Green Eyes — Jessica N. Lane

Valerie Taylor has been best friends with Kyle York since middle school. She's also been in love with Kyle's older brother, Bash, for just as long. Well aware of the rivalry between the two brothers, Val knows that nothing could ever happen between her and Bash. Besides, he only sees her as a little kid anyway, right? Val's theory is put to the test when Bash returns home from college to take over the family business after his father's death just as Val and Kyle are entering their senior year of high school. Will Val be able to keep her vow to keep Bash at arms length when it becomes clear that her attraction to him isn't as one-sided as she thought, or will the temptation be too much?

-Excerpt-

“Here you go.” I extended my hand to surrender the file, but Bash grasped hold of my wrist instead.

Before I knew what was happening, I found myself yanked forward, and tumbling into his lap as his lips descended upon mine. The ability to think abandoned me, leaving me to do nothing else besides feel, and feel I did. I felt everything. Every stroke of his tongue, every nip of his teeth against my bottom lip, even the way he held me -firm as if he never wanted to be parted from me, yet gentle as if I was made of glass. I felt the way my heartbeat sped up, and how my blood quickened in my veins. I felt his silky hair between my fingers as I tangled them in it to anchor him to me. And I also felt the gut-gnawing guilt that overwhelmed me the minute my mind caught up to what my body was doing. Kyle was my best friend, and here I was sucking face with his worst enemy, his brother!

I pulled away, panting for air as I scrambled to stand on my feet again.

“That,” Bash began just as breathless as I was. “is how a man kisses a woman. My brother is a boy, Valerie. I am not. I have no time for or interest in playing games. Kyle doesn't deserve to breath the same air as you do, let alone your friendship, and now he has the nerve to try to reach for more than just that.”
I flinched as he abruptly slammed his hands against his desk with a loud bang, and stood from his seat to pace over to the windows. His hands were clasped behind his back as he surveyed the city with a critical eye, looking -for all intents and purposes- like a king gazing out at his kingdom.

“No. I won't allow it.” He turned back to face me, emerald gaze blazing with a fierce passion that was almost too much to comprehend. “I'm in love with you, Valerie, and I won't let him take you from me.”