Rapture (McKenzie Brothers) by Lexi Buchanan Read Free Book Online Page B

good and I thoroughly enjoyed the time with the women when Lily was opening her ‘naughty’ presents, which the guys couldn’t stop looking at. Ramon seemed to enjoy being with his family, but at the end, as we were leaving he seemed in a funk and hasn’t snapped out of it now that we’re home.
    Even now, I can hear him slamming around in the kitchen. Loud thumps as he closes cupboards, bangs as he sets things down on the counter top and crashes as he moves around the room. I wince with each noise, a headache slowly building. Okay, enough is enough.
    Walking out of my room and towards the kitchen , I stand in the doorway and watch him as he slams around the kitchen. It takes a few minutes before he sees me. He stops and stares at me with what I’d call a guilty look on his face.
    “What’s happened R amon? You were fine at your parents’ house. Have I done something?”
    He looks away and won’t make eye contact with me before turning his back and leaning against the counter. “What’s going on between you and my brother?”
    I’m stunned. I shouldn’t be, but I am. That was the last thing I expected him to ask me. “I don’t know what to say.” Taking a seat at the breakfast bar to the side of me, I rest my elbows on the counter top with my face in my hands.
    Before I even realize it, Ramon is standing in front of me and peeling my hands away from my face. As I look at him leaning over the breakfast bar towards me, he doesn’t look angry, he looks…resigned.
    “Carla…I’m not angry with you. I am with Seb, but not you. You know this thing between us, which we’re showing to the world, isn’t happening, but he doesn’t and he’s coming on to you as my girlfriend and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel.”
    He sighs and rubs the back of his neck in agitation. “Sebastian is my brother and if I thought he was looking at you as the next notch on his bed post then I’d be pissed as hell, but he isn’t. He says he hasn’t been with anyone for five months, which was when he first met you, and I believe him.” He grins. “You have my brother tied in knots…I was debating letting him know we’re just friends to put him out of his misery, but I think he needs to suffer some more for poaching what he believes to be mine.”
    Unbelievable , I sigh inwardly. There isn’t any jealousy, just simply sibling rivalry. “You wouldn’t hold me to my promise to act as your girlfriend? Why? You told me that you needed me to pretend for twelve months. Why the change of heart?”
    My mind is whirling with panic at the thought of not being his ‘pretend’ girlfriend anymore. Will he ask me to leave? Surely he won’t. He knows I have nowhere else to go.
    “Carla, please calm down.” His gaze searches my face and softens with reassurance. “No matter what happens about our agreement this is your home for as long as you want it to be, okay? The only way you will leave is if you want to, not because I’ve asked you to. That will never happen.” He pauses. “So there is something between you and Sebastian?” He raises an eyebrow.
    A heated blush fills my cheeks and for a moment, I th ink of lying to Ramon, but we’ve never lied to each other. Finally I say, “He makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. He frightens me with what he makes me feel. We haven’t exchanged bodily fluids – yet, but I’m frightened if I keep seeing him we will and I don’t know what to do about it.”
    I turn into Ramon and stare into his eyes to show him that I’m comm itted to my promises. “I promised you I would see the twelve months out, but it’s getting harder every time I see him. I know he’s struggling as well because you’re his brother and he feels like he’s betraying you.” I swipe at a loose tear as it runs down my cheek, which Ramon follows with his eyes.
    “I’m sorry Carla. I had no idea any of this would happen when I asked you to help me out,” he apologizes as he takes the seat next