Why am I comparing him to that self-absorbed asshole?
It’s the glimpses I see of Brix being a nice person that has me questioning every negative thought I’ve had about him since he walked back into my life. As soon as the belief enters my mind, it’s quickly batted out by him being a complete jackass the next.
The doorbell rings, and I turn off my curling wand while giving myself one last look in the mirror. Grabbing my purse, I hit the light before jogging down the stairs toward the front door.
I swing the door open at the same moment Trevor reaches for the doorbell once more.
“Oh, there you are. For a second, I was wondering if I had the right house.”
“Sorry, just a few last-minute touch-ups.” I smile, swinging my purse over my head to sit at my hip. Tucking my hair behind my ear, I snag my keys to lock the door. Trevor stands out on the front porch stoop, waiting.
“I didn’t know you lived here. Isn’t this Brix Ward’s house?”
“Yep,” I say with a pop, “he’s my stepbrother.”
Even saying the words out loud sound foreign on my lips. It’s the truth, he is, but it seems weird to admit.
“I had no idea.” His eyes widen, surprised.
“It’s okay. It’s all very recent, actually. I was just as shocked as you are.”
He presses his hand on my lower back, escorting me to his car, a sleek, black BMW.
Another check for him. Clearly, he has his shit together. Even standing next to him, I feel out of place.
It’s obvious we live vastly different lives. I push the thought out of my mind, though, telling myself I’m going to ignore any inklings this may not be a good idea and enjoy the night. It’s a date, not marriage. It’s not that serious.
He’s dressed in a charcoal-colored V-neck t-shirt and denim shorts, paired with gray loafers. Casual but comfortable for what our date has planned. It’s been years since I’ve been home for the annual Sweet Summer Festival.
They have rides, games, and raffles. I heard Jayde mention last night that A Rebels Havoc is on deck to play in the beer tent. For all I know, they could be here tonight since I never bothered to pay attention to when it would be.
We walk around the festival first, hitting a few rides before checking out the games. Despite my hesitation at the beginning of the evening, now that I’m here, I’m glad I decided to go. I’ve been working a lot of long nights. Although a part of me wanted to hang out and veg at home, I’m happy I came.
“Want to race?” Trevor grins, pointing to the water gun game.
“Are you sure?” I ask, raising my brow at him. His eyes narrow for a moment, questioning me. “I mean, this is our first date. What if you lose? How will you recover?”
He tosses his head back, laughing. His hair bounces with each chuckle.
Crossing my arms, I hitch my hip and roll my eyes, showing how unamused I am by his reaction.
He goes stone-faced when he sees I’m serious, despite the small smirk fighting the urge to curve his mouth.
“I’m sure,” he boasts, confidently, “the real question is what am I going to get when I win?”
“Typical male. Always thinking about what they get in return. As if the title of the winner isn’t enough?”
“Oh, I’ll gladly take the title. I have something else I want to claim as well.”
“What would that be exactly?”
“I’ll tell you when I beat you. How about that?”
“Well, alright. If you say so.”
We both wait as the round in front of us finishes before claiming the two seats on the end. Trevor tosses two five-dollar bills on the counter, rolling his shoulders back, loosening up before it’s our turn.
I don’t pay him any mind at this point. I’m focused, ready to rumble. Wrapping my hands around the handles, I lean in to adjust my eye level with the pointer, waiting for the signal to start.
Right when the shot fires off announcing our start, I hear Brix’s voice behind me knocking my focus off-kilter.
Shoving all thoughts of him out of my mind, I hit the trigger and aim the water at the hole, pushing my boat along. My eyes bounce from mine to Trevor’s, and he’s just barely behind me.
“You’re going down, Trev!” I shout over the music.
“Not happening!” he yells, leaning in closer to adjust his aim as my boat crosses the finish line, sending the buzzer ringing.
Spinning around in my seat, I recline back on my elbows with a smug grin on my face. Holding a finger gun in the air, I shoot a fake shot before blowing on the end of the barrel.
“Told ya.” I smirk, winking at Trevor.
I collect my prize from the row of teddy bears and useless trinkets. Tucking the small tie-dye bear under my arm, I jump down from the platform and come face-to-face with Brix and his group of friends.
His foot is propped up against the cement wall a few feet across from us. The stark contrast between him and Trevor dawns on me. He’s dressed all in black—denim jeans, a t-shirt, and Chuck Taylors. Sunglasses cover his eyes and his trademark silver chain hangs from his pocket. His slicked-back hair ties it all together, giving the impression as though he just stepped off the set of Grease.
My eyes fall on the lip ring he has clamped between his teeth. My mind immediately escapes to the thought of biting his lip and sucking it into my mouth.
As if reading my thoughts, a small smile curves on his mouth, sliding his sunglasses off his face and tucking them into the collar of his shirt. His eyes rake over my body, stopping at the black gladiator sandals wrapped around my feet. He pauses on my legs, up to my chest, until his eyes meet mine once more.
Trevor’s palm presses against my lower back, pulling me out of the moment, and it’s then when Brix connects the dots on who I’m here with. The features on his face completely change. What was once sexy and playful has now turned into something much darker and more sinister. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he is pissed or maybe even jealous.
Why would he be?
“Out on a date so soon, sister?”
I feel Trevor’s hand tense against my back.
“Shut the hell up, Brix,” I warn. “Ignore him,” I mutter under my breath to Trevor. “Let’s go. Do you want to hit one of the rides?”
“What about how you came into the bathroom the other day when you knew I was showering?”
Heat flares up my neck. If it weren’t for all the people around, I’d kill him right here. I’d go to jail for murder, and I wouldn’t even feel bad about it for a second.
“That’s not how it happened, and you know it.”
Even though it is, and the scent of the lies hangs over my head, I feel Trevor’s fingers dig into my back.
“You mean to tell me you didn’t stand there and watch me while I showered?”
“Go to hell, Brix.”
A salacious grin takes over his face, and I so badly want to smack it off.
“Let’s go,” I respond harshly. I feel my blood boiling, the anger and adrenaline rising. The crowd of people and their eyes on me leave me feeling like I’m standing butt naked in front of them.
I’m going to make Brix pay for this. I don’t know how or when, but I’ll make him regret this one day.
Trevor doesn’t say anything when I storm off, but he eventually catches up to me. In my haste to get away, I dropped the bear on the ground.
He holds the stuffed animal out to me. Swiping it from him, I toss it into the garbage can a few feet in front of us, marching across the makeshift park toward his car.
“I’m sorry, Trevor. I think I’m ready to go home now.”
“What? Ivy, no! Don’t let him get to you. I didn’t believe a thing he said. Brix is a jackass, okay. I’ve known that since I first met him. Don’t let him ruin our night.”
I stop, crossing my arms over my chest using one of my hands to massage my forehead as if my fingers can somehow erase the embarrassment and anger I felt a moment ago.
“I’m j
ust in a bad mood now. Can we find something else to do?”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever you want. You won, after all. You can call the shots for the rest of the night.”
After we leave, Trevor drives us down by the beach. We stop for a snow cone before going for a walk. I’m not able to pull my mind from what happened, and it causes a sinking feeling in my chest. I know Trevor sees it. He doesn’t even act surprised when I tell him I’m ready to head home early. Disappointment blankets his face, but always the gentleman, he doesn’t protest while he walks me to his car and drives me home.
Brix is nowhere in sight when he drops me off and walks me to the door. I’m grateful he doesn’t make a move to try to kiss me. After we say our goodbyes, he promises to text me tomorrow and leaves me with a warm hug, telling me to have a good night. All my energy has been drained from me. Once inside, I head straight for my bathroom to clean up and get ready for bed. I keep the light off when I change my clothes, pulling on a t-shirt before crawling into bed.
I’m asleep before my head even hits the pillow. The sound of someone stumbling up the stairs wakes me a little while later. Pulling my phone out from where I tucked it under my pillow, the time reads after one in the morning.
I’m about to roll over and fall back asleep when the soft, giggling sounds of a woman filters through the door. The heavy weight in my chest returns, causing my heart to sink further.
Brix is home, and he’s not alone.
Their muffled words mixed with his moans and her giggles has my heart aching more. When his door shuts and his stereo flips on, I’m momentarily relieved for the sound of the music distracting from the torture of listening to them, until my thoughts shift to what they’re doing.
I picture him touching her in all the ways he’s talked about touching me—his mouth on hers as he grips her body, his hips moving against her when he brings them both to the precipice of their release.
Except, it’s not some faceless woman I see in my mind. Every thrust, every kiss, every moan is for me.
This is his way of trying to get back at me for tonight, to drive the knife even deeper, but even I know it’s not her he’s fucking.
It’s me.
Eight
Brix
The first thing I notice waking up the next morning is warm breath on my face mixed with the subtle sound of snoring. Immediately, I’m awake and ready for whoever is passed out in my bed to get out of here.
I don’t even try to be patient or careful as I pull my arm out from under the blonde sleeping next to me. Her wild curls in disarray toss haphazardly all over my pillow. She’s naked, except for the black bra still covering her chest. We hadn’t got quite that far.
I’m a legs and ass man, to be honest, so it wasn’t on the top of my priorities. I hadn’t planned or expected this to turn into a slumber party. When we got back to my place and into my room, I had to toss back a couple shots of Jack Daniel’s to push the look on Ivy’s face at the fair out of my mind.
I saw the shoes she wore by the door when we came stumbling in, but her bedroom door was closed. She had to have heard us last night. In fact, that was the whole plan of this rendezvous in the first place.
Like I said, I still hadn’t expected her to sleep over. Now that I’m awake, rocking a wretched hangover, I’m ready for her to get out of here so I can sleep this off alone.
“Time to wake up!” I shout over my stereo still playing. I reach for my discarded t-shirt, pulling it over my head.
She groans, rolling over and curling her arm under her head. I stare at her sleeping form, realizing this is going to be more difficult than I had initially thought.
Padding my way over to the other side of the room, I toss open the room-darkening curtains and pull up the blinds. She throws an arm over her face, groaning once more.
“C’mon. I need you to go now. I’m ordering you an Uber.”
Picking up my phone, I pull up the app and tap the request for an Uber to take her back to her car at the fairgrounds. It finally takes ripping the blanket off her before she wakes up. It’s cold in here. I hate sleeping when it’s hot, so I know with her butt-naked ass on display, it can’t be comfortable.
“You could’ve let me sleep. I could’ve seen myself out.”
I chuckle. If she thinks I’d let her sleep without me here, she’s fucking crazy.
“Yeah, not gonna happen. I need ya to go, now.”
She slips on her pants, not bothering with underwear, and pulls her tank top over her head. I realize now, she must not have worn panties in the first place.
Opening the door to my room, I wait before I follow her down the stairs. I notice Ivy’s door is open as we pass by, but she’s nowhere in sight. When I checked the time a few minutes ago, it was shortly after eight, so she must be up already.
Our parents took off to stay at our beach house near Myrtle Beach for the weekend. It’s a couple of hours away from Carolina Beach. They haven’t really been around much since they got home from their impromptu wedding. My dad often stays at his loft in the city since it’s close to work. Charlene has been staying there with him, wanting more time together now that they’re married.
Shaking my head, I still can’t believe all this has happened. It feels like everything over the past few weeks has been a dream. It hardly seems real that the girl I grew up hating is somehow my sister.
Stepsister, I clarify to myself. ‘Cause there is nothing pure about the thoughts I’ve been having about her since she walked back into my life.
Passing by the kitchen, I hear the refrigerator slam shut as my phone vibrates in my pocket. Checking the screen, there’s a notification signaling the Uber is here.
Right on time.
Opening the door, I don’t bother to say anything, staring directly ahead at the woman who’s had me in knots since the moment she waltzed back into my life. Blondie makes a comment about enjoying herself last night, but I don’t even take my eyes off Ivy.
She’s holding a blender cup in her hand containing what looks like a smoothie, dressed in a pair of black workout leggings and matching sports bra.
“Are you even going to walk me out?” Blondie asks.
Looking over at her, straight-faced, I respond, “Wasn’t planning on it.”
“You’re not even going to ask for my number?”
“Nope.”
She drops her jaw, shocked I’d have the audacity to deny her request. What’s the point? I have no point in using it. Why would I give her false hope?
“You’re a jackass,” she sneers, stepping out onto the front porch.
“I could’ve told ya that one,” I retort, slamming the door shut behind her.
“Wow.” Ivy laughs, but there’s not even an ounce of surprise on her face. “You really are a prick.”
“Don’t tell me it took this long for you to figure it out.”
“Oh, no. I’ve known this since we were in ninth grade and you told the new kid, Skyler, I stuffed my bra.”
I laugh, but the mention of her bra has me very much aware of what she is wearing now. Gauging by how tight hers is, fitting her like a fucking glove, there’s no denying what she is working with is all real.
Her stomach flexes, showing the indent of her abs. She’s in killer fucking shape. I’m damn near ready to ask her to turn around so I can get a good look at her ass in those pants.
“I’m sad to see your boyfriend isn’t here this morning.”
“I know you were a little distracted and obviously carried away last night, but he dropped me off and went home. You know, like a gentleman would after a first date.”
“Oh, a gentleman, huh?”
She holds her cup in front of her mouth ready to take a drink as if second-guessing her answer before she replies.
“Yeah, gauging by how you walked your date out this morning, that’s clearly something you know nothin’ about.”
Eliminating the distance between us, I move in close enough to where I bump into her arm. Sh
e narrows her eyes at me, moving to slide the cup onto the counter away from us, anticipating what’s about to come next.
She smells like a fresh scent mixed with the subtle smell of chocolate. I’m tempted to lean in closer but judging by the heavy rise and fall of her chest, being this close to her now is earning me the reaction I was hoping for.
She takes a step back, pressing the small of her back against the edge of the counter. Grasping the edge of the granite with both my hands on either side of her, her eyes search my face waiting for what I’m about to do.
Her chest is pressed against mine now, and I can feel my dick harden in my pants. I want to lean back and see if her nipples are beading beneath the material, want to run my fingers over the soft skin of her stomach, holding her against me.
My breath feathers across her ear, earning me a shiver, but she doesn’t push me away.
“You can sit here and tell me he’s the kind of guy you want. You may even have yourself convinced he’s the perfect man for you. Still doesn’t change the fact when you’re lying in your bed, rubbing your fingers over that sweet pussy, it’s me you’re thinking about.”
She rears her head back, fire blazing in her eyes. I’m waiting for her to fight me on it, but the argument never comes.
“Did it turn you on lying in your bed last night, listening to me make her cum?”
“Excuse me?” she asks, stumbling over her words.
“Did you picture it was you I was touching while you lay there, listening as I fucked her? Were you wet at the thought of what it would be like if I were to touch you?”
“Actually, I put in earbuds and turned on my music, so I didn’t have to listen to you.”
Her face flushes, forcing a thick swallow. She’s lying, but I give her an A for effort.
“Try again.”
“What?”
“If you think I’m actually going to believe that, you’ll need to try again.”
She doesn’t say anything. Judging by the look of desire in her eyes, it’s clear I’ve won this round.
“What about after the day when you watched me in the shower? Did you lie in your bed that night and rub your pussy, thinking about how I made myself cum watching you?”
BRIX: A Stepbrother Bully Romance (A Rebels Havoc Book 1) Page 5