by Sara Cate
The party. Drinks. So many drinks.
Wait.
I shoot up, regretting it instantly. My stomach turns again, this time for sure wanting to expel last night’s mistakes. I grip my stomach, inhaling through my nose and breathing out my mouth. “Ugh…” I groan. The sun is shining through my window, slicing into my brain.
How did I get in my bed? How did I get home? “Great.” I slide my hands down my face. My mom is going to kill me. Were they awake when I got home? One of her rules was no drinking. It took me a whopping four days to break it.
I search for my phone. I have a missed text from Melissa saying she hopes I got home okay. If she didn’t take me, who did?
A loud bang hammers against my door, and I almost fall out of bed. “Yes?” I croak out.
“Downstairs. Now.”
Ugh. I slap my hands down on my bed.
My legs fall to the ground, and I search for my clothes, hoping I’m the one who decided to strip since I’m only in my bra and underwear. I slide into a pair of sweatpants and an old tank top, praying I don’t vomit all over my mom when she tells me I’m gone again. I make it down the stairs without tripping and walk into the kitchen. Before I can make it through, someone skates past me from behind.
“Excuse me, sis.”
What the…? I sway sideways into the entryway as Mom walks up to me. “Seriously, Cat?”
“Seriously what?” I ask, searching out that voice.
“You even have to ask?”
I know I probably still look drunk, but if I play dumb, maybe she’ll let it go. The fridge is open. Whoever bumped into me is digging something out. Assuming it’s William’s son, I take in a breath in an attempt to compose myself.
The fridge closes, and he stands.
“What the fuck?”
“Catalina! Your mouth!” my mom hisses. “Seriously, I can’t believe you. What did I not make clear when I said you were required to show up for dinner last night?”
She’s yelling, but my ears are ringing so loudly, her voice is mute.
“What are you…is he?” I begin to shake. No. Nope. Do not tell me—
“Who, Hunter? Well, if you hadn’t been hiding all week and showed up to dinner, you would have met him—”
“No. No! You’re—no. You’re not William’s son.” I better be fucking dreaming. This is a nightmare. It has to be. Asshole twists open a bottle of water and takes a hefty sip, a smug fucking smile on his lips.
“Cat, you’re being extremely rude. I expect this out of you, but this is going beyond your norm.” I turn to my mom, giving her a hurtful glare.
“You don’t understand. He’s…he’s been—”
Asshole steps in. “We’ve been getting to know each other. Actually, we met at the pizza place last night. Thankfully we did. She seemed to have some sort of food poisoning, so I got her home before she yacked. You owe me a car detail, by the way.” He looks at me with a fake smirk.
I’m about to tell him to fuck off when William walks in. “Oh good, you’re all here. Anyone want to grab some breakfast?”
The thought of food swirls the sourness in my stomach. I cover my mouth.
“Dad, probably a bad idea. Poor sis over here got food poisoning. May need to take a raincheck.” William thinks nothing of it and peers down at me with concerned eyes.
“Oh, kiddo, that stinks. Are you okay? Need us to grab you some ginger ale?”
I stare at Hunter, murder in my gaze. “No, I’m good.”
Mom steps up and places her hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “I apologize for her. She doesn’t always show her manners. Hopefully, when she’s not under the weather, she’ll apologize for being so rude and thank you for taking care of her.”
My mouth falls open as Hunter offers my mom a kind smile. She then turns to William. “I’m more than up for brunch. Hunter?” my mom asks with a look of love and sincerity, like she actually enjoys him being around.
“I’m good. I’ll stay back and make sure Cat is okay.”
That fucker!
My mom looks at me as if I’m a waste of time, then grabs William’s hand to leave. The second the door closes, I attack him. My hands form into fists, and I lunge at him, pushing him into the fridge. The jerk has the nerve to laugh.
“You asshole. You knew the whole time?”
“And?”
“You knew who I was. Our parents are married. And you let me…I let you…”
“Do what, fuck you with my fingers in the woods? Did you not enjoy it? Or would it have been better with the whole stepbrother fantasy? Maybe I should have spilled the beans beforehand. I could have gotten more than a little finger bang.”
My breaths come out in heavy pants. “You’re sick.”
“Not as sick as you. Mr. Gibson, huh?”
His comment last night resurfaces. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
His head falls back as laughter bursts from his lips. “Can’t get out of this one. I saw you two. The way he was looking at you. The way you were looking at him. What did I miss before I walked up? Was it the first time?” He takes a sip of his water. “Have you two—shit, have you fucked him already? Four days and—”
“Shut up,” I hiss.
He pushes off the fridge and prowls toward me, forcing me to step back. “I’m far from done.”
He starts to walk away when I ask, “Why are you doing this?”
He halts his step, and for a second, I think he’s going to continue without answering me, but then he turns around. “You and I do have one thing in common. Neither of us chose to be here. And I’ll do whatever it takes not to be. I figured…why not get the boot for doing something so unthinkable, they’re forced to kick me out?” He winks at me, which tells me I’m that unthinkable thing. “Plan on having fun while I do it, too. See ya around, Stray.”
Then he’s gone.
Chapter 8
Hunter
Now she knows. Little Stray let me violate her in the middle of the woods and not once did she ask who I was. Invaded my life and my head and never realized we’ve been living under the same roof for a week already. But I can see why. She was exactly how I heard her mother talk about her. Selfish. Ruthless. Weak.
It wasn’t until she ran right into me that I decided she would be my way out. I was going to fuck with her so bad, Dad would have to choose. I know he wouldn’t choose me. And my new little stepsister was so stuck up her own ass, she needed to be messed with. Taught a lesson. Our house has thin walls. I could hear the chatter between Dad and Olivia. Her promiscuous daughter had gotten caught in a compromising position with her mommy’s boyfriend and was sent away until Daddy decided to dump her back. Olivia didn’t want her but had no choice. I guess the poor girl is lucky my dad has such a soft heart.
A side he never shows me.
A side that died the day my mother did.
How perfect was it that we had a class together too? A girl with a chip on her shoulder. Maybe she should take responsibility for her disgusting actions. But no, she came in full force with her poor-little-me attitude. She tried to stay under the radar. Her head tucked low, hoping to go unseen. But I changed that when I purposely stepped into her space, igniting her feisty side.
Messing with her was the easy part. She took the bait, hook, line, and sinker. I ate up all her frowns and childish name-calling and loved watching her flush with embarrassment when I talked dirty about her underwear. I already knew what she had on. I saw it in her room when I snooped through her things the night before.
What I didn’t expect was seeing our physics teacher have the same reaction to her. Mr. Fucking Gibson. I expected it out of her. With her past and all, but him? Fucking hitting on a student? I should have reported him.
Instead, I watched it play out. Having something on her seemed more useful than putting a stop to whatever was going on. But then I saw them. Him so close to her. Her allowing it. It set a fire inside me I didn’t expect. She was mine to fuck with. Mine to
ruin. Not his. I didn’t barrel into the classroom to stop it, though. I decided to keep the info to myself, but I couldn’t let him touch her, so I slammed my book on the floor and took off.
It wasn’t until I saw her alone at the party that I decided it was time. I’d been itching to touch her all week. See just how enticing she was. To my surprise, she let me. In public, no less. The little minx let me violate her in the middle of the fucking woods where anyone could have walked up. If she allowed me to do that, I can’t imagine what she would allow from our asshole physics teacher.
When I saw her out of her mind at the party, I almost left her there. I’m not sure what stopped me, but I found myself picking her up and telling her concerned friend I was her stepbrother and would make sure she was taken care of and brought home. What I didn’t tell her is I’m the worst kind of sibling. When I got her home, I stripped her clothes off, basked in the beauty of her body, and took photos, just in case.
Chapter 9
Catalina
Another voicemail.
“Hey, Dad, it’s me again. You really need to call me back. It’s not working out for me here. If you let me come back, I’ll get a job. I can help with bills. I’ll cook. Anything! Please, just call me back. How long can you keep your phone off?”
I hang up, feeling the dread of that question. Probably the whole honeymoon.
I roll onto my side, clutching my pillow to my chest. I can’t stay here. Not after realizing the asshole is my stepbrother. My crude, arrogant, hot stepbrother. I smash my face into my pillow and silently scream. I wish I could rewind time. Know then what I know now. And what would I have done? Not let my asshole stepbrother bring me to the hottest orgasm I’ve ever had. How embarrassing. He hate fucked me, and I let him. Then he shamed me, which I deserved. I thought it was bad only having to see him at school. Now, I’m going to have to see him in the hallway, share a shower, worry he’ll walk into my room at any time. I’ve already sworn off family dinners because there is no way I’m eating at the same table as him and his sinister, smug face.
Luckily, I’ve done an excellent job hiding in my room all weekend. Mom ate up the whole food poisoning lie Hunter fed her and left me alone. Anytime a knock sounded on my door, I cringed, thinking it was him.
“Why not get the boot for doing something so unthinkable, they’re forced to kick me out.”
“Plan on having fun while I do it, too.”
I hate the way my body betrays me anytime his words replay in my head. I may not be sick from food poisoning, but I feel sick from something. Regret? Embarrassment? The fact that I liked what happened?
Just like the nights before, my dreams haunt me. They start with Kenneth. Then work on to Hunter. Both finding a way to provoke me. Draw me in. Touch me in ways I sickly crave. But when I climax, it’s been Hunter’s face that always jolts me awake. My body is too hot. Too bothered. Just this morning, I was forced to slide my fingers into my panties and relieve the tension. I bit my lip as I pumped inside my heat, wickedly imagining Hunter’s hand slipping in and out. His breath, smelling like whiskey and breath mints, tickled my senses. And every time I come, I whisper Hunter’s name.
I need to get the hell out of here.
After two days of hiding and masturbating, the weekend comes to an end and it’s time to go back to school. Dad still hasn’t returned my calls, and I’m not any closer to going home
I debate heading out early and showering at school, but I don’t want to risk running into Mr. Gibson. Turning over, I inspect the clock. The sun isn’t up yet. I may have the chance to slip in and out of the shower before Hunter wakes up. I haven’t heard his music start until late, which means he won’t be getting up any earlier than needed.
I rush to gather my things and pop my head out. All seems quiet, so I tiptoe into the bathroom. I start the water, shimmy out of my pajamas, and hop in. Grabbing for Hunter’s loofah, I pour a glop of my lavender body wash on it and briskly clean my body and shave. I close my eyes and dip my head back to rinse out the shampoo—
“Your tits are smaller than I imagined.”
I almost slip at the sound of Hunter’s voice. My eyes bulge open when I turn and see him through the glass door taking a piss.
“Hunter, get the fuck out!”
“No. It’s my bathroom.”
“Yeah, and also mine.”
He looks at me as if I bore him and turns back to the toilet. “Nothing I haven’t seen before. Plus, we’re family. Purely innocent.”
He winks at me, and I scoff at his words, trying to use my arms to cover myself. “If you don’t leave, I’m going to scream. What would your dad think of you then? When I say I caught his pervert son peeping at his sister?”
His laughter ignites that spark I hate.
“I don’t know. Why don’t you scream and find out?” God, I hate him. He knows I won’t. He knows my mom will blame me. “Do tell me, sis, do you always moan like that when you masturbate?”
Even in the steaming shower, my cheeks redden. “What? I don’t—”
“No need to lie to me. Those little pants I’ve been hearing coming from your room…”
“I do not pant when I masturbate.”
“Ah, so you do masturbate. Who are you thinking about when you fuck yourself? Me or our physics teacher?”
Gah! “Get out!” My raised voice doesn’t bother him. He finishes, tucks himself back into his boxer briefs, and flushes. I fight to keep my expression indifferent, but I can’t help but notice how long and wide his cock is.
He casually turns to walk out but stops and looks back. “Seriously, though. Get your own loofah. Your girly shit smells.”
Screw him.
Hunter is gone before I’m out of the shower and ready for school. I silently thank the gods above and enter the kitchen, for once prepared to ask for a ride since there’s a blizzard outside. A note from Mom on the counter tells me Hunter said I didn’t need a ride, so she and William left for work. “Asshole.” I crumple the note and toss it in the garbage. I debate on skipping school because what’s the point? There’s no way I’m going to make it the rest of this semester.
With a long sigh, I stuff my feet into my winter boots, double layer myself, and head out. By the time I make it, I’m out of breath, frozen to the core, and have cursed every single person I’ve ever known. Hunter Graham three times over.
Class has already started when I walk in. I dare a look at the clock to see how late I am. Mr. Gibson catches me first, not hiding his displeasure at my tardiness. But it’s short-lived when he takes in my appearance. I look and feel like an Eskimo, not to mention I can’t feel my feet and have an ice mustache from my runny nose.
“Miss Mitchell, did you fail to get a ride today?”
“Not failed. Chose. Beautiful day.” I smile tightly and turn to walk down the aisle. Hunter is leaned back in his chair, looking warm and cozy.
“Why the glum face, Stray?”
I sit down and bustle out of my jacket. The girl next to me starts huffing and puffing because I’m dropping chunks of snow on her binders. “What the heck? You have a locker for a reason,” she bitches while moving her things.
“Yeah, sorry, I didn’t want to be late.” I twist in my seat and stare Hunter down. “Hey! Wow! You definitely have some interesting things in your bedroom. Since I didn’t need a ride, I decided to snoop. Way more porn than expected. But the gay stuff—that caught me off guard.” Both girls on either side of him gasp. His smile drops. “Also, if you’re gonna use my vibrator, at least return it clean. It smelled like your dirty asshole.” I turn around when I see fire blazing in his eyes. Feeling a little bit better, I pull out my textbook and homework.
When I look up, Mr. Gibson is staring at me, his eyes narrowed into slits. Then they land on Hunter. If hatred had a face… He rips his eyes away from me and begins class. The hour goes by seamlessly except for the puddles I’ve made around me.
When the bell rings, everyone jumps up and hurries out.
“Yeah?”
Mr. Gibson doesn’t say anything until the last person exits his classroom. “How was your weekend?”
“Um…fine, I guess.” The way his eyes skim my face creeps me out. These little meetings he insists on having are unnecessary. I know I should speak up and make him aware of my discomfort. Otherwise, I can’t see him giving up. “Hey, I’m not sure this is appropriate.”
“Exactly what do you find inappropriate?” How about everything? The way he looks at me. Singles me out. It’s not right. Disturbing describes it best. He raises his hand, and I cringe as he picks a piece of lint from my sweater. “This isn’t the time or place. I just wanted to remind you you have detention this week. You also didn’t do well on your last assignment. We can discuss it in more detail after detention.”
“Wait, I didn’t? I thought I did really well on that assignment.”
He takes a step closer, pausing to take notice of anyone outside his door. When he brings his attention back to me, I see it, feel it. My stomach drops at the way his sleazy eyes take me in. They dip down to my lips. His hands twitch, but thankfully, he keeps them at his sides. He’s fighting not to touch me. My stomach churns with nerves.
My cheeks pale, and suddenly, I don’t feel well. “I’m sorry. I can redo the assignment, but I have to—”
Mr. Gibson reaches forward and gently grabs at my bicep, not allowing me to put space between us. “You can earn some extra credit, Cat. And you’ll love every bit of it.”
My mouth parts on a silent gasp. Just as quickly, his hand falls as the door opens for his next set of students. “Hurry to class, Miss Mitchell. Don’t want you to be late.”