Page 52 of The Rowdy Ones

“Smile,” she says to me before instructing the phone to snap the picture. “Send photo to Rowdy.”

Seconds later, my phone buzzes in my pocket. When I pull it out, I have a text message from Destiny. I swipe it open and click on the picture of us.

Her smile is beautiful and she seems brighter than usual. Beside her, staring at her and not the camera, is me. Intense, focused solely on her, and ravenous. I may as well be drooling. I’m thankful the picture didn’t capture the erection straining in my jeans.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

“Weston is a good guy,” she tells me, killing my hard-on. “I know you hate him for whatever reason, but he’s nice. He goes out of his way to do sweet things for me. If you’re worried about him hurting me like Jace did, you don’t have to. Weston would never. Plus, he’s big on consent.”

It brings me a modicum of relief to know he’s not desperately trying to get into her pants.

“You’re thriving here. I love that for you.” I reach up and stroke my fingers through her chaotic blond hair. “I’ll get my shit together soon. Just trying to get used to this life, you know?”

She leans toward me and tilts her head up, making her sweet, tempting mouth too close for comfort. “Thank you. For being here with me. You had every right to stay home, but you didn’t. You’re facing your awful past to be here with me. It means the world to me, Rowdy. You’re my favorite brother.”

I tangle my fingers in her hair and give it a sharp, playful tug. “I better be.”

With her lips parted and head rolled back, it’s deceptive to my confusing emotions. I can almost pretend she’s more than my sister. She’s just some girl I’m crazy over. How fucking wonderful would it be to devour her sexy mouth?

We both grow quiet and I realize I’m staring at her, just inches from her face. My tight grip on her hair holds her captive. My heart is hammering out of my chest and her breaths come out in sharp pants.

What if she feels the fire I feel?

Would she act on it?

I loosen my grip on her hair and caress her scalp with my fingertips. I’m trying to convince myself to fully let go of her, but I can’t. I just fucking can’t.

“Rowdy…”

My name on her lips is a siren’s call. It’s seductive and teasing. I’m drunk off it. I can’t fucking think straight.

“Mmm?”

Her eyes flutter closed and I swear she pushes closer to me as if she’s offering herself as a sacrifice to a god. I’m no god, though. I’m swimming in something dark and deep and awful. It makes me want to grab her by her pretty blond head and drag her under with me.

Then what?

We’ll both drown in this…thing. This fucking crazy feeling. I can’t let that happen. Destiny is too good and pure for the depravities dancing in my mind.

She licks her lips and a small mewl escapes her. My cock is throbbing painfully at this point.

What if I just kiss her and see?

Don’t. Fucking. Do. It.

I kind of think she wants me to.

Keep telling yourself that, asshole.

I’m seconds from ignoring the sensible part of my mind and taking what I really want.

Her.

But then a sound rescues our teetering on the abyss.

Woof.

And then again.