Tell Me You Crave Me (Search and Seduce #3)(12)

Too bad. Because no matter what kind of heat was in East’s eyes, that passion couldn’t survive outside what had happened last night.

He shook his head. “Not awkward. Stifling.”

“Well, God forbid the great Easton Ambrose hang up his bachelor badge and settle down.”

“It’d be a crying shame,” he said with a wink, and came right up to her and kissed her cheek, hard. Not like a lover. Not like they’d gone crazy on each other’s bodies last night. Nope. Like she was a kid again. Like the baby sister of his best buddy. “Hearts would break all over North Carolina,” he teased as he made his way toward the door. He hadn’t even mentioned her brother, but it was an issue. It had to be. It was all part of the big damn elephant in the room that he seemed intent on not even acknowledging.

East was playing it casual, cool, like she was nothing more than a friend. Not another lover, not another woman, not even a one-night stand. Just a buddy. And that boiled her blood more than anything.

“Indeed,” she called after him. “What with your big reputation of satisfying the ladies, it would sure be a shame if word spreads that you’re really not up to par…”

He glanced at her, and she gave him a pinky wave just to prove her point. Yeah, she was making a joke about his manhood, and she was maybe even being bratty, and she didn’t quite know why, but she pushed his buttons anyway. And this button was one he took seriously.

He turned that perfect, casually strutting, ass back around and stared her down.

“You threatening me, little girl?” he whispered, lips just above hers.

“Whatever do you mean? Women talk, you know.”

“Not you,” he said quickly. “Because if your brother finds out that we—”

“Oh! So last night did happen after all?” She smiled with victory. At least she’d gotten him to acknowledge her, which she’d count as a win.

“Of course it happened. Look, last night was…well, it was unexpected. But I figure we’re good now. Not going to happen again, and no reason for anyone to know.”

“Why? Because you’re ashamed?” That last question came out softer than she’d meant it to.

He frowned hard. “No. Yes. Damn it, I mean you’re Matt’s sister. Your parents are basically my only family, and I’m not f*cking with that.”

“But you f*cked me.”

“Yeah, and I shouldn’t have. So can we just go back to being family? Or friends? Or whatever the f*ck we are?”

“Sure,” she said, hating to agree but knowing as well as he did that he was right.

He grinned. “Hey, you have some dates to schedule before you end up kissing cousins with ol’ Harry-boy.”

God, don’t remind me.

“Fine, this is our secret.” And that was fine with her. She didn’t need any more drama from her mother or brother. She knew how much East valued her family, because they were his family. She’d never want to take that from him.

But there was a flash of something serious in his eyes when he’d asked her not to tell. Like he was afraid of what losing her family might do to him. Like it’d hurt him…or ruin him.

With a final look down her body, he took a deep breath, and just for a moment she thought he might be struggling to pull himself away. “See ya around, darlin’.”

She nodded. Yeah. She would see him around. And she’d be forced to remember that the irritating son of a bitch had given her a taste of the no-excuses kind of passion she’d been looking for. If she knew what was good for her, she’d avoid him like the plague until this itch for him went away. Because a woman only had so much willpower. And if she didn’t stay away from him, she’d make another mistake she couldn’t take back.





Chapter Three


What the f*ck was I thinking?

East walked into the local search and rescue office. It’d taken an extra-long shower this morning to get all the frosting off, and he still was pretty sure he smelled like vanilla…and like Natalie.

He scratched his head and pulled the back of his hair hoping the sting of pain would get it through his thick skull that he’d f*cked up. But that sting only reminded him of how last night Natalie had yanked on the same strands while he was buried inside her.

Jesus, he needed to get a damn grip.

What the hell had come over him? Natalie was Matt’s sister. She’d been the runt and an annoying fixture since they were all kids. She was beyond off-limits, to say the least. And not only had he f*cked her last night, he’d f*cked her hard. Repeatedly. And she’d f*cked him back.

“It was the dress,” he said as he made his way to the small table in the corner where the coffee pot was. “Yep, just the dress,” he decided.

Because he sure as shit had never once looked twice at her in the past. Not when she’d stood behind the counter and frosted cupcakes while absently biting her plump bottom lip and quietly humming to herself. He’d never even looked twice on the occasions when she’d walked through Honey’s bar in that damn pair of jeans she had that hugged her ass perfectly, while her thick ponytail swung with every stride. And he’d certainly never thought of pulling that ponytail while he bent her over and f*cked her from behind.

Nope. Not. Once. Not ever had he ever had any of those fantasies.