Page 30 of Laken's longing

Why couldn’t Laken see how similar they were?

Isley figured, at two am, by the way Laken lit out of the apartment that he’d misunderstood the connection between them. It was the only reason Isley’s tired brain could explain away the grimace and disgusted look he’d caught before the door had slammed loud enough to get Mrs Peabody, his neighbor, to come and complain about the noise.

“As if I would. I know you aren’t social until at least your second cup of coffee.” As if to prove his point, he poured coffee into a large to-go mug, adding cream. “Here, you’ll need this to get your brain firing after last night, because it must have been on the fritz after—”

Isley jabbed a finger at his brother, giving him a hard stare but reaching for the coffee at the same time, needing his fix if he was going to spar this early. “You want to find yourself homeless, keep talking!”

The belly laughter at his threat made him scowl and chug back the coffee despite the heat. It burned his throat and woke his system with a furious punch.

“How much coffee is in this?” he coughed and spluttered, eyes watering.

“Enough to give you the boost you’ll need to face your boss this morning,” Somme snorted in amusement.

Isley held up his middle finger and took another gulp of the coffee, because Somme was not wrong. He was going to need to be on his A game. Laken’s exit stage right after… Isley couldn’t think of how to best describe the impressive failure of sensibility he’d had. He could sort of understand them kissing. They’d been dancing about each other—that’s how it seemed to Isley— despite the rejection. He just hadn’t expected Laken to blow his mind quite like he had. He’d thought the kiss would be measured, controlled, no heat. Boring, if he was honest, with how restrained Laken was. How closed off he comes across.

That was not a boring kiss.

Yes, I’m well aware of that.

How could he not be when the moment their mouths met, he would have been hard pressed to remember his own name, never mind that his brother was one door away and could hear everything.Smell everything.

He couldn’t even be sure if it was Laken who had started what had happened between them. Yes, he’d kissed Isley first, but he’d purposefully goaded the other man, which had resulted in a total loss of sensibility.

He melted your brain cells and sent them straight to your cock.

Do you have to be so crass?

Isley was getting a little fed up with his animal, who was having way too much fun over this when Isley felt used.

Need I remind you, it was you who clung to him, and wouldn’t shift back.

You started it by stripping and giving me the green light to follow when he went to the restaurant with that imbecile.

Yes, well, I didn’t mean for you to take full advantage.

He hadn’t, and he remained embarrassed over it. Kind of.

Fibber!

No matter which way he looked at the whole situation, Isley was at a loss about how to approach seeing Laken at work this morning. All he could remember was how Laken jerked into action after hearing Somme and threw Isley onto the couch like he had some sort of contagious disease. The uttered stiff apology—to whom Isley still couldn’t say when he’d not looked at either him or Somme—before retreating, sounding like someone had sawed his vocal cords in half. The door slam had brought him out of his post orgasmic haze, but too late to chase Laken and ask what the hell was going on. He must have run out of the building like his ass was on fire.

The man was insufferable.

“Smug ass! When are you moving out?” he muttered waspishly, hunching slightly at Somme’s raucous laughter.

“You know it’s today.” Somme managed around another round of belly laughter. “Wouldn’t want tocomebetween the two of you.”

“Not funny,” Isley groaned, heat perfusing his cheeks, staring at his brother without amusement. “And there is nothing between us.”

Isley didn’t feign ignorance. It would be pointless, regardless of the sexy antics the night before.

“You were with Laken for around five minutes little bro and had him creaming his pants in less than that! I’d say there’s plenty between you, regardless of his fears.” Somme winked and sipped from his own coffee having gotten his amusement under control. “The man was certifiably jealous last night.”

Isley’s brows quirked up. They hadn’t spoken last night; Isley was too wrung out emotionally to listen to his brother’s running commentary about what he’d witnessed. “Why’d you say that?”

“’Cause it’s the truth. He clearly thought we were an item.”

“Ugh, yuck,” Isley grimaced, but he’d already come to that conclusion.