Page 41 of Off the Post

Soren

My mouth dries up the moment I enter the apartment and see a posterior that I instantly recognize peeking out from behind the open fridge door.

I clench my hands into fists to keep myself from doing something that would probably earn me a face slap.

But goddamn, the sight of Ali fills me with the urge to bend her over, knead my fingers into the soft flesh of her ass, and tease the delicate skin at the juncture of her opening. My cock strains and my shorts tighten uncomfortably.

Fuck me.

Instead, I inhale deeply and exhale slowly to shove those thoughts aside and approach with more gentlemanly caution. I move quietly behind her and announce my presence with a statement of fact; no hyperbole whatsoever. “You better get someone else to do that. You’re so fucking hot, you’re liable to melt it all.”

Ali laughs and slowly stands, the bag of ice cradled in her arms. I remove it and lift a brow. “Where would you like this?”

She points to somewhere behind me, and I swivel around to see the large ice chest sitting empty next to a wall beside the sliding-glass patio door.

“In there, please,” she says, gesturing with her hand. “I’ll get a pair of scissors to open the bag.”

I shake my head. “Nein. I’ve got it.”

Plunking the cold bag down, I rip the plastic with ease and dump the contents into the cooler.

“Ahh,” she coos, offering a light touch to my forearm, which spikes my already powerful physical reaction. Christ, it’s gonna be a long day.

Then she removes the plastic wrap from my hands and tosses it in the waste bin next to the counter. “Whatever would I do without a big, strong Viking to help me out?”

Tanner uses this moment to join us. “You called?” He laughs boisterously and pumps his biceps in the air like a heavyweight champ, placing a kiss to each muscle.

Ali makes a gagging noise and then squeaks in protest when Rossy wraps an arm around her neck, pulling her into his chest and knuckling her head in a noogie. If he weren’t her brother, I’d have told him to knock it off, maybe even kicked his ass to stop his immature behavior. But Ali handles it with a quick push of her palms against his chest and then sidesteps as Tanner releases her with a flourish.

“Stop it, you oaf. You’re messing my hair.”

My heart squeezes in uncomfortable tension at the sibling bond between Ali and Tanner. Their playful banter and easy companionship opens an archive of memories I’ve stored up of my brother and me during my childhood.

I mentally shove the thoughts away and watch her casually lift a hand to smooth down her hair. The auburn locks are tightly plaited in two intricate braids that hang past her shoulders.

I take the moment to covertly survey the rest of her from head to toe.

My gaze roams over her chest, which is covered in some kind of see-through mesh shirt that leaves nothing to the imagination. Firm, supple breasts spill over the confines of a yellow bikini top and my fingers twitch to untie the string behind her back and let it fall to the floor so I can explore every inch by perfect inch of her body, the thing I’ve dreamt about doing since our lunch date the other day.

She has been the star attraction every night when I close my eyes. Sometimes even in my daydreams. My fantasies only serve to stoke my desire, which grows stronger and hotter.

But right now, around her brother, is not the time to get caught with a hard cock in my swim trunks.

As if just now realizing I’m standing with them, Rossy thumps me on the back.

“Glad you came, my dude.” He looks from side to side as if searching for something else. “Where’s your date?”

You just had her in a headlock. I hide my amusement and shrug one shoulder. “Wasn’t interested in bringing anyone.”

Glancing sideways toward Ali, I notice she strums over her eyebrow with a finger, a telltale sign I now recognize as her nervous tic. A blush grows across her cheeks.

Good. Confirmation that she understands my meaning. She’s the woman I want to be here with. No one else.

Rossy, on the other hand, is completely oblivious. He smacks me on top of my shoulder and waggles his brows. “Well, bruh, I’ve invited more than a few gorgeous single women for you to choose from today. Take your pick.”

He gestures with a wide sweep of his hand toward the pool deck, where a few bikini-clad women stretch out on lounge chairs.

“Yeah, sure. Great. Thanks.”