Fate (Choices #2)

by Lane, Sydney

  It’s so damn hard when the girl you’re with is not the girl you want to be with.

  I paste on my devilish smile, the one the girls can’t resist, hoping she’ll forgive me. “Sorry.” That’s it. The best I can come up with. No excuse, no protest. How can I explain something I don’t even understand?

  “It’s OK. Maybe another time.” When I look into her knowing eyes, I can see that she really isn’t the kind of girl I thought she was. And maybe if Quincy didn’t exist, she would be good for me. It’s just that, no matter how hard I try, I don’t feel that pull deep down inside of me.

  Before I can reply, arms wrap around my waist from behind, and I’m lifted off my feet before being slammed back down. Seth has finally made an appearance. I have no idea where he’s been all night, but he’s in rare form. “Brody! Come on, man! I’ve got some body shots lined up in the kitchen.” He throws an arm around my shoulder and turns to face Corrine.

  “What the fuck, Seth? I told you to keep everyone down here.” When he doesn’t answer, I look over at him. Oh, good fuckin’ grief. He looks as if he’s been hit by a Mack truck, his mouth hanging open and his eyes glued to Corrine. I know exactly how he feels.

  I elbow him in the ribs in an attempt to get his attention. “Seth? Dude, you can’t have people in the cabin.”

  “Yeah. I’ll go take care of it.” He’s talking to me, but he hasn’t taken his eyes off Corrine. “You wanna introduce me to your friend?” He gestures with the hand hanging over my shoulder.

  “Seth. Corrine. Corrine. Seth.” I don’t even know why I bother. They stare at each other, but neither of them say a word. “Hey, Corrine, do you mind if I run up to the house and check on things? Seth can show you around.” She nods, smiling shyly at him. Wondering what the hell I’m doing, I walk away, leaving that sweet girl alone with a crazy man. But after the way she handled me, I know she’ll be just fine with him.

  When Jenna and Eric stop me, it’s all I can do to be civil. I'm going to talk to Quincy tonight. But everything seems to be conspiring against me, stopping me from doing just that.

  “Hey, Bro. I asked Jenna to spend the night, but she brought Quincy with her.” I see exactly where this is going. And I like it. “You got an extra room she can stay in?” His eyes plead with me to say yes. He’s going to go too far and lose his guitar if he doesn’t slow down.

  I can’t stop the big goofy grin that spreads across my face. This is perfect. “Sure. She can stay in my sister’s room.” Declan will have to go back to town, and this will give me the perfect opportunity to talk to Quincy. We have unfinished business to discuss.

  Declan and Quincy are walking down the path from the cabin when I see them again. She has a red cup, and she’s taking long drinks from it. He looks worried, as if he’s not exactly happy with something. I get it. Quincy is drinking. The only question is…. Why?

  I can only stand by when he pulls her into a hug and gives her a quick kiss on the lips. My lips. My fists clench with the urge to hit something. My plans don’t seem so grand now. I can’t talk to her when she’s been drinking. I can’t even get laid if she’s been drinking. That’s not my style.

  She watches as he walks away, standing there long after he's gone. She takes a lengthy drink from her cup then runs the back of her arm across her lips. Slowly, I walk in her direction. It’s now or never. “Whoa! Careful, tiger! What’s the rush? I didn’t think you drank alcohol.” Something tells me this isn’t about peer pressure.

  “I don’t. I mean didn’t. Before now.” She looks everywhere but at me, and her cheeks are my favorite shade of pink. It’s good to see that I can still rattle her cage. When she finally meets my eyes, realization dawns on me. She's jealous of Corrine. And I love it.

  “So, Quince. You’re not a little jealous, are you?” I smile as I lean down, forcing her to look into my eyes. If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under.

  “I don’t care what you do, Brody.” She nervously shifts from foot to foot. “So, umm, Jenna says we are staying. Where do you want me to sleep?” All kinds of thoughts rush through my head. I bet I could teach her a thing or two if she’d stay in my room.

  “I want you to sleep in my bed, but I don’t think that would go over too well.” I pause, giving her a chance to rip into me. All I get is a smirk. “So, your room is at the top of the stairs, second door on the right. There is a bathroom next to it. There are extra toothbrushes and stuff in the drawer on the left. It’s my sister’s room, so there should be t-shirts in the dresser if you want something to sleep in. If you need anything else, come find me.” Again, I prepare for her verbal assault, but she doesn’t say a word. She looks defeated, and I hope she’s done fighting this battle.

  Slightly drunk and muttering under her breath as she stalks away, Quincy Priest is one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. The idea of her in my bed does crazy things to me. I don’t bring girls here. This is my getaway, the only place I don’t have to worry about anyone else. But fuck if she doesn’t make me want to throw her over my shoulder, carry her up the stairs, and throw her into my bed. I bet she wouldn’t be smirking at me then.

  I need to get things with Corrine squared away. I invited her here, so I feel responsible for her, even if she did see right through me. Hoping she’s not pissed, but knowing I deserve it, I head down to the bonfire to find her. If she were any other girl, I wouldn’t give a damn.

  Seth is standing by the fire, posing as if he’s in an Iron Man competition. He rolls his arm up, making a muscle, and turns to the side. “Take a look at this. What girl could resist this?” Corrine and her friends are laughing, and I’m glad her night wasn’t ruined after all. “Girl, you don’t know what you’ve been missing.” Seth growls for effect.

  I walk up behind him and clap him on the shoulder. “Seth, you wouldn’t be trying to steal my girl, would you?”

  “Only if she were yours, Brody.” He drops his arm and stands up straighter. His eyes crinkle as he grins. “Too bad she isn’t.” He may be crazy, but this is why he’s my friend.

  “Since I’m sitting right here, I can safely say I don’t belong to anybody.” Corrine rolls her eyes at our banter. Yeah, I really like her. Seth pulls his shirt up over his stomach, posing. “Really, Corrine? After I showed you my fine physique and everything?” All of the girls burst out laughing at his antics, and I would be surprised if he didn’t end up with at least one of them tonight.

  “Well, girls, it’s been fun. Glad you all could make it.” This is when I’d usually choose a girl and take her back to the house. “I’ve got to go mingle and take my ass to bed. We’re hiking early tomorrow morning.” They beg me to stay, and I wonder if a few more drinks could convince me to do just that. I get a hug from each girl, and even the feel of their breasts against me does nothing. I hate this.

  Chapter 13

  A few beers later, when things start to get fuzzy, I decide to call it a night. I’m already going to feel like shit in the morning. The walk to the cabin is short, but it still gives me too much time to think. Why didn’t I stay with Corrine and her friends? Why didn’t I just grab a random and willing girl from the party? I know the reason, and it’s eating me alive to know that she's in my cabin, in one of my beds, sleeping.

  At the top of the stairs, I feel drawn down the hall. I walk to my sister’s bedroom door, but I don’t reach for the knob. If I turn it and it opens, I won’t be able to keep myself from going inside. Instead, I rest my forehead on the door, taking deep breaths, willing myself to do the right thing.

  After brushing my teeth, I take one last glance at the door down from mine. Shaking my head, I open the door to my room and step inside. In the dark, I quickly shed my pants and pull my shirt over my head. It’s not until I’m standing by the bed, with the moon shining through the window, that I see the outline of a slumbering angel. I can just make out the curve of her neck and the shape of her lips. It’s Quincy, and even sleeping, she is ridiculously sexy.

  “Aw, hell,” I
say out loud, the perfect ending to this shit day. The girl I want but can’t touch is in my bed. I just don’t have the heart, or the sense, to wake her and tell her she's in the wrong room. Instead, I pull back the blanket and crawl in behind her.

  With my back to her, I lie awake for a long time. Quincy sighs in her sleep, her breathing even and soft as it whispers across her pillow. Every time she moves, my body hums with awareness. It fuels the wood I’ve been sporting all night. With no end in sight.

  Fortunately, the alcohol in my system muddles my thoughts and makes it difficult to keep my eyes open. I imagine rolling over and planting myself firmly between her thighs, running my hands up her body. But the last vision I see before drifting off to sleep is her eyes, those big, brown eyes, watching me through the flames and wet with tears. What is she running from?

  Quincy’s body is pressed against my back, and I can feel her breath on my neck. Arms encircle me from behind, and small hands with pink nails begin exploring my body. Across my chest, down my stomach, to the waistband of my boxer briefs. When her lips graze the back of my neck, my eyes fly open. I’m not dreaming. Little Miss Perfect is molesting me in my sleep.

  “Quince, please. There is only so much I can take before I do something we’ll both regret.” Her hand stills at my waist, but she doesn’t pull away like I expect her to. Instead, she keeps her arms wrapped around me, pulling me tighter.

  I began the night with the intention to get her in my bed, but not like this. She’s been drinking, and I know something upset her earlier. When I take her, I want all of her. And I want her sober.

  I roll over to face her, our bodies aligned and our lips only a breath away. “I want you, Quince. But I don’t think you’re ready for this.” Her breathing quickens, and I feel her body shivering against me. When her tongue darts out, running across her bottom lip as she closes her eyes, it breaks me. “Open your eyes, Quince. I want you to see who you’re kissing. I want you to know it’s me, and I want you to see me every time you close your eyes.” Slowly, so slowly, she opens them… and I see it written there. She wants me. She wants this too.

  “Are you sure about this? Because I might lose all control if I kiss you,” I whisper in her ear, breathing her in. I hold back as I savor the moment. She doesn’t answer. She doesn’t need to. Her body is doing the talking for her. She leans into me, her lips slightly parted, waiting for me to make the next move. She’s giving me the control, letting me know that she trusts me. Only I know I’m not trustworthy.

  Rolling over on top of her, I press my body into hers. She may be small, but we fit together as if she were made just for me. Lying between her legs, I look into her eyes as my lips graze hers. She takes a deep breath, holding it, as if she’s gaining courage right before she jumps over the ledge.

  My lips crash into hers, taking control of my mind and body. When her lips part, my tongue explores her mouth. She tastes sweet and smells like heaven. I feel the exact moment her resolve disappears, when she lets her walls down. She relaxes against me, and her tongue meets mine, igniting a fire inside of me that I’m not sure I would put out if I could.

  My hands find their way to her thighs, pushing her t-shirt above her waist. I wrap my hand around her thigh and lift it up to her chest. Rolling my hips into her, I realize there are only two pieces of thin cloth separating us. A low moan in her throat vibrates across my lips as I kiss down her neck, driving me as crazy as it does her. Her hand traces soft patterns over my shoulder and down my back. My body begs for release.

  When her hips drive into me, I allow my fingers to travel up her thigh to her hip, blazing a trail wherever they touch. I pull back from her, just enough to press my hand to her, between our tangled bodies. She arches her back, and her hips rise off the bed. My god, she's beautiful like this, eyes closed, riding my hand.

  I don’t realize how close she is until she clenches her thighs and bucks against me. As she continues to move against my hand, I know this is what I needed. It is the only thing that’s going to stop the ache inside me.

  I'm looking down, into her face, when she opens her eyes. Her face is flushed, her lips swollen, and she's so fuckin’ exquisite that she takes my breath away. I want to dive back into her, but she pulls back and turns her head, looking away.

  “No, Quince. Look at me.” When she raises her eyes to me, even in the dark, I can see her insecurities hiding. “There is nothing to be embarrassed about, Quince. That is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.” I linger, staring into her eyes so she will see that I mean it. When I roll off of her, I pull her into my side. It just feels so right to lay with her like this. But deep down inside, I know I’ve crossed the line. No going back.

  “But I want you to remember what just happened. No matter what happens after this, I want you to remember how good we are together.” If I never touch her again, that image will never leave me. I’m on a roller coaster here. One minute, I'm willing to do anything to get her, even betray my brother. The next, I have one foot out the door, ready to run.

  “Brody? Shouldn’t I do something for you?” Her voice sounds so small, so far away. Maybe she’s still embarrassed. Maybe she thinks I expect something from her, or maybe she’s less experienced than I thought.

  “No, baby. I’ll be thinking about that for a long damn time.” I rub her back, unable to take my hands off her body. “Besides, if you touch me, I will take something I have no right to take.” She inhales sharply, freezing beside me.

  “What do you mean?” A simple question without a simple answer. There are so many reasons this is wrong. Reckless.

  In my mind, I see Declan reaching for her hand, offering her the comfort that I couldn’t. “Declan is my friend, my roommate. No matter what you say, he thinks you’re interested. And I have no right to get in his way. What just happened was wrong.” I take a deep breath and let it out. Reality bites. “Quince, he’s my brother for crying out loud!” I try to push her away, but she holds on, wrapping her arms and legs around me. It’s a fine time for my guilty conscience to kick in.

  “Brody, I told you I’m not dating him. What do you want me to do?” That’s what she says, but I saw the way she looked at him tonight. There is something there, and I can’t ignore it. If she doesn’t really like him, then she’s leading him on. Leading us both on.

  I should have just fucked her and walked away when I had the chance.

  “Sleep, Quince. Just go to sleep. We’ll talk about this in the morning.” With our legs entwined, she rests her head on my chest. I realize this is the first time I’ve ever taken care of a girl without taking care of myself.

  I’m not going to be able to walk straight tomorrow.

  Chapter 14

  I wake up early, before Quincy. I know I’ve got to get out of here before anyone finds her asleep in my bed, so I gently slide out and stand up. Looking down at her, I almost say to hell with it and crawl back in beside her. Long dark hair spread across my pillow. Smooth, creamy skin begging to be touched. Lips that tempt me to stay. I won’t think about anything else all day.

  Seeing her face relaxed in sleep makes me realize that she normally looks anxious. Gone is the line between her brows and the worry in her eyes. All of this tells me that there is more to her story than she’s willing to share. With me. There is more to her story than she’s willing to share with me. Do I even want to know? Do I even care? Of course I do, and that is the problem.

  I reach into the closet and grab a pair of shorts. As I’m sliding them over my hips, the door bursts open, and Seth barges in. I jump, and my heart freezes in my chest. “You ready, Bro…..” The words fall from his lips when he notices Quincy in my bed. His eyes widen in shock, and he shakes his head. “No, man….” I didn’t know Quincy was in here last night, so I didn’t even think to lock the door behind me.

  I put my hand up and hold a finger to my lips to silence him. “Out, Seth. Now.” His eyes linger on Quincy as he backs out the door. I look at her to make sure she’s cov
ered. I don’t want anyone seeing what I saw last night.

  What the fuck am I gonna do now? All I had to do was make it out of here this morning without anyone seeing her. Shit. I have a brother’s girl in my bed, and instead of worrying about myself, I’m worried about her. I had better not hear anyone talking shit about her. End of story.

  I quickly pull a shirt over my head and put my shoes on. At the door, I risk one last glance over my shoulder. So, so tempting. But when I step out into the hall, I find Seth waiting for me. He's leaning against the wall, with his head in his hands. At the sound of the door clicking into place, his head snaps up.

  “What the hell, man? What were you thinking?” he whispers loudly. His words are angry, but his eyes beg me to tell him he didn’t see what he thought he did. He still wants to believe in me.

  “I wasn’t,” I reply, not wanting to explain myself, but I do have to protect her. “Look. Nothing happened. Someone must have taken her room, and I found her asleep in my bed when I got back last night.” He still looks suspicious, knowing that 'nothing' is not what usually goes on in my room.

  “Seth. It was nothing. You didn’t see anything. You got it?” He nods, clearly torn. When he opens his mouth to say something, he quickly snaps it shut. “Let’s go. We have to get going.” I nod toward the stairs. The faster we get out of here, the better.

  He walks in front of me, his back straight and his shoulders tight, as if the weight of the world rests on him. My problem just became his problem.

  Downstairs, Eric and some of the others are waiting for us. If he’s down here, and Quincy is upstairs, that means Jenna is still here somewhere. At least Quince will have a way back to town. I clap him on the shoulder and smile. “Lose the bet yet?” The look on his face speaks volumes.