“Damn dude, that’s my sister.”
Hearing Braden say that makes me laugh pretty hard, as it does Jax and Kallie.
“Shit sorry man. It doesn’t need to be the bed, it could be the counter, couch, hell the dining table.”
I almost spit my beer out when Braden stands up and Jax and Kallie run laughing.
All of a sudden, I realize it’s just me and Braden. I look over at him and smile. “Sorry to laugh, but that was funny.”
He gets up and moves to sit next to me, which has my body burning with want. “I’m only screwing with them. I couldn’t be happier. He treats her like a queen.”
I nod my head, completely at a loss for words with him sitting so close to me. I can feel his body heat.
“McKinley, I’m going to be blunt because no one else seems to be. How do we know you are really Blake’s sister? I mean you just show up and everyone just says okay this is his sister, welcome. I don’t think I’m that trusting. So, convince me.”
Anger bubbles inside of me. Who the fuck does he think he is? My hard nipples and aching pussy vanish in a flash, replaced by exasperation.
“What the hell kind of proof do you want? You want a blood test, give me one. You want me to go find my dear old dad and have him admit it to you? I don’t know how you want me to prove it to you.”
“What’s your agenda? What made you rush here after only learning a few days ago? Because if I’m not wrong, it probably took you a few days to get here. So, I have to believe you came here in a hurry for some reason. What is that reason?” he asks with a bit of anger in his voice.
“Listen, I don’t owe you an explanation for anything. I’m not here to start a relationship with you. I’m here trying to discover a relationship with Blake. As I see it, that’s none of your business.” I try to sound confident, but I’m terrified he knows I am here looking for something else. And that makes me sad because I want him to like me.
“That’s where you’re wrong. Everything that affects my friends and family is my business. And you still didn’t answer my question. What’s your agenda?”
He moves closer to me with the last question and my body betrays my head when I feel my nipples harden again.
I move in closer to him and keep eye contact the entire time. “I’m here to find my brother and hope that he wants to have me in his life. If he doesn’t then I’ll leave, and I will never bother him again. I’m not here to cause problems, I’m here to find family.”
I don’t expect it and it shocks the hell out of me, but Braden grabs the back of my head and smashes his mouth to mine. I open up right away and when our tongues meet my entire body goes rigid. I’m putty in his embrace. It’s not a soft gentle kiss, no. This is an angry kiss. It’s hard, it’s fast, it’s all-consuming. I am loving every second of it.
He pulls away much too soon but holds my hair gently at the nape. He searches my eyes, looking for something, answers maybe.
“Fuck.” He stands up and runs his hands into his hair. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what the hell came over me,” he says with his back to me.
“Don’t be sorry, please,” I say, with much too much pleading in my voice, sounding desperate. But holy shit that was the best kiss I’ve ever had. It was filled with so much emotion and that is something I’m not used to.
Braden slowly turns to look at me and Blake comes outside smiling.
“Thanks for being the only one to stick around with my sister, Braden. Everyone else will get a phone call tomorrow.” He simply nods as Blake continues to talk. “So, McKinley, since Jax is at Kallie’s why don’t you stay here tonight? You can stay in his room.”
He wants me to stay here, in Jax’s room. He definitely doesn’t need to ask twice. “Thank you, Blake, I’d like that.”
We all start to walk away from the fire, but Braden walks toward the gate.
“Great party Blake, we’ll talk soon. Nice meeting you McKinley.”
With that, I watch him until I hear the click of the gate. I guess that kiss wasn’t something he’ll be doing again. Which is fine because I’m not here for that, and I need to remember that.
Chapter 4
Braden
Walking in the front door I toss my keys on the coffee table. I plop down on the couch and scrub my face with my hands, keeping them there. What the hell was I thinking kissing McKinley? Christ, she is here looking for family and I’m shoving my damn tongue down her throat. That is definitely out of character for me. I’m not usually the type of guy that comes on strong. Most of the time I wait until the woman is just about straddling me to make a move. Yet, there was something about her that called to me. Something that took over my body, making it feel completely foreign to me.
Watching her all day at the party playing with my girls pulled at my heart. I haven’t brought a woman around them, simply because I’m not willing for them to get close to someone if it’s not going to work. The last thing I need is for my girls to get hurt because of my relationships.
Today when the girls were splashing in the pool and McKinley laughed right along with them, I couldn’t pull my eyes away. I had noticed her beauty the minute I saw her, but something was radiating off of her with my girls I can’t explain.
After that, even when she wasn’t
