In his deep, husky voice, he says, “Something I should’ve done a long-ass time ago.”

He cups my face and slants his mouth over mine, capturing my lips in a heated kiss. I wait for my mind to freak out, but it never does. Instead, my body melts into him, and I fist his shirt, tilting my head back so he has full access.

I often wondered if kissing Kane would feel like kissing my brother. It doesn’t.

A moan escapes my throat when he slides his tongue in and massages it with mine. This kiss is hot and eager, and the heat between my thighs surprises me. Kane groans as he slides a hand behind my neck and up into my hair, and I contemplate ripping off his shirt. Knox isn’t the only one with tattoos. Kane also has them on his arm and chest, along with a six-pack of abs that I’ve seen dozens of times but have never explored.

With that thought, I lower my hands and slide them underneath his shirt, feeling his muscles tighten beneath my touch. He leans into me, his erection poking into my lower stomach, and the urge to release him consumes me. I wonder if he has dick piercings too. I’ve never had such vivid and intense thoughts of Kane before, but now that they’ve surfaced, I know they won’t just go away.

“Hads,” he murmurs, softly breaking our kiss. We pant into each other as he rests his forehead on mine. “You have no idea how goddamn long I’ve wanted to do that.”

“Why’d you stop then?” I whimper, almost pouting like a child who got their favorite toy taken away.

“Because if I didn’t, I’d rip off your clothes and fuck you until we both passed out from pleasure. And that’s not how I want this to go. I want to take you out. Spend time with you. This isn’t just about sex for me. I’ve imagined you underneath me more times than I can count, but I don’t want it to be the basis of our relationship. I want you to want this too, Hads.”

My throat suddenly goes dry, and I wish I could give in to what I’m feeling, but I know that’d be impulsive. I’m too indecisive to truly know what I want in the heat of the moment.

Kane looks at me, patiently waiting for me to respond, but instead, tears fill my eyes.

“I’m torn because I don’t want to hurt you, and at this point, no matter what I do, someone will get hurt. Whatever choice I make will affect us forever. That’s a lot for me to grasp, so I hope you can understand that I don’t have an answer right now.”