It Was Always You by Aliyah Burke Read Free Book Online Page A

been chasing men away from her since high school. They’re going to come after you like a fucking rabid dog.”
    He mimicked his sibling only to rock back on his heels. “Where do you stand?”
    “Behind you, always.”
    “She wants me to stay away from her.” Damn, even voicing it hurt. “Do you know if she’s interested in someone?”
    “Going to rough him up?”
    “Only if he touches her,” he said without joking.
    “She doesn’t, not that I know of. I love her like a sister, Zane. Make sure you treat her like you’d want a man treating one of our own if we had any. If she really doesn’t want you around, you need to respect that. You were raised better than pushing yourself on a woman.”
    Zane didn’t respond as Nate wandered off. He spit on the ground before trailing his brother into the house. Nate was right. He had been. However, it seemed he had no common sense when it came to Zoë.
    *
    Zane was ready to spit nails. Zoë had pulled off one hell of a vanishing act. Others saw her but for over four weeks he didn’t see a single hair on that woman’s head other than in extremely brief passing. He was sick of looking to get her alone. Also tired of jacking off to the memory of her against him.
    No more. After dark had settled over Springwood, he set out to track her down.
    ***
    Tink. Tink. Tink.
    Zoë came awake, lying in silence as her brain moved from dream world with her and Zane to work out what and where the sound was and came from.
    Tink. Tink. Tink.
    She glanced at the window. He wouldn’t. Even as she thought it, she admitted he most certainly would. Rolling from bed, she made her way to the window and parted the sheer curtain where she found herself staring out at Zane.
    “Seriously?”
    “Be grateful I am still outside asking you to let me in. I almost let myself in.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Go home, Zane. It’s nighttime.”
    Shit. Her knees went weak merely staring at him. The way his jeans rode low on lean hips combined with the way his biceps pressed against the sleeves of his shirt. Right now, in the moonlight filtering down through the clouds, he could have been a Norman Rockwell painting. His hair fell forward over one eye and he appeared full of mischief. Then in the next second no more childish trouble but full-on male who wanted sex and passion. A warm breeze fluttered his hair and she bit the inside of her top lip. She envied the wind and its ability to caress his skin and hair.
    I’m so weak. I want him to go all Tarzan on me and carry me away somewhere, declare his undying love, and make me his forever. I need to stay away from him. This will only hurt me in the end. I don’t want to cause any rift between our families.
    “Invite me in.” His words fell from bow-shaped lips akin to dripping honey. Sweet. Tempting. Raw.
    Is this what the devil sounds like when he’s trying to get someone to sin? She wouldn’t doubt it. If Lucifer was anything like Zane, I see how he got what he wanted.
    “How did you get here?”
    “Drove.”
    “So you parked your truck in my drive?”
    He strolled forward, all coiled grace and masculine power. “I came to see you. Where else would I park?”
    “Your house. Again, it’s the middle of the night. Can’t you come calling during daylight hours as most people do?”
    His smile overflowed with mischief. And determination. He reached up to the sill above his head and with an impressive display of strength drew himself up until he pivoted his hands and pushed himself up the remaining distance.
    Her throat grew dry as she watched the muscle play in his upper arms. Jesus, she was mesmerized by it. Like a snake charmer hypnotizing a cobra.
    “You’re here.” He stole a quick kiss. “Invite me in.”
    She had no recourse for him. Despite the words coming from her about wanting him to stay away, she loved being around him. The devil—if it wasn’t facing her perhaps it was her devil—either way, prodded her.
    “What if I like you