Riptide Love ( by Melissa Lopez Page B

energy.
    “No need to be, luv.” His fingers caught up the ends of her hair and rubbed them between his fingertips. The caress ran all the way down to her center. Arousal pulsed awake in her clit. His touch, his nearness never failed to enliven her senses. “None of this is your fault.” It wasn’t.
    Again he played with another lock of her hair as if it fascinated him. He buried his nose in her hair and groaned. “You smell good.” He inhaled. “I never forgot your scent.”
    She inhaled sharply at the feel of pleasure pooling. She’d not forgotten his either. So many nights had been spent wishing for him there. Her panties dampened. So many nights had been spent masturbating, pretending they were his fingers. His touch.
    It had been so, so long since she’d been caressed like this. Wanted. Even for a night. On another inhale, she caught the scent of the alcohol. “Have you been drinking, Ethan?”
    “Not nearly enough.” He made a rough sound of amusement. “I discovered it’s no fun to drink alone. Without a mate.”
    Easing away, she faced him. A shiver of delight ran through her body when he didn’t release her hair. In fact, he chased her movements by leaning in closer. Her breasts swelled, nipples extended in search of attention.
    “I…I…” Her breath quickened as liquid fire pooled low in her stomach. “I could talk to Miller.”
    “Luv, there’s no need.” He groaned, leaned his head back. But only for a moment. “I did M wrong. It’s as simple as that.”
    “I think he’ll come around.” Nervously, she patted the top of her shirt to make sure it was in place. “I owe him a lot.” God knew just how much. “He’s a nice bloke.”
    Another breath ran across her skin as he made a sound of amusement. Ethan shifted so they were face to face. “M’s a great mate. The best brother.”
    Chest deflated a little, she forced the returning guilt away. Life was about decisions. She paid for her past mistakes, but she refused to keep paying for them. What happened next would be up to Miller. She’d keep the faith he’d forgive Ethan. Them.
    His arm shifted to bring his hand to rest on her shoulder. His fingers tangled in her hair. “Nice isn’t the word most or anyone besides Mum would use to describe him.” His nostrils flared. “My guess is Cohen’s probably the nicest of us Thorns. The old man didn’t have the…” Abruptly, his mouth set in a tight line.
    “Didn’t have what?” Please don’t let him close up now. Admittedly, she wasn’t ready to open up about her past, still she ached to know everything he’d share.
    “You didn’t know M well, did you?”
    Although she didn’t want to disclose everything, she didn’t want to leave herself open for ridicule. At the stirring of the old memories, she blocked them out. Refused to face them again. Now wasn’t the time to open old wounds. She’d moved on. Bettered herself. So now with Ethan, she went for honesty. “I knew what he wanted me to know.”
    “I take that as a no.” Ethan dropped his head on the back of the couch.
    Unsure if she pushed him away or pulled him closer, Denae clutched at his shirt.
    “Our old man was a mean whacker. Mean as hell. Did you know that? Did my brother tell you that?” His breath warmed the skin on her neck.
    It’d never been quite so hard to breathe before. Miller had never spoken of his past. His childhood. Ethan had never mentioned their father in their two weeks together.
    “Dad was a vicious arse to everyone, Mum, me and Big M.” He rolled his head toward her.
    She gulped at the feel of his lips against her pulse. “But not Co. No. By the time dad turned on Co, Miller was big enough to get in the way. He took up for us all.” A shudder racked his body.
    “M never forgave our dad for all the beatings he took.” Under her hands, his body trembled. His voice grew taut. “He never forgave Mum for not leaving the old man…” His breath rushed hotly over her skin causing her own