Angel Falling by Audrey Carlan

time.” His hands caressed my hips, either to solidify his point or just to touch me. The man liked to touch me. All the time. I sure as hell wasn’t going to complain.
    My sister melted into a pool of mush at Hank’s proclamation. She was being taken over by the Southern charm. Easy to fall under. I was damn near drowning in it after three days.
    “ Middag serveras !” Gustav shouted once more from down the hall, sounding very irritated.
    “Oh! Dinner. I’m starving. Can I stay?” London asked.
    Thou shalt not throttle thy sister was the mantra I repeated over and over internally.
    “Yes, of course you can.”
    Hank pulled back the sheet and stood. His frame was enormous and swallowed up the space. He had on plain black boxer shorts that hugged and accentuated his hips and thighs’ mouthwatering proportions. Both London and I were transfixed at the sight of his mostly naked body.
    “Damn, Sis. You’re one lucky bitch.”
    I stood there, biting my lip and nodding at the perfect specimen that was Hank Jensen. He was all man, and I wanted to lick and suck on every inch.
    Hank grinned. “Why, thank you, I think?” he said as he slipped into a pair of soft gray sweats. “Darlin’, do you think you could help me with this here shirt?” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
    “I’ll just tell Gustav I’m staying. Piss him off a little. See you in the kitchen,” London said and left.
    “Sure.” I squeezed my legs together as the raging lust that diminished with my sister’s intrusion roared back to life. Staring at this perfect man’s bare chest and sexy grin did all kinds of things to my lady bits. Hank presented the shirt to me as I tried to get ahold of my hormones.
     
    ***
    After a few fumbles and laughs we reapplied the sling and got my shirt on. It was fun to watch Aspen try not to touch me during the process. Every time her hands landed on an exposed part of my skin she’d jump as if burned by a hot poker. I got what I wanted in the end, though. Before we entered the kitchen, I had her little body pinned against the wall with my mouth on hers, kissing the daylights out of her.  
    She rubbed at her kiss-swollen, reddened lips as we entered the kitchen. I couldn’t wipe the shit-eating grin off my face. I loved making this woman blush and right now she was three shades of pink. Her sister London was a looker and had a matching knowing smile plastered across her face. She looked exactly like Aspen, only with dark hair and skin. Same gray-blue eyes and facial structure, too. Based on the flowing clothes and chipper personality she seemed a lot more easygoing, more free-spirited than Aspen. Didn’t matter.
    There was something special about Aspen that had me in a full-body twist. ‘Sides her beauty, there was a little extra sparkle in her eyes when I looked at her, something that drew me to her, made me ache to be near her. Damn if I wasn’t going to figure it out.
    Dinner was incredible. That gourmet chef of hers definitely had talent in the kitchen. He served us some type of bird with a fancy glaze I couldn’t pronounce, and an interesting side dish that looked like tiny little balls.
    “What’s this called again?” I pointed at the yellow balls.
    Aspen smiled. “Couscous.”
    “Say what?”
    “It’s a rolled wheat type pasta,” London offered. “Do you like it?”
    “I do. Different.” I managed around a big bite of the stuff.
    “So Hank, I want to thank you for saving my sister. Pen’s important to me. Hell, she’s important to the world. I can’t believe you just jumped in front of her like that. So brave.”
    “Ah, it was nothin’ really. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” Aspen’s gaze held mine, burning with intensity. Her beauty was unexplainable. Waiting to be with her was as if a ton of bricks was dropping onto my chest, taking away my ability to breathe.
    “Well, I’m glad you were there. So you’ll be staying with Pen then?” She asked.
    “That’s the plan.