at me, making me curse myself yet again.
Damn
prick seemed to get the best of me far more easily these days…
I
only considered backing down for a brief moment - in truth, I’d be glad to get
away, and the excuse to visit some of the places I’d been picturing was a
welcome one. I could handle a few hours with my arrogant stepbrother, and
perhaps it would even be a chance to sort a few things out between us.
“I’ll
just go change.”
I
swept up my towel and papers and turned for the house, feeling his eyes
lingering on me with a heat that should have been unwelcome.
“If
you’re sure, baby…but it’s definitely not required.”
Or
maybe not.
I
shot a scowl over my shoulder, but couldn’t help putting just a little more
swing into my hips, tilting my ass at him before I disappeared into the house
and up the stairs to change. It was a terrible idea, but I’d never taken his
provocations without a fight and I couldn’t bring myself to start now. If he
wasn’t going to respect the boundaries that should exist between us…well, no
harm in making him pay for it.
Except
for the hormone-crazed state you end up in afterwards…
Argh.
One summer. That was it - all I had to survive, and then I’d be done.
Irritating stepbrother consigned to a few holiday days a year, if he even
bothered to make them...with his job, there would be no guarantee even if he
did want to.
Agreeing
to this trip was probably a mistake, but I couldn’t help the spring in my step
as came back down, dressed in a casual t-shirt and shorts now. I was
enthusiastic at the thought of a change of scenery, and with the endless
possibilities I was now researching, everything seemed so much more optimistic.
The past with Seth was just that - the past, and I was too excited for the
future to dwell on it too much.
Pausing
at the foot of the stairs, I turned for the front entrance and penned a quick
note to my father on the side-table there.
Out with Seth, may be late for dinner.
Love you, A.
Then
I headed out the door towards the gravel section of the entrance that usually
held Seth’s truck. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the bright summer sun
again, which is the only explanation I had for the way they settled on his
tall, built body leaning casually against the side of it, arms folded and one
ankle tucked around the other showcasing his muscles and outlining the groin.
Even my breath catching at that sight couldn’t disturb the happiness bubbling
up in my chest while I made my way over, shooting him a grin.
“Posing
for me?”
He
shifted out of that unconscious stance with a puzzled glance as I moved around
to the passenger side.
“Huh?”
“You
look like you could be on the cover of some all-male masculinity magazine, up
against the truck like that.”
“Yeah,
I think the ‘magazine’ part probably defeats that…”
He
stepped behind me as I opened the door, and before I could question it, his
strong hands were on my hips while I stepped up into the high truck, steadying
my ascent. Heat blossomed under his fingers as they caressed the top of my
shorts, shooting straight to my center before I managed to slip out of his
grasp. I turned back with a glare to see his almost-innocent smile undermined
by the dangerous flash of his gray eyes.
“Seth…”
“Thought
you needed a hand, babe. It’s a big truck.”
“And
you were suddenly overcome with consideration? Sure you’re feeling alright, babe ?”
The
height of the seat compensated somewhat for the difference between us but being
able to meet his gaze evenly didn’t help with the way I was hyper aware of his
hand resting dangerously close, his large body blocking the doorway,
simultaneously sheltering and enclosing me in a way I feared I liked too much.
“I’ve
always known what you needed, Bella.”
For
a second, I considered calling the whole thing quits as something in me seized
at those words - but then his expression relaxed and the casual smile
Damn
prick seemed to get the best of me far more easily these days…
I
only considered backing down for a brief moment - in truth, I’d be glad to get
away, and the excuse to visit some of the places I’d been picturing was a
welcome one. I could handle a few hours with my arrogant stepbrother, and
perhaps it would even be a chance to sort a few things out between us.
“I’ll
just go change.”
I
swept up my towel and papers and turned for the house, feeling his eyes
lingering on me with a heat that should have been unwelcome.
“If
you’re sure, baby…but it’s definitely not required.”
Or
maybe not.
I
shot a scowl over my shoulder, but couldn’t help putting just a little more
swing into my hips, tilting my ass at him before I disappeared into the house
and up the stairs to change. It was a terrible idea, but I’d never taken his
provocations without a fight and I couldn’t bring myself to start now. If he
wasn’t going to respect the boundaries that should exist between us…well, no
harm in making him pay for it.
Except
for the hormone-crazed state you end up in afterwards…
Argh.
One summer. That was it - all I had to survive, and then I’d be done.
Irritating stepbrother consigned to a few holiday days a year, if he even
bothered to make them...with his job, there would be no guarantee even if he
did want to.
Agreeing
to this trip was probably a mistake, but I couldn’t help the spring in my step
as came back down, dressed in a casual t-shirt and shorts now. I was
enthusiastic at the thought of a change of scenery, and with the endless
possibilities I was now researching, everything seemed so much more optimistic.
The past with Seth was just that - the past, and I was too excited for the
future to dwell on it too much.
Pausing
at the foot of the stairs, I turned for the front entrance and penned a quick
note to my father on the side-table there.
Out with Seth, may be late for dinner.
Love you, A.
Then
I headed out the door towards the gravel section of the entrance that usually
held Seth’s truck. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the bright summer sun
again, which is the only explanation I had for the way they settled on his
tall, built body leaning casually against the side of it, arms folded and one
ankle tucked around the other showcasing his muscles and outlining the groin.
Even my breath catching at that sight couldn’t disturb the happiness bubbling
up in my chest while I made my way over, shooting him a grin.
“Posing
for me?”
He
shifted out of that unconscious stance with a puzzled glance as I moved around
to the passenger side.
“Huh?”
“You
look like you could be on the cover of some all-male masculinity magazine, up
against the truck like that.”
“Yeah,
I think the ‘magazine’ part probably defeats that…”
He
stepped behind me as I opened the door, and before I could question it, his
strong hands were on my hips while I stepped up into the high truck, steadying
my ascent. Heat blossomed under his fingers as they caressed the top of my
shorts, shooting straight to my center before I managed to slip out of his
grasp. I turned back with a glare to see his almost-innocent smile undermined
by the dangerous flash of his gray eyes.
“Seth…”
“Thought
you needed a hand, babe. It’s a big truck.”
“And
you were suddenly overcome with consideration? Sure you’re feeling alright, babe ?”
The
height of the seat compensated somewhat for the difference between us but being
able to meet his gaze evenly didn’t help with the way I was hyper aware of his
hand resting dangerously close, his large body blocking the doorway,
simultaneously sheltering and enclosing me in a way I feared I liked too much.
“I’ve
always known what you needed, Bella.”
For
a second, I considered calling the whole thing quits as something in me seized
at those words - but then his expression relaxed and the casual smile
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