Love or Lust - Rachael Brownell Page 0,3

I don’t trust Jace. He’s never given me a reason not to.

Though, if he’s going to stay in the game, he has to play. He has to go back and spend the night with her. Even if it’s only for two hours while they watch a movie. Hopefully on opposite sides of the room.

Before I can say anything, Claudia is standing in my open doorway calling Jace’s name. They share a look, and then he’s out the door, closing it behind him.

“Well, that was interesting,” Lennon says after a few moments of intense silence. I’m still staring at my front door, unable to look away.

“Something like that. When are you spending time with her?”

“Not until the end of the week. None of us are looking forward to it, though Milo wasn’t bitching about her the way we were. I have a feeling he wouldn’t kick her out of bed if she threw herself at him. If previous actions are any indication anyway.”

Gross. I really don’t want to think about Milo and Courtney. Or him and Natasha. Hell, who hasn’t he slept with? Aside from me? Bella? God, I hope she didn’t go there. Especially since he seems like a hit it and quit it kind of guy.

Lennon starts the movie, but I’m suddenly not in the mood. Not even for Ryan’s sarcasm, which I’ve never not enjoyed. All I can think about is Jace. Is he with Teegan? Are they kicking him out? Did he break some kind of rule we weren’t aware of?

Anything could be happening right now, and I’m stuck here with Lennon. Someone I should cherish spending time with but can’t even bring myself to look at right now, my eyes locked on the TV.

Until Lennon drapes his arm over my shoulder.

That’s when I make the mistake of looking at him.

And he takes advantage of that, pressing his lips against mine before I realize what’s happening.

Chapter Two

Day 31

I made my decision.

I didn’t need to think about it.

Because I let him kiss me. Should I have pushed him away? Yeah, probably, but I didn’t. Not because I wanted to lead Lennon on but because I enjoyed kissing him.

It was different than it was with Jace. It was different than any other kiss Lennon and I had shared.

He didn’t ask for permission. He commanded the kiss. His actions demanded I kiss him back. And I did.

Without a second thought.

His kiss stole my breath at first, but then I gave it willingly until my chest constricted so tightly I had to pull away.

I’d never been kissed like that before. By anyone.

And I liked it.

I liked that he took charge. It made me wonder if he was like that in all aspects of his life. I mean, as a lawyer I can see him controlling the courtroom without even trying. His stature alone can be intimidating. His mere presence has me turning my head to look at him. I imagine women fall at his feet, and they don’t know anything about him.

They want to, though.

They should.

It’s his eyes that give him away. I can’t look into them and not see the sweet man beneath their gaze.

And when I finally found the strength to pull away from him last night, I couldn’t help but get lost in them. Then, for a brief second, I let myself fall. Because it could have easily been Lennon and not Jace.

But it wasn’t.

Jace was the one who crawled into my bed last night. It was his arms that were wrapped around me when I woke up. His body pressed against mine in the shower. His name I was screaming as I came undone.

Yet I can’t shake the vision of Lennon’s gaze from my memory.

I also can’t keep Courtney and Teegan’s words from tormenting me.

Telling me I couldn’t have both of them. That it was unfair to everyone else.

As if I planned to put myself in the middle of a freaking love triangle.

Still, every moment I spend with Lennon or Jace has their words echoing through my mind.

Am I being selfish?

Even though I made my decision.

And shared that decision with both of them.

Made sure I was clear about what I wanted. Who I wanted.

Does it mean I’m cheating at the game if I don’t push Lennon away? If I let him kiss me and then kissed him back?

“You okay this morning?” Jace asks.

Staring into the cup of coffee I have poised at my lips, I shake my head, and set it down. He made me breakfast, but