Anna.
That’s how.
She had a hold on him, and he had a feeling she would never let go. And even worse? He didn’t give a flying fuck. Pulling back, he dropped a kiss on her nose, wanting nothing more than to continue this kiss and see where it went.
But it was daytime, and her brothers would be looking for her any second now. “Did that help?”
“I think so,” she said, smiling slightly.
He ran his thumb over her lower lip. “I wish we could stay in here forever, locked away from the rest of the world.”
“Me, too.” She looked at the door. Footsteps passed in the hallways. More than likely one of her brothers. She stood up and smoothed her pants. “But we can’t. Not yet, anyway. You coming down with me?”
He snatched up her hand and yanked her into his lap.
“Yes.” He kissed her cheek. “But first.” Another kiss, this time at the corner of her mouth. “I need another kiss to hold me over until tonight.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling up at him. “Okay, but it better be a quick one. If Wyatt notices I’m taking too long, he’ll come looking for me. Guess the first place he’ll check?”
He groaned and rested his face into the crook of her neck. “This room?”
“Mm-hmm.” She gave him one last kiss, then hopped to her feet again. This time he let her. “See you in my room around midnight?”
He held a hand over his heart, meeting her eyes with a solemnness he knew would make her smile. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Is that a promise?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Hell yeah it is.” He buried his face in her neck, inhaling her sweet scent. “It’s the best, and easiest, promise I’ve ever made.”
“Promise me one more thing?” She looked up at him, her lower lip caught between her teeth. “If you don’t want to come tonight, then don’t. If you change your mind about us, just don’t show up. I’ll be okay if all you wanted was a night of fun, after all. It won’t break me.”
His fingers flexed on her hips.
She had no faith in him, but he didn’t blame her.
He’d just have to show her how wrong she was.
“I promise I won’t come unless I want to.”
And I want to.
“Good. And if you don’t, then we’ll still be friends.” She forced a smile and stepped out of his arms. They flopped to his sides as if uncertain of what they should do without her inside them. “I’ll head down, and you can follow along in a minute when you’re ready.”
He’d follow her anywhere she damn well wanted him to.
Chapter Twelve
Anna practically skipped down the stairs, her heart light and happy. Their one night just might turn into something more. Something meaningful and real. It all fell into place easily, as if it was meant to be. It was nerve-racking.
How often did things work out so easily when love got involved?
Never.
That’s how often.
As she set her foot on the bottom step, Wyatt came bounding around the corner downstairs as if the fires of hell chased him. When he caught sight of her standing at the bottom of the stairs alone, he skidded to a halt. She lifted a brow. “Going somewhere?”
He flushed and smoothed his shirt as nonchalantly as he could manage when she’d clearly caught him red-handed. “I was coming to check in on you.”
She held her hands out. “As you can see, I’m fine. Still in one piece and uninjured.”
He moved toward her, stopping on the bottom step, and inspected her from head to toe, and then back again. Did he think he would be able to spot Brett’s fingerprints on her if he looked close enough? His fingers flexed on the railing. “You took a long time.”
“Last time I checked, I wasn’t a prisoner. Or a child.” She brushed past him. “Brett is a good guy. Why are you so against him being close to me?”
Wyatt flexed his jaw. “He’ll use you and leave you. He’ll break your heart. He’s the rabbit hole—and you’re Alice.”
“Sometimes we need to fall down into the rabbit hole and see what’s there. Experience Wonderland for ourselves.”
Wyatt clenched his jaw. “Even if it’s only going to get you a broken heart?”
“Sometimes hearts need to be broken. If I decide to risk my heart, then you need to let me,” she said softly. “It’s my decision.”
“I know.” He ran a hand down his face. “But it doesn’t mean I have to make it easy on you. Or him.”
She rose on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Spoken like an excellent brother.”