Sunshine Kisses

‘You’re awfully confident.’

‘Think I can’t do it?’

Oh, that smile was morphing into something dangerous.

‘I’m sure you could get me off.’ Abby shrugged. So far, teasing him had produced excellent results. ‘Might take a little more time to make me scream though.’

‘Tell you what,’ Erik’s voice dipped lower as he reached for her hips. ‘I make it happen, and when we get back to our room tonight, we do whatever I want.’

A shiver ran through her at the heat flickering in his eyes, even as her heart melted at the word our. ‘Deal. But you’re down to seven minutes, Mr Larsson.’

His mouth twitched at that. ‘I only need five.’

Abby squealed as he lifted her effortlessly over his shoulder and carried her to the bathroom. And when she bit down on his shoulder four minutes later to muffle the obscene sounds his fingers were drawing from her, warm water cascading around them, she had to admit that he had won. But she was pretty sure she had too.

Three months before

You – Radiohead

F

reezing and miserable, a tux-clad Erik sat on the top step of a townhouse he had never visited, a cheap masquerade mask discarded on the snow-dusted step beside him.

Midnight had long since passed and his second attempt at pursuing something more with his best friend had failed spectacularly.

‘What the fuck are you doing here?’

Erik’s eyes jolted open at his brother’s smooth voice.

Alex’s arm was around the waist of a leggy brunette wearing a tiny dress and dangerous-looking heels. That her exposed skin remained a golden tan colour in the frigid temperatures, rather than the bright blue it should have been, was a marvel that needed to be studied by scientists.

‘Who’s this?’ she asked.

Really? He and Alex weren’t identical, but when put together, it was easy to see the resemblance.

Erik shifted uncomfortably, icy water soaking through his trousers as he shifted in the snow. ‘Sorry, I should have texted. I didn’t realise you’d have company.’ Although he should have. His brother didn’t seem the type to sleep alone on New Year’s Eve.

‘It’s fine. She’s on her way.’ Alex turned back to the cab still idling behind them and thrust a wad of cash at the driver. ‘Take her wherever she needs to go, mate.’

‘Seriously?’ The woman’s voice was cold and slightly nasal.

‘Sorry, darling,’ Alex drawled, opening the cab door for her. ‘I think my brother needs me.’

After a piping hot shower, Erik changed into joggers and a jumper Alex had left out for him, silently thanking the universe for his brother’s love of obscenely high quality clothing as he burrowed his chin into the soft fabric.

Alex’s house was exactly as he would have expected. The furnishings were all muted tones of grey and navy and oozed understated, comfortable luxury. Bursts of colour came from the artworks lining most of the walls, although the bedroom Erik had been shown to was conspicuously bare, with only a simple ink sketch adorning the area above the headboard.

He found Alex in the living room, fire roaring and two large tumblers of whiskey on the coffee table. His tie and thick winter coat had been swapped out for an outfit almost identical to Erik’s. He suited his surroundings perfectly.

‘Want to tell me why I’m entertaining you instead of an underwear model who does yoga twice a day?’ Alex asked, taking a long swallow from his drink.

Erik winced. ‘Sorry. I could have left.’

‘And gone where, exactly? There is one other person in London you’d feel comfortable turning up on the doorstep of, and if you’re here, I’m guessing she’s not an option.’

Alex’s voice was light, but Erik sensed some hurt in his words. He’d always assumed his brother didn’t care to have much of a relationship with him. They got along fine, but they’d never been close. As kids, three years had felt like an insurmountable chasm. But it was dawning on Erik for the first time that perhaps the distance had been caused by more than the age gap.

‘I think I fucked up.’ Erik dropped his head into his hands.