LITMIR.BIZ

      Four hours, two lies and a disappointed date later, Carrie stepped through the doorway of her home and let her body relax against the front door.

      The date had been bearable. Dave was nice. Attractive. Had a good paying job. He was into her. What more could she want?

      Aleks Turko.

      Carrie kicked off her heels and left her sweater on the hall table. She padded her way across the plush neutral carpet.

      Tonight was the third date. The sex date. Dave had made reservations at the harbor. She really wasn’t into the whole show-off routine. Before she knew it, Carrie found herself walking up the plank to a large boat, trying to drown out the cheesy elevator music that played in the background while being led to a table by a pimple-faced maître d’.

      The jerk probably thought he could wine and dine her then slip into her pants. Or little black dress, actually. It had been a little tricky to maneuver her way out of sleeping with Dave, but she’d managed. A headache and an early morning. At least that was true. The Bridal Show was in three days, and she had a lot of work to do.

      Between the store and the launch of her own custom line, Carrie was too busy for dating but deep down she knew why she’d agreed. She needed to move on with her life, and sitting at home with her brother and Aleks wouldn’t accomplish it.

      Carrie made sure all the lights were off then headed up to her room, counting down the minutes until she would be asleep in her own bed.

      She thought about her dilemma as she slipped out of her dress. What did she need to do in order to move on? Him. That thought came out of nowhere. Carrie needed to do Aleks. That was the answer. She would have him and realize that he had been a teenage fantasy this whole time. That they didn’t belong together. She would satisfy her curiosity and finally break free of the Aleks Turko hold.

      Changing into a t-shirt and pajama pants, Carrie was comfortable at last. She hadn’t even worn matching underwear on her date. Nor had she prepared her nether area. Sleeping with Dave just wasn’t appealing. She rarely slept with any of the men she dated. Carrie had saved herself for a long time. Saved herself for Aleks. At a certain point, she realized it was a foolish dream. It was never going to happen.

      Carrie grabbed her cleanser from under the sink and scrubbed the makeup from her face. She was comfortable in her skin. What was it about her that Aleks didn’t like? She knew who she was. She had a dream. A goal. She was calm, collected and had a purpose. Except when it came to Aleks. With one simple glance he could render her speechless.

      She scraped her toothbrush across her teeth, barely concentrating on the task. Every time she let a man inside her, all she could think about was Aleks. It was him kissing her, touching her, writhing against her.

      Ramming her toothbrush in the holder, Carrie stared at her pathetic face in the mirror. It was time she did something about this crush. This all-consuming lust that took over every time he was near. All she had to do was think about him and she was good to go. Logically, it seemed the only way to get over Aleks would be to have him. Carrie would go after him, seduce him and finally take him to bed. Then she could move on. Aleks Turko would be ancient history. The only question was how she was going to do it? Would she even be able to convince him?

      Carrie flicked the light switch off and stepped out of the bathroom.

      “Was the evening not what you expected?”

      “Aleks! You scared me.” Here she was trying to think of a plan to get Aleks into her bed

      and there he stood, sexy as hell, not ten feet from it.

      “Sorry. I just thought I would check on you.” He twisted his body so his shoulder blocked

      some of her bedroom doorway.

      “You don’t have to do that. I’m not fifteen anymore.” No matter how much she loved him–

      correction–lusted after him, she still didn’t appreciate his over-protective nature.

      “Old habits are hard to break.”

      Habits? Didn’t he mean brotherly obligation.

      “Early night?” Aleks was coaxing for information. Did her brother put him up to this? “I have to prepare for the weekend.”

      “So he didn’t get any?”

      “That’s none of your business.” For as much as Carrie would love to give the play-by-play, as many times as she had heard Aleks recount his female affairs, she couldn’t.

      Brushing past him, she entered her room. He followed behind her and grabbed her elbow, twirling her around. A six foot two frame of all man bracketed her against the wall. He positioned one hand above her head and the other against his side, fist clenched.

      “Aleks?”

      “You shouldn’t go out with a guy like that.”

      He was close. The closest he’d ever been without her having to say uncle. The only time Aleks had ever climbed on top of her was when they’d wrestled, and they hadn’t done that since they were teenagers. Carrie could feel his minty breath caressing her jaw line. “Oh yeah. Why not?”

      “Because that guy isn’t good for you.”

      “Really? And what type of guy is good for me?” Carrie looked into his dark green eyes. The same eyes she had been fantasizing about since she was ten years old while she waited for the moment when Aleks would finally say I’m the one you should be with. That’s all Carrie ever wanted to hear. From him. From Aleks.

      She could feel her nipples harden under her tiny t-shirt. So much for her plan. He had her tied up in knots.

      “He tried to impress you, didn’t he?”

      “What?”

      “Your date. He pulled out all the stops trying to impress you, thinking that would get you into his bed. Where did he take you?”

      “To the harbor, a dinner boat cruise.” His presence stole the very breath she needed to keep herself standing.

      His

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