Damn, my brother’s stupid campus celebrity, I thought. He had graduated a year prior, but he was still worshipped at the school. Stories about him circulated regularly and by default, Autumn had gained a certain recognition at Cook. Not many college girls could claim to have a boyfriend playing in the NFL.
“Yes.” Autumn smiled. “Nice to meet you.”
“How did the two of you meet?” Georgie asked pointing at Autumn before gesturing in my direction. Georgie seemed shocked I knew someone with the clout Autumn obviously had. Her stunned expression told me she was offended I hadn’t mentioned Autumn. Georgie had no idea Autumn was the one person I wished never came into my life.
Autumn’s delicate features pulled together in confusion. “I’m engaged to her brother.”
My shoulders slumped at Autumn’s words. I wondered if her naïveté was authentic. Didn’t she pick up on the fact Georgie had no clue who she was? Couldn’t she understand my need to have my own life away from the heavy burden of being Blake Preston’s sister?
“Your brother?” Georgie managed to sputter out. “Blake Preston is your brother?”
My smile was strained. “Yup.” I added, “Surprise.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked in a hurt tone. At least, she didn’t seem angry. She only seemed confused about why I kept my brother a secret.
“Can we talk about it later?” I asked, imploring her to understand with my eyes. “Do you mind if I have a minute alone with Autumn?”
Georgie blinked several times in succession. Finally, she answered, “Sure. I was planning to do a snack run anyway.” She turned to Autumn. “Nice to meet you. Congrats on your engagement too.”
Georgie eyed the rock on Autumn’s finger I was mentally trying to block out. The ring spoke of a permanency in Blake’s life which I refused to accept. Wasn’t it enough he slept with her? Did he really need to propose to her? He was only twenty-three. For chrissakes, how could he be so certain Autumn was the one?
Was I supportive when Blake called to tell me he asked Autumn to marry him? Of course I was. I had shut my brother out for months after I found out about his relationship with Autumn. And not having Blake in my life sucked. The pathetic truth was my brother had always been my best friend. Who else could understand the hell we had been through since our father’s arrest? My fear was if I told Blake I didn’t want him to marry Autumn, I would lose him forever.
Autumn said goodbye to Georgie, but kept her eyes on me. Autumn emoted in a loud way that was impossible to ignore. We both stayed silent as Georgie gathered up her purse and prepared to leave. I figured I’d have to come up with a cover story later to explain the tension between my brother’s fiancée and me. Although the truth was out about who my brother was, I wouldn’t reveal the twisted relationships that led me to stare at Autumn with a blend of revulsion and mistrust.
Georgie left and I watched her walk down the hallway with dread. I had witnessed Georgie’s gossiping sessions with Fallon—my identity would be common knowledge in less than ten minutes. I’d have to send an emergency text to Georgie and beg her to keep quiet until I had a chance to talk with Wyatt. Autumn didn’t seem fazed by the aggravated look I was shooting at her. “Can I come in?” she asked.
“Fine,” I huffed and stepped aside. I shut the door firmly behind her. Autumn lingered in the doorway. I didn’t bother to invite her to sit down. I didn’t want her thinking she could show up at my room anytime she pleased.
Scooting around her, I resumed my seat back on the bed. The awkwardness between us wasn’t anything new. But I was surprised Autumn would seek me out. My assumption was she’d been relieved as well that two weeks passed without us running into each other.
“I thought I’d check in and see how everything is going.” Autumn’s tone was bright and I could hear the way she was trying to make the best out of an impossible situation. I didn’t plan to make things easy on her.
“How nice of you,” I said in a bored tone.
Autumn shifted from side to side. “Everything good with your roommate? Do you like your classes?”
I sighed. “Did Blake tell you to come and check up on me? Because I talk to my brother all the time and I’ve already told him how great I’m doing. I love college and things were going really well until you showed up.”
Her shoulders pulled back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Come on, Autumn,” I said with bite. “Can’t you guess why I kept you and Blake a secret?”
Seeing Autumn again reopened old scars that bled out in the space between us. She leaned back against Georgie’s desk and folded her hands in front of her body. “Delia, I’m really trying here and I wish you’d give me a shot. You mean the world to your brother and since he means the world to me….”
I barked out a derisive laugh. “Is that why you’re here? To win brownie points with my brother? Are your delusions about having a normal relationship with each other finally falling apart?”
Autumn’s eyes narrowed. “Look, I understand accepting me as part of Blake’s life isn’t easy for you. But I’m committed to Blake and we will be married one day. Since you’re my future sister-in-law, I thought we could try and be friends.”
“But how committed is Blake to you?” I asked with fake innocence. “He’s in California this week, isn’t he? Attending these amazing parties with gorgeous models and movie stars.” My smile was sly. “My brother does have a known weakness for blondes.”
Autumn’s face turned crimson and I felt a twinge of guilt. My brother would wring my neck if he knew I was suggesting to his fiancée he was cheating on her. Blake was a good guy and I shouldn’t have questioned his character as a way to be passive aggressive to his other half. But maybe Autumn and Blake needed a bit of a reality check. Did they really expect a clear path to their happily ever after? Did they forget what a betrayal it had been to my family for Blake to fall in love with Autumn?
“You win,” Autumn said wearily. “I thought we were coming to an understanding and we were on good terms for your brother’s sake. Obviously, I made a mistake.”
“Do I think you love my brother?” I asked rhetorically. “Of course I do. But that doesn’t change who you were before you met him. Your feelings for Blake also doesn’t erase the relationship you had with my father—”
Autumn’s fury was instantaneous. I’d been trying to push her buttons, but I hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. Autumn’s cheeks flushed and her eyes glinted with an instant fire as she glared at me as if I were the most loathsome person on the planet. Autumn’s entire body shook with rage. She snarled, “I will not talk to you about your father. Not now and not ever.”
I gulped down my reply. Her reaction terrified me and forced me into silent submission. I didn’t want to think too hard about what could’ve happened to cause her to react so violently to the mention of his name.
“I’m leaving,” Autumn announced. “Nothing I say or do is going to change your mind about me. I get that you want to believe in your father, but I’m not going to sit here while you continue to insult me.”
“Are you going to tell Blake?” I asked softly. I was showing her my vulnerability and I hated I couldn’t simply tell her good riddance. But Blake was protective of Autumn and he’d be hurt to know I treated her harshly.
“No,” she said quickly. “Casey told me about seeing you and Wyatt Johnston together and I didn’t mention that to him.”
“Why would Blake care if I’m going out with Wyatt?”
Autumn straightened up. “Because Wyatt is known for being a dick to girls. Especially after he sleeps with them.”
“I thought you were the one always advocating to not believe everything you hear. I’d hate to put stock in petty rumors.”
Autumn gave me a sad look and I could see how Blake ended up believing her over our dad. She had big expressive eyes that let me know exactly how she was feeling. My words had cut her deeply. She’d obviously come to my room expecting a diff
erent outcome.
“I’m not going to tell you who to surround yourself with,” she said and took a step in the direction of the door. “Who you want to be friends with and who you want to date is your business. But I trusted the wrong people before and I’d hate to see you hurt in the same way I was.” She reached for the door and pulled it open. “I’ll see you around, Delia.”
I didn’t reply and watched her walk away. The door shut with a heavy thud and I winced at the sound. I waited for my resentment to return, but I couldn’t find the source any longer. Maybe I had to change. Because I was fighting a battle I was guaranteed to lose. My brother wasn’t likely to simply fall out of love with Autumn Dorey because I wished it so.
Chapter Six
“I love you in a dress. Can you wear one every time we go out?” Wyatt whispered into my ear. His fingers crept up my knee before resting on my thigh. He caressed his thumb over the bare skin.
“I’ll see what I can do,” I whispered back.
I tried to force my attention back to the movie screen, but my eyes kept returning to Wyatt’s profile. He was clean-shaven and sporting a new haircut. I liked the shorter style since the cut brought more attention to his symmetrical features. I could study his face for hours and still fail at finding a flaw. His handsomeness made me feel thrilled over his attentions. And what had started as mutual lust was evolving into something more.
Wyatt had taken me out several times over the last week. Although he’d been distant at first, I could see us growing closer. He was more open about his family and how he felt being the son of a senator. His father put a lot of expectations on him and he had rebelled by lambasting politics in favor of athletics. However, Wyatt had come to terms with his father only wanting the best for him and his interest in politics was renewed. He admired the way his father had the ability to change people’s minds and sway them to his manner of thinking.
“This movie blows. Want to go back to my place?” Wyatt asked and tightened his fingers on my thigh. My belly stirred at the contact and I nodded in reply. As I gathered up our things, my hands shook with excitement. Being alone in Wyatt’s condo would be a first.
I’d seen his place days earlier, but Georgie and Fallon had come along. The condo was swanky and most college students wouldn’t be able to afford the place without roommates. However, Wyatt’s parents paid for Fallon and Wyatt to have their own units in the complex. The siblings had only lived on campus for their freshman years.
The condos in the development had wall-to-wall hardwood floors and oversized rooms. Wyatt didn’t have a lot of furniture, but the pieces he did have were more expensive than functional. If I had to guess, he wasn’t the one to pick out the leather sofa and solid walnut kitchen table. The countertops in the condo were marble and all the appliances updated to the latest stainless steel models.
I’d been overwhelmed the first time I walked in. Blake was newly rich and the Johnstons were obviously old money. I didn’t want to feel like an outcast around Georgie and Wyatt, but I wondered how I could relate to them when they came from a world I knew nothing of.
I didn’t want to doubt my relationships, especially since Georgie had been very understanding about my choice to keep Blake a secret. I had told her I didn’t want to be used by people who only wanted to get close to my brother. She accepted my explanation and although she wanted to share the news, she promised to not tell Wyatt until I was ready.
Wyatt’s apartment was less than five minutes away from the movie theater. I followed him inside and he headed to the fridge. I adjusted my blue sundress as I settled on his couch. The leather stuck to my skin and squeaked each time I moved. Wyatt offered up a dazzling smile as he returned to the living room with two beers. He cracked open the bottles and tossed the tops on the glass coffee table.
He settled into the cushion next to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. I leaned into his solid frame and relaxed. Closing my eyes, I breathed in his cologne. I felt enthralled by Wyatt and the sensation confused me. Because I wondered if despite my protestations, I was having real feelings for him.
“I have to tell you something,” I said nervously. I was scared to open up to him because of how well our relationship had progressed. He no longer seemed intent on keeping things casual. He’d become reliable—calling and texting me nightly. When we made plans to go out, he arrived on time. Before, I had thought both of our end games were getting each other naked. But he was acting more and more like boyfriend material.
He chuckled at my expression. “You sound freaked out. You’re not going to tell me you’re really a man, are you?”
I became annoyed at his carefree attitude since I was a total mess inside. “I never told you I had a brother. I should’ve said something when we first met, but I didn’t want things to become weird.”
“Why would things get weird because you have a brother?”
“Because my brother is Blake Preston.”
I drew in a steadying breath and forced myself to keep eye contact. His brown eyes showed nothing of what he was thinking. After a torturous and long moment of silence, Wyatt let out a guffaw. “And why didn’t you tell me? What did you think, I'd go all fan boy and date you only because of him?” The way he assessed the situation did make me feel ridiculous. But he had only scratched the surface of why I had kept quiet about my family. He continued, “Do you get along with Blake? Because I can relate to having pain in the ass relatives.”
“No, we get along great,” I responded quickly. I had talked to Blake the day before. More than a week had passed since Autumn paid me a visit and she had kept her promise. Blake knew nothing about my argument with her. If she had told him, he would’ve lectured me instead of talking about how excited he was for Autumn to visit him the next weekend. He was scheduled to play a home game and she was staying in his Baltimore apartment and leaving after his game on Sunday. He sounded animated and I let him chat along about their plans while pressing my nails into my palms.
“Blake is such a big deal at Cook, I just didn’t want to make friends because of him,” I said.
Wyatt put his fingers under my chin when I began to look down. He lifted my chin to face him. “Hey I get it,” he said. “I’m always the senator’s son instead of my own person. That’s why I love soccer. The sport has nothing to do with my dad.”
He kissed me and I felt all of my reservations melt away. The kiss was sweet and his mouth lingered over mine. He drew my lower lip out with his teeth before sweeping his tongue inside of my mouth. He kissed me deeper—getting bolder from my response. He pulled me closer and I ended up on his lap.
He was out of breath when he broke the kiss. “You can tell me anything, Delia. I like you and I haven’t felt this way about anyone in a long time.”
His eyes searched my face and I wondered what he was looking for. Was he seeing what I had started to realize? Could he see we had the potential to be great together?
If I was completely honest with myself, I was afraid to have sex with Wyatt. Physically, I’d been ready to have sex with him since the get-go, but I wasn’t sure if I could psychologically handle the act. I’d started to develop feelings and I was scared of what would happen after we slept together. Autumn wasn’t reliable, but her words still rattled around in my brain. What if the rumors were true and Wyatt turned into a complete shit after we had sex?
My logic was flawed because I couldn’t seem to control how my body responded to his nearness. I shut up the opposing voices in my head and moved in closer to Wyatt. I straddled him as he leaned back deeper into the couch cushions. His hands circled around me and he cupped my ass as I tilted into another kiss. The kiss was hotter and wetter and I started to grind against him. Wyatt responded to the way I slid my body over him and I noticed him growing hard below me. While not breaking our kiss, I moved my hands lower until I had my fingers positioned over the button of his pants.
“You make me so fucking hot,” he said. His hand snuck under my sundress and smooth
ed over my ass cheeks. “Are you wet for me?”
His right hand left my behind and he brought it to the front of my mound. My panties were still in place, but he rubbed his thumb over the fabric and across my clit using firm strokes. As he continued his movements, I moaned, “Yes.”
He stopped and tugged at the side of my underwear. I didn’t hesitate and lifted up my body using my knees to give him better access. He slipped my thong off and tossed the fabric across the couch. He continued to touch me, inching his fingers closer until he was finally inside of me. After a few pleasurable strokes, he stopped and tilted his head in my direction. “I’m going to make you come hard for me, babe.”
His words were thick with desire. We were casually dating for more than three weeks and I’d been waiting for this moment. His promises left me eager to feel him inside of me. I was probably a fool, but I wanted to believe I was different. I wanted to believe I wasn’t simply another casual lay. Wyatt could’ve found sex from a lot of girls in the weeks since we started dating, but his interest had remained fixed on me.
After undoing the button on his pants, I felt his bulge while I carefully pulled down his zipper. He was rock hard and straining against his boxers. I touched him tentatively at first before applying a little more pressure. Wyatt tossed his head back and groaned. I snuck my hand beneath the waist of his boxers and used my free hand to circle his length. His arousal increased the longer I touched him.
“Delia, you’re killing me… I need you right now,” he murmured. He licked his lips as he peered up at me. “Let me take you to bed.”
“Do you have a condom?”
“I’ve been tested and I’m safe,” he said and pulled me with him off of the couch. I felt a slight rising panic as he tugged me in the direction of his bedroom.
I stopped in my tracks. “Wyatt, I don’t really feel comfortable—”
He cut me off by putting his forefinger over my lips. “No problem, babe. I just wanted to feel you when I rocked into you. I was going to pull out.” I was sure my face filled with uncertainty because he quickly added, “But I can wear a bag if it makes you feel better.”
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