I cannot wait to see what else you and I can get up to, sexy.

Emma’s POV

The sharp buzz of my phone dragged me out of sleep. I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head. Who in the world thought it was a good idea to ruin such a perfect morning? Without even checking the screen, I grabbed it and pressed it to my ear.

“Hello?” My voice was still thick with sleep.

“Since when do you sleep past nine?” Maddie’s laugh carried through the line.

I blinked. “What time is it?”

“Almost ten. Did some hot guy keep you up all night?” she teased, clearly enjoying herself.

Her words hit me like ice water, and I shot upright in bed. My heart skipped. Maddie… if only you knew. A hot guy did keep me up all night, your brother. Unless… God, what if that had only been another one of my dirty fantasies about him?

But I did not have to question it for long. A solid, warm arm, tattoo and all, was resting heavy across my waist. My stomach twisted into knots. Oh no. This was not a dream. It was real. I had actually slept with my best friend’s brother. That officially made me the worst best friend on the planet.

“No, just a late night,” I lied, forcing out a laugh. My chest tightened with guilt.

“Well, that is boring,” she scoffed. “Anyway, I am meeting Zane for lunch. He told me to invite you. Want to come?”

Panic shot through me. Lunch with Maddie and Zane? Absolutely not. That was a nightmare waiting to happen.

“I will pass. You two go ahead. He has not been back long, so you should have time together,” I said quickly.

And of course, that was the exact moment a low laugh rumbled right next to me. Zane. Awake. Listening. Perfect.

“You sure?” Maddie pressed.

“Yes. Just you and him. I will see you tonight,” I answered, rushing the words.

She seemed satisfied with that, and the second I relaxed, Zane decided to test my patience. His mouth brushed my neck, his hands sliding over my bare skin like he had all the right in the world.

Seriously? I was on the phone with his sister. His sister. What kind of man does that?

I shot him a glare, but he ignored it completely, moving lower until his lips trailed across my stomach. My breathing quickened no matter how hard I tried to stop it. I bit down on my lip so hard it hurt, anything to keep from making a sound Maddie would hear.

“Maddie, I… um… need the bathroom,” I blurted with a laugh. The dumbest excuse ever, but it worked. “I will call you later, okay?”

She bought it. I ended the call fast, tossed the phone aside, and turned on him.

“What is wrong with you? That was Maddie!”

“I know.” His grin was pure trouble. “I am horny. Mornings make it worse.”

“You could not wait until I was off the phone?” I hissed.

“Nope,” he said easily, without a trace of shame. “And do not act like you are not just as turned on.”

“That is not the point,” I shot back, trying to hold my ground.

But his smirk only deepened. He kissed his way back up my body, his hard length pressing against me until a sound slipped past my lips. Damn it. I was supposed to be angry, not aching for more.

“That is exactly the point,” he murmured. “Stop pretending. Let me have you again. You know you want it.”

I glared at him, fighting the way my body betrayed me. “What makes you think I would let you touch me again?”

Of course I wanted him. Who was I kidding? But that did not mean I would let him think I was easy. Last night… last night was everything. The way he touched me, the way he moved, the way he knew exactly what to do, it was the best I had ever had. And maybe it felt even more intense because I had been wanting him for so long. For me, it was perfect. And from the way he had groaned and called my name, I knew he had felt the same.

“Everything about you tells me you do,” he said against my skin. “Your cheeks are warm, your eyes are darker, and if I do this…” His hand slipped between my thighs, brushing over my folds. “…I will find you already wet for me.”

A sharp cry tore from my lips as my back arched against his hand. He was right, I was already wet for him. I had been from the second his mouth found my neck. He knew exactly how to unravel me, his fingers sliding over me with slow, deliberate strokes that left me trembling. My eyes slipped shut, soft breaths spilling out faster than I could control. It probably was not even healthy how quickly he could get me to this point.

Then his mouth crashed onto mine, rough and hungry, his tongue claiming me with urgency. I moaned into him, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him back with the same heat that was consuming me.

Before I could even steady myself, two of his fingers sank deep inside me, making me cry out as my hips jerked upward. He drove into me with no restraint, fast and relentless. My head tipped back, my lips parting as pleasure pulsed through every inch of me.

“Oh God!” I gasped, pressing desperately into his hand.

It only took moments before everything snapped, my body shaking hard as release tore through me. He kept moving until every shiver finally faded, leaving me limp beneath him.

“Now I am going to have you,” he growled.

“Yes!” The word burst out of me before I even had time to think. My body was still quivering from the high, but I did not care, I needed him inside me.

His mouth claimed mine again as my legs locked around his hips. Then he thrust into me in one hard stroke, pulling cries from both of us. He set a brutal pace, driving into me with the same force as his hands, and I could not get enough.

When it ended, he pressed one last kiss to my lips before pulling out and slipping off the bed. He cleaned up quickly, disappeared into the living room, and came back tugging on his clothes. I propped myself up, watching him quietly. I already knew where this was going. He had gotten what he wanted, and now he was leaving. I should not have been surprised. Honestly, I had not expected more.

“You should come to lunch with us,” he said as he sat on the edge of the bed, pulling on his socks.

“I cannot face Maddie right now,” I admitted, clutching the blanket tighter around me. “I feel guilty about all of this.”

“You are going to have to face her sooner or later. And you should not feel guilty for something you enjoyed. Should we be doing this? No. But she does not have to know. Like I said before, it can be our little secret.”

I dragged a hand through my hair, letting out a long breath. I hated lying, especially to her. If she ever found out, she would never forgive me. And honestly? I would not blame her.

“I know, but that does not make me feel any less guilty,” I said quietly.

“You will stop feeling bad soon enough. Just come with us. I promise I will behave.” His lips curved into that familiar smug grin. “Call her back and tell her you changed your mind.”

Maybe he was right. At least it would get me out of the house. I gave a small nod. Maddie would be thrilled anyway. What I could not figure out was why he had asked her to invite me in the first place. He had never done that before. Then again, we had never slept together until last night… maybe his reasons were different now.

“I will see you at lunch. And thank you… for last night, and this morning.” His eyes darkened as he smirked. “I cannot wait to see what else you and I can get up to, sexy.” He even winked, like the arrogant man he was.

He gave me a quick kiss before heading out of my apartment. I dropped back onto the bed, shaking my head in disbelief. He actually wanted me. After all these years? Just the thought sent a thrill racing through me.

It had taken ten years for anything physical to happen between us. And honestly? I was fine with that. Most of what I had felt for him since I was seventeen had been raw, physical attraction. My lips curved into a grin before I could stop myself, and I even wiggled like a ridiculous teenager right there on the bed. Really, Emma? Over the top much? Maybe. But I had wanted this for so long, and now I finally had it.

I forced myself to calm down, pulling out my phone to text Maddie that I would come after all. She replied almost instantly, thrilled at the change.

Finally, I dragged myself out of bed. The sheets reeked of sex, sweat, and guilt, so I stripped them off before heading into the shower. The hot water soothed my skin, rinsing me clean, and for a few minutes, I let myself just breathe. When I stepped out, I started getting ready for lunch. He promised he would behave. He had better keep that promise. I just needed to act normal. I could manage it for one lunch… hopefully.