The Closer You Come (The Original Heartbreakers, #1)(65)

“Why?” They hadn’t had sex and clearly wouldn’t. What was it, exactly, that he hoped to do with her? Confuse her to the point of insanity?

Too late.

“You’re upset,” he said. “I don’t like to see you upset.”

So...it had nothing to do with his feelings for her—him wanting her nearby—and everything to do with guilt. Tears welled in her eyes.

“Good night, Jase.” She marched from the room, head high.

*

JASE FOLLOWED BROOK LYNN to her car, though he never said a word, and she never acknowledged his presence.

When she disappeared down the road, he returned to his bedroom and paced like a caged animal. He’d handled things poorly. Could he really be blamed, though? He hadn’t been thinking clearly. He’d had her in his bed, naked, open and willing, tasting like melted strawberry ice cream, flushing so beautifully. The sounds she’d made...purrs of pleasure his ears would forever crave. She’d gone wild for him, and he’d been desperate to make sure she continued to enjoy it.

And she had. She’d begged him for a kiss, begged him for more, and he thought he would have killed to give her everything. Problem was, when it had come time to do the actual deed, he’d remembered her gift, her offer of one time only. If he’d taken her then, that would have been it for them, the end. He wouldn’t get to take her tomorrow...or the next day...or the next.

Once wasn’t going to be enough. He realized that now. He wanted her countless times in countless ways. Underneath him. On top of him. Beside him. On her hands and knees. Her mouth on him, his length down her throat. His mouth on her, making her go wild again and again and again.

More than that, he wanted to do everything on her fun list. The two of them, together. When she “danced for a hot guy,” it would be him. No one else.

But after the way she’d stormed off, he wasn’t sure she’d agree to that.

He switched off the music and heard a knock at his door. “What?”

“Everything okay in there?” West asked.

“Yeah,” he croaked. “Fine.” Might never be fine again.

“Glad to hear it. But next time, if you don’t want us to know you’re giving your employee a little strange, tell her not to scream your name.”

Smart-ass. Jase threw a pillow at the door.

“I’ll pretend that was a hug.”

“Oh, goody. Is it hug time?” Beck asked, joining the Torture Jase game.

“Go away before I remove what’s left of your balls with pliers,” Jase told them.

The boys’ laughter started off strong but faded as they ambled away.

Jase fell on his bed and peered up at the ceiling. He had to protect himself from future hurt.

But...he didn’t want to protect himself from her.

He needed more of Brook Lynn, not less. I can’t let her go. Not just yet.





CHAPTER FIFTEEN

BROOK LYNN HAD the next day free—though she would be on call—her first break in forever. To be honest, she wasn’t sure what to do with herself. Also, it was odd, knowing she wouldn’t be doing any non-wife wifing unless Jase had one of those casserole emergencies he’d mentioned. Odd...and freaking awesome. But mostly awesome. And okay, a little awful. She’d spent last night squirming in bed, remembering the way he’d touched her, desperate for everything she’d been denied.

In an effort to distract herself, she spent the morning with Jessie Kay and Kenna, trying on bridesmaid dresses and finally checking another item off her fun list: drinking whiskey straight from a bottle.

“You look different today,” Kenna said as Brook Lynn moved to the dais to show off the latest gown—a floor-length lavender beauty fit for a fairy queen.

Heat pooled in Brook Lynn’s cheeks. The only thing different about her was the brief taste of satisfaction she’d experienced in Jase’s arms.

Jessie Kay emerged from the dressing room in a short red halter dress, smirking over at Brook Lynn and singing, “I know what youuuu diiiiidd. I know. I know. I really, really know.”

“You lie!” Brook Lynn said. “You know nothing.”

Kenna pointed to the whiskey. “You take another swig right this second, Miss Dillon, and then you tell me why you blush every few minutes, why you keep sighing while staring off at nothing and why you’ve got a bruise the size of my butt on your neck.”

The hickey! Crap!

Both Jessie Kay and Kenna burst into laughter as she slapped a hand over her neck. Clearly they knew what was “different” about her, but had decided to tease her.

“I’ll drink, but I’ll never tell you devious slags anything.” Eyes narrowed, she bent down and grabbed the whiskey bottle at her feet then chugged. Oh, the burn! But with the third swallow, she actually began to like it. Her skin flushed, and a drugging numbness filled her limbs. “So get this,” she heard herself say. “Jase and I made out.”

It was as if she’d just let the air out of a balloon.

“Made out?” Jessie Kay gave her a thumbs-down. “I thought you’d sealed the deal.”

“Hardly.” She faced herself in the mirror, irritated by the sudden, defeated slump in her shoulders. “He refused.”

Why had Jase denied her? Had he simply changed his mind? Men were allowed to do that, same as women—though it should be illegal for guys. Or had he not enjoyed what they were doing?