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He’d wanted to kiss her so bad, his whole body thrummed with desire. Ached. The pressure built until he thought his balls, if not his brain, would explode. He’d leaned in, her arms twined around his neck, her beautiful, innocent body pressed against his and…he couldn’t do it.
As though solidifying his decision, Chase had called his name. He couldn’t be seen kissing the guy’s sister. They’d jolted apart like they’d been caught. Thank fuck his best mate hadn’t seemed to witness what had almost happened. It wouldn’t have been fair to Sage, to him, to his friendship with Chase.
“Alexander?”
Shit. He’d zoned out, her heavenly voice yanking him from his nostalgic thoughts. He stepped back. “Come in, please.”
He led her into his living area. “Drink?”
“I’d love one.” Her intoxicating musk-rose scent wafted over him.
“Hot, cold, alcoholic?”
She sat on the two-seater lounge, a smile breaking out on her lips that reached her irresistible eyes. “A coffee would be great…if you have the good stuff. Otherwise, don’t worry”
He chuckled. “Pods okay? I have a machine.”
“Totally fine. A long black, please.”
Same as him. She used to like milk and sugar. When had that changed? He’d missed so much, yet also gained a hell of a lot, too. Life had a way of balancing everything out—or at least he hoped it would.
Alexander made their coffees, while they engaged in small talk, slightly easing the sexual tension, and handed her a cup. He sat with his on the adjacent lounge chair even though he wanted to sit beside her more than anything. But she’d come to do her brother a favor, not date him.
She took a sip, closed her eyes and moaned. “Mmm…so good. Thank you.”
Exactly what a man wanted to hear in the bedroom. Did she sound like that during sex? Thank fuck he wore loose track pants, or she’d definitely have noticed his semi hard-on.
Now he couldn’t get her almost-moan out of his mind, would love to be the guy to take her there. Wishful fucking thinking…and so fucking wrong. He had to get his sexually deprived brain out of the gutter.
“Any time. Thank you for coming.” If only he’d been able to achieve that in an orgasmic sense.
“My pleasure.”
He wished.
Alexander could have taken things further with her in the past but didn’t regret it…exactly. They’d all made choices, and his had brought him here—back to her, back to a woman who could have changed significantly, could already be involved with someone else. It had been fifteen fucking years.
But if she were serious about another guy, wouldn’t Chase have told him? His best mate would have given him an update, a heads-up, a warning—would have reinforced his sister was taken, attached, off-limits.
Wouldn’t he?
Maybe not. He owed him nothing when it came to Sage. Chase had no idea Alexander had even a smidge of interest in her, so why would he feel obligated to tell him the ins and outs of her relationship status?
“Before you say anything else, I want to apologize for being a dick before I left. I was young and immature and—”
“No need. But thank you.” She gave him a sincere smile, and he wanted to lift her onto his lap and kiss her senseless, something he’d craved for ages but hadn’t thought proper.
What had changed now? They were both adults with more experience, clearer on what they wanted, and free and able to make their own decisions. Yeah, that mattered. It made a huge difference.
But would it increase the likelihood she’d get into a relationship with a fucked-up ex-serviceman, living in a cheap-ass unit, who’d treated her like crap? Yeah, he could afford more but he still hadn’t gotten his act together.
Could she consider him currently? No. The probability he’d be a positive influence in her life remained low to non-existent. She didn’t need to be reminded of her client load in her personal life.
Yet his hardheaded persistent persona wouldn’t allow him to be deterred. He’d try his best, even against the odds, to convince her otherwise.
She blew on her coffee and glanced at him across the top of her steaming cup, as though trying to move from the past into somewhat safe territory. “What did you want to speak about today?”
“I don’t know. There’s so much. I have no idea where to start.”
