There’s a veil of exhaustion in her eyes. She rubs her hands over her face, brushing the wet strands of hair out of the way.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
She slides the window back up and jumps out. Clutching her purse against her chest, she slams the door and uses the remote to lock it. We both hold our hands up to shield our faces, making the run toward my pickup.
Ivy climbs into the passenger side next to me, shutting the door behind us. The sound of the radio playing low, mixed with the soft raindrops on the truck fills the silence around us. The energy in the cab of the truck has changed, and all I can think about is the smell of her flowery perfume.
Her fingers twist in her lap in front of her. The soft glow of the dashboard illuminates the cab just enough to see her face. We’re both soaking wet. Ivy’s lip trembles and goose bumps break out on her skin. Pulling my t-shirt over my head, I toss it on the floor between us while turning the heat on high. She mutters a low “thank you.”
“If you’re cold, you can always slide over here. I can keep you warm.”
Her eyes dart over to mine, narrowing. “Oh, you’re back to this now. Wasn’t it a few hours ago you were acting like you were disgusted looking at me?”
Her throat bobs when she says it, making me realize it bothers her a whole lot more than she’s letting on.
“You should know better by now than to take anything I say personally. I’m a shit liar, Ivy.”
I’m not sure what I expected her to say or do next, but she takes me off guard completely when she pulls her t-shirt over her head and tosses it on the floor with mine. She’s left dressed only in a black lace bra, drawing my attention away from her eyes down to her breasts, traveling further to the soft curves of her hips.
“Yeah, you are,” she says matter-of-factly, eyes blazing into me as mine eat up every inch of her body.
I shake myself from my thoughts, focusing on putting the truck in drive. I signal and pull onto the road. The sooner I can get us both home, the quicker we can put some much-needed distance between us.
“You guys played well tonight.”
Her compliment takes me by surprise. I hadn’t expected her to say it, especially after I’d been such an asshole to her earlier.
“Thanks. I caught you watching us a couple of times. I’m glad you liked it.”
She smiles briefly, before biting her lip to cover it up. I don’t even think through my next words before they’re out of my mouth.
“If you want, I can take a look at your car for you tomorrow. See what’s going on before you drag it into the shop.”
My dad mentioned the reason why she was back home was to save up some money before her next semester. Hell, I’m pretty sure tonight was her first shift at Whiskey Barrel. I doubt she wanted to throw any extra cash at her piece of shit car.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to worry about it. I’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
“Alright, well, if you end up needing a ride anywhere, you know where to find me.”
Pulling into the driveway, the house is dark, and the storm shows no signs of letting up any time soon as lightning cracks overhead, and the rumbles of thunder are felt rolling through.
Ivy peers out through the windshield, her arms still shivering as droplets of water drip from her hair onto her arms.
She glances over to me, her eyes locking on mine. The urge to reach out and touch her consumes me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she wants me to, too.
“Thanks for the ride, Brix.”
She gives me a half-ass smile, leaning forward to pick up her purse and t-shirt, clutching them both against her chest. She reaches for the door handle, hesitating for a second. Letting out a heavy sigh, she pushes it open and quickly jumps out. Slamming it behind her, she makes a mad dash toward the door, disappearing from my sight through the heavy rain, leaving me alone with nothing but the smell of her still wrapped around me.
Fuck.
Six
Ivy
Shortly after I woke up and got out of the shower the next morning, I got a call which caught me completely off guard. The local auto shop, Miller’s Auto, was letting me know my car was ready for pick up.
Immediately, I thought it had been ticketed and towed in, but when he told me the cost of the repairs, I knew that couldn’t have been the case. The police don’t look for stranded, broken down vehicles on the side of the road in desperate need of saving.
“I’m sorry, what? My car was towed to you?”
The man on the other end of the line pauses, seemingly confused by my question.
“Yes…” His voice trails off.
“I’m sorry, I just hadn’t expected it. Can you tell me who had it towed?”
The sound of papers shuffling filter through the other end of the phone.
“Oh,” he says, surprised. “It was Brix. The name on the credit card bill is for Brix Ward,” he responds gruffly.
“Wait, what? You mean Brix paid the bill?”
There is another long pause before he replies, “Yes, ma'am. That’s what it looks like.”
I guess I shouldn’t be too shocked. The only person who even knew was Brix, but after the way he talked to me at the bar, I hadn’t expected him to give me a ride, let alone have my car towed to the auto shop to be fixed.
“Okay…” I pause. “I’ll be by to pick it up shortly. Thank you.”
Hitting the end button, I drop my phone in my lap from where I sit at the end of my bed gazing out the window overlooking the backyard. The sun has begun to rise in the distance. It had stormed long into the night. I’ve learned Brix likes to fall asleep to the sound of music playing, but I was thankful last night he didn’t bother. I opened the window letting the sound of raindrops pounding on the ground outside lull me to sleep. It was the first good night’s sleep I’ve had since moving here.
In the distance, I hear the bathroom door creak open and feet padding on the carpeted floor. A second later, he’s standing in front of me, peeking through the crack in the door and our eyes connect. Pushing on the wood, he sends it swinging open and my eyes fall to his bare chest to the black boxer briefs fitting oh-so snuggly around his, ahem, package.
Good fucking lord. This man is so beyond sexy, it’s downright sinful.
I can’t help myself. My eyes scan over his body, mentally documenting every inch into my mind for permanent reference. The longer I stare at him, the more I start to question myself on why I decided it was a bad idea to hook up with him.
Oh, because he’s my stepbrother. Right!
He leans his shoulder against the doorway, the movement snapping me out of my daze. I shake myself from my thoughts, remembering the conversation I had on the phone a moment ago.
There’s a crooked grin lining his mouth, and I can’t help my eye roll knowing how much he’s enjoying being on the receiving end of my blatant perusal.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had my car towed?”
“I had your car towed.”
I bite down on my lower lip, fighting off the urge to smile.
“You didn’t have to, ya know.”
“Yep.”
“So, why did you?”
“Would you rather I left your broken-down rust bucket on the side of the road?”
“I just mean I could’ve handled it.”
“It’s called a favor. Most people say, ‘thank you’ and move on.”
“Thank you.”
He doesn’t reply, simply nods his head. Tightening his fist around the towel rolled up in his hand, he presses off the door frame and backs up.
“Um… could you possibly give me a ride over to pick it up? Jayde texted me to say I forgot to collect my tips from last night. I’m not sure what I owe you, but I’ll give you what I have and, if it’s cool with you, I’ll pay you the rest with my next paycheck. Hopefully, I’ll earn enough over the weekend.”
“I’m not worried about it. Give me a few to shower and, uh, get decent. We can head over after.
”
Nodding my head, my eyes drop down to his waistband again when he turns. The visible bulge barely contained by the cotton stretched across his waist has me struggling to swallow.
Brix chuckles, muttering something under his breath. I can’t be entirely sure, but it sounded like he said, “Be careful.”
A few moments later, I hear the door click shut and the sound of water running in the bathroom next to my room.
I squeeze my eyes tight as mental images from last night flit through my mind. How he looked standing outside my car in the rain, to the way his hips gyrated in front of the crowd. I imagine him standing naked in the shower, looking all too delicious like he had a moment ago, and it makes my mouth water.
I force myself to my feet and focus on finding something to wear and fixing my hair before we pick up my car. It’s nearly twenty minutes later when my hair is dry and my clothes are on when I realize the sound of the water next door is still on.
What the hell is taking him so long? I still need to do my makeup and style my hair, and everything I need is left in the bathroom with him.
Standing outside the bathroom door, I hesitate for a second before I knock lightly and check the knob to see if it’s locked.
“Yeah!” His voice shouts.
Opening the door slightly, I peek my head in enough to ask, “Are you almost done? Or can I grab my stuff out of the cabinet quick?”
“Go for it.”
His response causes my adrenaline to spike, opening the door enough to slip inside. Steam billows around me from the intense heat. I take a deep breath, pushing myself to grab what I need and get out.
Swiping my brush from the drawer near the sink, I let my eyes chance a glance at the mirror and my lungs seize in my chest with the sudden inhale of breath. Even through the sheen of fog covering the glass, I can still make out Brix’s form through the opaque shower curtain.
I track his movements, the way his muscular arm runs over his chest and his head tilts back under the water until my eyes fall to his jerking movements down below.
My eyes widen in shock, and I’m frozen in place. I struggle to keep hold of the brush in my hand, sending it crashing into the sink, watching his hand wrapped around his length as his hips thrust forward. I don’t want to blink, afraid if I move an inch, I’ll snap out of the moment and it’ll all be a dream.
His hoarse moan echoes throughout the small space causing my nipples to harden beneath the cotton of my bra.
“Fuuuck,” he hisses. Desire pools low in my belly, and for a second, I wonder if he realizes I’m still in the room.
The thought that maybe I’m watching something I shouldn’t be creeps into my mind, then my name passes his lips. The sound of arousal is thick in his voice, forcing my thighs together, desperately seeking friction.
“You like watching me?”
An air of arrogance discernable in his tone forces my jaw to tighten. I grit my teeth knowing he’s enjoying teasing me. Every single day he’s tempting me, pushing me until I’ll inevitably crack.
“You like the thought of me touching myself while I think of you?”
If he thinks I’m going to admit it to him, he can go to hell. I want to snap myself out of my stupor and demand myself to leave.
It’s not worth playing whatever game he’s playing. Try again.
“What if I told you I’ve jerked off thinking about you damn near every night since you’ve moved in?”
Forcing a heavy breath, my eyes flutter shut, picturing him lying in his bed, his underwear pulled down below his hips and his fist wrapped around himself. My name on his lips as his hips piston, pushing himself over the edge when he cums.
I cross my leg over the other, trying but failing to ease the desire pulsing through me. I’m seconds away from unbuttoning the front of my shorts, but I won’t. It feels like I’d be surrendering to him.
I won’t give in to him or the temptation.
“I can see you, ya know? You can try to play it off like you’re not interested, but I see how you’re fighting this as much as I am. Are you sure you don’t want to take off your pants? You can slide up on the edge of the sink and spread those sexy legs for me.”
His breath gets caught at the mention of me spreading my legs open for him, and his pace begins to pick up.
Something about giving in to him snaps me out of my haze. I force my eyes away from him and push the sound of his moans reverberating through the small bathroom out of my mind. Swinging the cabinet door open, I grab my curling iron off the shelf. When I reach for the door, I hear the deep growl of my name echoing around me, weakening my resolve. Forcing my feet to move proves to be more effortful than I expected.
I race back down the hall, safely shutting the bedroom door behind me. I slump against the hardwood, trying to push the images out of my mind.
I cannot believe what just happened.
Even more, I can’t believe I wanted it. I’ve hated Brix Ward since I was twelve years old, and the thoughts I’ve had about him over the last week have me questioning who the hell I am and what is wrong with me.
* * *
Later that night, I’m busting my ass at Whiskey Barrel. It’s a weeknight and we’re still understaffed, so Jayde has Oaklyn and me handling the bar while she waitresses. It’s not until after eight when business finally starts to die down and I’m grateful because I’m rockin’ a terrible headache that won’t seem to quit.
I slip into the back room, grabbing the small bottle of ibuprofen I keep in my purse for the nights spent studying when my head won’t stop pounding. Realizing I forgot my water at the bar, I rush back to the front in search of something to help me send this thing straight back to hell.
Unscrewing the cap, I shake a couple tablets into my hand and toss them into my mouth along with some water, swallowing them down.
“You should try nuts. They help, too.”
Glancing up, my eyes fall on a tall, stocky man. He looks familiar, my eyes narrow trying to figure out where we’ve met. He’s broad, the kind you’d want playing on your football team. If you saw him coming at you, you’d want to make sure you have on some heavy padding because he’d do some serious damage.
“Excuse me?”
“Nuts,” he says, motioning to the bottle still in my hand. It must be the dumbfounded look on my face that shows I’m utterly confused. He blushes, peering down at his folded hands resting on top of the bar, laughing.
“Sorry, they help with headaches.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.” He nods. “Almonds specifically. You should try it sometime.”
I chuckle. “Thank you, I will. You thirsty? Can I get you anything?”
Swiping the towel from my back pocket, I go about wiping down the counter as he stares at me. His eyes flit down to the end of the bar. He seems anxious or nervous, causing the muscles in his forearms to tense.
“I’m not looking to order anything, actually. I just finished eating with some buddies not too long ago.” He gestures over his shoulder. A group of guys from a table near the back are staring at the two of us. They smile while waving playfully before my eyes fall back on him. “I just wanted to talk to you.”
“You did?” I giggle at how clearly staged this is, yet still taken by surprise. “We went to school together, right?”
I recognize some of the guys he’s with from high school. He looks different than I remember, not sure if I can recall his name. Although I must say, we’re not the same people we were back then.
“Yeah, we did. Ivy, right?”
He smiles. It’s the type of warm smile that would make any girl giddy.
I nod. “Trevor,” I say, his name finally hitting me.
He nods, too. “I’ve seen you around here a couple of times. I was wondering if you would be interested in going out sometime?”
Staring at Trevor, I take in his strawberry-blond waves, looking a little disheveled but in a boy next door sort of way. His green eyes are bright,
a smile plastered on his face waiting for me to answer.
He’s the exact opposite of Brix, right down to the sweet way he offered advice to fight my headache. He’s everything you should want in a man.
He’s also not my stepbrother.
Before I can even second-guess it, the words are out of my mouth, taking us both by surprise.
“I’d love to.”
He grins, the nervousness he wore a moment ago vanishes.
He smacks his hand down on the counter with excitement, moving to stand. I realize now how much taller he is compared to me, standing over a foot taller than I do.
He pulls out his phone, and I rattle off my number. My phone vibrates in my pocket when he mentions he’s going to send me a quick text so I’ll have his. Before I know it, he’s heading back to rejoin his friends with the promise to text me tomorrow to make plans.
It’s been over a year since I’ve been on an actual date. His excitement and enthusiasm, once I agreed, give me reassurance we’ll have a fun time.
I watch Trevor weave through the crowd of people, waving at me over his shoulder before he goes.
As he disappears from my sight, my eyes fall back to the stage toward the front of the bar, the same stage I’ve watched Brix and A Rebels Havoc play, and just like that, my mind is back on him.
I tell myself over and over, not to overthink it. Maybe this will be a good thing, and it’ll help convince Brix to leave me alone, at least for a while.
Lies. More and more lies.
Seven
Ivy
I’m regretting my decision to go on this date. It has nothing to do with Trevor. On paper, he’s the definition of the perfect guy. The type you’d want to bring home to introduce to your parents, knowing they’d love him for you for all the same reasons.
The only thing missing is the connection.
I hate how it’s even a comparison. It shouldn’t even be a thought in my mind right now, but the attraction and pull I experience around Trevor doesn’t compare to what I feel around Brix.
This is ludicrous. I’m an insane fool.
BRIX: A Stepbrother Bully Romance (A Rebels Havoc Book 1) Page 4