He released my wrist. “This isn’t over. As soon as we can, we’re going to talk about us.”
My lips twisted into a sneer, and I stepped away from him. “There is no us. There never was. The mixed up words and feelings of a sixteen-year-old whose best friend was going to war shouldn’t be taken as anything but gibberish.”
“The heated words of a scared nineteen-year-old army recruit are something you need to forgive.” He took a step closer, invading my space. The heat drifting from his body warmed my bare skin.
“I can’t do this.” Grabbing a bottle of God knows what from the bar in the foyer, I sprinted upstairs and hid in the attic.
Chapter Two
It’d been a week since the party and a week since I laid eyes on Theo. I kept my distance by making myself as scarce as possible. The grounds, hidden in the Smoky Mountains, were endless. I hiked during the day, made camp a few nights, and lost myself in the landscape.
The days I was home, I escaped by driving to Gatlinburg to hang out with friends, eat ice cream, and watch tourists. I didn’t want to think about what Theo had said, the heat in his eyes, the need on his face, the desperation in his words. We couldn’t go back in time. Our relationship was irrevocably shattered, and no matter how much we searched, we would never find the missing pieces.
Yawning, I sat at the ten-foot dining room table opposite my mom and poured myself a lifesaving cup of coffee.
“I need you to stay home today,” Mom said, not looking up from her new iPhone.
“I can’t.” I sipped my coffee and contemplated the maze. “I have plans.”
“Change them. Furniture’s being delivered, and I need you home.”
I raised an eyebrow. “That’s what Michael’s for. Or has he quit, sick of being your long-suffering assistant?
“As if.” She glanced up from updating her friends about her fabulous life. “He’s not here today. A family emergency. And I gave all the staff the day off.”
I raised my fingertips to my lips. “Oh, momma, how will we ever manage? I shall faint if I have to so much as wash a cup.”
She smiled, a rare occurrence these days. “There’s the girl I miss; you should stick around.”
I ignored her dig. “What time’s your latest flea-market find arriving, and where do you want it?”
“An original eighteenth century dressing table is hardly a flea-market find. As for delivery time, I can’t say. You know what these delivery companies are like. Have them bring it to my craft room.”
I bowed my head in mock reverence. “Yes, m’lady.”
Ignoring my sarcasm, she put down her phone. “It might be good for you to spend some time with Theo. You two used to be so close. I don’t think you’ve said boo to him since he came home.”
“I have things to do other than hang around with Theodore Briarfield the Third.”
Mom sighed. “Really, Addison, you should make more of an effort.”
“Sure Mom.” If I didn’t agree, she’d harp on and on and on.
“And please do something about your hair. What color is it now? Powder blue?”
“It’ll wash out in a few weeks. It’s not permanent. I might try pink next.”
“Mmmm.” Clutching her phone, she slid from her seat like a constipated fairy and strode from the dining room.
I moved over to the windows that overlooked the maze and hugged my cup to my chest. My feet itched to stroll through the greenery until I reached the other end, to get to Theo, to dig deeper into what he’d said at the party. After all this time, no matter how much I tried to deny it, I ached for him. But I refused to give in. Even though he wanted me to forget his cruel words, I couldn’t.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
I jumped and splashed coffee on my t-shirt. “Jesus, Theo, don’t sneak up on me like that.”
He wore a baggy red t-shirt soaked with sweat and a pair of black running shorts. “You should come run with me. Remember how we used to train together?”
“We also used to play house, doctors and nurses, and hide and seek.” I strode past him toward the table.
He stepped closer, his musky scent mixed with fresh sweat infiltrated my senses. “I always found you.”
“Yeah, right.” I snorted and set my coffee cup on the table, picked up my phone, and scrolled through my emails. “You’re confused. I was the one who found you.”
He pulled off his t-shirt and wiped the sweat from his brow. Even though I was dying to stare at his chest, I kept my eyes on my phone. He flicked his t-shirt in my direction, snapping it against my bare thighs. “No, you didn’t. You always hid in the same spot.”
“Whatever.”
“Let’s play.”
I glanced up from my phone. “What?”
“Hide and seek. Whoever wins has bragging rights for the rest of our lives.”
The sight of his smooth chest and brown nipples caught my breath, and I had to drag my eyes up to his face. “We’re a little too old for games, don’t you think?”
His eyes flashed, and he lowered his hands, dropping his t-shirt to the floor. “We’re never too old for games.”
Excitement churned in my stomach. I couldn’t deny how much being around him thrilled me. I tilted my head and studied the open hope on his face. A game of hide and seek might be fun. If only for old time’s sake.
“I’ll hide. You seek,” I said, making my way toward the front door.
“You’re on. I’ll count to two-hundred.”
I pulled open the front door and sprinted out of the house. I headed straight for the maze. I ran into the depths, twisting and turning, listening for him.
“Ready or not, here I come.” His voice echoed from the front steps of the house. I held my breath willing my heart to stop pounding. Five or so minutes passed and Theo still hadn’t found me. I crept from my spot and peered around the corner to check for any sign of him. There was none. I continued to creep. Part of me wanted him to find me. Wanted him to claim me. Capture me.
By the time I heard a branch crack, it was too late. He wrapped his strong arms around me and hoisted me from the ground.
“Found you. I’m the hide and seek champion.” He laughed, and I giggled. Being with him, lost in the maze, felt every kind of right, and the need I felt for him overwhelmed me. The barricade I’d carefully crafted crashed into millions of pieces. My heart was his.
“Put me down. I demand a rematch.”
He lowered me to the ground. We were so close, a wisp of wind couldn’t come between us. Unable to stand the intensity in his eyes, I lowered my gaze.
“Look at me, Addy.” There was a quiet command in his voice, one I was powerless to withstand. I gazed at him, seeing his soul, seeing every emotion he felt for me. He curved his hands around my waist. The heat of his touch blistered my skin. I swallowed hard, giddy with desire.
In the maze we were in our very own cocoon, and the rest of the world ceased to exist. We weren’t step siblings. We were two people who wanted each other.
He lowered his head as I raised mine. A moan I couldn’t stop slipped from my mouth. Ever since I was fourteen, maybe even younger, I dreamt of this moment. His lips touched mine, and the earth stopped rotating. His kisses were soft but demanding. They were everything and more. I parted my lips, and his tongue skimmed over mine and every cell in my body melted.
He enveloped me in his arms, pulling me even closer. I draped my arms around his neck and hung on as if my life depended on it. Through his jeans, his hard cock pressed against my thigh.
A car horn blared in the distance, breaking the trance, hauling me back to reality.
“Shit!” My eyes widened, and I touched my fingers to my lips. “We can’t-”
Confusion covered his face. “Addy?”
I backed away. “Our parents would never forgive us.”
“They don’t need to know.” He raised his hands, imploring me to stay. “I can’t stop thinking about you. I love you.”
“Don’t
love me. Stop loving me.” I turned and ran blindly through the maze, not caring that the branches tore at my arms and legs. It was as if they were conspiring with each other to stop me from leaving. By the time I reached the opening, it seemed as if hours had passed. I rushed toward the delivery truck and, glancing behind me, I saw Theo leaning against the hedges, sorrow masking his face.
Chapter Three
The following week passed in a blur of bewilderment. Every time I saw Theo, my heart lunged for him. I did what I could to avoid him. Even in a house with so many rooms, and with him living in a cottage at the end of the maze, there wasn’t enough space between us.
My body knew when he was within ten feet. My nipples puckered, my skin pebbled, and my breathing quickened with my heartbeat. To hide how I was feeling, I behaved like a sour bitch.
Charles cleared his throat and sat down at his pristine walnut desk. “Your mother and I are concerned about your behavior, Addison.” Mahogany lined the walls of his office, along with the heads of dead animals killed over the centuries by his ancestors. Years of stale cigar smoke permeated the room and would never dissipate. And despite the skin-melting heat outside, a fire danced in the hearth.
“As you know, we’ve planned a month-long cruise on my newest ship. We’d like you to come along for at least two weeks.”
Spending two weeks with my mom and Charles would be enough to make me throw myself overboard. “No thanks. I have to get ready for college. I was thinking about leaving early. Going up there and finding my way around.” I could have added that being so close to his youngest son was driving me to insanity, and the longer I stayed at Briarfield Hall, the harder it was to resist him.
He picked up a fat Cuban cigar and rolled it between his fingers before sliding it beneath his nose. Theo resembled his father from his height, to his flaxen hair, to his green eyes. Even though time had faded Charles’ looks, he was still a handsome man, if totally narcissistic. Something Theo wasn’t, and never would be.
“If you’re not coming with us, you need to spend time with your brother before you leave. I insist you show him some respect. He’s a decorated hero and deserves to be treated as such.”
I paced to the window and stared at the maze. “He’s just Theo. My dorky older brother.”
Charles didn’t speak, but I could tell from the pinched look on his face I’d insulted his gene pool.
“Okay, fine,” I relented. “I’ll sing the national anthem and salute every time I see him.”
“I’m not impressed by your attitude. Ever since he came home, your behavior has been reprehensible. Not that it was ever stellar.”
“You’re right, Charles, my attitude sucks.” The last thing I wanted was another lecture about how a young Southern lady doesn’t behave the way I do. It didn’t matter to Charles that I was born in New York and had spent the first five years of my life there. “I’ll make more of an effort.”
He puffed out his chest and nodded, seemingly satisfied with my answer.
“Is there anything else?” I asked.
“No.” He waved his cigar to dismiss me.
By the time I left the stifling office, sweat trickled between my breasts. I needed to cool down and take my mind off everything. About a twenty-minute hike from the house was a lake, complete with a two-hundred foot waterfall. When it was too hot to hide in the attic, the lake was my oasis of calm. As far as I knew, no one ever went there but me.
I tugged on my hiking boots, grabbed some water, and set out. I glanced down at Theo’s cottage and wondered where he was and what he was doing. Ignoring the urge to find him, I set out, attempting to push him from my mind.
The trees behind the house gave way to a canopy that kept the punishing sun from beating down on my head. The harmonious song of cicadas and birds spurred me on, and the earthy scent of moss and undergrowth filled my senses. I breathed deeply. Even though it was my choice to go to Georgia, I would miss having the mountains in my backyard. Nothing soothed me like losing myself and my thoughts among the trees.
After a brisk walk, I reached my waterfall. It felt like my own piece of paradise. The water gushed down, beckoning me. Accepting the invitation, I stripped off my sweat-drenched clothes, underwear and all, and jumped into the lake. The delicious water cooled my overheated skin. I dunked my head and submerged myself. Nothing in the world would ever come close to this feeling of liberation. I floated on my back and, through a break in the trees, studied the clouds drifting across the cornflower blue sky. Peace and quiet, with no stepdad telling me what to do, no mom fussing over my appearance, and no stepbrother tempting me to give into carnal desires.
The thicket rustled. Twigs snapped. Immersing my body, I wrapped my arms across my breasts in an attempt to hide my nudity beneath the crystal clear water. “Who’s there?”
Chapter Four
I spun around, searching for the intruder. No one ever came here. It was the wrong season for deer, and bears didn’t venture this far down. I swam for the bank to grab my clothes.
“So this is where you’re hiding.” Theo smiled and dropped his backpack on the ground.
“Y-you followed me?”
He gave me a slow nod. “I had to find out where you were disappearing to. Your car was always in the garage, but you were never home. So I figured you were hiking one of our old trails. Thought I’d join you.”
“Can you turn around please so I can get dressed?”
He laid a blanket on the bank and sat, gesturing toward my pile of clothes. “They’re all yours.”
I remained in the water, not daring to move. Theo kicked off his boots and socks, pulled off his t-shirt, revealing his perfect torso and unbuttoned his cargo shorts. “It’s a hot day, wouldn’t mind cooling off myself.”
“Don’t come in. I’ll scream.” I was bluffing, I wouldn’t scream. I wanted him to come in. I wanted him to make me his. Despite his threat, he didn’t move. He sat there, staring at me, daring me to do something. He wouldn’t force me, and he wouldn’t take me against my will. If I wanted anything to happen, I would have to be the one to go to him.
The sound of the waterfall crashing down filled the uneasy silence between us. He was everything I could ever want. Kind, strong, loving, and sexy as hell. The one thing stopping me was the fear of our parents finding out. They would never accept us. Uncertainty and worry joined forces, creating a cyclone of doubt in my mind. I lowered my head.
“Addy.” His voice cracked when he said my name. “Look at me.”
Instead of looking at him, I gazed upward. Gray clouds blanketed the once blue sky and a drop of summer rain fell on my face. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
The birds’ song stilled, and I gazed at Theo. Hope and desire filled his face. Arousal filled my body. Screw what our parents would think. I loved him. I couldn’t deny it any longer. For so many years, I’d pretended I didn’t want him. With every inch of my being, I needed him.
I rolled my shoulders back and strode from the lake. Water streamed from my body, and rain continued to fall.
Theo sucked in a breath taking me in with his gaze, his eyes roaming all over me.
“I love you,” I whispered.
He stood and ran a shaking hand over his head. “Tell me this is what you want.”
I reached out and grasped his hand, stilling his movement. “I want this. I want you. I can’t pretend. Not anymore.”
He took a step and closed the gap between us. “Christ, you’re beautiful. I imagined this moment over and over again. When I was in the desert, blind from staring at sand, the thought of you, of what we could have together, kept me going. Made me want to survive, no matter what.”
His words stole my breath and heart. “For years, I thought about you, dreamed about you. When you left, and after everything you said, I tried to forget you. I wanted to hate you. I couldn’t.”
He lifted his hand and stroked his fingertips between my breasts and down the center of my body. Heated shivers wracked me; not even th
e rain washing over me cooled my fever.
“I hated myself for what I said to you.” He placed the flat of his hand on my stomach. “I know it took a lot of courage for you to open up to me. Shooting you down was wrong. I was a coward.”
I placed my hand on top of his. “No one could ever call you a coward.”
“I was. I was afraid of my feelings. I should have told you I felt the same. I should have told you how much my heart ached when I saw you. How much I wanted you. But I thought it was wrong. We were too young. The time away from you made me realize how we felt about each other wasn’t wrong. I should have kissed you goodbye, I should have held you in my arms and asked you to wait for me.”
I closed my eyes, delighting in his nearness, in his confession.
“Kiss me,” I murmured.
I opened my eyes. Theo lowered his head, his chest brushed against my breasts.
“God, you’re something else,” he said.
His lips touched mine, and set fire to my soul. I kissed him like a starving woman afraid she’d never eat again. I ran my hands over his chest, up and down his arms, over his biceps, afraid this would be my one and only chance to touch him. As if at any minute, he’d change his mind and tell me he’d made a mistake. Our tongues dueled and fought, tasting and savoring. I brushed my fingers over the waistband of his shorts.
“Take these off, Soldier.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He stepped away, and I watched in wonder as he shucked off his shorts. He was perfection personified.
“You’re beautiful,” I said, awe filling my voice. I glanced at his tense face.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been with anyone. I saved myself for you. You have no idea how many nights I thought about you. Thought about us.” He wrapped his hand around his hard cock and pumped back and forth.
I bit my bottom lip and reached for my breasts, my nipples harder than concrete.
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