by Jenika Snow
“Ryan and Max got a kick out of seeing Frank and are watching him.”
Before I know it we are pulling into the driveway of Alex's house.
The houses close to the university look very similar: two stories with a small covered porch, peeling paint on the wooden siding, and a small paved driveway. Although the sun is still out there are cars lined up on each side of the street and parked along the curb.
He kills the ignition and gets out of the vehicle. I follow suit, then we are making our way toward the front door. I can hear the booming music coming from inside the house. Splashes of red from the solo cups everyone holds catch my eye. Everyone greets Alex with either a slap on the back from the guys, or a seductive smile from the females.
We step inside and I feel lost in the crowd of people, the music, and the clearly sexual actions going on around me.
Yup, this is an Alex party.
“Yo, Alex, you gotta watch Deeno do a keg stand. This asshole is a machine!”
I instantly recognize Holden's voice as we round the corner and enter the kitchen. Holden is just as much of a big brother to me as Alex is, and if I am being honest, I hate it. I look up at him and can't help but feel that familiar warmth spreading through me.
Holden's short blond hair is a mess around his head. It is sexy as hell, because it looks like he doesn’t give a damn.
I don't know if I am drawn to Holden because I’ve known him practically my whole life, or for the fact, besides Alex and my parents, he was the only other one that was there for me.
“Sky, this is Ryan and Max, my other two roommates.” Two beefy guys hold out their hands.
“Hey there. We heard a lot about you.” Ryan's ball cap is low on his head and his hazel eyes are bright and expressive.
“It's nice to finally meet you, Skylar.” Max grabs my hand that Ryan just released and grins down at me. He is also wearing a ball cap. In fact, they are both pretty much wearing the same thing: frat shirts and distressed jeans.
I can only imagine the embarrassing stories Alex might have told them during one of his drunken parties.
“Skylar.”
The sound of my name has this chill racing along my spine.
Holden.
His voice is deep, kind of scratchy, and always has my body reacting. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in close. God, he smells incredible. “How about a beer?”
“Oh, hell no, Holden. You're not corrupting my little sister when she just walked in. Besides, she's only eighteen.”
I can't help but roll my eyes. “Give me a break, Alex. You were getting trashed in high school.” This has all the guys in the kitchen laughing loudly.
“That was different.”
I might give Alex a hard time, but I don’t want to drink anyway. “Maybe later, Holden. Thanks though.” He tightens his arm on my shoulder and looks down at me, his expression comforting. I can't help but feel that soft tingle of warmth start in my stomach and spread through my body. Standing this close to him, smelling his incredible cologne, and staring into whiskey colored eyes, I can't contain the spear of lust that shoots through me.
He brings his beer to his mouth and takes a long drink. The way his throat works as he swallows shouldn't make me feel desire. But it does, so intensely.
Something flickers in his eyes as we stare at each other, but all too soon he drops his arm from my shoulder and puts a fair amount of distance between us. I sigh. Yup, this is the story of my life. It doesn't matter though. I don't have room in my life for guys, especially not ones that are best friends with my brother.
I clear my throat and start wringing my hands in front of me. I don't like feeling uncomfortable around Holden. But that small "moment" I had with him and then his sudden shift in demeanor have me feeling exactly that.
“On second thought, I’ll take that beer.”
Chapter 3
Holden
The first time I met Skylar she’d been eight years old, dressed as a cute little princess, and going out trick or treating with her brother. Alex and I had just connected in school. We’d been friends, but not that close. I don’t know what happened. One day we just seemed to click, and from that day we were inseparable. Growing up together, I’d gotten to know Alex and Skylar really well. Even though Alex is like a brother to me, Skylar has never crossed that boundary of feeling like a sister.
Seeing as we were three years ahead, I always tried to keep an eye on her. Skylar was one of those girls that just had something about her. She wasn’t all goofy teeth and silly words, or giggling. That used to drive me insane. The giggling girls who would hang around me and her brother, trying to pretend they were something special when they were clearly not. Whenever I happened to be in Skylar’s company, I liked how quiet she was. She’d stare at me in a way that had me questioning everything I am. There were no giggles, no coy looks or thrusting out her chest. Skylar was simply Skylar, and I adored her, I really did. She was special, and if anyone tried to say differently, I’d fucking destroy them, as simple as that.
But I also knew she had a crush on me. When Alex actually told me about it even before we left high school, I thought my special girl would change. But she didn’t. She always stayed so damn perfect.
And now here we are, my feelings for her just as intense, just as powerful. But crossing any lines to be with her isn’t something I want to chance.
I don’t like her at the party. The drunken guys, the inhibitions lowered for them. I have to keep an eye on her. I’d had Patty come up to me five minutes before Skylar arrived, showing her tits off, asking for me to poke them to see if they were real. Yeah, really fucking happened—as if I want to touch that chest that a thousand other men have groped.
“You really think you should be letting her off like that?” I ask, keeping Skylar in my sights.
Her back is to me, which isn’t a problem. Skylar has one of those nicely rounded asses that you just know would nestle nicely against my dick as I fuck her so damn hard.
Get those thoughts out of your head, asshole.
“You want me to be on my sister’s tail?” Alex asks. His hands are running up and down one of our classmate’s back.
Her name doesn’t come to me, but I am sure she’s been used plenty in the last couple of weeks by several of our buddies. I just don’t go for that shit, and some of the dorm boys, they like to make trains of fucking the same girl in the same day. Never went for that shit. I’m an asshole, and I like sex, but I don’t like following after a guy, least of all on the same day.
“We need to protect her.” I watch as a couple of girls stand to talk to her. I look around to see a couple of guys are eyeing her up.
“We are protecting her. I’ve told everyone she’s my sister so they all have to leave her alone. I won’t have any of them trying any shit. Don’t worry, she’ll be fine.”
Nope, I don’t like Alex’s blasé attitude.
Gritting my teeth, I watch Skylar, get pissed at Alex, and send glares at anyone I think would willingly do her harm. I am so fucking pissed that I am struggling to actually think.
Alex sighs and comes to stand beside me. “I promised Skylar that I wouldn’t stand over her, watch everything she did, and stifle her. Our parents did a pretty good job of that. This is her time to have freedom.”
“You’re not worried?”
At eighteen years old, the last couple of years have done wonders for her, and I can’t deny my own attraction to her. I don’t like it. I’m used to being able to blank her out, and thinking of Skylar as just a friend.
This party is not the fun I was hoping it would be.
“You’re not going to let her have fun?” Alex asks.
“I’ll let her have fun. You know I will, but I can’t let these assholes think they can mess with her.” I slap Alex’s chest. “Go back to doing what you want. I’ll go and keep our girl occupied.”
Without waiting for Alex to say anything, I am already heading over to Skylar. Her a
ss is still calling to me, but I’ve always been an ass and tits man. Give me a good handful, and I’m a happy man.
I place my hand on her, and Skylar gasps and whirls around. Her hand is up as if to slap me, and then she stops.
“Holden,” she says.
“Hello, princess. Your brother was boring me, and so I thought I’d come and keep you company.”
“Oh.”
“That’s it? That’s all I’m getting, ‘oh’?”
Her cheeks actually heat, and her mouth opens and closes.
“Wow, this is not filled with tension at all.”
I turn to see a very cute, smaller girl. “And you are?”
“I’m Claire Jacobson.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“She’s my roommate,” Skylar says.
“I’m hoping she’s not a party animal, or someone who is going to have a different boy over every single day. Are you?” Claire asks.
“Not at all.” Skylar is smiling, and I like that.
She needs to learn to smile more.
“I can vouch that she’s a good girl.” I wink at Claire.
“I don’t need you to vouch for her or anything. My instincts are telling me that she’s a good one.” Claire wraps her arm around Skylar’s shoulders. I don’t release her though. Standing behind Skylar, I keep my hand on her hip, waiting. “We’re going to be the best of friends, but right now, I really need to pee. I’ll be right back.”
Skylar turns away from Claire’s retreating back and smiles up at me. “I really like her.”
“You look relieved about that.”
“I am. I was worried that I’d get some girl who liked to party, or had boys making out with her. That’s not what I wanted.” Skylar tucks some of her hair behind her ear, and all it makes me want to do is touch the luscious strands. I clench my hand into a fist at my side and focus on Skylar. Her eyes sparkle as she looks around. “It’s a little different from how I imagined it to be.”
“How did you imagine?” I ask, intrigued.
“I don’t know. This just seems normal, not a lot of crazy things going on. You know, half naked girls or guys.”
“The night is young. You should see what happens when the full moon comes out. A lot of excuses to act crazy.”
She smiles.
No girly giggles that drive me insane.
Excellent.
She is my pretty little Skylar still.
“Come on, walk with me.” I offer my arm, and she takes it. Shooting another glare at the guys looking at her, I take her in the complete opposite direction, away from the party. I want her all to myself where no one can interrupt us. I’ve already made a note to tell those guys to back off. Skylar doesn’t need assholes chasing after her right now. She needs to focus on her studies, and having some fun. I can make sure she gets both.
What the hell am I doing?
Ignoring my own warning, I take her outside to look at the stars.
Skylar laughs. “It’s a full moon so clearly the party is about to get crazy.”
“So, how are you, Skylar?” I ask.
“I’m fine. I can’t believe I’m actually here, you know.”
“Alex and I told your folks we’d take care of you. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I’m grateful. They wanted me to stay at home. Do some online courses. I didn’t want to do that though. Alex talked about being in college, and how free it was.”
After admiring the full moon, which is so fucking funny that one was out, I take her around the back of the house. Several couples are making out, and I chance a glance at Skylar to see her ignoring them.
Not wanting to make her uncomfortable, we enter the back yard to where several people are already in the pool.
“Now, this is like in the movies,” she says.
Laughing, I shake my head, and watch a couple of guys run and jump in the pool.
“I love it here.”
“I want you to be careful, though. It’s fun, but make sure you’ve got your guard up around guys and even girls you don’t know.”
“You’re starting to sound like my dad.”
“I just want to protect you.” Taking a seat at the edge of the pool, I can’t take my gaze away from her. She is … animated, taking everything in, and I can’t look away.
“It’s fine. I like it.”
“Some of the guys here, they’re not to be trusted, and I’d hate for you to fall for some of their shit.”
“You ever done shit like that?”
“No. I’m an angel.”
She chuckles.
“Anyway, if you want or need any help with anything, I want you to call me first. Can you do that?”
“I can. So, is my brother an asshole, or is he one of the good guys?”
I groan. “I can’t talk about your brother with you. He’s a guy. I’m a guy.”
“Fine. Fine. I’ll leave it alone, but I’m going to make sure that my brother is not one of those assholes.”
“He’s an asshole to those that deserve it.”
“How can anyone deserve that?”
I groan. “Let’s just agree to disagree.”
“Fine.” She holds her hands up. “What about you? Any girl in your life? I saw the way Alex was looking at a couple of them inside. I’m not that big of a fool to think he’s not, you know, playing them. My brother is no angel.”
“No. There’s no one in my life.” I’ve been waiting for her. How have I not known this until now?
I am fucked.
Alex will fucking kill me.
I want Skylar. I want her gorgeous ass to be nestled against my dick. I want to own every single part of her, and to tell the world that she belongs to me.
“What’s wrong?” Skylar asks.
“Nothing.”
“You sure? You’ve gone a little pale.”
I’ve just realized that I want my best friend’s little sister. She is out of bounds, out of limits, and I want her. I want her so damn bad that it is a constant ache. This was why I’ve struggled around her, why I tried to avoid her.
Skylar had gotten under my skin years ago, I just didn’t see it.
I am well and truly fucked!
Chapter 4
Holden
“What the fuck happened?” Alex asks.
“You partied hard, and you took a couple of girls up to your room,” I say, pointing out the coffee machine. I didn’t even realize he’d drunk all that much. “Don’t worry. Skylar didn’t see you.”
“Shit, Skylar. Is she okay? Did she have a good time?” He rubs his head.
“I spent the whole night talking to her. It was nice. You don’t have to worry.”
“I knew you’d take care of her.” Alex groans. “I hadn’t realized I’d drank so much until it was too late.” He looks at me, bags under his eyes. “How did Skylar seem to you?”
“The same old Skylar. A little reserved, nervous, anxious, you know, usual stuff.”
Alex pours himself a large cup, and I continue to scroll through my latest assignment. The only reason I am hanging out at Alex’s is because we have a lunch date with his sister. Today we are taking her on a full tour of the campus. I just want to get her alone, and find out everything about her life that I’ve missed in the last couple of years.
I need to remember to be subtle, though. A lot can happen in two years. What if she has a boyfriend back home? I didn’t even give it a thought last night but she could be taken.
The girl I want more than anything could be pining after someone else.
“It’s great to have her here, you know? I’ve missed her. I know I should probably hate her and find her a pain. As sisters go, she’s been pretty damn good.”
I laugh. “That’s because she has always covered for you, and stopped your ass from getting grounded.”
“True.” Alex burps and releases a groan. “Fuck, why did I drink so much?”
“You weren’t thinking?”
“I was thinking. I fucked Britney and Karla last night. Both of them were ready to go at each other and at me. What guy would turn that shit down?” Alex asks.
“Not you.”
“Did you bang anyone?”
“Nope. I told you that I stayed with Skylar, and I walked her home.”
Alex downs the hot coffee. “Fuck, I really need to get my head in the game. I don’t need this shit today.”
“Do you want me to take her on the tour? Take her out for breakfast, and we meet up with you at lunch?” I ask.
“I told her I’d be here for her. I shouldn’t have gotten so crazy last night.”
“It happens, man.” Truth is I want to do these things with Skylar. “Besides, you don’t want her to see you like this, right?”
He shakes his head. “You’d do that for me?”
“I’d do that for her. I don’t have anything else to do, and unlike you, I haven’t drunk half of a brewery.”
“Shit, man, I owe you.”
Don’t worry. I’ll find a way in a few months for you to make it up to me. Especially when I take Skylar for my own.
“Don’t mention it.”
I am a good friend really. Sure, we’ve had a few ups and downs, but for the most part, we were both good.
“Do you have Sky’s number?”
“Yep.” I am the only one to still call her by her full name. “Let’s hope she doesn’t mind spending the morning with me.”
“She will. You’re not her lame ass older brother, whereas I am. You’re a good friend.”
Pulling out my cell phone, I dial her number, and watch as Alex makes his way back toward his bedroom. He’ll probably go back to sleep for a couple of hours, and then drink several cups of coffee before he catches up with us.
“Hey, what’s up?” Skylar asks.
“There has been a change of plans. How do you feel to breakfast and a quick tour with me?” Just hearing her voice makes me hard. Fuck! This is going to cause a major complication if I’m not careful.
“Where’s Alex?”
“He drank too much, and if he comes with us, he’d be a waste of space.”