Brazen (Brazen #1)(3)

As they approached the desk, Seth turned around, holding two envelopes containing keys.

“I booked two rooms. They’re adjoining.”

He handed Jasmine her key.

Jasmine followed the two men to the elevator, still staring at the card in her hand. Separate rooms, huh. When they’d seen her off to Paris a year before, he hadn’t concerned himself with getting her a separate room. He’d booked a suite.

They got off the elevator and walked several feet down the hallway before Seth stopped and dug for his key. She looked at her own envelope for her room number and moved a few steps past them to the next door.

“See you in the morning,” Seth said as his gaze followed her.

She smiled and gave a small wave before entering her room. She shut the door behind her and tossed her bag aside. Dismissed and not even home for an hour yet. On one hand, she supposed it was better that he hadn’t booked one room. He obviously saw her as a threat to the way things had always been between them. Which meant he recognized her as a desirable woman and not a child.

“Or maybe he just doesn’t want to see you make a fool of yourself,” she muttered as she flopped down on the bed.

She’d give them fifteen minutes, and then she was going in. She changed into one of Seth’s old football shirts she’d taken with her to Paris. It was modest enough, hanging to her knees. She didn’t want to be blatant. Subtlety would get her a lot further. If the imprint of her ni**les could be seen through the shirt, oh well. She wasn’t going to sleep in a bra.

Checking her watch, she walked over to the adjoining door and knocked softly. When Zane opened it, standing there in just his jeans, she nearly swallowed her tongue. Lordy but the man had a chest that made her want to slobber.

She breezed past him, not giving him a chance to object to her being there. She sat on one of the beds with a slight bounce and looked over at Zane.

“It’s kind of lonely over there. I haven’t seen you guys in a year.”

Zane smiled and sauntered back over to the bed. “Want to watch some TV with us for a while?”

She beamed back at him and promptly pulled back the covers and curled underneath.

A few seconds later, the bathroom door opened and Seth strode out with just a towel around his waist. As much as she wanted to pretend indifference, as much as she’d have loved to look away and play it cool, her eyes traveled up his body until they rested on his hard abdomen. The towel dangled precariously low. Just a half inch lower and she’d get a peek of the dark hair she knew resided there.

Seth looked up and uttered a surprised oath when he saw her lying in the bed.

“Jesus Christ, Zane, you should have told me she was in here.”

He hauled the towel up higher and stalked back into the bathroom.

She raised wide, innocent eyes to Zane. “What’s his problem?”

“Turn your head, Jaz, let me get into my shorts,” Zane directed, ignoring her question.

She sighed and turned her face away. Seconds later, the bed dipped and Zane crawled up beside her. He reclined, propping his elbow on the pillow next to her.

“Now suppose you tell me what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours,” he drawled.

She gave him her best confused look. “I missed you guys,” she said huskily. “You didn’t miss me?”

He arched an eyebrow at her, and she watched the battle play across his face. He was clearly trying to decide if she was playing a game or if she was just being the same girl they always knew.

“Of course we did,” he soothed.

“You don’t act like it,” she muttered. “What’s up Seth’s ass anyway?”

He opened his mouth to speak then shut it again. Finally he shook his head. “Come here, Jaz,” he said.

She didn’t hesitate. She rolled over and scooted her back into his chest until she was snuggled into his arms. As his warmth bled through her skin, she sighed in contentment.

“Glad to be home?”

She nodded. “I loved Paris, but I was ready to come back home to Texas.”

She sighed again when his fingers tangled in her hair, gently pulling downward as he brushed the strands.

The bathroom door opened and Seth came out again, this time fully clothed. He frowned when he saw Jasmine hugged up tight against Zane. She pretended to ignore him, focusing instead on the TV.

He seemed to battle over whether or not to object to her presence. She watched from the corner of her eye as he looked at her. With a slight shake of his head, he walked over to his bed.

Feeling like she’d won this round, she smiled to herself and burrowed deeper under the covers. She was tired. Exhausted, actually. But she didn’t want to spend her first night back alone.

She could feel Zane’s heartbeat against her back, and it soothed her. Made her feel safe. It felt like home.

As she wiggled closer still into the shelter of his body, her behind brushed against the vee of his legs. For a moment, she paused. Then she felt the hardness against the curve of her ass.

Zane must have registered her awareness, because he jerked away and rolled out of the bed. She felt the loss of their closeness keenly and, for the first time, regretted the attraction between them.

Zane strode into the bathroom and closed the door behind him with a bang.

Chapter Two

Seth watched Jasmine’s eyes close as she succumbed to sleep. His brother still remained in the bathroom after his exit over fifteen minutes ago.