Too Sweet (Hayes Brothers #3)(35)

“Rate that from one to ten, babe,” Alex purrs, pulling away.

“About... six and a half?”

“Six?!” he exclaims, disbelieving, then all-out embarrassed when we burst out laughing. “Seriously?! So you all have a rating system? Where has this information been all my life?”

“I’ll give you a few pointers,” Toby smirks, but Aisha chooses that moment to shoot him down.

“You’re barely a nine yourself.”

“Nine? No way. I’m a ten.”

“You’re a ten when you kiss my other lips. Those...” She pats her mouth, “...you need to work on.”

And he does, determined to up his score.

I turn to Mia, leaning closer for no reason. My body drifts toward her whenever we’re in the same room. Now she sits inches away, the sweet scent of her wafting around us...

My bones have been broken, my knuckles bled a hundred times, yet not being able to touch Mia is the cruelest form of torture.

“What does it mean?” I ask, pointing at her tattoo.

“Soteria. In Greek mythology, she was the goddess of safety and preservation from harm.”

That’s an odd choice, but I bet there’s a story behind it. “You got any more?”

“We’ve got sister tattoos.” Aisha pulls away from Toby, jumping to her feet and rolling her blouse up, showing me a small dandelion under her bra line. “Mia’s got it in the same place.”

“I guess it’s not without meaning.”

“It symbolizes joy and youth,” Mia admits.

“What else do you have?”

She turns her back to me. “Just under my hairline.”

I watch goosebumps appear in the wake of my fingers brushing her skin. My chest tightens. The urge to kiss the tender spot below her ear hits me like a snake in tall grass. I keep the desire on a leash, touching the little musical note on Mia’s nape. The meaning of this one doesn’t need explaining.

I let her hair fall freely before she tugs the fabric of her skirt higher. My pulse speeds up with every inch of her bare skin. She’s trying to fucking kill me.

Another tattoo comes into view. One word: strength, curled around a pale scar. Maybe I would’ve noticed it just now when I saw her almost naked if I weren’t so dumbstruck.

“That’s all of them,” she says, pulling the dress back down. “For now.”

“Right, we had fun. Now we’re going out,” Aisha chirps, pecking Toby’s head. “I’ll get changed,” she adds, then speaks through clenched teeth. “Do you want to come, Mia?”

“Um... no, thank you.”

“Maybe we could stay?” Toby asks, treading lightly not to upset Aisha. “Mia’s had a lousy date. Let’s play more games. Monopoly?”

Aisha frowns, a flat sheen of murder glowing in her eyes for a second before she realizes Toby’s watching. “Oh, sure.” A pained smile crosses her lips, but she’s trying hard not to come across as a bitch who doesn’t give a crap about her sister. “Yeah, why not. Monopoly sounds super fun.”

“I’m fine,” Mia says, coming to Aisha’s rescue. “Go have fun.”

“Only if you’re sure!” Aisha sing-songs, already halfway down the hallway.

She’s back in a heartbeat, still zipping up a tiny black dress. Panting and wheezing, she turns her back to Toby, urging him to deal with the stuck zipper.

If Mia were mine and decided to go out dressed like that, she’d be an accessory to fucking murder. I’d never forbid her wearing whatever she wanted, but I’d throw my fists at anyone who’d dare to look longer than appropriate.

Soon enough, the cab arrives, and Aisha almost breaks a leg, rushing to the door with the other girls. “I’ll clean the mess up when I’m back, sis.”

Everyone’s out the door two minutes later while I’m casually strolling toward the kitchen to place my glass in the sink.

I don’t want to go. Not without Mia.

“Have fun!” she shouts, grabbing a handful of shot glasses off the table.

“Can I apologize for last weekend without being interrupted?” I ask when she joins me in the kitchen.

“No need. I wasn’t mad, just hurt, but you had a point—”

“No, I didn’t. I let my own experience cloud my judgment. Don’t change how you deal with guys like Justin if it keeps you safe.” I spin her around, hooking my index finger under her chin, and tilt her head back. “I’m sorry.”

“I know. It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay, Mia. Don’t let me off the hook that easily. I don’t like seeing you sad, and I hate I made you cry,” I insist, letting my guard slip as I drop my gaze to her lips.

I’ve never wanted to kiss a girl so much.

Whenever she’s this close, I forget about whatever feelings Cody has for her. I should talk to him because this... this is wrong on every single level. I’m a pendulum around her.

I want her, and I don’t want her.

I want her, and I can’t have her.

I want her, and she doesn’t need my crazy.

From what I’ve learned so far, Mia wants her man to take care of her, but I’m sure she wouldn’t want the unhealthy overprotectiveness I picked up three years ago.