Read Online Drowning (Tears of Sin Series) by Rachel Firasek - Free Book Online Page B

here?”
“I still don’t. But, you’re here. Sleeping on my couch. I figure if you’re going to become a fixture, I might as well accept it.” He stands, planting the snap on his jeans in my face. “Besides, my brother likes you.”
The way he says that last part makes me think he’s even less happy about that prospect. Warm fuzzies flutter through my chest at the idea of Seth being jealous.
I sit up, straighten my shirt, and glance around the empty room. “Where did everyone go?”
“Break.” He sits down beside me and flicks his fingers at a rip in his jeans. “I sent them down to get some food. Gabe wasn’t very happy with me, but I wanted a moment alone with you.”
I scoot toward the arm on the couch, putting a few much-needed inches between us. Mostly, because I want to wiggle my finger into that hole he was playing with. I can see the hairs on his leg, and my hand itches to make contact. Instead, I ask, “Why?”
“Listen. I get that you have some issues. I think we all do.” He glances at me, and a dark wave of hair slips forward. He brushes it back and takes a deep breath. “I just don’t need any added distractions in my life right now.”
He tells me the same mantra I’d been reciting to myself for months, but I still can’t help taking it personal. Guys like me. I’m the fun girl. I’m the spicy Latina that will make out for hours. I’ll even go to third base on a first date—well, I had once. Having a dude remind me of my promise to myself is like a cold bucket of water doused on me in the winter.
“Hey, look,” I jump up and make my way to the door, “I’m not interested in being anyone’s distraction. I don’t date. I don’t do relationships. And I certainly don’t do moody next-door neighbors.”
Seth stands and follows me. “So you’re not interested?”
“No.” I shake my head for the extra emphasis and cock it to the side. “Why would you think that?”
He glances at the ground like he’s ashamed of something. “You seemed to enjoy being with him. You watched him.”
“I watched Gabe because he was the friendliest face in the room, not because I’m hot for him. Don’t get me wrong, he’s fucking gorgeous, but…not for me.”
Seth’s mouth curves down. “I thought that was awfully fast for someone you just met.”
I twist at the door and lean against it. “You held my hand—no you grabbed my hand when we first met and dragged me to your apartment, yet, I’m still talking to you. As a matter of fact, I definitely see the family resemblance.”
He laughs, and my thighs clench. Oh fuck me. Fuck me worse when he follows me to the doorway. “I’m not sure if I should be in awe of your charm or freaking scared as hell of it.”
Me charming? “I’d go with scared.”
He braces an arm on the door, locking me in on one side, but still leaving me an out. These James brothers have the same MO. “So, no to brother number two.”
“Uh, yeah, no.”
“And what about me?”
I’m having a hard time keeping eye contact. His lips are close, and he just licked them, so now they are all wet and shiny. “What about you?”
“Would you consider me as a prospect?”
Hell yes. In another life. Not this one. In this life, I’m supposed to be a good girl. “I don’t think so.”
He leans closer, and his chest rakes across my breasts. “And why not?”
“Because… I think you are just as fucked up as I am. Two wrongs do not make a right.”
And faster than I’m expecting, I find both my hands captured in one of his above my head. I gasp, and he takes advantage. His head drops, hovers in front of mine, blue eyes seeking something.
I raise my chin a notch and the steel in his gaze hardens. A sinister smile flashes across his perfect lips. “So you want to play with me?”
Do I? If I admitted that having this beautiful man holding me still and looking at me like I was the last precious stone on earth, didn’t appeal to me, would I be lying? Fuck yes.
I nod.
He hisses, the