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She squeezed her eyes shut as he placed a finger to her lip. She fought hard not to lick his finger. She didn’t even know where that came from, this wasn’t her.

“But,” she tried to say before he stopped her again.

“Nah, that doesn’t explain why you came to my establishment, looking good, may I add, downplaying what is happening here. Something gotta be up.”

She cleared her throat, absolutely regretting coming in. Things were happening that almost made her want to moan. Her nipples hardened, her chest rose, and clit swelled. He continued to search her eyes, and she closed them again before opening them again.

“Nothing is wrong with me. I don’t want to take advantage of you. That’s all.”

“Like I’m some lame ass nigga trying to go tit for tat with you.”

“No, that’s not it. I never said that.”

He laughed. “Oh, I get what this is about.”

He leaned over, his mouth was too close, his tone pure seduction wrapped in silk. “If I expected some pussy from you, trust, I would’ve had it by now. And I mean folded up like a piece of origami. You ever been folded up Taylor?”

She looked away.

“Nah,” he gently pulled her face back to his. “You haven’t because if so trying me wouldn’t have ever crossed your mind.”

Brooks wasn’t stupid. He could feel the sexual tension stressing them both. Her body betrayed her, telling him everything he needed to know. She’d give it up without a second thought, if that’s what he demanded. She knew it.

“I didn’t mean-” she started, but the words died in her throat as his hand came up to brush a piece of hair from her face.

“Didn’t mean what? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re looking for reasons to push me away before I even get too close. And you should stop while you're ahead, sweetheart.”

“Actually, let’s go there because what’s up with you?” She asked pushing him back slightly. The need for distance helped her find her voice. “You’re being the weird one. You’ve never even batted an eye at me before and now you expect me too just what? Fall in love with you.”

Brooks stepped back. She was right but she was also wrong. So damn wrong.

“You willing to bet on that?” He asked.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I’ve always noticed you.” His eyestraced over her face giving her looks he wished he could’ve back then. “It was you not looking my way ‘cause you didn’t agree with how I was living. You not me.”

“We’ve always been off limits to each other.”

“Who?” He let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Ain’t a damn thing off limits to me if I want it. You ain’t family. You ain’t a friend.” His eyes dragged down to her lips, slow and deliberate, before snapping back up. “You worried about Blake finding out you feeling her brother?”

“Brooks, don’t flatter yourself.”

“If I wanted you, I’d have you, right here, right now. Blake ain’t never stopped me from getting what I want."

He thought about his next words carefully, but proceeded, "Fuck a Blake, respectfully."

His words nearly choked her, but she swallowed it down. Pushing him back again she created more space.

“Thanks for the help,” she muttered before turning and bolted, like she hadn’t walked in with this exact chaos in mind.

He’d give her space… for now.

The way her pupils blew wide, her breath fought for control, and that pulse of hers hammered against her throat. She was a woman running from the one thing she wasn’t built to survive, him. But he’d be right there when she finally felt she could.

∞∞∞

Taylor drove home in a daze, fingers tight aroundthe steering wheel, hands shaking just enough to piss her off. Her panties soggy, confusion consumed her. Proof she’d bitten off more than she could chew. Brooks looked at her as if she was plate of his favorite foods. She was ready to cuss, to scream, to do something because the way he had her riled up wasn’t even fair.