by Ava Grace
“Why don’t you ask them at dinner tonight? What have you got to lose?”
He was right. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. My dad was a reasonable man so I was sure he’d at least listen to my ideas.
“Thanks, Josh. Talking to you has really helped me figure this whole thing out.”
His smile was quick to form. “Glad to be of service.”
He reached over and put a hand on my knee and I felt the touch reverberate throughout my entire body. I wanted him to leave his hand there because having him touch me like that didn’t feel wrong or inappropriate, it was intimate and even slightly naughty, but it felt right.
Unfortunately, all too soon he put his hand back on the wheel.
“We’re here,” he said, pulling into a space in the diner’s parking lot. “You gonna get my favorite?”
I rolled my eyes, grinning as I opened the car door. “Peach and pecan coming right up.”
Josh’s answering grin lit up his whole face.
“That’s my girl,” he said with a wink.
I must have replayed those three words in my head a hundred times if I’d replayed them once and each time they sounded just as good as the first time I heard them. And as I walked into the diner to pick up the pie, I allowed myself to dream of what it would be like to be Josh’s girl for real.
Chapter Four
“Josh, can you pass the salt?”
I dragged my eyes away from Taylor for long enough to respond to my mother’s request. “Sure.” I handed her the bottle then shoveled some peas into my mouth. “This is great, Mom.”
She beamed at me. “Thanks, honey.”
I managed to eat three whole mouthfuls of lasagna before my gaze sought out Taylor again. The food was good, but my attention was so focused on my stepsister that I barely tasted it. I couldn’t concentrate on anything when I was around her. Taylor’s smile was mesmerizing. She hadn’t stopped grinning all through dinner, not since she’d told her dad about her desire to study interior design and he’d said what a great idea it was and how proud he was of her. I had to admit, I was equally as proud of the woman that she was becoming. My stepdad hadn’t come right out and said it, but I was pretty sure he’d find a way to incorporate an interior designer into their realtor business, especially as my mom loved the idea. That man had it bad for her and did anything he could to please her. I was happy she had him in her life.
I ate another couple of mouthfuls then went back to watching Taylor. God, that smile killed me. Tonight was worse for me than any other day because instead of the baggy tops that she usually wore, she had on a white tee that fit snuggly to her every curve. It hugged her slim frame and accentuated her modest bust. I tried not to stare, but she looked good enough to eat—better than anything my mom had ever made and her cooking was pretty damn great. I didn’t know what had brought about this change of clothing choice, but I was all for it.
As I tried my hardest not to stare at Taylor’s chest, her nipples hardened into little buds, poking through the tight, white material. Dear God. I was done for. My cock filled with blood and a low moan slipped from my lips unbidden. At the last moment, I managed to turn it into a clearing of my throat, but it was touch and go as to whether or not anyone fell for it.
Taylor’s cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink and I wondered why she’d blushed. Was she aware that I couldn’t keep my eyes off her? Was that why her nipples had hardened into stiff peaks? The idea that she knew how hot I was for her made my cock even stiffer—which was pretty damn uncomfortable considering I was sitting at the dinner table with our parents. I would have given anything for my mom and stepdad to disappear so that I could have Taylor all to myself.
Thinking about what I could do to her if we were alone didn’t help my predicament. As a mental video of stripping her naked and bending her over the table rolled through my mind, I tried to push it away—to think of something boring to get rid of my erection. Unfortunately, I kept seeing that damn Catwoman costume and my dick got even harder. I took another bite of food and closed my eyes, trying like hell to calm down.
“Have you thought any more about going to that fancy dress party, Taylor?” My mom asked.
I snapped my eyes open and stared at my stepsister, waiting for her reply. She appeared to think about the answer before shaking her head.
“I don’t think I’ll bother. It’s not really my thing.”
“I know it’s not the same as your prom,” mom said, “but most of the senior class will be going, won’t they Josh?”
I nodded my agreement. “Yeah, everyone’s going.”
“Hasn’t anyone invited you?” my stepdad asked.
Taylor sighed. “Sure, but—“
My fork clattered to the plate.
“She doesn’t have to go with a date,” my mom reasoned.
I didn’t listen to her.
“Who asked you?” I demanded. “Was it Aiden?” If that fucker had dared to ask her out I was going to castrate him.
Taylor scrunched up her brow in confusion. “Aiden? No, it was Stephen, actually.”
Stephen? What the hell was he doing sniffing around again? I might have to have a little chat with him—get him to steer clear.
“Oh! Well, why don’t you say yes?” my mom enthused. “He’s such a nice boy. I always liked him.”
I didn’t.
“I never understood why you two broke up,” mom went on. “You made such a cute couple.”
I pushed away my plate. I didn’t have an appetite anymore.
Taylor met my gaze and the blush on her cheeks returned. She shrugged. “I didn’t feel anything for him,” she murmured.
My mom sighed. “Oh, that’s a shame. Never mind honey. You’ll meet the one soon enough, I’m sure.”
She already had met the one she just didn’t know it yet. I was going to have to find a way to show her how perfect I was for her. Taylor was made for me. I wasn’t about to let a little, insignificant fact like her being my stepsister get in the way of our happiness. She hadn’t said yes to Stephen, this time, but one day soon someone was going to ask her out and she was going to say yes to him.
I had to make my move before that happened. One way or another, I was going to make Taylor mine. I didn’t want to come on too strong and scare her off so I would have to spend some time thinking about the best way to go about it.
After we’d finish eating dinner, my mom grabbed her plate and water glass then got to her feet.
“Why don’t Taylor and I clear the table for you?” I offered. “You two can relax—put a movie on or something.”
My mom beamed at me then put the dishes back on the table. “Thanks, Honey.” She nudged my stepdad. “Come on, Luke, Grab the wine. Let’s go before he changes his mind.”
I chuckled as they made their way into the living room before seeking out Taylor’s gaze. Alone at last. Time to get the ball rolling.
“You don’t mind me offering up your services, do you?”
Taylor shook her head. “Not at all. I would have stayed to help, anyway.” She shot me an amused smile. “Like I always do.”
Grinning sheepishly, I stacked the plates and thought about my next move. Taylor poured the remaining water out of the glasses then lined them up on the dishwasher shelf. I watched her work for a while, but when my dick started showing renewed interest, I tore my gaze away and finished what I was doing.
“You look different today,” I remarked casually. “Did you do something to your hair?”
Taylor stopped what she was doing then turned to stare at me, her eyes wide. “I…”
I hid a smile and waited for her to form a reply. Finally, she shook her head then turned away from me so that I could no longer see the blush that had been forming on her cheeks. “No, I didn’t do anything to my hair.”
“Oh.”
After a few minutes of us working in a comfortable silence, her shoulders relaxed. She evidently thought I was going to let the subject drop. Wrong. I grinned broadly.
This was fun.
“Maybe it’s that top you’re wearing,” I mused. “I’m not used to seeing you in something so tight. It looks good on you—shows off your hot body. You should wear clothes like that more often.”
She turned back to me, her eyes comically wide. “You think so?”
I nodded. “Yeah. You look sexy, Tayl.”
I leaned around her to put the plates in the sink, essentially caging her in then I bent to her ear and whispered, “Makes me hard.”
She gasped and the breathy sound seemed to have a direct link to my dick, making it ache. The blush on her cheeks deepened and my dick liked that, too. I expected her to turn away, to try to hide from me, but she didn’t. Instead, she lifted her head and met my gaze, and the challenge in her eyes was one I was dying to accept.
We were so close. It would only have taken the slightest movement to close the distance between us and kiss her like I wanted to. But I wasn’t going to come on that strong and scare her away so I backed off. For now. I wasn’t trying to spook her, I just needed her to know that I wanted her—sexually as well as every other way that mattered.
When I finally slid my dick inside Taylor, it wasn’t going to be a one-time thing. I wanted her in every position on every flat surface available. Repeatedly. And when we’d exhausted the Kama Sutra, I wanted to turn to the first page and start acting out those positions all over again. A few dozen times inside her wouldn’t be enough. I was playing for keeps. She might not know it yet, but Taylor belonged to me and me alone. I could wait a while before I officially claimed her.
Maybe.
Chapter Five
I punched a number into my cell phone then stretched out on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. After a couple of rings, Lucy answered the call with a despondent sigh.
“Hey.”
That didn’t sound good. Her voice was hoarse, strained.
“How are you feeling?”
Another sigh. “Like crap.”
“Oh, man.”
A few days ago, Lucy had come down with strep and despite her best efforts to get rid of it before the party, she sounded worse than ever.
“Are you contagious?”
“Yeah. Can you believe it? Tonight was going to be the night that I kissed him and now I can’t even go.”
My stomach rolled and I wasn’t sure if that was from a sense of dread over her plan or elation that she was too ill to carry it out.
“I’m sorry, Luce,” I said, unsure what I was actually apologizing for—especially considering the fact that I wasn’t sorry at all.
“You’ll just have to go in my place.”
“What?” I spluttered, bolting upright into a sitting position. “What do you mean?”
“Well, someone has to keep an eye on him,” she rasped. “Come on Taylor, please? You have to make sure that none of those bitches from our class get within five feet of him. Do it for me. Please.”
Crap.
“I can’t go. I don’t have anything to wear,” I reasoned.
“So wear my costume. There’s no sense in letting it go to waste.”
My gaze shot to the closet door. “No way. I’m not wearing that!”
“Why not?” She sounded puzzled. “It would fit you. We’re the same size.”
“Hello. It’s me you’re talking to,” I reminded her. “Taylor. Can you honestly see me dressed as Catwoman?”
“Yes, I can.”
I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see it. “I’m sorry, Luce. It’s not going to happen.”
She let out a weary sigh. “Fine. But if Josh hooks up with someone tonight and ends up marrying her, I’m holding you personally responsible. Forever.”
I giggled at her overreaction. “Got it. See you later. Feel better.”
“Yeah. Later.”
I tossed my cell phone on the bed then looked over at the closet again. Lucy was crazy if she thought that I could ever wear that costume. I got up then crossed the room and opened the closet door, peering inside as if there was something in there that could bite me. The Catwoman costume was hanging on the back wall, on full display. It was so damn sexy it made me wish I did have the courage to wear it, but that just wasn’t me. I was ordinary—dull and a little boring. That outfit was anything but. I walked into the closet and lifted my hand, running it down the length of the shiny vinyl material then let out a sigh.
“Hot, isn’t it?”
I practically jumped out of my skin, dropping my hand like I’d been caught doing something I shouldn’t be doing. I spun around. Josh was leaning casually against the closet door, arms folded across his chest.
“I was just—“
“Why don’t you try it on?” He stepped into the closet then closed the door behind him, shutting us in. “No one will see but us.”
The small room felt suddenly even smaller. My pulse sped. “It’s not really me.”
He took a step closer. “Sure it is. Why don’t you try it on? For me?”
I couldn’t breathe. My heart was hammering against my chest as something occurred to me. Josh was flirting with me. But why? Was he teasing me—expecting me to run out of there like a scared rabbit? I might be introverted by nature, but I wasn’t shy or easily spooked. He should know that. I decided to play him at his own game and flirt right back—just to see what he’d do.
“Why?” I questioned. “If you saw me in that costume it would only turn you on and where would that get us?”
Josh’s eyes flared and he took another step closer. There was suddenly no air left in the small room.
“I’ll tell you where that would—“
“Josh!” his mom called from downstairs. “You promised to help me clean out the garage today! Get your ass into gear!”
I groaned inwardly. Perfect timing.
A cocky grin spread across Josh’s lips. “Saved by the bell, eh? Next time you won’t be as lucky.”
He leaned down until our lips were a hairsbreadth apart and I held my breath. He was going to kiss me. Dear God, I wanted him to so badly I couldn’t stand it. I came perilously close to leaning up the last inch or so, but I was rooted firmly to the spot, unable to move even a muscle. At the last moment, right before he touched his lips to mine, he leaned back then stood up to his full height.
With a wink and smile that could only be described as lethal, Josh sauntered out of the closet, leaving me to wonder what the heck had just happened. I’d never been more disappointed. I’d wanted that kiss. Desperately. And I’d been denied it. I’d felt an odd connection between us in the kitchen the other day too, and I’d been sure that Josh had been flirting with me then. Later, in retrospect, I decided that I must have imagined the whole thing. But now, I wasn’t as sure.
I turned to look at the costume and pursed my lips. There might be a way to get Josh to kiss me after all, but the plan would take an enormous amount of courage. It would probably be the most difficult thing I’d ever done in my life. Still, as I stared at the costume, my heart hammering from the almost kiss, I was pretty sure the end result would justify the means. I might finally be able to get what I’d always wanted. Josh’s lips on mine, his tongue pushing into my mouth, our breath merging as he kissed me like he meant it. Nervous anticipation fluttered in my belly and I ignored the warning bells that tried to sound in my mind to signal that it would be wrong to trick him into being with me. After all, it was just a kiss, wasn’t it?
Chapter Six
As the loud techno beat pounded around the room, I threw my arms in the air and let loose, swaying my hips in time to the music. Before I arrived, I thought I’d find the nearest corner and hide in it all night—I wasn’t even sure I’d have the guts to carry out my plan. But as soon as I’d taken off the long duster jacket I’d worn to hide the costume and walked through the room for the first time, I’d felt different. Bold and confident. I can only assume that was because I was playing a character—pretending to be someone else. Whatever the reason for my change in confidence, it
was working so I ran with it.
Jason Keller, a boy from my History class had grabbed me by the hand then swung me around in a circle under his arm. I’d been about to run away when he leaned in and shouted over the loud music, “You look great, Lucy! The costume’s as hot as you said it would be!”
Excitement made my breath come harder.
Not only did he not recognize me, but he believed I was Lucy.
The fact that the disguise had fooled someone gave me renewed hope that my plan would work. Lucy had told everyone that she would be wearing the Catwoman costume and as there were so little of my features on display, it was too difficult to tell the difference between us. Unless I spoke, no one would know. And I wasn’t about to do that. Fortunately, I had a reason to stay silent.
I pointed to my throat and shook my head. Thankfully, Jason nodded in understanding.
“Right! You’ve been ill! Damn, and you lost your voice? Hope you feel better soon!” He swung me around again then shouted. “I’m going to get another beer! Want one?”
When I shook my head, Jason shrugged then went off in search of his prize. I’d been about to go and find a chair to sit down for a while, but when one of my favorite songs blasted through the speakers I stayed on the makeshift dance floor in the middle of the large living room and began to move to the beat. It felt great to let loose—to dance like no one was watching me, which I could do for a change because essentially nobody was watching me. As far as my friends were aware, I wasn’t at the party. Everyone thought they were looking at Lucy and that meant I could act as wild as I wanted to—just like she would have done. It was oddly freeing.
Over the course of the next few songs, several people from my class came to say hi. They all thought I was Lucy. When the fourth song started to play I spotted Josh across the room and my earlier nerves returned with a vengeance. Josh looked incredible in his Batman costume, but he’d ditched his face mask, as had lots of the people in the room. He was nursing a beer and standing next to Marco Rossi, a boy from my second period History class. Marco was dressed in green hospital scrubs with a doctor’s face mask hanging off one of his ears. He was on the football team—I think he might have been a linebacker, but I wasn’t overly keen on football so I couldn’t be sure. He’d nodded an acknowledgment at me earlier, greeting me with a curt, “Hey, Luce.”