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He tosses his head back and laughs. “Aren’t you?” He laughs again when I groan. “I know it was different when she was a kid. Your feelings evolved as she did.”
“Since when are you so insightful?”
“I’ve always been insightful, asshole. You just never noticed. Anyway, I thought I’d give you a little help since you seem dead set on crossing into forbidden territory.”
I look at Jagger and grin. “Forbidden fruit always tastes the sweetest.”
A look of pure horror crosses his face. “God, never use that innuendo again. Some shit you cannot unhear.”
I chuckle as I sit back and watch her. She’s cautious and reserved at first but slowly relaxes, no doubt her pretty pink drink helping her along. Her smile becomes brighter. The way she moves more animated. And those eyes… They hold secrets, so many secrets, but sparkle with life despite them.
“I’m going to hit the head since you’re not listening to me.”
I turn my attention toward my brother’s annoyed green gaze. Ahint of guilt tugs at my bell. “I’m sorry, Jag. What did you say?”
He tucks his tongue in his cheek and makes an irritated sound before shaking his head. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“Tell me, Jag. I was just distracted before.”
He waves me off, rising from his seat. “It’s fine. I’m used to it. Get back to your obsessing.”
He walks away before I can remark. I shake my head, bringing my drink to my lips, thinking about it. Have I neglected a relationship with my brother in favor of Casey all these years? I sigh, rolling my head around my shoulder, and acknowledge the truth.Yes, I have.
I haven’t meant to, but I realize that even when they were kids, I catered to what Casey wanted. If she wanted to go to Coney Island, we went there over the skate park for Jagger. We went to Disney on Ice over the Yankees game. I wanted her to feel special, less lonely and sad. Especially those first few years when she couldn’t see her dad. She was a sad little girl, and I wanted to make her feel better.
Now I realize I fucked up. Because Jagger wasn’t exactly in a good place himself. Our mom died when he was eleven, and he was still struggling when Dad married Krista. I think he still is. But for me, it was easier to handle Casey’s pain than Jaggers because ours was the same, and I didn’t know how to handle my own, much less his.
Despite my rumination, my mind and eyes drift back to Casey. It’s compulsory, and it always has been. She drinks down her cocktail and reaches for another. Quickly wrapping those pretty lips around the red straw. My mind tumbles into the gutter, thinking about what else those lips would look so pretty wrapped around.
Fuck.
Her head shakes back and forth. An exasperated but amused smile tugs at her mouth. It’s obvious she’s arguing with her friends. I enjoy seeing her like this. She’s not entirely relaxed yet. This isn’t the type of place Casey would ever be completely comfortable, but she’s happy.
Lily’s eyes cut toward me, her head jerking my way with a sly grin. It seems Casey’s brunette friends have noticed me watching. Not surprising since I haven’t been subtle.
My assumption is proven when Casey’s eyes meet mine, noticing me for the first time since I sat down. A slow flush of pink spreads across her cheeks, deepening when I lift my glass toward her and wink. Even from twenty feet away, I see the subtle changes in her breathing and watch those endless sapphires fill with confusion and hope.
My tongue drags across my bottom lip before I pull it between my teeth as I watch her lashes flutter with timidity. That sweetness is as much a turn-on as anything else about her.
She watches me as closely as I do her. The innocence in her gaze turns to lust as she stares. They dart across my face, lingering on my mouth, and the flush in her cheeks spread. I wonder if my sunflower is imagining all the wicked things I will do to her with my mouth like I’m thinking about how pretty she’ll look choking on my cock.
Jesus, Graham, are you trying to go to hell by jet?
Our eyes lock again. Can she see how much I fucking want her? Can she tell that I do not see her as a little girl… my sister… as anything but drop-dead gorgeous sex on legs?
She squirms in her seat, and I smirk, our eyes never wavering.
Until hers finally do.
And when those eyes dart behind me for the briefest of moments, I can see that flicker of hope and spark of desiredie, replaced with resignation, as her attention returns to her friends.
What the hell just happened?
But before I even consider it, the answer rings in my ears as a raspy voice I’m all too familiar with. “Graham Davis, I heard you were in town.”
And all I can think is… shit.
Casey
