The Boy Next Door by Katy Baker Page A

let him know that, of course. He was still the enemy after all.
    She took a deep breath, tilted her chin, and said curtly, “It's good of you to agree to help out.”
    If he noticed the frostiness in her tone he didn't show it. In fact his grin grew even wider. “My pleasure. I’m looking forward to catching up.”
    He stepped close and folded her into an embrace. She stiffened, unsure how to react. His arms were smooth and strong around her, his muscles hard. And his smell! A heady mix of sweat and something Melissa couldn’t quite put her finger on - something that conjured up images of beaches and palm fringed oceans. It enveloped Melissa, swept her away. She sucked a breath through her nostrils and circled her arms around his back, pulling him close and sweeping her palms over the solid muscles beneath his shirt.
    Something tingled deep within her groin and her nipples began to tighten. Good God! Rory Thompson was turning her on!
    She stepped back quickly, putting an arm's length between them and doing her best to arrange her features into a detached, lofty expression. Something dark glinted in Rory’s eyes as he watched her. Desire?
    The tingling in her pussy deepened as she thought about what that could mean. How would it feel to have those strong hands caressing her skin? That toned, tanned, gorgeous body on top of her, tight buttocks pounding between her legs?
    Stop it! she told herself. That’s Rory Thompson you're getting horny about! Get a grip!

    She was saved from further embarrassment by the slamming of a door upstairs. After a moment, Melissa’s mother, Claire, came staggering down the stairs laden with enough bags to sink a small ship.
    Passing the luggage to Melissa's father, she clapped her hands and exclaimed, “That's not Rory is it? How you've grown!”
    She pulled him into a hug and fawned over how handsome he’d got. Melissa rolled her eyes and bit back a retort. No doubt Rory was enjoying every minute of this. He’d always been a goody-goody who knew how to sweet talk her mother.
    After releasing Rory, she gave Melissa an admonishment about not having any parties, her father kissed her on the cheek, then her parents picked up their suitcases and hurried out the front door. And that was it. They were gone. Melissa was left alone with Rory.
    Neither moved. Melissa lifted her chin, turning a haughty expression on him. Rory watched her, brown eyes seeming deep enough to fall into. Her body came alive with arousal as he watched her, deepening the ache between her legs and turning her pussy hot with longing.
    “So my father is paying you to look after things, right?” she said, determined to take control of the situation. “Well there's a pile of my dirty washing in the laundry. You can start with that.”
    She marched off in the direction of the kitchen expecting him to follow her like he did when they were kids. But after five paces she halted and turned to see him standing in the same spot. “What are you waiting for? I told you to do my washing!”
    “No can do,” he replied, shaking his head and making his brown waves bounce. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. “Your father was very specific about the jobs I'm to do. What was the warning he gave me? ‘Don't let my daughter manipulate you because she'll have you running around after her like an idiot given half the chance’.”
    And with that he sauntered past her into the kitchen, leaving Melissa spluttering with fury. Turning to watch him go, Melissa put her hands on her hips and stared.
    What the hell? The Rory Thompson she remembered would do whatever Melissa asked. As long as it didn't get him into trouble with the teachers, of course. He was too much of a kiss-ass for that. But this Rory Thompson seemed to think he was in charge! The cheek of it!
    Pursing her lips in annoyance, Melissa charged through the kitchen and out the back door, poised to give him a tongue-lashing but skidded to a stop at the sight