to mine on purpose? Why had I even agreed to him sneaking under the sheets with me last night? I’d been exhausted, my ass throbbing, and when he’d pulled me back against his chest, it had felt good.
Sue me for going after something guaranteed to make me feel good. Regardless of how much it might hurt the people around me.
He didn’t answer, just raised an eyebrow. “What? Freaking about you fucking me last night?”
That’s right, August. It was just another fuck. Nothing special about it except that I didn’t have to deal with a clingy woman who wanted more or a hysterical woman claiming she’d made a big mistake.
“I actually meant freaking out about you liking the way I fucked you last night.”
His eyes twinkled in a dare to contradict him, but I merely scowled at him.
“I fuck random people more than you probably thought, August.” I pushed away the bedsheets and sat up but too quickly. I gasped at the throbbing that persisted.
“Great. Just checking that this won’t be awkward.”
He rolled out of bed while I tried to be dignified in the way I rose to my feet. I eyed the door and thought about the long walk to the bathroom. I didn’t want him to watch me shuffling like I was a waddling duck.
But that was exactly what I felt like.
“Want me to carry you?” August asked.
I glanced at him, expecting to find him laughing silently at me, but he looked serious. Concerned even. Did he really think I’d let him lift me up? Sitting on his lap last night had been bad enough. I was drunk on lust at the time, and it had seemed like a good idea.
“Uh, no, thanks.”
“Take a warm bath. I’ll leave you some clothes on the bed.”
His wardrobe didn’t appeal to me at all. “I’ll raid Declan’s closet.”
He laughed at that. “Fine. Suit yourself. I hope you have a good explanation as to why you’ve taken a couple of outfits from his closet.”
“He won’t even know they’re missing.”
“True.” He scratched at his chest hair. Damn, why did I wax again? “Take as long as you need in the bath. I’ll walk Lucky, then make us breakfast.”
I nodded. Anything to get rid of him so I could start my embarrassing wobble across the room. My wobble of shame.
“That sounds good.”
He paused for a moment as though he wanted to say something else, but he just gave a nod and headed for the door. When he was gone, I relaxed my stance and gingerly put a foot forward, just as the door opened again.
“Charles, I really want to make sure we’re okay.” August paused. Whatever he was about to say seemed forgotten as he strode across the room toward me.
“What are you—August!”
He swooped me up in his arms while I tried to get my bearings back at his move. Shocked, I stared at his head.
“Put me down!”
“Hold on tight.”
“August, put me down!”
“Come on, be a sport. You’re sore, and it’s all because of me. The least I can do is risk slipping out my back to bring you to the bathroom.”
Nothing could compare to the horror I felt as August held me. “Goddammit, August. My ass is already sore, and that’s enough. You drop me and I’ll kill you. I don’t care if you’re Owen’s kid.”
“Relax, I won’t drop you.”
How the hell was I supposed to relax when he carried me along the hall like I were a damsel in distress. I reeled in the undignified retorts I wanted to hurl at him for putting me in this embarrassing position.
At the bathroom door, he finally let me down. “There you go.”
“I hope your hands fall off.”
August laughed, and I glared at him for putting me in unfamiliar territory. Again. What did you do when you were swept off your feet the way I just was? I had no fucking clue.
“If they fall off, I couldn’t do this.” He gripped my jaw pretty much like the way he’d done last night and slotted his lips right across mine.
I had no intention of hooking up with him today again. Last night had been enough. If we weren’t related the way we were, I’d be pursuing at least another round of hot sex, but the one night of intense passion between us was all it could be.
Or so I’d believed until August kissed me. Morning breath and all. His free hand braced behind me against the door, and he released my chin and ran his hand down