A Seductive Melody (The Kelly Brothers Book 5) by Crista McHugh Page A

the grout between the bricks. She tasted so good that if he dared to take her into his arms, he wouldn’t be satisfied until he had her in bed.
    The slow, sensual kiss seemed go on forever. He never imagined he’d enjoy the simple pleasure of kissing a woman like this, but kissing Becca was far better than the years of hazy hookups he’d experienced. He zeroed in on all her subtle responses, acutely aware of how she responded to him. Her breath quickened, and she reached to touch him. First, it was his chest. Then, his shoulders. Finally, her hands wound around his neck while she deepened the kiss. The last traces of his uncertainty melted. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, and he allowed himself to thread his fingers through her silky hair.
    “Becca,” Ari called from the door.
    Ethan tore his lips from hers and jumped back. As much as he wanted to continue, he didn’t want the intimate moment to become a spectacle.
    “What?” Becca replied, making no attempt to hide the exasperation in her voice.
    “We’re going to Cielo. Want to come with us?”
    Becca looked up at him, her pupils wide and her chest still rising and falling rapidly. “I think I’ll stay in tonight.”
    “I thought you’d say that.”
    She grinned and turned toward her roommate. “Be safe.”
    “You, too.” Ari gave him a hard glare before shutting the door.
    He waited for her to say anything, but when the silence crept on, he said, “I don’t think she likes me.”
    “She’s just being the overprotective best friend. If she knew who you were, she’d act differently.”
    “Meaning?” He waited for her to say what he already knew.
    Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away. “I think Ari’s an even bigger Ravinia’s Rejects fan than I am.”
    “And you didn’t tell her.”
    Becca shook her head. “To be honest, it took me a week or two to figure it out myself. But if you’re willing to go to such extreme measures to hide who you are, the least I can do is keep my mouth shut.”
    He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “Such a tempting mouth, too.”
    Even the dim light couldn’t conceal the blush that bloomed in her cheeks. “A simple thank-you would be fine.”
    His shoulder blades drew together, and he added some distance between them. “Are you telling me I went too far?”
    “No, I—” She grabbed his shirt in her fists and pulled him back into another kiss. This time, she called the shots, controlling the tempo like a maestro conducting an orchestra. It started out with a smooth, slow adagio pace and grew into a lively allegro.
    Her passion infiltrated him and tore down the restraints holding his desire in check. He pressed her against the wall, one hand still tangled in her hair while the other cupped the curve of her ass. Every seductive kiss, every flick of her tongue, every delicious moan that rose from her throat made his cock harder. His hips rocked back in forth in the grinding dance he wanted to replicate under the covers.
    He wanted her so damned badly.
    But he wasn’t prepared to respond when she ended the kiss and asked, “Do you want to take this to my bedroom?”
    ***
    Holy shit! What just came out of my mouth?
    Becca hadn’t intended to proposition Ethan tonight, but each kiss continued to whittle away at her common sense until she was so horny, the question slipped out before she had a chance to catch herself.
    He stiffened and retreated a few inches, his brows drawing closer together. “Becca, I…”
    Her heart sank as he squeezed his eyes shut and took a step back.
    Pride kicked in, and she fumbled for words to hide her embarrassment. “Sorry, I just—”
    He silenced her by tilting her chin up so she was forced to look him directly in the eyes. “Don’t be.”
    “No, I crossed the line, and I’ve obviously made you uncomfortable and—damn it!” She dug her fingers into her palms and turned toward the door. She shouldn’t have asked him. It was still too early in the recovery