by Jenika Snow
Who know having his marks on my flesh would be such a turn-on?
She ran her fingers over the bruises on her hips.
To know he touched me this hard, that he couldn’t control himself…
She closed her eyes, feeling her pulse beat in her ears, and knew if she didn’t tread lightly what they shared last night could come crashing down around her.
Chapter Eight
Crestin paced the kitchen, and all Corbin could do was sit there, his coffee cup in his hand, his entire body strung tight, not only because his sister was upset, but also because he couldn’t stop thinking about Izabella.
“He’s such an asshole,” Crestin said and stopped to face him.
“Can you sit down, please? You pacing around is driving me nuts.” Corbin grabbed his cup and finished off his coffee. He’d already gotten a shower, his hair still wet, and the t-shirt and sweats he wore feeling too tight on his body. All he could think about was being naked with Izabella, about owning her, making her come…
Get those thoughts out of your head. There is a time and place for them, and it’s not right now.
When he put his cup in the sink and turned back around it was to see Crestin sitting at the table, a napkin in front of her, and little pieces already torn off and scattered around her.
“Tell me what happened, and if I need to drive down to Seville and beat that motherfucker’s ass.” And he wasn’t kidding about kicking that prick’s ass.
She exhaled before pushing the napkin away and leaning back and looking at him. Corbin moved to the seat across from her and sat down, waiting until she was ready to speak. He could wait all damn day.
“I caught him cheating on me, and I didn’t stick around to hear the lame ass excuse he’d come up with.”
Corbin curled his hands into fists under the table, his rage rising.
“I got off work a little early, and headed to his place to surprise him.”
Don’t fucking give me details.
“I saw some bitch leaving the house. I confronted her, and because she’s a dirty whore she didn’t deny it. In fact, she rubbed it in my face, told me she’d been fucking him for the last month.”
Her face started getting red, and he had never seen his sister so pissed as she was right now.
“I’m going to beat his fucking ass, Crestin.”
She was shaking her head before he even finished speaking.
“No, he isn’t worth it, believe me.” She exhaled and shook her head. “Truth is I’ve been thinking of leaving him.” She shrugged. “It isn’t like we’ve been dating long, and I wasn’t feeling it with him, but this…”
He saw the way her teeth clenched from her anger.
“It’s not going to change that he’s an asshole.”
“No, but it’ll make me feel better.”
She smiled, but it looked forced. “I was just so pissed I drove the two hours here.”
“What about work? You can’t just leave your life because of some asshole.”
“I know,” she said with exhaustion in her voice. “I planned on coming for a visit anyway, and I’m off for the next three days, so…” She shrugged again. “I just didn’t know where else to go, Corbin. I’ve never dealt with this before.”
He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “This is your home as much as it’s mine, Crestin. You know that.”
She nodded. “I think I’m going to crash. I’ve been up all night with work, and then the drive and the bullshit—”
“Go on, get some rest. I work this afternoon, but I have the weekend off, so we can spend some time together.”
She nodded and stood. “Okay, sounds good. Maybe we can visit with Izabella, too. I haven’t seen her in so long.”
At the mention of Izabella’s name his whole body tightened. He needed to get some sleep before work, and he’d been up all night, first because he’d been fucking Izabella’s sweet pussy, and after that because he couldn’t stop thinking of her. But he knew he wouldn’t be able to just go to sleep after what they’d shared, and not now that his anger was raised because of some prick hurting his twin.
He stood, and before Crestin could leave the kitchen he pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry,” was all he could say, because he didn’t know how to show her the emotions to help her right now. He didn’t know how to give her that comfort that would make this day not as shitty as it had been. What he could do was go kick that bastard’s ass. It might not change anything, but it would make Corbin feel a hell of a lot better knowing he avenged his sister in some way.
And after that you need to figure out what in the fuck to do about Izabella.
****
The knock on the door could barely be heard over the radio Izabella had blasting. She looked at the clock, seeing it was already going on two in the afternoon, and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She knew Crestin was home, but she didn’t know the circumstances on why she’d came back. Every other time she’d come for a visit she’d let Izabella know. The way Corbin acted before he left, and the fact Izabella hadn’t known of Crestin’s arrival, told Izabella her friend’s visit might not be for a happy cause. So she hadn’t tried calling, not yet at least. If Crestin hadn’t tried getting touch with her by tomorrow Izabella would contact her, because she couldn’t be left in the dark.
Setting down the rag and bottle of window cleaner, she knew she looked a hot mess as she walked toward the front door. But she’d been trying to keep her mind off of everything that happened last night, because the truth was confusion filled her.
When she opened the door it was to see Crestin standing on the other side, a bottle of wine and a covered dish in her hands.
“Surprise,” Crestin said and came in. Izabella took the wine, and the women hugged a little awkwardly given the items in their hands. When the door was shut they stared at each other for a second. Izabella didn’t admit she’d known Crestin was back, because then she’d be admitting she’d been with Corbin, and that couldn’t be revealed right now, not until they both found out what in the hell was going on with them.
“When did you get back in town?”
“Just this morning, really early this morning, in fact.” Crestin scrunched her forehead. “You look weird, like you’re not happy to see me.”
Izabella shook her head and smiled, trying to get her thoughts in order. She’d been focused on the whole Corbin thing, and seeing Crestin standing right in front of her had made her nerves rise up violently. “Of course I’m very happy to see you. It’s been too long since we actually saw each other, what with our schedule and all that.” She gave Crestin another hug and took the covered dish. “What did you bring over?” Izabella was genuinely happy to see Crestin. It was just the whole fact Izabella had slept with Crestin’s twin brother that made this seem really awkward.
“I figured it’s not too early for wine and snacks, right?” Crestin sounded hopeful, and even if Izabella hadn’t known her friend was back, and assumed it wasn’t on the best of terms given her sudden arrival, the fact she’d brought wine at two in the afternoon, told Izabella she was going through a tough time.
“Come on.” Izabella led them into the living rom. She cleared off the coffee table and set the dish down. After taking off the aluminum foil, seeing the cheese, fruit, and crackers, and realizing Crestin had gone into the kitchen, she sat down. Crestin came back in with two small plates and two wine glasses, and once she was seated on the loveseat across from Izabella, the silence stretched.
“What’s going on?” Corbin took the backseat in Izabella’s mind as she focused on her friend, one she’d known longer than anyone else.
“That prick Rich cheated on me.”
Izabella pursed her lips as anger for her friend filled her. “What an asshole.”
For the next ten minutes Izabella listened to what had happened, feeling anger and also sadness for her friend. Crestin may not have planned on staying with Rich, but catching someone she’d been intimate with ch
eating on her, and for a month at that, still had to hurt.
“Good riddance to the asshole. If I knew I could kick his ass I’d go down there and do just that.”
Crestin started chuckling. “Corbin said the same thing, in so many words.”
Izabella felt her face heat, knew it was turning red, and glanced away.
“Hey, you okay?”
Izabella nodded. “I’m fine.” She cleared her throat and grabbed the wine bottle. It wasn’t a fancy one that had a cork, but one of the twist off ones. But she and Crestin had never been the posh kind. Box-O-Wine was their style, although this one was at least in a glass bottle.
After Izabella poured them both a glass, she grabbed a plate and started loading up on the snacks. She leaned back in the seat, the silence stretching. It was several seconds they didn’t speak, but then that awkwardness left Izabella as Crestin started talking about her job, how she loved the city she lived in, minus the douche she’d been seeing.
“What are you going to do about him?” Izabella asked. “Have you even talked to him since catching that tramp leaving?”
Crestin shook her head. “No, but he’s called a few times. I left while the woman was still there, so I’m sure she went back inside and told him all about our exchange.” Crestin shrugged. “I don’t give a shit, though.”
But Izabella could see her friend did, on some level. The guy had betrayed her, and that had to hurt no matter how their relationship had been going.
“Well, you’re here now, so fuck him.”
Crestin smiled. “Yup, fuck him and his small dick.”
Izabella had been taking a drink of her wine, but after hearing Crestin say that, she choked on the alcohol, her laughter not able to be contained.
“How long are you in town?”
“Just over the weekend, probably. I have to face my life at some point, and I want to be face-to-face with Rich when I tell him he’s a dick.”
“I’m sorry he did that to you.”
Crestin shrugged. “That’s life, I guess.” She smiled widely. “Let’s go out tonight,” Crestin asked, hopefulness in her voice. “As long as you don’t have to work.”
“I don’t work tonight or tomorrow, and I’d love to go out and party like we used to.” Okay, so partying like they used to wasn’t exactly how it probably sounded. They never went to bar and drank like lushes, and on occasion they did go to the clubs, but more times than not they hung out at the house, drank beer, ate pizza, and watched movies.
“Yeah, I thought the three of us could hang out, maybe go to dinner.”
Izabella swallowed the mouthful of wine that had been in her mouth, knowing her eyes were wide. Her heart started beating fast and hard, and she hated that she felt this way. She wanted Corbin so much, and even though she’d “had him”, she wanted more. What Crestin would say about it all when it came to light had Izabella afraid, too. And how would dinner go tonight anyway? Would Corbin be able to keep his cool? Izabella didn’t know if she could, because acting natural seemed really damn hard right now.
“If you want, that is.” Crestin was looking at her a bit strangely and Izabella knew she wasn’t hiding her discomfort well at all.
“Okay. Yeah. Sure.”
“Hey, are you sure you’re okay? As soon as I walked inside you have been acting really weird.”
Izabella shook her head. “I’m fine really. I guess I’m still upset about being ditched at the bar last night.”
Crestin sat up straighter. “Wait. What?”
Izabella told Crestin about the night, and stopped talking when she got to the part where she was in the car and too drunk to drive, because continuing would meant she’d admit Corbin picked her up.
“How’d you get home, a taxi?” Crestin wasn’t looking at her, but instead loading her plate up with the snacks sitting between them.
Izabella shouldn’t have paused, because it made Crestin stop what she was doing and glance up at her. “What?”
“Corbin came and picked me up.”
Crestin nodded and went back to grabbing food. Of course it wasn’t a big deal that Corbin picked her up, but it was a big deal because of what they’d done when they got to her place, and that was why this all felt so tense and weird for Izabella.
“I’ll find out where he wants to eat, and when he has off, and we can coordinate.” Crestin sounded happy, and that made Izabella smile.
They spoke for hours, and it was nice being able to catch up, because even if they’d spoken on the phone a lot since Crestin had moved away, it was nice to be able to see her friend in the flesh.
Now you just have to figure out how to tell her you want Corbin, and hope she doesn’t think it’s fucked up.
Chapter Nine
Corbin braced his arm on the window of his truck and stared at the restaurant where he was meeting his sister and Izabella. He’d helped a friend out early this afternoon, and had agreed to meet them here after he was done. He saw Crestin’s car, but not Izabella’s, so he had to assume they had driven together, that or she wasn’t here yet.
Or she backed out after what we did.
The radio was on low, and he tapped his finger on the side of the door as he continued to look at the front door of the restaurant. He wasn’t nervous to see Izabella, not after what they’d shared last night, but he was anxious to see how this evening would play out, and if she’d even show. He knew she hadn’t told Crestin anything, because his sister wouldn’t have any problem grilling him about it, which she hadn’t. But it wouldn’t have mattered anyway, because he wanted Izabella, and nothing was going to stop him from making that known, or making her his.
Finally getting out of the truck and making his way toward the entrance, he felt this tightening in his gut at the thought of seeing Izabella again. She’d been on his mind all fucking day, yesterday, too, but he hadn’t seen her since leaving her place. He’d been busy at work and helping his friend, and with Crestin coming back home he’d tried to focus on that and spending time with her. But it was hard, because wanting Izabella consumed him, and even more now that he’d had a taste of her.
He walked into the restaurant and took a second to glance around the interior. It was packed inside, with a screaming kid to his left, a woman giggling to his right, and the hostess smiling at him in a way he’d seen enough times to know she wanted his cock.
“Can I help you?” she asked in a sickly sweet voice.
He barely paid her attention as he went back to looking for his sister and Izabella. He saw Crestin stand in the back of the room, lifting her hand to get his attention. Glancing at the hostess, he only tipped his chin toward the back.
“I’m good.” He moved past her, and it was clear by the flash of an expression on her face she wasn’t used to being ignored. Truthfully, back in the day, Corbin probably would have fucked her in the back alley just to get off. Hell, if she was willing and he had time, why not? But he hadn’t been that type of guy since he realized what he wanted with Izabella. Crestin was already sitting back down in her seat when he got to the table. Crestin had her phone in hand, and an angry look on her face. Corbin glanced at Izabella and saw her emotions as if they were his own.
She was nervous as fuck. Her wide blue eyes were trained on him, her red lips were parted, and he could see the fast beat of her pulse right below her ear. She was scared to see him, and a part of him liked that, because it meant what they’d shared hadn’t just been a passing moment for her either.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said and without giving Izabella a moment to argue, if she would have, he sat beside her. The booth was small, and he was a big guy, so the fact he shared a seat with Izabella meant they were pressed shoulder to shoulder. He liked feeling her next to him, having that slight pressure on his arm, the scent of lemons invading his senses, and her heat wrapping around him.
“No problem. We ordered a couple of pizzas and a pitcher of pop.”
He looked at Crestin after she spoke, but she had her focus on
her cell again, her brows knitted and her lips pursed. “Is everything okay?” he asked.
She nodded and set her phone on the table, screen down. “Yeah. Just that jackass Rich trying to talk to me, and I’m getting pissed with his lies.”
He wanted to ask more, but the look on Crestin’s face told him she didn’t want to talk about it. Glancing to his side, he saw Izabella was doing everything she could not to look at him. She had the paper napkin in her hand, little pieces of the paper in a pile beside her hand. She was fighting, and he wanted to reach out and place his hand on top of hers, stilling her, making her see that shit didn’t have to be this way.
But also this wave of pleasure washed through him, because although he hated she was nervous, he loved the fact he’d gotten under her skin. He could still imagine her naked, under him, her body his for the taking, her moans of pleasure ringing in his ears. If he didn’t stop his train of thoughts he’d get hard right here, and he didn’t want to make this about that.
“How are you, Izabella?” he asked, and saw the way she straightened, her body going tense. When she finally looked at him, the close proximity of their faces, the fact her scent slammed into him even harder, had his cock twitching.
Stay down, fucker.
“I’m well, and you?” There was a slight hitch and tremor in her voice, and he could see the way she was starting to breathe faster. Lowering his gaze to the top of her shirt, because fuck if he could help it, he saw the way her cleavage rose just slightly to the hem, giving him a teasing shot. She had this tiny birthmark on her left breast, and he could still picture himself running his tongue over it.