by Rona Jameson
He slowly inhaled and exhaled. “I’m being overprotective, huh?” He squeezed my hand.
“Just a bit.” Then I suggested, “We could hang out together…unless you think we’ll cramp your style.”
“Hell yeah, of course you can hang with us,” Leon said. “Who wouldn’t want to be seen with two hot chicks?”
“What?” Rogan turned on his friend, his eyes shooting fire while his hand tightened around mine.
I tugged him back around to face me while Leon took a step away. “Breathe, Rogan. Chill out, okay?”
He turned to his friends, still keeping hold of my hand. “No one touches her.” He glanced at Julia and sighed quietly. “Or Julia.”
“Hey!” Julia took exception. “You’re not my brother, so no protection thingy is going to work on me.” She stood with her hands on her hips and I smirked at my sassy friend.
“Let’s go inside before everyone sees us arguing like a bunch of old women,” Chase said, heading toward the front door.
Leon smirked and the others disappeared while Rogan held me back a moment longer. “I’m sorry I ran off this afternoon.” He blushed.
“Oh.”
He cleared his throat and let go of my hand and I immediately missed his warmth. He shoved me inside of the house in front of him, the warmth of his body against my back.
When my eyes focused, I was shocked to see Corinne across the room on her back while another girl licked something from her stomach. An audience cheered them on. I glanced at Rogan to see if he’d noticed, and he had, but he turned to me and rolled his eyes. He grabbed my hand and pulled me past sweaty bodies and into the kitchen. He snagged a beer from the large cooler before we headed out back.
Julia ran up to us, appearing half drunk already. “Isn’t this fun.” She giggled and burped. “Oops.” She covered her mouth and rushed off toward the shed at the end of the garden.
Someone had gone to the trouble of stringing up colored fairy lights to anything unmoving in the garden. It cast a soft glow in the dark. Couples made out in the shadows and I wondered if Julia would be okay.
I was nervous and chewed on my bottom lip, feeling out of depth, which Rogan would be aware of and would be the reason as to why he was keeping me close. I felt guilty letting Julia go off by herself because my friend never thought first—that was always me.
“Let me go check on her.” I moved forward but found my wrist captured in Rogan’s much larger hand.
“Be careful,” he warned when I met his gaze, a hint of something crossed his features.
“Let her go,” Chase grunted. “What’s gotten into you?” He punched Rogan in the arm and I found myself free to go after Julia, even though I felt the heat of Rogan’s gaze on my back.
I quickly followed the sound of Julia’s high-pitched giggle from behind the shed until silence descended.
Almost afraid to walk around the back, my mouth dropped open in surprise when I did. Julia was straddling a stranger on the ground while she kissed the hell out of him. The poor guy actually looked like he was in a daze. His hands were under Julia’s dress, clenching her butt, which was barely covered in flaming red panties.
“What are you doing?” I stumbled over my words. “Julia?” I hissed.
Julia looked up and gave me a drunken smile, then dived back in.
I opened and closed my mouth like a fish out of water, and then I noticed another boy in the shadows, watching what was going on. His white teeth flashed as he smiled and moved toward me. “Want to join the party?”
“Hell no!” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Mr. Voyeur wasn’t impressed and took a step closer as I took a step back.
“Where are you going?” he asked, reaching toward me with a meaty paw.
His fingers skimmed my arm but didn’t get a grip.
Thank God.
My breath jammed in my lungs and I panicked because I didn’t know what to do. I needed to get help, but at the same time, I didn’t want to leave Julia. I glanced at my friend and thought she’d be okay for now, so I made the choice to find Rogan or one of their friends.
I turned tail and ran back up the garden, only to hear the beast gaining on me. Just as I came into the light from the patio, he grabbed me from behind, my feet leaving the ground. I screeched and tried to kick him. He was too strong for me, but my scream had drawn everyone’s eyes to the baboon that had me clenched in his arms.
To my relief, I heard, “Get your hands off my sister.”
Rogan.
I spotted Leon in the crowd of spectators and shouted, “Go help Julia behind the shed.”
Leon blinked and seconds later took off with two others from the football team while Chase stood side by side with Rogan.
“Let her go.” Rogan dropped his beer on the deck and moved closer, his hands flexing at his sides. “Now.”
The baboon did and I dropped to the ground—my butt taking the brunt of the fall. The baboon took off running.
Someone shouted, “We’ll get him,” as others took off after him.
Rogan didn’t. He was quickly by my side, pulling me to my feet.
“You okay?” he asked, tugging me against his chest when he noticed how much my hands trembled. “What did that asshole do to you?”
I clenched his T-shirt in my fist and buried my face against his neck. “Nothing,” I whispered. “He took off after me. Scared me.” My other arm slipped around his back, my fingers clung to his belt.
“You want me to take you home?”
I nodded. “I need to make sure Julia is okay first.”
I inhaled Rogan’s familiar scent, which helped in calming my nerves. My heart slowed, and then I released the death grip I had on his shirt and belt before I finally lifted my gaze to his.
His hands gripped my forearms and he offered me a soft smile. “We’ll take Julia home first, okay?”
Tears hovered on my lashes and, although I tried to hide them from Rogan, he was too observant. He caught my jaw in his warm hand and turned me so he could look more closely. His lips were so close.
“Don’t hide from me. I’m your home, Fallon. Your safety. Always.” He kissed me on the forehead and wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we waited for Leon to reach us with an unconscious Julia in his arms.
“She’s okay,” Leon stated. “Too much to drink.”
I frowned. “How? We haven’t been here long enough.”
“That’s true. I haven’t even finished one.” Rogan frowned and shook his head.
“She had a couple of shots,” Leon admitted.
“Let’s just get her home. I’ve had enough of this party.”
I didn’t say anything as I hid my face in Rogan’s shoulder and let him lead me out of the place.
Rogan was right.
He was my home. He was my safety.
I curled up in bed and could feel the glare coming from Rogan, who was spread out on the sofa in my bedroom. It was actually a sofa bed when it was pulled out, but, for now, he was lounging on it with a cushion hugged against his chest while we watched a movie—Pretty in Pink.
I grinned when I thought about how many times over the years I’d made him watch the old eighties movie. There was just something about it that had a hold on me; it was one of my favorite movies. I was surprised Rogan hadn’t already fallen asleep because he could probably recite it word for word at this point, just like the Goonies when we were kids.
I let my eyes travel over Rogan as I remembered how Julia had once described him—tall, dark and sexy. I had to admit, he was. His dark hair had been cut for the wedding and although I liked it short, I missed the longer strands. Rogan didn’t look seventeen with his height and physique; he looked like he was in his early twenties. Julia said he always looked like he’d just had hot sex.
My eyes landed on his bare legs, his thighs were strong, and covered by dark hair. I remembered the feel of them under my hands when I’d rubbed sunscreen onto his skin. From the way he re
acted, I knew he’d enjoyed my touch. I’d felt him shiver when my hands had been on his thighs, which was why I’d slipped the tips of my fingers beneath the hem of his shorts. The feel of him had made my body feel hot and swollen.
Rogan cleared his throat and my eyes snapped into focus. He watched me closely with a raised brow. “The movie finished five minutes ago.”
“Oh.” I grabbed the remote and switched it off before I switched the lamp off at the side of the bed. It was so much easier to hide, not only my embarrassment, but also my longing.
The silence made me nervous, and then I felt the bed dip.
“Talk to me,” he said. “Something is going on. It’s annoying as hell not knowing everything that’s going on in your life, so you need to talk to me.”
I forgot about everything else and turned toward my brother, knowing he’d always be there for me regardless of our forbidden attraction.
“Fallon,” he mumbled. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not going to say anything?”
“Because I’m not.” I sighed. “I don’t really know what’s going on.” Liar! “Maybe it’s hormones or something. I just feel changes taking place in my body and I don’t know how to handle them.” I teased without thinking about it. “Even my boobs have grown and I’m bursting out of my bras.” I sulked. “I hate having big boobs.”
“Jesus!” he cursed. “You need to discuss that shit with Mom.”
I giggled at my big strong brother sounding hot and bothered. “You’re supposed to be my older brother. Someone to show me the ways of growing up.” I poked him in the chest. “You know? Teach me about boys and sex.”
He made a weird noise, and it was all I could do not to laugh. Make no mistake, if it weren’t so dark in my room, I wouldn’t have said anything. But in the dark, I felt brave and didn’t care about what came out of my mouth.
“I think…” He paused and cleared his throat. “I think this conversation really does need to happen with Mom…while you’re getting new…um…underthings.”
I rolled my eyes. “Underthings? Really? Since when have you been shy, Rogan Scott.”
“Since my sister, Fallon Scott, started talking about boys and sex. I don’t even want to think of you and that shit.” His voice darkened and he became serious. “I can’t ever think about you and a boy, Fallon. It will kill me.”
“You’re a boy.” I knew what he’d meant but I tried to lighten the sudden rise in temperature.
“Oh, I hadn’t noticed.” He teased.
“Wiseass.” I poked him again. “What I mean is that you’re a boy and know all about sex. So why can’t you tell me?”
The silence grew between us and, as I searched his face in the dark, I realized he had his eyes closed tightly. “You are too young to know about boys and sex…and because you have no idea how much I want to show you.”
My heart pounded. “After what I witnessed by the river, I don’t think I’m too young. Besides, watching Leon do what he was doing was…um…enlightening.”
He cursed. “You seriously did not go there? That wasn’t meant for you to see.”
“Well, I did. So did Julia.” I smirked. “He’s really big.”
“I’m going to bed,” he grumbled, sounding annoyed. “Forget about Leon.”
If it wasn’t so late I was sure he would’ve banged the door closed when he left my room, but before the door completely closed, I whispered, “I can’t forget what you looked like.”
His back tensed, but he didn’t face me or come back inside. Instead, he made sure the door was closed properly, and then I heard his own bedroom door closing.
Why hadn’t I kept my mouth shut? I didn’t want to be alone tonight. I’d wanted him to stay with me. But, of course, I became brave and teased and pushed him until he left.
Nice going, Fallon.
What I said was true, though. In the back of my mind was the image of Rogan as he’d turned in my direction, fully nude. The sun had kissed his skin, leading down to the most private part of him and the patch of dark hair surrounding it. I’d tried my best not to think about him like that. I shouldn’t think about him like that, but how could I not? He was beautiful and shone brighter than his two friends.
Even thinking about Rogan in that way made my skin feel hot and tight, and my body reacted in a way that was new to me. I knew it wasn’t normal. But when I thought about it, nothing had been normal about my relationship with him. We’d always been close and done stuff together. He had never once told me to get lost and leave him alone. He’d always been there.
Was that why he’d started looking like my favorite dessert and I’d fallen in love with him? We never talked about our last camping trip, or the wedding where I begged him to kiss me. His words had sent my heart soaring seconds before he crushed it as he dragged me back inside the country club.
I did understand why things between us had to be different but, at the same time, the same as usual. I just didn’t like it.
As I drifted off to sleep, I dreamed of Rogan as I saw him by the river.
11
Fallon
Julia and I were at the river with the boys after Rogan had made a big deal about the last time he’d gone swimming with his friends. We all had swimsuits on this time, but, unfortunately, one of the guys had invited Corinne and her friends along. I suspected Corinne had been the one to wrangle the invitation out of them. Corinne, Mandy, and SuAnne got comfortable on towels opposite me and Julia.
Rogan still hadn’t gone on his date with Corinne and she wasn’t happy about it. I couldn’t understand why he didn’t just cancel instead of keeping her hanging. The girl could barely hide her anger when the guys had dropped their things beside me. It was how it had always been, especially for Rogan. He knew I wouldn’t let anyone do shit to his clothes while he was swimming or just messing around.
I didn’t miss the look Corinne kept giving Rogan, and not only was it annoying me, it was bugging the shit out of Julia too. I was still annoyed at Rogan for agreeing they could join us. Surely he could have disagreed, but he didn’t. We’d never hung out with the other three before, and I was jealous. I shouldn’t be, but it was there, eating away at me.
“Ignore them,” Julia whispered.
“It’s not that easy,” I hissed.
I got an uneasy feeling as I moved my gaze toward my best friend before I focused on the guys. Today they wore shorts while I wore a bikini, along with Julia. I was sure Rogan would go nuts when I removed my shorts and T-shirt. He hated his friends looking at me, and they would be looking once I revealed the skimpy bikini.
I glanced out of the corner of my eye and watched Julia strip down to her blue bikini while Leon tried his best not to be too obvious about staring at her. Chase thumped him on the arm, and Leon lost his balance and fell into the river. While Chase was bent double laughing at the idiot, Rogan gave Chase a shove and he fell in too.
They both came up spluttering water.
While Rogan was distracted with the two idiots, I tossed my clothing to the side and sneaked up on him. Rogan turned just as I reached out and shoved him. His eyes widened as he lost his balance. I wasn’t quick enough and he grabbed my wrist, pulling me in with him.
I screamed and then I was choking as I went under the cold water. An arm went around my middle seconds before a large body pulled me to the surface, where I spluttered and cursed.
“Watch your mouth,” Rogan hissed in my ear, although he was laughing, splashing me with droplets of water as he shook his head just like a dog would do.
Julia joined us and jumped in close to Leon, and the boy didn’t disappoint. He tugged her up to the surface and laughed when she attached herself to him. His grin became wider when he swam off with her without anyone complaining.
“At least she’s no longer using me.” Rogan kept us afloat, and I let him, enjoying the feel of being pressed against his hard body.
“She saw Leon the other week, so I think she has ideas…being obsessed with sex and ev
erything.”
Rogan tightened his grip on my waist and pulled me in close until his reaction to my closeness pressed against my thigh. He cursed under his breath and put me slightly away from him.
“I thought I told you to forget about that.” He glared, and his chest heaved. “Fallon, answer me.”
“You didn’t ask me a question.” I rolled my eyes and tried to move away but he wouldn’t let go.
“You’re a pain in my butt,” he growled, climbing out of the river. He held his hand out for me and, with a tug, we were both standing on the bank dripping wet with Corinne and her friends glaring at us, or rather me. The look Corinne gave Rogan was meant to entice, but he ignored her.
Inside I was laughing my head off, but thought better of doing it to the girl’s face, even with Rogan standing next to her.
I bent over and grabbed a towel, tossing an extra one to Rogan. His eyes widened and his jaw visibly tensed when he looked me over. I knew he would be annoyed at my bikini, but I thought he’d let it go since we weren’t alone. He usually did, but I didn’t think I was going to get away with it this time.
In one stride, Rogan moved in front of me with his back toward Corinne and friends, and hissed between clenched teeth, “What are you wearing?”
“What does it look like?” I held his gaze, anger flashing in my eyes. “There is nothing wrong with it.”
“You’re showing too much skin.” Rogan turned and headed toward the water, but then stormed back. “Chase can’t take his eyes off of you in that. I really don’t want to kill him for having dirty thoughts about you.” He stormed off and hurled himself into the water, but not before I heard him curse loudly.
“Seems like there’s trouble with the Scott siblings,” Corinne said, gloating. “Love dies.” She sighed. “I can’t wait for that to happen between you two. Maybe he’ll concentrate on what’s around him, instead of trying to keep you safe from his friends.” She rolled her eyes. “Chase only wants you because you’re forbidden fruit. As soon as he’s had you, he’ll throw you away.”