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Fate is a shitty jokester.

“Knew I could count on you. And…” His voice trails off, drawing my attention back to him.

“What? Spit it out.”

“I don’t need to remind you—no funny shit with my sister, right? I know how women fall at your feet… Your broody persona and all that.”

I swallow and fist my hands in my pockets.

“Ethan? I need your word.” His voice carries a hard edge now, and he stands taller—the rule-breaking hacker shifting into a protective, older brother. “My sister is off-limits. She deserves a good man with no commitment and trust issues—someone who can give her his whole damn heart and protect hers with his life.”

My smile is brittle.I want to be that man. But can I?“You don’t have to ask.”

“Then I need your word. You Andersons take that very seriously.”

My word. A promise. Fuck.

A knot tightens in my gut. I feel sick. “You have my word. Alexis is off-limits.”

The muscles spasm in my neck and I level my stare at Liam.

He grins, his body relaxing. “I’ll be inside working, but if you guys need me, just holler.”

As soon as he disappears into his room, I collapse into my chair. Burying my face into my hands, I close my eyes. An image of her appears in my mind. Those silky orange locks. The sweet lavender scent. The smattering of freckles on the bridge of her nose. The way her breath hitched when I invaded her mouth with my tongue. How her soft tits felt on my chest when I pulled her closer. The way she gyrated her hips when she moved unwittingly over my thigh as our kiss spun out of control.

Blood rushes to my groin and my cock flares to half-mast. Fuck. How am I going to do this—

Ding. Dong.

She’s here.

Adjusting myself, I stand and head to the door. I grit my teeth and wrench it open.

I promptly lose my breath.

Alexis stands there, her hair piled up in a loose bun, a few tendrils framing her face and grazing her creamy shoulders showcased by the wide neckline of her deep green sweater. A flush blooms on her cheeks when she sees me.

Goddamn, she’s beautiful.

I want to pull her into my arms and kiss those pouty, pink lips. That perfect cupid’s bow and the full bottom lip. I want to taste them and savor her sweetness. I want to swallow her whimpers and make it my life’s purpose to tease more out of her. Find ten ways—no, a hundred new ways—of making her writhe in my arms.

Hell in a handbasket.

The air thickens between us, and her breathing quickens. She bites on that bottom lip now, and I stare at the movement, hypnotized, a fire crawling up my body. Every part of me is burning, my skin hypersensitized. I can practically feel her. Taste her. She’s so close to me and I can just reach out and—

“Dude. Are you going to let her in?”

We flinch and footsteps echo behind me. How did I miss Liam stepping out of his room?

I drag my eyes away from my Nova and step aside, sweeping my hand toward the living room. “Hey, Alexis. Come in.”

She brushes past me toward Liam, and a cloud of lavender perfume floats to my nose. I breathe it in.

“Don’t go all big bro on me, Liam.” She pokes his chest as Liam mock growls.

“Too bad. You’re the only sister I have. It’s my job to boss you around.” He unleashes a shit-eating grin.

“You’re overbearing, insane, out of your mind—”