After the ten-minute walk to Sake, we took a seat at our usual table, and I couldn’t ignore the questioning looks Ky continued to fire at me. Being best friends with him was amazing, but it was also impossible to hide anything from him. He wasn’t as thorough as Josh at reading me, but he had his own unique way, and right now, he was trying to read me, because he had the look plastered all over his face.

“Has Lachlan been in contact with you? I am so fucking sorry all that shit went down. If I had known . . .”

My regret of not being honest with him still sat heavily in my heart. He was my best friend, and I needed to make it right between us. “No, he hasn’t, and I don’t think he will. Josh made it very clear that he should stay away from me. I’m moving on, Ky. Full force. And I just want to forget that I gave him a second chance. I’m spending some time finding myself again, and I’d really love my best friend to help me with that. I am so sorry that I didn’t say anything to you.”

“I’ll help anyway I can, and please, no more apologies.” The smile he offered in reply disappeared, and his eyes narrowed as he gave me the don’t-give-me-bullshit tone. “Now tell me what’s got you so on edge today?”

I clutched the glass of sparkling water that was placed in front of me, and lifted it to my lips. I needed a moment to figure out what the hell I was going to say. How could I possibly tell him that his brother had ravished me, given me more orgasms in two weeks then my ex gave me in two months, and that I was still throbbing in beautiful delight as I sat across from him?

“I’m just tired. It’s been a big couple of days with moving back home and working on the blog. Lots of emails, phone calls, and not enough sleep.”

Being under Ky’s intense glare caused me to become a mass of anxiety. Seriously, these Crawford brothers were going to leave me with early-onset grey hair and wrinkles at the rate they were going. I continued sipping my water and tearing at my napkin. I felt his eyes bearing into me, and my head snapped up at the sound of his soft laughter.

“You do realize that’s a sign of sexual frustration.” He laughed and nodded to the pile of torn napkin in front of me.

Water shot up my throat and threatened to escape out my nose as I started choking. My unfortunate scene only encouraged Ky’s laughter to grow louder. Once I got myself under control, I shot Ky a look of pure fury and folded my arms across my chest like I was a child throwing a tantrum.

“You’ll have to go out with Josh one night and rectify that,” Ky continued with a touch of tease to his voice.

This was getting worse by the minute. Little did he know that his brother already rectified any form of sexual frustration I would have for eternity, and had single handily ruined me and my vagina for any other man.

“My frustration is none of your concern.” I pushed my little pile of shredded napkin to the side and avoided his gaze. I could feel my cheeks flushing. This was horrendous.

“One night out with Josh and you’ll find yourself a man to scratch that itch.”

My eyes shot wide. “For the love of all things holy, can you please not mention the words ‘scratch that itch’ when referring to my sex life?”

“Whatever you say, Ash, but you know I’m right. One night out with Josh and you’ll be a changed woman.”

He had absolutely no clue how right he was.

My meeting at Bangs and Beats was productive and Josh free. I sighed in relief as I walked toward the elevators to head home and get a start on my new assignment. Though I wasn’t styling with Alessandra anymore, I was contracted for some advisory work on an upcoming issue, and I couldn’t say no to the opportunity.

I felt him before I saw him.

The familiar scent that caused shivers to run down my spine and goosebumps to take over my skin hit me, and my eyes slammed shut as I felt his heat penetrate my back.

“You thought you could come to the office and sneak away without seeing me?”

“I had a meeting with Ky,” I whispered breathlessly.

“My office is right next door, Ashy.”

Josh grabbed my waist. His hands felt like they burned through the material of my skirt and hit my skin. His breath danced over the sensitive area of my neck, and I involuntarily shivered in delight.

“I’m just heading home,” I stammered, and turned to face him. That was my first mistake. My eyes took a life of their own and traveled down his body. The perfect amount stubble graced his jaw, his hair was wild, and his body was covered in a tailored charcoal grey suit with a dark blue shirt. Damn it to hell, he was dangerous to my libido.

“I love that fucking shirt.” His eyes darkened and roamed freely over my white shirt that showed a classy amount of cleavage.

“I love that suit,” I admitted, the words tumbling out before I could stop myself.

Like an unexpected flash of lightening, Josh grabbed my hand and we started moving down the hall, away from the elevators, at a quick pace.

“What are you doing?” I gasped and tried to pull my hand away, but my fight only encouraged him to hold on tighter. “People will see.”

His eyes, full of amusement, flashed to mine. “Stop making a fuss, and people won’t pay attention. And what I’m doing is having a taste of you before you up and disappear again.”

“Joshua, there are rules,” I hissed, trying desperately to ignore the shot of heat that fired through me.

“Fuck the rules, Ash. Anyway, there was one point I did not agree to.”

The instant he opened the door to the storage room, I knew I was in for the best kind of trouble. It would seem that my desires, needs, and now wants, were delivered to him with a big red bow and an open invitation to play whenever he wanted. That should have pissed me off, but all it did was excite me.

The click of the door and the turn of the lock sent my body of into overdrive. I was trembling with delight and anticipation. All hope of telling him that this wasn’t going to happen disappeared when I got lost in his eyes. His expression was clear and obvious. He had something on his mind, and that something was me. I could try to fight him, but I could never deny him.

My back pressed against the door, and his eager hands ran the length of my body until they found my hair. I gravitated toward him, and we became one when the heat of his body consumed mine. A million goosebumps covered my skin, though my body was soaring to epic heat. The tip of my tongue traced my bottom lip as his eyes held mine with fierce contemplation. My silent invitation of what I wanted was all he needed.

When his lips slammed into mine, he stole my breath and ability to think. My arms circled his waist as his hands fell to my ass and pulled me closer. I groaned against his mouth, as he ground his body hotly into mine. Our tongues entwined in the desperation brought on by three days of separation, and we craved the offer of ownership that swirled around us. Kissing Josh was like tasting cotton candy. It ignited your senses, it blasted you to an incredible high, and one taste forged a craving you’d never be able to fully satisfy. I was screwed.

In a swift move, Josh wrapped my ponytail around his hand and my head was pulled back. I gasped as a sharp pain shot through me, but it complimented the pleasure igniting my body so perfectly. My breathing was a shuddering mess of shallow and needy gasps as I tried to regain control. But losing control had never felt so right. There was a battle within me, as my body screamed at me for more, while my subconscious shook her head in disapproval.

“It would be an absolute fucking joy to have your mouth every day.” His forehead fell to mine and his soft pants hit my lips like a teasing summer breeze. “And it’s going to be an absolute pleasure working for it.”