Page 79 of Three Pucking Ex's Brothers

It’s not rushed or heated.

Nora kisses me with a weightlessness, a grace that shouldn’t exist.

When she opens her mouth just the slightest, I carefully slip my tongue into her mouth, and she lets out a soft moan. The sound makes my damn cock twitch, and I know I need to stop while I’m ahead.

It takes everything in me to stop. To not completely devour her right here, like this. Especially without an agreement or some sort of discussion on limits or?—

She looks at me, kiss-swollen lips and misty eyes. “You’re holding back,” she whispers, her voice shaky. “Why?”

I look at her, trying to find the words to make her understand.

“Is it because of Brett or—” She swallows hard, leaning against me, and I feel her sweater rise up her thighs, brushing the edge of my fingertips. Her skin is warm against my palm.

“No,” I say, shaking my head as I let my hand start to move. Carefully. I gently rub her thigh. “This…has nothing to do with Brett.”

Maybe not entirely. But…I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t gasoline on the fire.

Truth be told, I know I could have Nora. I could sweep her off her feet easily if I wanted to. Because Brett isn’t the only Sterling in this pack who knows how to seduce a woman.

She’s right, I am holding back. But not for my sake.

“I don’t want to pushyou,” I whisper. “I don’t want to be a regret.” I lean my forehead against hers. “For you. Like Rush.”

There’s a strange sort of tension between us as I say the words, because I know doing so is more than admitting how much I know. Granted, it wasn’t like Rush was bragging or anything. If anything, he was just as affected as I was, but I warned him to be careful.

I warned himnotto push her, but I know eventually he’ll give up the notion of listening to me. I don’t know when and I don’t know how, but I just…know.

The same way I know this delicate thing between us is going to shatter eventually and there will be no going back. For either of us.

And maybe I want to enjoy this calm before the storm. Maybe I want to remember what it feels like, the anticipation.

Nora sighs, holding my gaze as she licks her lips and presses her body against me.

“I don’t regret it,” she whispers, so faintly I almost don’t hear it. “Rush, I mean.” She says the words warily.

I raise my eyebrows.

Well…I wasn’t expecting her to saythat.

I tense at her words, and her hands find my jaw, and she pulls me—noforces—me to look at her. She holds my gaze steady and my heart beats faster.

“And I know I wouldn’t regretyoueither, Freddie.” She sighs. “And I don’t think you would regretmeeither.”

The silence between us is palpable, and I can’t find the words to speak.

Her words are like a dam breaking, the truth flooding me. I know she could be lying, but…I don’t think she is.

So, I do the only thing I can think of to tell her I understand.

I crash my lips against hers and let Nora Brighton break me.

17

NORA

Freddie’s lipsmove hungrily against mine with adamant fervor. I slide my hands in his hair, Abby’s words reverberating in my brain.

Maybe it’s the remnants of my wine, or maybe it’s the vulnerability from my discussion with Abby or the accidental photo I sexted Freddie and his brothers.