Tempted (A Player Brother Romance Book) (A Standalone Novel) (Player Brothers Book 1) by Claire Adams Read Free Book Online Page A

butterflies and desire for him to kiss me then just as he was
now.
    My mind traveled back even further to when the two of us had hidden in the tree house behind his home, me with my
thick rimmed glasses, an awkward preteen. Even then I had wondered what it
would have been like if he had kissed me. Yet here I stood with his lips on
mine, teasing at me with the tip of his tongue, his arm wrapped firmly around
my waist and the other caressing my neck and cheek.
    I had become lost in the moment, completely forgetting
any reservation that I may have had. On one level I was aware that my body
betrayed me by returning the kiss. I had wrapped my arms around his neck,
falling against him with our bodies pressed against each other, as my will weakened
further.
    I had no cares in the world that in that moment I had
opened up the flood gates, exposing myself to the risk of losing any
professional distance that i had worked so hard to maintain. We hadn’t even
been together a week and already my resolve had cracked. The stars above us
begin to wink on in the darkness competing with the bright city lights around
us.

 
    C hapter
Three

 
    I pulled away from him as an inkling of reason sneaked
back into my thinking. Kissing him had to be the absolute worst thing that
could have happened.
    I felt a rush of embarrassment and confusion take over
me as the adrenaline faded.
    I didn’t know what had come over me, but I clung to
the notion that I could still rectify the situation. Stepping back to gain some
space between us, I pressed the back of my hand against my lips which still
burned at the contact of him.
    Did I dare to think about the last time I had been
kissed like that?
    Had I ever been kissed like that?
    I couldn’t recall and the lingering weakness in my knees
reminded me so.
    "What are you doing?" I asked.
    "What do mean, what am I doing?" he said with a playful yet suspicious glare.
    "Why did you do that?" I asked again.
    I felt completely perplexed as to why I had reacted so
easily after deciding not to pursue the thought. Since the first moment I had
seen him I did everything I could to keep him at arm’s length.
    I couldn’t afford to have feelings for him.
    And I didn’t intend to start doing so now.
    He relaxed his stance and smiled at me. I could see
that he was trying to keep things light between us, but the strength of my
emotions were taking over.
    I felt angry, mainly at myself for having responded to
him like I had.
    There was no denying that, but as my anger bubbled
over I had to find some place to aim it. Therefore the tone I took with him
sounded accusatory.
    That was fine with me.
    He wasn’t playing fair.
    I wanted to feel mad at him, as that was easier to
handle than anything else I might feel in that moment.
    "Blair," he began with a small smile.
"I don't really know what to say. How do you want me to respond to that
question?"
    His reply left me more confused than ever.
    "Aiden," I said trying not very hard to keep
my voice calm. "Why did you suddenly try to make out with me just now? I
thought… I thought this was just business."
    "I didn't think..." He emitted a small laugh
and ran his hand over the back of his neck. "I didn't think it would be
that big of a deal."
    I kept my distance from him giving him a serious side
eye, trying to see through his response.
    "The truth is," he continued. "I'm
attracted to you, Blair. How could you not know? I have been for ages. You’re
fucking gorgeous. And seeing you again..." His voice drifted off as he
looked out over the city.
    "What," I said.
    "Seeing you again made me remember.... and here you’re.
Even more goddamn beautiful that I remembered. I thought maybe you felt the
same way. I thought I would take a shot."
    I had to admit his words moved me just a little… only
a little.
    "Oh," I said. "I see."
    He took a small step towards me reaching for my hand.
In that fleeting moment I knew I had a choice. I could relax and let him take
it, maybe tilt my head