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He was silent, just staring at me.

I held up the mug. He took it, turning it until he pressed his mouth over the same spot where mine had been.

My belly clenched. God, it was like flames igniting inside me.

“I’ve tried to stay away from you,” he said.

My heart thumped. “Why?”

He set the mug down. “Because we’re friends. Because I’m older than you.”

“Only by a few years.”

“Because we’re family and grew up together.”

“I don’t think of you as my brother, Jameson.”

“I know.” His deep voice was a low rumble. “My feelings for you are not brotherly.”

My chest hitched. “How do you feel?”

His gaze ran down my body. “Those fucking shorts. I can see all of those legs of yours. And I know you’ve got nothing on under that shirt. All of you is pure temptation.”

My skin flushed. “I like you too, Jameson. Believe me, I’ve come on my own fingers plenty of times thinking of you.”

He groaned—a low masculine sound. “I’m just a soldier, Greer. I’m not smart, I don’t have any degrees, I…”

I took a step forward. “That’s why you pushed me away?”

“Part of it. I’m not good enough for?—”

Now I was angry. I shoved his chest. “Bullshit. Jesus, I had a smart guy—” I made air quotes when I said smart “—and he wanted me to be his baby-making machine.”

Jameson growled. “He was an idiot. I’ll kick his ass.”

“I already did. He’s just a distant memory now.” I moved closer to him. “The best man I know, he’s strong and loyal and trustworthy. And he sees me.”

“When I look at you, I see intelligence and beauty.”

“Jameson—”

He scooped me up and set me on the island. I gasped, then his mouth was on mine.

Pulling him closer, I lost myself in the kiss. I drowned in it. I savored the scrape of his stubble, the masculine taste of him, the pure heat.

“I need more.” His voice was gritty, raising goosebumps on my skin. He nipped at my jaw. “I need to taste you.”

Then his big hands gripped the waistband of the shorts.

My chest hitched.Oh, god.

Then he ripped them down my legs. He also discovered that I wasn’t wearing any panties.

“Greer,” he growled.

Jameson

I couldn’t think.I had my hands on Greer. All I could do was feel her, smell her, hear the excited hitch in her breathing.