by Katie McCoy
My stomach rumbled loudly.
Austin laughed, and I let out a groan of embarrassment. “Pretend like you didn’t hear that,” I ordered him, my cheeks burning up.
“What, the freight train that just went by?” Austin rolled me to face him, and grinned, teasing. “Or maybe it was a stampede… A dozen wild horses.”
“Don’t!” I laughed, half from humiliation, and half from just pure joy. “I haven’t eaten in forever. We skipped dinner, remember?”
“Oh, I do.” Austin’s hands teased over me. He waggled his eyebrows. “We had more important things to do.”
He kissed me, and I sank into the heat, until my stomach sounded again. Austin pulled back. “C’mon.” He grinned, climbing out of bed. “You’re going to need your strength.”
Now that sounded promising.
He pulled on some sweatpants, and I found a soft, fluffy robe, and we headed downstairs to raid the refrigerator. There wasn’t much, but I found a box of pasta in the pantry, and some jarred sauce, which I was able to dress up with plenty of garlic and some fresh herbs. “It doesn’t count if we both have it, right?” I asked, about to throw half a dozen cloves in the pan.
“The stinkier, the better.” Austin took a seat at the counter, and poured us both some wine.
“You’re supposed to say, ‘you could never be stinky, sweetheart,’” I corrected him, smiling.
He grinned. “No comment. Is that your mom’s recipe?” he asked, passing me my glass. “She always made the best pasta.”
“That’s right,” I remembered. “You’d always bat your eyelashes, and give her that stray puppy look to get leftovers to take back to school.”
“I didn’t bat anything!” Austin argued. “I won her over with my debonair charm.”
I laughed. “Same thing.” I checked the water was boiling, and added the pasta. The kitchen was filling with delicious smells, and after the workout Austin had just given me, I was looking forward to eating. “I’m surprised your parents didn’t send out a search party and drag you home, the amount of time you spent at our place.”
Austin gave a hollow-sounding laugh. “That would mean they cared. Which is something my parents never really did.”
I stopped. He was serious, I could see it on his face. This wasn’t just the usual parent disagreements, but something deeper than that. “I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I didn’t realize. I mean, I knew you didn’t get along great, but, I thought…”
“That it was like your parents grounding Luke for staying out past curfew?” Austin finished for me. “No. They didn’t give enough of a shit to do that. Once they decided I was a lost cause, messing around with music, well… They got on with their lives, and I got on with mine.”
My heart ached for him. How anyone could turn their back on this guy, I’d never understand. “But they must be proud of you now, right?”
Austin glanced away. “You’d think a couple of Grammys would do it, but no. I’m still the wayward disappointment.”
“Fuck them.”
Austin looked up at my exclamation.
“Seriously, fuck them.” I insisted angrily. “Fuck anyone who doesn’t appreciate your talent, and your loyalty, and your heart—“ I stopped myself before I could get carried away, and just gave him another determined nod. “It’s their loss.”
Austin got up, and circled the counter. “You’re cute when you’re mad,” he said, cupping my chin.
I flushed. “I’m hangry,” I told him. “But I mean it.”
“I know you do.” Austin gave me a curious smile. “You know, I was always jealous of Luke, he had you on his team. You guys… even when you were fighting, you always had each other’s back.”
“Well, maybe I can be on your team too,” I said, trying to keep my tone light, but when Austin kissed me, I couldn’t help melting into his arms.
What was this? I didn’t know. But it felt right. Real. And too good to over-think. Tonight, at least, we had each other.
* * *
I woke, feeling as if I had fallen asleep in a cloud. I was surrounded by impossibly fluffy pillows and blankets, and in the midst of it all was the hottest man I’d even had the pleasure—literally—of being naked with.
Austin was sleeping on his stomach, his face turned towards mine, his legs splayed out wide. He was completely uncovered, giving me the opportunity to examine his perfectly shaped ass and extremely broad shoulders. I wanted to touch everything but I knew that if I did, he would wake up, and I wasn’t quite ready for that.
Because I wasn’t sure that he hadn’t been right last night when he said this would be a mistake.
I had been sent here to interview Austin, not to fuck him. My behavior was incredibly unprofessional, and if anyone found out what had happened, my credibility would be called into question. I’d become the girl who slept with her subjects, which is not how I wanted to be known.
But how could I resist? He wasn’t just some job, he was Austin. I’d wanted him long before landing this assignment, and somehow, it felt like the usual rules didn’t apply.
I looked over at Austin. He seemed so peaceful for a change, and I was glad. It had been clear he was seriously stressed about this upcoming release, and all the publicity it demanded from him.
Next to me, Austin stirred.
I decided not to worry for now. We could deal with the consequences later, but for now, it was just the two of us in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Why shouldn’t we have a little fun? Or, a lot of fun.
Unable to resist anymore, I slid closer to him, dragging my hand down his muscular back. He let out a soft groan as my hand slid lower, but before I could grab anything good, I found myself pinned to the bed, with Austin on top of me.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice husky.
It sent a thrill through me.
“Good morning.” I wiggled beneath him, making him groan more.
I could feel his cock harden against my thigh. With a gentle push, I had him on his back, and was kissing him. He kissed me back, his hand tangled in my hair. I thrust my tongue in his mouth, arching my hips, pressing my breasts against his chest. To hell with morning breath, and Austin didn’t seem to mind. His grip tightened as I pulled my lips from his and began kissing downward, dragging my hot mouth down his chest, sliding my tongue across his six pack.
Then I took him in my mouth and I heard him swear. His hand was still fisted in my hair, but as if he needed something to hold onto. I felt sexy and powerful as I licked the length of his hard cock, swirling my tongue across the head.
Austin’s hips jerked as I took him deep; the salty taste of him was intoxicating. His fingers tightened in my hair, but before I could do any more, I was being dragged upward. Austin’s mouth slammed against mine, his hand fumbling for a foil packet. I grabbed it and quickly rolled the latex down him.
Then, I straddled him. His head fell back against the pillows as I lowered myself slowly onto his hard cock.
“Holy shit,” he groaned, digging his fingers into my hips.
He was deep inside of me, and it felt incredible. Throwing my head back, I began to move. I started slow, circling my hips, feeling powerful and sexy and gorgeous. It didn’t hurt that Austin was looking at me like I was the hottest thing he’d ever seen, his eyes blazing with desire as I rode him.
As pleasure built inside of me, I began to move my hips faster and faster. I took Austin deeper, my hands braced on his chest as I rode him. His own hands moved from my hips to my breasts, his thumbs teasing my taut nipples. Then one hand dipped downward, finding the place where our bodies met, finding my clit. Austin dragged his thumb over it and I exploded.
Pleasure washed over me as I cried out, my body shuddering against his. Austin grabbed him hips and thrust upward, finding his own release.
I collapsed across his chest, hearing his heart thundering against my ear. We were both out of breath, our breathing ragged.
“That’s the best wake-up call I’ve ever gott
en,” Austin told me after a few moments. I laughed, feeling more satisfied than I had in a long time.
Downstairs, I heard a door slam. I felt Austin freeze beneath me.
“Are you expecting someone?” I asked, leaning back to look at him.
“No,” he said.
“Austin!” a voice called out.
This time, I was the one who froze. Because I knew that voice.
It was my brother.
14
Austin
The best morning ever had suddenly turned into my worst nightmare. I was tempted to pinch myself, because the chance of Luke showing up at my cabin the morning after Mia and I had finally consummated eight years of unbearable sexual tension seemed so outrageously impossible that I was seriously hoping it was all a dream.
But the way that Mia’s eyes widened as she scrambled off of me—cold air hitting my sweaty, post-coital chest—indicated that this was very much reality.
Shit. Fuck. Dammit.
“Austin! I know you’re here,” Luke’s voice floated upward, and I could hear his footsteps in the entryway. “I saw your car in the driveway.”
I was seriously regretting letting Luke know where my spare key was.
But I was really regretting what had happened last night.
Mia had wrapped herself in the sheet and was looking around the room. “Where are my clothes?” she hissed, trying to keep her voice low.
I was momentarily distracted by the way the sheet slipped low, exposing her gorgeous tits. They were small and perky and damn perfect. I got hard just thinking about how I’d had them in my mouth last night and in my hands this morning.
I mentally slapped myself. This was not the time to relive the hottest sex I’d ever had. This was the time to remind myself that I was a total asshole because I’d had that sex with my best friend’s little sister. The one person who was totally off-limits.
I was scum. I was worse than scum. I was the scum on the bottom of regular scum’s boots.
“Austin!” Mia’s voice pulled me out of my self-flagellation.
“You weren’t wearing any clothes last night,” I reminded her.
She turned bright red, obviously remembering how I had stripped her robe off in the music room and feasted on every inch of her beautiful body.
I got out of bed, and her eyes widened, her gaze sweeping over my body. My ego—and other parts—swelled a little. But a look like that was what had gotten us into this trouble in the first place. That, and my complete inability to keep my dick in my pants.
Scum. Scum, scum, scum.
I pulled on some shorts and a T-shirt, while Mia yanked on another shirt of mine. It came down to her thighs, yet she still looked sexy. Then again, I was pretty sure I’d find her sexy in literally anything.
God, I wanted her again.
I had never stopped wanting her.
“Dude!” This time it was Luke’s voice that shattered the fantasy. And tossed a mental bucket of cold water onto my erection.
“Coming!” I called out, immediately thinking of who had also been coming only a few minutes before.
Goddammit. I couldn’t keep my fucking mind out of the gutter with Mia so close. She was like a drug, and I was completely, mindlessly addicted. I needed to get out of there.
“I’ll go distract him,” I told her, trying not to look at her exposed legs. “I’ll take him to the kitchen and you can get back to your room without getting caught.”
The whole thing felt very high school—like we were teenagers worried about getting caught by our parents.
But she nodded, chewing at her lip.
I bit back a groan, remembering exactly how those lips had tasted last night and this morning. Before I could do something stupid, like kiss her again, I turned and headed out of the room.
“Where are you?” I called out for Luke.
“Kitchen,” his voice replied.
I let out a sigh of relief. Good. That was away from the staircase and main room. Mia would be able to get to her room easily without being noticed.
When I entered the kitchen, I found Luke at the kitchen counter with a cup of coffee.
“Make yourself at home,” I told him, reaching for a mug for myself.
Without thinking, I grabbed one for Mia as well.
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Do you have a guest?”
“Yep,” I said, trying not to panic.
“So is that why you took so long to come downstairs?” Luke asked, smirking. “Got a girl in your bed?”
“Nope.” I hoped I sounded remotely calm. “Empty bed, but I do have a guest staying here.”
“Oh? Anyone I know?” Luke asked.
“I hope so,” Mia said, walking into the kitchen.
I tried to keep my shock from showing, but damn, had she gotten back to her room and changed in record time. And she didn’t look at all like she had just rolled out of bed—mine or someone else’s. She looked fresh and bright-eyed, her silky hair pulled back in a ponytail, her gorgeous legs looking shapely as ever in skinny jeans, her slender curves hugged by a tight T-shirt. I took a sip of coffee, hoping I wasn’t drooling.
Luke had already gotten up and crossed the room, sweeping his little sister up into a big bear hug. “What are you doing here?” he demanded happily. “Best surprise ever.”
She hugged him back. “I thought you were in Australia?” she exclaimed once she was back on the ground.
“I came from the airport straight here,” he told us. “I figured Austin would be hiding out, being a loner, so I thought I’d come and keep him company.” He rubbed his chin and frowned. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“She’s writing an article on me, remember?” I offered, hoping that he wouldn’t keep looking at both of us as if we had a secret. Which we definitely did.
Luke snapped his fingers. “That’s right,” he said before turning to Mia. “Though I’m not sure why I had to hear about it from Austin, and not you.”
She gave him a casual shrug as she crossed the room towards me. “It’s just a work thing. I would have told you,” she said. “Once the article was done.”
“I’m hurt.” Luke put a hand to his heart.
Mia rolled her eyes. “I thought you might be weird about it.”
“Weird?” Luke looked offended. “Why would I be weird about my favorite sister interviewing my best friend?”
“Favorite sister?” Mia laughed. “I’m your only sister.”
“And I’m pretty sure I’m your only friend,” I added.
Luke laughed as Mia came around the counter towards me.
I held out the cup of coffee I had gotten for her. Mia took it, her fingers brushing against mine. A spark jolted through me. At first, I thought the touch had been accidental, but then I caught Mia’s smile as she brought the mug to her lips.
Fuck.
“So how is the article coming?” Luke asked, settling in at the counter.
“It’s coming,” Mia said, looking at me, the flirty implication clear.
Double fuck.
I cleared my throat. “Is anyone hungry?”
Luke rubbed his flat belly. “Starving,” he said. “Do you know what Aussies put on their burgers? Eggs. And beets.” He shook his head. “It’s just wrong.”
I stood and went to the fridge.
“Well, we don’t have any burgers here—with or without eggs or beets,” I told him. “Would you settle for some bacon and an omelet?”
“Would that omelet have cheese on it?” Luke asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
I nodded and began taking food out of the fridge. I wasn’t much of a cook, but I could manage something as simple as bacon and a cheese omelet. Besides, it would give me something to do, something that didn’t involve staring at Mia and fantasizing about the hot night—and morning—we’d had.
The whole thing was a mess. I knew better than to get involved with her. At least, I thought I did. Obviously my common sense went right out the window when Mia was i
nvolved.
I cracked some eggs and began mixing them together.
I sensed her before I felt her, her hands reaching past me to grab something on the counter. Immediately I jerked away from her, spinning around, my eyes searching for Luke.
“He went to the bathroom,” Mia said, her body way too close to mine.
“Which means he’ll be back at any moment,” I told her, putting my hands on her shoulders and putting some distance between us.
She gave me a wicked smile and leaned in closer, her lips brushing against my jaw. I heard footsteps, and she stepped away, but not before her breasts made contact with my chest. I bit back a groan as Luke returned to the kitchen.
Thankfully, I was able to turn away, and face the counter before anyone noticed the bulge in my pants. Mia was dangerous, and she seemed more than happy to play with fire in my kitchen.
I focused on the food while Mia and Luke chatted behind me.
“How long are you in town for?” Mia was asking her brother.
“Not sure yet,” Luke gave the standard answer for anyone who worked freelance like he did. “Don’t have anything lined up right away, so I’m thinking I might stick around New York for a while before I start looking for another job.”
“Really?” Mia sounded excited. “That’s great.”
I couldn’t blame her—it had been a long time since Luke had stayed in one place, and I know that she missed him. I missed him too.
“Well, you can stay at the cabin for as long as you want,” I told him.
“Thanks.” Luke lifted his coffee mug in appreciation. “How long are you two here for?”
“Just until the afternoon,” I said. “I know Mia has to get back to work, and I’m pretty sure my manager would kick my ass if I stayed out of town for much longer.”
“When’s the article publishing?” Luke wanted to know.
“Not sure.” Mia sipped at her coffee, giving me a meaningful look. “I have a very difficult subject who does not like answering questions.”