam my body, sliding through my hair and down my back until one large hand cupped my ass, I let out a strangled moan and felt his answering smile against my lips. But I wasn’t the only one affected, and that made me throw myself into the kiss even deeper, pressing up against the impressively hard package behind his zipper.

Damn, he was big, and I just knew he would be a good lover. Too bad we aren’t going there. Really too bad because Jamie’s kiss made me delirious. I felt like my skin was coated in hot lava and everywhere his tongue touched, started a new fire. I could hardly think straight, and I didn’t want to, not until this crazy inferno between us burned itself out.

I knew it would have to be me who put out the fire, because it wouldn’t be Jamie. Just a little longer. I needed to make this kiss last because I knew it would be our last. It had to be, for the sake of our friendship. His thumb slid across my nipples, back and forth, back and forth, until I arched my back with a gasp. I had to stop.