LUKE

Tyler grins as we lean back in our chairs on the outdoor patio of Casa Sedona. “They know how to make a margarita.”

Sofia Sol shakes out her wild hair with one hand as she pulls a nearby, empty chair closer with the toe of her boot. She’s wearing this white halter with lace on the top that I’ve never seen on her, and I can’t take my eyes off it for long. It’s fucking driving me crazy to pretend I’m not fascinated by how beautiful she is tonight. Throwing both boots on the extra chair, she smiles, “See, this is how you do it. Homemade tortillas, messy enchiladas with refried beans, none of that healthy black bean nonsense.”

Tyler eyes her. “I like black beans.”

“Me too,” I mutter, picking up a chip and trying not to stare at her. “But you gotta do it refried every now and then.”

She gives this sexy grin, two margaritas in. “That’s right! You’ve got to!” Reaching for her empty glass she swirls ice around with her straw. “I need another. You guys joining me?”

Tyler raises his glass in a yes and I don’t have to do anything. Two out of three wins the vote.

Sofia whoops and leans back like she wants to be the chair, letting her head fall back, neck exposed, wavy black hair almost touching the ground. And those breasts again, pushed way up and out. “I could use more vacations,” she sighs, hypnotizing me as her lungs expand and deflate. “Only five days but I feel like a whole new woman. Haven’t been this relaxed…in forever!”

I flick a glance to Tyler to find him smirking at me. He covers his mouth, trying not to laugh. I break into a grin, mouthing, fuck you. He snorts through his fingers, making Soph glance up, straightening her arched back and suspiciously asking, “Did I miss something?”

I’m stumped for an alibi.

Ty starts telling a story, “I remember the time when you guys were teenagers, and you were training out back, doing ground work…”

“Which time? We trained in getting out of each other’s choke holds and pins for years.”

“It was one of the last ones, before they banned you from ground work.” Tyler grins, pointing at the memory to explain, “Luke was under you, Soph. You had one knee on his stomach, the other on his thigh, because he’d almost successfully bucked you off of him. But you were a little spider monkey, wouldn’t let go. Our parents were all inside. I was overseeing your training that day, supposed to be guiding it, but you guys no longer needed a teacher, so I was just sitting in a rocking chair, scrolling through my phone. And there was this beat where—”

Sofia holds up her hand. “Stop right there. I remember.”

“I don’t. Finish the story, Ty.”

She looks at me, eyes flickering as they drop to her empty glass.

He kicks a boot onto the table, leg high, pants ripped, and gestures while he explains, “It got quiet for a second, so I look over, right? And I see you’ve got the upper hand, she’s pinned now, and you’re just staring at each other, not moving. You remember this now?”

My chest tightens, because I do. “Don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”

“Bullshit! You were looking at Sofia Sol like you did just now when she threw her head back. Transparent as hell and so fuckin’ stupid, too, because my mom was in the kitchen, happened to look out and saw you guys. Rapped on the window with her knuckles, pissed the hell off that I hadn’t put a stop to it before she made me. But you know what? I wanted to see where it went.”

Grey eyes are locked on me as she asks, “You were staring at me just now, Luke?”

Tyler quickly reassures us, words tripping over each other as he explains, “Hey, I’m not the Cipher-police here. I still want to see where it goes. I think it’s fucking fascinating that you’re still doing it after these years…but not doing it. If you know what I mean.”

Ignoring him, she asks again, “Were you staring at me like that?”

I shout at the restaurant, “Can we get another round?” since we’re the only ones out here. Our server pokes her head out, and I spin my hand in a circle, gesturing for more booze. She nods and vanishes.

“That’s a yes,” Sofia flatly says.

I snatch a fork off the table, watching it spin in my fingers.

She snatches a tortilla chip from the basket and chews it with her mouth open to make as much noise as possible.

Tyler whistles under his breath and rises up. “On that note, kiddies, I’m gonna head back to the hotel, call my wife. Too much sexual tension here, and it’s got nothing to do with me. Later.”

“I just ordered another round.”

“Luke, you need two. Drink mine,” he chuckles. “Loosen up, man. Take a chance, you get me?” His phone vibrates and he digs it out, standing over the table and munching one last chip as he talks. “It’s my Mom checking on us again. Must have sensed me talking about her. Or sensed you staring at Sofia Sol like you want to eat her alive, again,” he grins, tipping his head in goodbye. “See you freaks in the morning at breakfast.” He opens the old wood door, stained-glass window in it shimmering as the thing slams behind him.

Sofia’s leg is bouncing on the chair as she glares at the table.

I’m tight-lipped, toss the fork and lean back, legs spread, fingers tapping my thighs.

Take a chance.

Take a chance.

Take a chance.

My gut is a tight ball of heat.

Head throbbing with consequences.

Eyes flitting to the woman who does this to me.

And has since I was a little kid.

No way is this smart.

Finally the waitress opens the door with her hip, three margaritas barely held in small hands, ice sloshing threats during hurried strides. “He said you still wanted three?”

Sofia Sol rolls her eyes. “Our friend thought he was being funny. And yes, thank you, I’ll drink them if he doesn’t.” She throws her thumb toward me.

We watch the woman until she’s gone. Picking up our glasses, third one unmanned, we bring them together. Bad luck if you don’t clink before you drink.

Tense as fuck, I say, “To old friends.”

Like she might throw the glass, she repeats, “To old friends.”

We drink, and her eyes widen as I down it, freezing my throat in the process. I pick up the other glass. Her eyebrows twitch with interest as I lick my lips, ready myself, and drink this one down, too.

On a quiet, “Well, okay then,” Soph downs hers, dropping the glass sideways on the table, ice spilling onto the plastic table cloth as we stare at each other, history gazing back.

I stand up, and she rises with me. She searches my face, lips parted with surprise. Her breath catches as I slip unsteady fingers into her hair, cup her head like I did in the garage. Our lips hover close, tinted with tequila. I brush mine against hers and she shivers for both of us. My cock is punishing me, throbbing, straining for freedom. My voice is shaking as self-control cracks and disappears. “I want you, Soph. I’ve been lying to you this whole time, not just here in Sedona, but every day I’ve acted like I don’t. Truth is I ache for you, when you’re near me, and it’s even worse when you’re not.” I brush against her again, come just short of pressing harder.

“Luke, oh my God,” she whispers, breath ragged.

“You okay?”

She shakes her head, eyelashes closing for a second. “No.”

“Me neither.” I gather her close, dipping her head back so I can gaze at her in a whole new way, up close and with nobody stopping me. “I hate that he had you first.”

“I wish I could take it back!”

“You want to take this back?” I kiss her for real, feel her body trembling as she responds. Our mouths open slightly and our tongues taste each other for the first time in our lives. I was born knowing this woman. They laid her down next to me in the hospital and she pulled my hair. Throwing food at her is my first memory. She helped me climb my first tree out in our yard. I told her when I lost my virginity, especially because she’d done it before me, and I was jealous. The first time I shot at a real person and not a target on our property, she was the one who ran to ask if I was okay. They’d gotten away and she knew I’d beat myself up for that. And millions of other memories are attached to Sofia Sol.

Finally I’m kissing her and she’s pressing her body into mine like I always dreamed about. Our tongues slip and slide on our moans as those memories slam through me. The day she dropped her motorcycle and skinned her right side pretty bad, broke her leg, and I carried her off the freeway, leaving our bikes there even if they’d be hit, unmanned. Crushing Sofia Sol closer, I groan into her, “Let’s get out of here.”

Biting her wet lips, she nods and runs a hand through her hair to collect herself while I dig my cash out. “How much you think it is?”

“Who knows,” I mutter, throwing down a twenty for the tip, and the spilled ice. “Let’s go find out.”

Her eyes are locked on my hand like she wants to hold it, keep it. I extend my palm out, and she slides her fingers across, taking her time to treasure the tingles it gives us before flicking a glance up. “Luke, I’m shaking.”

“Me too.”

“I want this,” she frowns, mouth twisting. “Maybe too much.”

My blood is pounding hard in my head, my chest, my cock. “Me too.”

Our fingers link as we walk inside. “Can we get the bill?”

The staff reacts, surprised and exchanging glances.

Our server struggles for the check.

“Something wrong?” I ask.

“No, uh…”

Sofia catches on.

I never would have.

She offers an amused, “You thought we were brother and sister.”

“Yes! You’re not?”

“No…we are.”

A stifled laugh breaks from me. It’s half snort and half I-want-to-get-to-the-hotel. Handing over my card I smirk, “Don’t tell anyone.”

With a devilish grin, Sofia whispers, “Especially our parents. Shhhh.”

Pulling her to me I kiss her, full tongue, right in front of our audience. She hooks a leg around my hip and moans. The staff is horrified. We separate, grinning our asses off. As I sign my name I tell them, “We’re not related,” and cock an eyebrow. “We’re pulling your chains.”

Sofia makes a face, “Party pooper.”

“You’re sick,” I laugh, taking her hand and enjoying the warmth and the pressure as our fingers lace again. Our strides are hurried, boots echoing off the ceramic tile.