Razed (Barnes Brothers #2)(33)

“What makes you think he won’t?” Javi studied him, seeing the concern, the worry.

“Because he’s my brother,” Zach said softly. “And I know him. He never really goes all in. Not on anything.”


*

Heart thumping against her ribs, Keelie sat in the arrivals lane at the airport, searching. She didn’t see that tall, familiar figure.

So she checked her phone.

The flight status hadn’t changed from five minutes ago. He’d landed.

Okay. She flipped down her mirror, checked her hair. It looked like it had four minutes ago.

“Stop it,” she muttered, closing the visor and focusing on the flow of people on the sidewalks. He had to get his suitcase, had to deal with all the people. It would take him more than just twenty minutes—

There was a tap at her window.

Adrenaline spiked.

Then, before anything could show on her face, she turned her head. Something loosened inside her when she saw Zane, even as other things clenched, or started to melt.

Zane . . .

She reached over and unlocked the door before climbing out. She eyed him over the top of the battered VW Bug and said, “You are certain you want me driving you around? You’re barely going to fit in here.”

He just smiled, a slow, lazy curve of his lips, and then he curled his fingers toward her.

Her knees knocked together as she walked over there.

It felt like they were moving backward in this whole dating thing—they’d made out, he’d made her climax, and then they’d had coffee, dinner . . . and all she’d gotten out of those two encounters were kisses that all but scalded her.

Not that she was complaining. It gave her brain time to acclimate, and she really needed to acclimate. Dating so wasn’t her thing, as evidenced by the erratic string of bad dates and her abysmally few unpleasant attempts at relationships since high school.

Very, very few.

By the time she reached the curb where he was waiting, her heart was hammering in her chest and she was way too hot. Not that it was cool out. This was Arizona, after all, but she felt like she’d just plunged into a pool of lava, skin buzzing, burning.

“Hey,” she said, stopping only when her boots bumped against his shoes.

He reached up, his hand splaying over her neck. Her pulse jumped, slammed against his palm and she felt her breath hitch, catch.

He still hadn’t said anything but she stopped wondering about that in the next second as he lowered his mouth and pressed his lips to hers.

His tongue slid out, teased her.

She opened for him, reaching for his shirt and curling her hands into it.

He repeated that same light caress, his tongue brushing against her lips. Again, and again, until she whimpered against his lips and tried to take control herself. He slid an arm around her, curved it around her waist, tucking her so tight against him, not even a breath could have separated them.

That was fine.

Who needed to breathe anyway?

His hand twisted in the fabric of her shirt and she felt the light brush of air kiss her back, then his other hand tugged on her hair, tipping her head back, changing the angle of the kiss.

She shivered as he finally—finally—deepened that kiss, his tongue pushing into her mouth. She bit down on him, lightly, then sucked. A growl emanated from him and she shivered at the feel of his chest vibrating against her breasts.

Not even two seconds later, he was breaking the kiss, easing her back gently.

“Hmmm.” She fought the urge to pout and demand more. Instead, she focused on his mouth as he pressed his brow to hers.


*

“We keep that up and I might forget we’re at the airport,” Zane teased. Although he doubted it would take much. His cock pulsed against the zipper of his jeans and he had a feeling the teeth of said zipper might already be imprinted on very sensitive flesh.

It was worth it, especially when Keelie reached up and pressed her finger to his mouth.

“It’s your fault.” Then she shrugged. “I told you you’d have an easier ride if you had Zach or Abby pick you up.”

Then she broke away.

He caught her as she turned, hugging her close, his front to her back. “I’m not much interested in easy.”

She leaned back against him, her hand covering the one he’d pressed to her belly. “Seems kind of stupid, seeing as how you don’t live here, but I missed you while you were gone.” She grabbed one of his camera cases, hefting it easily.

Warily, he eyed her, but he couldn’t fault the care she used with it.

It was just . . . well, it was kind of like watching somebody hold a baby for the first time. Well, maybe not a baby. More like a camera that cost eleven thousand dollars. One that he pampered like a baby. Once it was stowed in the trunk, he looked up at her, saw the way she lifted a brow at him. Almost like she knew exactly what he was thinking.

He treated it the same way he always did. He flashed her an easy grin.

Then he grabbed two of his bags and added them to the trunk, carefully tucking his luggage around the camera equipment. Once that was done, he slid her a look. “Yeah, well, I miss you every time you’re not with me. So I think I’ve got you beat.”

Her gaze bounced away from his.

He headed to the passenger seat, not expecting any kind of response. She hadn’t taken off running—yet—that was good enough for him. He’d just keep taking it as it came and wait until she was ready to give him more.