The Wrong Brother's Temptation novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Sienna

I stood under the spray of Connor’s shower, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of last night’s disaster, and tried very hard not to think about the fact that I was currently naked in my childhood bully’s bathroom.

This was fine.

I was just a normal person taking a normal shower in a perfectly normal circumstance I told myself.

Suddenly, the image of Connor stepping out of this very bathroom, water droplets trailing down his back, muscles shifting as he reached for a towel, flashed through my mind with the clarity of high–definition television.

“Stop it,” I hissed at myself, squeezing my eyes shut. “Stop it right now, you absolute disaster of a human being.”

But my traitorous brain wasn’t listening.

I was remembering the feel of his chest under my palm, the steady beat of his heart and the way his strong and sure hands had caught me when I stumbled.

“Oh Goddess,” I groaned, turning the water temperature down to freezing.

The shock of cold water was exactly what I needed. It cleared my head, washed away the lingering fog of last night’s alcohol, and most importantly, stopped me from having completely inappropriate thoughts abour Connor freaking Blackwood.

I turned the water back to hot and reached for some expensive–looking bottle of shampoo that probably cost more than my entire hair care routine and tried to sort through the confused tangle of emotions in my chest.

I was pissed at Aaron for saying I was desperate for attention and it still stung like a fresh wound.

But underneath the anger was the kind of deep, aching hurt that came from having someone you loved think so little of you.

And maybe that was the problem.

Maybe I’d spent so long loving Aaron that I’d forgotten to respect myself.

The shampoo smelled like cedar and something that was distinctly Connor. I tried not to think about the t that I was currently washing my hair with the same shampoo that made his hair smell so good

Stop it, Sienna. You’re being ridiculous.

I rinsed out the shampoo and reached for the conditioner, derenninedly focusing on the task at hand instund of the confusing mess of feelings swirling around in my head.

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9:17 Thu, Jul 23

Chapter 23

By the time I’d finished showering, I felt almost human again.

EL 48

My headache had subsided to a dull throb. My skin felt clean. And I’d managed to go at least five whole minutes without thinking about Connor’s abs.

Progress!

I turned off the water and stepped out, grabbing one of the ridiculously plush towels from the rack and wrapping it around myself.

The bathroom mirror was fogged up, and I wiped a hand across it, taking in my reflection.

My hair was wet and tangled, hanging in dark waves around my face. Without makeup, I looked younger and the freckles across my nose stood out starkly against my pale skin.

I looked like the girl Connor used to torment.

I looked away from the mirror to find clothes.

Connor had said he’d lend me something, but I had a feeling “something” was going to be comically oversized

on me.

I tightened the towel around myself, took a deep breath, and opened the bathroom door.

And immediately screamed.

Because Connor was leaning against the wall right outside the bathroom door, arms crossed, looking for all the world like he’d been waiting for me.

I slammed the door shut again, my heart trying to escape through my ribcage.

“What the hell!” I shouted through the door. “Where are your manners?”

I heard him snort. “This is my room.”

Oh right! I was the intruder here.

I cleared my throat and tried again, making my voice as sweet as possible. “Could you please leave? Or at least turn around?”

“Why?” he asked, and I could hear the amusement in his voice. “Afraid I’ll see something?”

“Connor.” I said through gritted teeth. “Please.”

He sighed dramatically. “Fine. I’m turning around.”

I waited a few seconds, then cracked the door open just enough to peek out.

He was facing the wall, true to his word, though I could see his shoulders shaking with what looked suspiciously like laughter.

2/4

9:17 Thu, Jul 23

Chapter 23

I darted out of the bathroom, clutching the towel around myself, and made a beeline for his wardrobe

“Do you have anything that might actually fit me?” I asked, pulling open the doors and staring at the neatly organized rows of shirts and pants.

Everything looked expensive and huge.

“I don’t keep baby clothes on hand,” Connor said dryly.

I whirled aroundto throw something at him, and remembered at the last second that I was wearing only a towel.

“I am not a baby,” I snapped, turning back to the wardrobe. “I’m just… vertically challenged.”

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