A Brother's Love

Easton's Girl

I woke up early the next day, taking my time to get ready to head to the flower shop. I wasn’t sure if Easton would agree with me opening the shop, but I didn’t want to sit around and do nothing. It would drive me insane. I wore a pair of jeans praised with a flowy lilac top. Slipping some short socks on I grabbed a pair of sneakers and slipped them on. While I was pulling my hair up in a ponytail, my door opened revealing a tired looking Easton.

“M-Morning.” I greeted.

He walked up to me, his lips pressing against my temple. His warmth radiated off him, seeping into me. The fresh scent of his cologne lingered, settling some deep-rooted anxiety. I gave up on my hair and blankly stared at Easton.

“Jake will go with you to the flower shop.” He informed me, “Everything is okay.”

I grabbed onto the lapels of his navy-colored suit, “What did she want?”

Easton looked exasperated but still answered my question. He probably knew that I wouldn’t let it go until he talked to me.

“Just some information about you.” Easton quietly told me, “Some personal things they could use to kidnap you.”

"They must know I work at the flower shop," I whispered, noticing how my fingers trembled.

Easton noticed it too. He grabbed my hands and tightly held them in his, “They won’t hurt you, I won’t let them.”

I desperately looked at him, “What did you get yourself into, Easton?”

He chuckled, “It was nothing, she just hates being on the losing end. This is her wanting to show me that women are just as capable or whatever s**t she is spouting. We all know it is her pride that got hurt and now she wants me dead.”

“She?” I asked.

He grinned, “Yeah, she.”

“Is this a drug deal gone wrong?”

He laughed at me, shaking his head as he tried to shake off the laughter. I didn’t think whatever I just asked was that funny.

“I don’t deal in drugs.”

“Then what’s this about?” I asked, “An ex-lover who formed a gang to kill you because you broke her heart?”

He wanted to laugh again but I think he knew I’d hurt him if he did.

“I buy up properties, fix them up and sell them for a lot of money. Sometimes I keep them. She does the same. We work in the same circles. One night we got together to discuss a property which she wanted to have, one of mine. We couldn’t agree on the right price and things got out of hand.”

He called it a miscalculation when he appeared in front of my apartment.

“How did that meeting go so wrong?”

“The woman went all out with her charms, thinking I’d be wrapped around her finger. When things didn’t go as planned she asked her loyal puppy to shoot me.”

"You managed to escape," I stated.

He grinned at me, “That’s right.”

“How did you end up at my apartment though?”

He brushed his fingers over my sides, holding tightly onto my hips. I noticed how his lips lingered on my lips but he never leaned in. It wasn’t the right time. He was giving me answers so he knew I wasn’t in the mood to get lured into a little makeout session. It was never more than that despite my longing for it. At this point, I wondered if it would ever become something more. Right now I needed to focus on the information he provided though. The lustful thoughts needed to be pushed back.

“The property was some Chinese restaurant close to your apartment building.”

I rolled my eyes, staring at the ceiling in exasperation, “Of course you owe that building.”

“Of course I do.” He sounded so proud of himself.

I was faced with the Easton who let me meet him in his office to punch him in the face. Always sounding so damn cocky. As I stared into his eyes I knew I didn’t hate that about him. It was annoying at times but it was also something which got me wet between the thighs.

“What does the lovely lady want with that building?”

He shrugged, “Who knows. Maybe she loves the food.”

I grumbled, “I doubt it.”

Easton let go of me and ran his hands over his jacket, straightening it, “You’ll be safe with Jake so you can open the shop. I know you adore your little flower shop.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, “Why do you say it like that? You don’t think my flower shop is any good?” I asked him.

“I think you can make more money if you do a little marketing. You have regulars but they come back every two weeks or so. You need more people visiting your shop. You have a talent, Poppy. You can do a lot more if you shared it with the world.”

“Maybe I like things quiet.”

“Yeah, so you will forever live in that little apartment of yours with a flower shop that mostly break-even. Sometimes a good profit is made which you either invest in the shop or put aside for a rainy day. But it’s never enough to help you survive if you have to give up the flower shop.”

I stared at him in disbelieve, he knew so much about my shop that it scared me. He looked into it, there was no way he got all this just by visiting it once. I didn’t want to think about how much reach this man had. I pulled myself together, grabbing my bag and jacket to head out of the room. I could open the shop today so I didn’t want to waste time.

“Well, since I’m living in this luxurious mansion I can keep up with my little hobby.”

I thought he’d make a sarcastic comment about it not lasting forever. He didn’t though.

“That’s right, it will never come to that since you’ll be here with me.”

I nearly fell down the stairs, his words so captivating that I completely lost myself in them. Easton grabbed onto me, pulling me to him while he cursed under his breath.

“Watch yourself.” He growled.

I wrapped my arms around his waist, my bag and jacket dropped to the floor without much care. I stared up to him, my eyes gleaming hopefully.

“I can stay beside you?” I asked.

He looked at me as if I lost my mind. It broke my heart seeing that look in his eyes. I wanted to pull away but he wouldn’t let me. His grip around me tightened while he pressed his lips against my hair.

"You're my girl, of course, you'll be beside me from now on."

I lost it then. I grabbed his face in my hands and planted a wet kiss on him. He immediately responded lifting me up and carrying me effortlessly while my lips were peppering kisses all over his face. He opened the door to his room and kicked it closed behind him. He dropped me on his bed carelessly. While I bounced I watched him stand before me, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it aside. He slowly unbuttoned his white shirt, his eyes never leaving mine. I was panting, my breathing picking up with anticipation for what I had wanted for a long time. My heart was beating so fast and so loud I was sure he heard it. There was no room for embarrassment though. All we could do was focus on our desire.