Bedding the Wrong Brother(28)

“I think I 'handled' you pretty well last night.” Reaching out, he gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, refusing to let her turn away. “Now, why don't you tell me what possessed you to go to Max in the first place? Your ex sold you a bill of goods, Melina, and I would think you're way too smart to fall for it.”

Too smart? Yes, that was her. Her brain told her that Brian was just an insecure man with an average-size penis that needed to “diss” her in order to feel more manly. But her bruised heart—the heart that longed to find love and companionship and family—told her that it was her own fault she was alone. Which meant admitting to herself that Brian was actually right. She had lain there like a board half the time. Because she'd never felt inspired to do otherwise. Until last night. “Why didn't you tell Max what happened when he called?”

“Because what happens between you and me has nothing to do with him.”

He looked so fierce, so possessive, that she shivered. “In this case, it did. He tricked you, didn't he?”

“He didn't trick me. He just didn't tell me what was waiting for me.”

“And if he had?”

“If he had, I wouldn't have waited for you to do your little fashion spin. I would have been on top of you before the door shut.”

Her entire body responded to his quiet statement. Her skin prickled, her nipples peaked, and her * wept. She would've sworn that if he were to touch her hair at that moment, she would come so hard she'd probably black out. She urged her mind to quiet the urges of her body and be logical. “Liar,” she whispered. “You haven't called. You haven't visited. You haven't wanted anything to do with me.”

“Not because I didn't want you.” He hesitated. “You didn't exactly advertise that you wanted me.”

“I-I didn't—”

“Don't lie,” he commanded, cupping the back of her head and pulling her in to his chest. Stunned, she closed her eyes and soaked him in. With a slow, firm hand, he rubbed her lower back. “We've lied to each other enough, don't you think? You might have picked Max to be your tutor, but it was my name you said before you fell asleep last night. And I want you, Melina. I'm willing to say it. I'm willing to act on it.”

She leaned back to meet his gaze, doubt and suspicion boiling inside her. “Why now? After all this time?”

“Because you offered it to me.”

“I pushed it on you.”

“That's a stupid thing to say, and you're not stupid.”

“Yes, well, here's where my stupidity ends.” Pulling away, she urged, “If you'll just get me my clothes, I'll get out of here.”

“Why? You were willing to sleep with Max. Was it because you love him?”

“No! I mean, of course, I love him, the same way I love you. We're family. I don't want to ruin that, Rhys, and what you're talking about will. Admit it. We want different things in our lives and trying to pretend otherwise would be foolish.”

He didn't contradict her. How could he? “You and Max want different things, too. Why were you willing to let him teach you but not me?”

Ah, so she'd been right. This was about his male ego. “Because he was around, for one.”

“I'm here now. And I've got the weekend, just like you and Max agreed, right?”

Alarm bells blared in her head. “Yes, but—”

“And I think we established last night that we have chemistry. That I have the skill to make you come.” He said it quietly, with none of the cockiness that would have made her question her attraction to him.

Instead, Melina struggled to breathe in the rapidly thinning air. “Your skill has never been in question. And my ability to…to—” She felt herself turning beet red. “—climax isn't in issue. It's my ability to pleasure a man that is.”

“Says you.”

“Says Brian Montgomery. Lars Jensen. Gary Somada.”

“Idiots. If they wanted something from you, they didn't work hard enough for it. Besides, I can show you how to please a man.”

“You seemed more concerned with pleasing me last night.”

“The two things aren't independent. I showed you one thing that gives a man pleasure. Submission. Total trust by his partner. But there are other things you can do, and I'll show them to you if you'll let me.”