The Other Brother Part 1: Forbidden

by Lauren Hawkeye

  She bit back a groan of disappointment as Leo slid under the warm bathwater. His back was once again facing her and she knew that if she wanted to save her job, then she had to get out of there, fast.

  Enough daydreaming. It was time to go. After one long, wistful glance at Leo, she slipped out from behind the door and edged out into the hallway.

  “Stop.”

  Karin froze as the thick Italian accent rose up from the tub.

  “Come here.”

  Karin turned back to the bathroom, unsure of what to do. She judged the distance from her spot to the elevator and wondered if she should make a run for it. Her escape depended on Wes having sent the elevator back up for her. If she had to wait for the doors to open, then she’d be caught. If Leo found cleaning staff in his room, she could get in trouble. Could she trust Wes to send the elevator back for her?

  “I know Marco sent you.”

  Karin blinked. “Excuse me?”

  Leo chuckled. “There’s no need to be coy with me. I know all about my brother’s ‘connections.’ If the man spent as much effort fixing up this hotel as he did bedding socialites, we wouldn’t be in this mess.” He raised his glass to his lips. “So tell me, are you the pushy one, or the one who was willing to please?”

  “I’m sorry, I . . .” Did Leo think she was one of the socialite friends Marco had offered him earlier? She scrunched her nose in disgust. She wasn’t an empty-headed socialite. And yet, there was something rather appealing about the idea of pleasing him.

  “Don’t tell me you’re a man,” he said.

  “I—no.” She glanced back at Leo’s long, lean form as it lounged in the tub. Wes’s words floated through her mind. You need some sex, girlfriend. Loosen up.

  “Not a guy,” she said.

  “I thought as much. You don’t sound like a man. Come here and let me see if my brother’s friends are as beautiful as he claims.”

  Leo Perconti was brazen. She should feel offended, but that voice did things to her body that made her want more. Karin wanted to obey his command and see where things led. Besides, Leo didn’t ever have to know her real identity. It was the perfect opportunity for a glorious night of passion without consequence.

  No, there was one consequence, a huge one. Leo was her boss’s boss. If he found out that she’d tried to deceive him, then he’d take it out on Marco. Not only would she be fired, but Marco could and probably would make the entire staff suffer for her indiscretion.

  But then again, wasn’t she in charge of making sure Leo had a pleasant stay? If the night went well and he was in a better mood around his brother, then she would have done her job. It wasn’t like they’d be constantly running into each other. The staff was supposed to stay out of sight as much as possible. If by chance they should see each other again, she could always play ignorant. No one would have to know what had happened in this hotel room except her.

  Karin looked from the hallway to the bathroom and back again. All she had to do was accept the night for what it was—pure physical bliss. No strings attached. If she could get away with this . . . it would be one hell of a night.

  Resolved, Karin pocketed Wes’s cell phone and straightened her skirt. She paused over the hem as a new revelation hit her. Shit, my uniform. Leo would mark her as an employee as soon as he saw her.

  Perhaps it could be part of the game. She could tell Leo that she’d needed the uniform to get past the paparazzi downstairs undetected. All she had to do was come across confident of her abilities.

  Confidence. Ever since she had caught her former boss fucking a politician in his office, Karin’s confidence had remained hidden. She wasn’t sure if she had it in her to pull something like this off.

  “Are you coming?” Leo asked. “Or am I going to have to come out and get you?”

  “No, I’m coming.” She could do this, she just needed to stop overthinking.

  Didn’t Wes just accuse her of being too serious? This night was about de-stressing and relaxing.

  Karin cleared her throat and adjusted her bra. Her breasts were on the small side of normal, but hopefully they’d be enough to please him. She undid the top few buttons of her blouse, revealing the upper curve of her breasts. After pinching her cheeks, she hid her shaking hands behind her back and concentrated on swaying her hips as she moved closer to the large, marble tub. Here goes nothing. . .

  At His Service- available now!