“Just ‘cause you like to starve yourself,” he says between mouthfuls of ham and cheese, “doesn’t mean the rest of us hate food, too.”
“I do not hate food,” I reply in protest.
Zach slings his backpack over his shoulder. “You hate the good foods. The chocolate and the cheese puffs and the delicious shit like that.”
“That’s junk food. We can’t all have a hollow leg to store pounds and pounds of food every meal,” I say, rolling my eyes as Zach follows me out to the car.
For my sixteenth birthday, my parents put up half the money for my car, my baby. It’s a Chevy Cobalt, which doesn’t seem like much, but I managed to save five grand for it and Mom and Dad put up the remaining five, because I refused to drive a total piece of crap. I’ve never been reckless or crazy, so my parents agreed to it, but told me if I get any traffic violations, they’ll take it away. I’m okay with the arrangement, since I have nothing to worry about.
I unlock the car and Zach and I get in, ready to get to the football game. I stare at Zach when I see that he hasn’t put on his seatbelt. Eventually he gets my unspoken message and buckles himself in with a mutter.
“You could stand to gain a few pounds,” he says once we’re on our way.
“What? I definitely don’t.”
“Chey, you’re much too skinny. Everybody thinks so.” He says it so nonchalantly, I’m instantly gripped by a panic that everyone includes Reece.
“Who’s everyone?” I demand.
He sighs. “Forget it. Let’s just get to the game.”
I let it go, but only just barely. He’s a headstrong little shit most of the time, but the inflection in his voice when he said I was too skinny kind of worries me. When I have a little more time, I need to talk to him about what, or who, exactly, he was talking about. I don’t enjoy the idea of people talking about me, especially about something as personal as my body. I feel self-conscious about myself, since I’m not even the smallest girl on the squad.
* * * * *
The game was amazing. To me, at least. Not only did Reece show up, he came up to me before the game and gave me a huge hug in front of Roman, who didn’t seem to care at all. He told me to have fun during the game, to enjoy myself. His words, no matter how innocent, made me feel better about myself, and I performed every move perfectly.
When our team won, all the cheerleaders ran onto the field and, seeing as I was dating Roman, I ran to him, throwing my arms around his neck.
“Shit, Cheyanne! You’re so clingy,” he accuses, his words like venom in my ear.
I pull back from him, desperate to see humor in his eyes, or at least a smirk tugging at his lips. No such luck.
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” I whisper, the two of us surrounded by all his teammates and the cheerleading squad.
“Don’t make a scene,” he murmurs, obviously expecting me to do just that. “You and I both knew we weren’t going to stay together forever. It’s over, Cheyanne.”
I gape at him, confused, but definitely not heartbroken. I shake my head at him, appalled by his bad timing, but something in me feels relieved, freed. Just as I embrace the sudden freedom, despair rip through my heart. When will I see Reece again? How can Roman just ditch me like this, in front of all our friends? It’s a dick move, and although a part of me expected it from the beginning, I’m just not prepared for it so soon.
“You’re a dick,” I whisper to him before slipping away.
“Chey, don’t be like that,” I hear him mutter behind me. He calls my name a few times, but I keep going, desperate to be away from him.
Fury like I’ve never known rips through me and my eyes burn with tears. I manage to keep it together, running by the fence to pick up my duffel. I slip my shoes off and pull my favorite sneakers on, tucking the cheer shoes into my bag. I’d rather not cry in front of all these people, but I can feel them threatening.
When I feel someone’s hand on my arm, I assume it’s Rome. “Get the hell away from me.”
“What’s wrong with you?” I hear Zach ask.
I turn around, face to face with my brother. “Sorry. Listen, can you take my shit home? I’m going to run. I need it tonight.”
“Yeah, sure,” he agrees, taking the keys out of my hand and hoisting my bag up over his shoulder. “Everything okay?”
“Roman just broke up with me.” I tuck my phone into my sports bra.
“Fucking douchebag. Want me to kick his ass?”
I laugh, but not because of his brotherly gesture. The image of Zach trying to kick Roman’s ass is comical. Where Zach is lean, Roman is solid. He’s not fat, not by any means, but he’s got a lot more muscle than Zach and I’m amused by the idea of my baby brother trying to beat up my now ex-boyfriend.
“I love you, Zach,” I say. “But I can handle Rome. I just need a run.”
“No problem. Be safe. I’ll see you at home.”
I watch him walk away with a half-smile. He’s definitely a little shit sometimes, but when I truly need him, Zach is a godsend. I close my eyes for a moment, letting the moment sink deep into my memory. I want to remember him this way forever.
Once I can’t see him anymore, there’s a crowd at the gate; people are anxious to greet the winners of the game, so I walk along the fence to the far end of the field, slipping away from reality.
Past the fence, I break out in a jog, gradually picking up speed until I’m all but racing down the sidewalk. Two blocks away, a car approaches me from behind, and it’s driving slowly enough for me to think it’s Roman again. When the car stops, though, I realize that it’s Reece’s Camaro. With a frustrated sigh, I stop.
Three
Reece gets out of the car and leans against the trunk. He’s parked several feet ahead of me, so I walk up to him.
“What, you want to rub it in?” I ask, more pissed at myself than anyone else.
“Not at all. I came to see if you’re alright,” he admits, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I’m just peachy,” I lie, putting on a fake smile.
“Don’t you lie to me, Cheyanne.” His voice is so serious, I’m actually floored by his tone.
“How am I supposed to be, then?”
“Most girls would be crying about the fact that they were just dumped by my brother,” he says.
“I’m not most girls,” I explain.
“Ain’t that the fucking truth,” he mutters.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I demand to know.
“You’re something special,” he says quietly.
“I’m nobody, Reece. So stop trying to make me feel better. I got bested by that asshole, and now I just need to get over it.”
“Isn’t there a phrase out there … Something about the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else?”
My blood pressure spikes. “Is that an invitation?”
His eyes bulge. “No! I mean, fuck, Chey, you’re my brother’s girlfriend.”
At first, I believe him, but as I stare into his eyes, I see the desire there and realize he’s into me. As much as I want to believe it, I’m still wary, afraid that he actually has the power to hurt me.
“I was his girlfriend.”
I suck in a breath as he steps forward, bringing our faces within inches of each other. Reece’s eyes flick down to my lips for half a second and then he’s staring at me with those killer blue eyes, eyes so bright they outshine the clearest South Carolina sky. Eyes that cut to my soul, drawing me in without even trying.
Seconds before his lips descend on mine, fear cripples me, leaves me wondering how in the hell my dreams are actually coming true. I lick my lips, a quick motion that draws Reece’s eye again. This time, he keeps them there, his face growing ever closer to mine. His left hand comes up to cup the back of my head.
He pauses less than an inch away. “I’ve wanted this for so long.” His whispered admission makes my heart soar.
And then it explodes.
His lips touch mine and it’s not awkward or tense. It’s just Reece. I feel his right hand come around my waist, pulling me tight against him. His body is different than Roman’s, more muscled and firm. As much as I know I shouldn’t compare the brothers, I can’t help myself. Reece is gentle, loving even, where Roman was aggressive and demanding.
My chest is heaving when he slips his tongue past my lips, fully tasting me. I open my mouth for him easily, willing him not to stop. My eyes, which have closed with pleasure, flutter open for just a second to find him staring at me. It’s a weird sensation, so I keep my eyes open and, after a moment, Reece pulls away, but only enough to place sweet kisses along my jawline. He makes his way to my ear, tugging on the tender flesh with his teeth and it’s so erotic, so sensual, my knees actually buckle.
With a soft chuckle, Reece holds me up, wrapping both arms around me and lifting me up on the trunk. I spread my legs for him and he steps up to me. I lock my ankles behind him, loving the contact he makes.
“Kiss me again,” I say, leaning forward to press a kiss against his throat.
“Cheyanne … We can’t.”
What? “We can. We are. Just love me, Reece.” It’s a plea and a demand, all in one.
He leans away. “I want to, Chey. Oh God, how I want to. But you are my brother’s girlfriend.”
He runs a hand over his face, closing his eyes. “I know we both want it, babe. But Roman is still my brother. And you’re his girl.”
“Was,” I say again. “I was his girl, Reece. He gave me up.” As much as I don’t want to admit it, my throat closes, feeling Reece’s rejection deep in my gut. I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want Reece right now. Even with his imminent refusal to pursue me, I know I won’t change my mind about how I feel about him.
“It doesn’t matter. You know that.”
“Fine,” I say, unhooking my ankles and dropping my feet down to the bumper. I wait for him to move away from me so I can get down off the car. I don’t move yet, feeling the tears building, but I refuse to let them fall, holding them in as best I can, at least until I get home.
“Let me give you a ride home,” he suggests. When I shake my head no, he groans. “Dammit, Chey! Don’t lock me out.” He uses that phrase and it annoys me. My teeth clench as he continues. “You might be able to pull that shit with Roman, but I know you better. You’re pissed off at me, I can tell. That tic in your cheek is proof enough, and if it wasn’t, the daggers in your eyes would tip me off. Say it, Chey. Don’t close down on me.”
I jump off the trunk. “You want me to let it out? Fine. You’re as much of a dick as your dumbass brother. You think I’m fickle and don’t know what the hell I want, but the truth is, it’s you I’ve wanted for the last four years, and dating Rome was just so I could get closer to you. I’ve been in love with you, like full-on, in love with you, for the last year, Reece. And you treat me like I’m your kid sister, like even looking at me with any hint of passion would cause both of us to go to Hell. Well fuck that! I want you.”
I draw a deep breath and watch the emotions play over Reece’s face. Shock and awe, along with several other feelings, wash over him, but the final look he gives me is hot. He wants me as much as I want him. Although, I can’t tell if he’s going to make a move or not.
He steps forward but then backs away. “Get in the car. I’ll give you a ride home.”
With that, he turns and gets into the driver’s seat of his car, leaving me alone in the dark. After my little tirade, my chest is heaving, my breathing erratic. Not to mention I just spilled my heart out to him and he rejected me. Again. I might flip the fuck out on him.
Instead, I walk to the passenger side, yank open the door, and slide inside. Reece looks at me, waiting for me to put my seatbelt on. I refuse, crossing my arms over my chest. Even though I had a fit about Zach not wearing his, I’m doing this to prove a point.
Before long, Reece does exactly what I know he’ll do, and reaches over to buckle me in himself. As he leans in, I put my mouth on his, tugging on his too-long hair. With a sound that’s half moan, half groan, Reece doesn’t put up much resistance. His tongue is in my mouth and his hands are on my waist, creeping higher.
After ten minutes of serious making out, he pulls away. “Am I really sitting in my fucking car, feeling up my kid brother’s girlfriend?”
I smack his arm. “Stop calling me that. I am not Roman’s girlfriend anymore.”
“He’s being a dick, but he really does like you, Chey.”
“And what about you? How do you feel about me?” I decided then and there that this is a deciding moment. Either he’ll be honest with me, or he’s going to lie, but whatever he says, I’m going to take him seriously and not pursue him anymore.
He leans back on his side of the car, running a hand through his hair. “I like you, Cheyanne. And I’m not saying the big ‘L’ word because I don’t say it unless I mean it, but it’s something close to that. I’ve liked you for a long time, too, but Roman has been into you for a long time, too. I love my brother, and I won’t hurt him this way.”
I’ve got my answer. He wants me, but he feels guilty. Now I just have to get him to move on from the guilt. “Well, then I guess I’ll call him and see if he will get back together with me.” I pull my phone out of the small pocket in my top and press a button to light up the screen.
He grabs the phone out of my hands. “You just fucking said that you loved me, Cheyanne. Are you really so shallow that you can just go back and forth between brothers?” He glares at me.
“I’m interested in someone who wants to be with me. Someone who isn’t afraid to be with me.”
He drops his chin to his chest, closing his eyes in frustration. Knowing that it’s make it or break it time, I take my biggest risk yet.
I push him back, climbing over the center console so I can straddle him.
His eyes pop open. “What the fuck?”
I cup his face in my hands once I settle my knees on either side of him. “Whether you like it or not, Reece, I love you. And nothing is going to change my mind about that.”
He smiles at me. “You’re so young, babe … So naïve.”
“There’s nothing naïve about love. It’s either real or it’s not. And trust me, babe, this is it,” I say.
We stare at each other for a full minute before he pulls me to him. “I’ve never told a girl I love her, Cheyanne. Never ever. But fuck, I love you so much, I feel like my heart might burst into a thousand pieces. And I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that your love will put it back together, because as long as you’re in my life, I’ll be whole.”
His words shock me, paralyze me. I can’t speak, can’t even fathom the amazingness that are his words. I already believed he was amazing, but his poetry just proves that we’re meant to be. I love him so much, it nearly hurts. I can’t answer him, so I do the next best thing: I kiss him.
His hands are all over my body as his tongue explores my mouth again, stirring something I’ve never really felt before. I know that this night will be one of the best nights of my life, but I never imagine it will forever change my life.
Four
My emotions are deep, my senses on fire; I can barely contain my excitement. In the space of half an hour, Reece and I have gone from making out to heavy petting. We’re both in the back seat of his Camaro, the front seats pushed all the way forward and both of us stark naked.
Currently, he has two fingers pressing deep, applying pressure on my g-spot, a place I was previously convinced didn’t exist. But his thumb moves against my clit at the same time, circling the nub with confidence while his mouth nips playfully at my hardened nipples. Before I can think about it, I’m coming on his fingers. I arch my back, pushing my pelvis even harder against his hand and scream my pleasure. Reece’s lips move up to my neck, suckling the tender skin of my throat as I ride it out.
When I finally come back down, Reece is grinning at me like he knows I haven’t come from someone other th
an myself in a long time, which is true.
“God, you’re hot when you come,” he whispers.
“Mmm … I feel pretty hot when I come.”
He laughs, pulling his fingers away from my body and sucking them both into his mouth. It’s so erotic, I quickly realize that if his fingers can cause that much pleasure, I certainly want to know how much more pleasure I can get from his mouth and dick. There’s little about him I don’t absolutely love, and this moment is just another checkmark for the good.
“I want you to make love to me,” I admit, my cheeks burning.
“Cheyanne, I want to. You have no idea how much. But I don’t have a condom,” he replied, his eyes saddened by the thought of not being able to have sex with me.
“I’m on the pill. I never even told Roman I was on it. I just always made him wear condoms. I want you so bad, Reece.”
“Fuck.” He says it like a curse and an endearment.
Without another word, he pulls me over him, so I’m straddling his legs again, only this time, his dick is rubbing softly against me, drawing even more wetness from me, if it’s possible. I moan at the sensations he evokes. With a wiggle of his hips, he’s pressing at me, his hardness fully ready to invade my softness.
It’s all too much and I can’t stop myself from slipping him inside, filling me already with just the tip. The pleasure is so intense, I drop down on him. Hard. Without even thrusting, I come again, filled to absolute completion by him. He moans, enjoying himself as well, and I can tell this won’t last too long for him, either. Even as I think it, I wish it’s not true. I want him inside me forever.
As I slow down from the overwhelming ripples of pleasure, Reece grips my hips, pulling me down and lifting me up at his own pace. With each thrust, I moan, loving the texture of him, the way he makes me feel everything, and the fact that there’s no place I can escape to. I’ve never been as emotionally involved during sex as I am right now. The electrical charge he sends through me is almost overwhelming, and before I get a chance to really catch my breath from my last orgasm, I’m coming again. I fall onto him, unable to continue as I shatter, my muscles squeezing him so tightly, he groans.
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