Setting the umbrella up, she pulls out her sunscreen and begins rubbing it over her chest and stomach. I’m distracted watching her hands move. She doesn’t catch on right away until she looks up, noticing I’m blocking the sunlight.
“You want to help me?”
“Fuck yes,” I mutter, as an older woman who is sitting nearby with her young children whips her head in my direction. She gives me a glare that says, “Say that again, and I’ll drown you in the ocean.”
Ivy’s eyes widen as she tries to conceal her laugh.
“I mean, heck yes.” I laugh, falling to my knees as I crawl behind her. She squirts some of the sunscreen in my palm, and I begin to rub it over her back and shoulders. She moves her hair out of the way, tilting her head to the side as I lean forward, pressing a soft kiss against her skin.
“Do you know how hard it is for me to keep my hands in all the appropriate places right now?”
“Hmm,” she says, her eyes meeting mine. “How hard?”
She drags her lower lip between her teeth, and my dick grows at the visual.
“Very fucking hard,” I growl low enough for only her to hear me.
“You’re lookin’ pretty damn good yourself.” Her hands wrap around my legs on either side of her.
We spend a few hours down by the water. When I notice the apples of her cheeks turning rosy, we decide to call it a day.
I’m flipping the burgers on the grill when Ivy strolls out wearing the same dress she had on earlier that day, folding her legs beneath her when she takes a seat on the lounge chair.
“Where do you see this going between us?”
The uncertainty in her voice with her question takes me by surprise.
“What do you mean?” Holding the spatula out, I flip the last burger before closing the grill again, setting it down on the counter.
“Like, what is this to you? I leave for school in a little over three weeks. I guess I’m wondering where you see this going when the summer is over?”
“Well…” I sigh, walking over to where she’s sitting. Holding my hand out to her, I help her up, taking a seat waiting for her to crawl into my lap.
As soon as she’s situated, I wrap my arm around her using my other hand to trace a line along her back.
Her hair is pulled back, leaving little strands of hair falling to frame her face. Holding the glass of wine in her hand, she runs her lip along the edge as she takes another swallow, finishing the rest of the contents.
“I know I don’t want this to end,” I answer honestly.
Her eyes soften at the words, a sense of ease coming from her.
“It won’t be easy waking up and not having you here with me. That’s the part I think about the most.”
“Me, too.”
“But I can come to you during the week or between shows, and you can come visit when you get the chance.”
She nods.
“We’ll make it work, Ivy. Whatever we have to do, okay? We’ll make it work.”
“Okay.”
She still seems hesitant and seeing it makes me nervous. Nervous for what I’m planning to tell her this weekend, nervous about how she’ll react, and worried if she’ll believe that I don’t feel the same way now.
Her eyes search for something aimlessly on the ground, growing distant. I wait for her to collect her thoughts or for her to tell me what’s on her mind, but it never comes. She rests her body against me. Unable to resist, I press kisses against her shoulder, feeling the heat radiate from her skin from the sun she got earlier that day.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Huh?” she asks, her eyes snapping back to me, pulling her from her thoughts. “Oh, I was just thinking about what you said.”
“What part?”
“Just coming to see each other. What it will be like, I guess.”
I feel like there’s more she’s not saying.
“Talk to me,” I murmur, moving to look her in the eyes.
“I guess I’m curious how things were when I first got to town. The people you were hanging out with, the things you were doing. You’re not going to go back to that, are you?”
She doesn’t spell it out exactly, but I know she’s talking about me bringing home the girl from the bar and sleeping with her. She wants reassurance I’m not going to go back to living the single life, and I can’t say I blame her for wondering.
“Are you asking if I’m going to go back to fucking around?”
She doesn’t respond, but the look on her face says everything words don’t.
“Fuck no, Ivy. Are you kidding me?”
“What do you expect me to think, Brix?” She pushes off me to stand, holding her arms out beside her. “Up until recently, I was just some big joke to you. Things have been so good between us, but I constantly feel like I’m waiting for the moment when it all changes, when I find out you’ve been fucking with me this whole time.”
The hurt and fear on her face are like an iron fist to the gut. Especially knowing she’s not wrong in her fears.
My own worries about how I’m going to find a way of telling her the truth creep in, and I know right now is not the time or place. I need more time to show her how I feel, to prove to her she can trust me.
I’m terrified if I were to tell her now, she’d never believe me. Why would she? Everything I’ve ever said and done has proven otherwise.
I hope, whatever I do, that in the end, it’s enough to convince her how sorry I am because I’m scared, if it’s not, I’ll lose her forever.
Twenty-One
Ivy
After our conversation last night, I think Brix picked up on my hesitance about where things are going between us. One minute he was the man I had spent nearly half of my life loathing, then when we’re forced together for the summer, it’s like all my thoughts became a jumbled mess.
There were times when I thought I wouldn’t make it to the end of the summer without killing him, then there were others where I felt a pull so strong and a connection so real, I started to doubt myself and what I had thought about him for all those years.
I hated to admit it, but it made me insecure and question everything. On one hand, I wanted to push all the worries aside and enjoy whatever this is, but on the other hand, there were real fears in my mind that this was still some sort of joke to him.
Waking up next to Brix is something I will never get sick of doing. I felt him stir this morning as he slipped out of bed, still naked from the night before.
“You can go back to sleep. I’m going to go downstairs and call my mom.”
Nodding my head, I pull the blanket up under my chin, rolling over on my stomach. He leans forward to press a kiss against my forehead, his mouth lingering before he pulls back, staring down at me.
He smiles softly, sleep still present in his beautiful brown eyes. My eyes rake over his body before rolling onto my back, tossing my arm out toward him.
“You’re making it hard for me not to crawl back into bed next to you.”
“I wouldn’t complain one bit.”
He grins. “Give me a few, and I’ll be right back.”
I nod, smiling back at him as he presses his knee down on the bed leaning over to kiss me. It’s quick, before he pulls back, turning to pull on a pair of shorts as he sneaks out the door.
It doesn’t take me long to doze off back to sleep. The breeze flowing in from the beach, the waves crashing against the shore in the distance, brings a quiet peacefulness. A little while later, I wake with the scent of sausage and bacon lingering in the air as Brix whispers my name, urging me to wake up.
Peeking one eye open, he’s fully dressed now looking like he had jumped out of the shower not too long ago. His hair is still damp as he carries a tray with a plate of food and a pitcher of orange juice.
“Good morning.” He grins, pausing to stare at me from where the sheets now sit partially covering my lower half. His eyes linger on my body, biting on his lip ring, sucking it in
to his mouth before his eyes find their way back to mine.
“I hope you’re hungry,” he hums, setting the tray on top of my legs.
Sitting up, I stretch my arms over my head, letting my hair cascade down my back. Swiping a piece of bacon, I take a bite as I moan. It’s been so long since I’ve eaten bacon. My student budget settles for what’s easy and affordable, resorting to cereal and milk or pop tarts for the mornings when I was up entirely too late.
“This looks amazing.”
Brix sits on the bed near my feet, digging in to his plate sitting next to mine. We sit in silence as we both eat.
“How is your mom doing?”
He takes a few seconds, looking lost in his thoughts while he considers how to respond. “She seemed good. Lighter, happier. She’s ready to be home, though. I can tell she’s getting antsy.”
“Have you thought about going to see her?”
“They actually want me to start doing counseling sessions before she goes home. I’m waiting to find out when exactly.”
“That’s good. I’m sure she’s looking forward to seeing you.”
“I am, too. I don’t even remember the last time I saw my mom sober. It’s been years, honestly.”
My heart clenches in my chest at the sound of his words, the ache and sadness at the admission. My dad took off when I was young because he simply didn’t want the responsibility of having a child. My mom mentioned he struggled with addiction when they were married. I’ve thought about what it would be like if he hadn’t taken off, how our relationship would’ve been, and how having him in my life would’ve shaped me.
There’s a very real possibility if he had stayed, Brix and I would be going through very similar paths with our parents.
“I’m here for you. You know, if you need or want to talk, or if you don’t.”
He takes a bite of his toast, chewing quietly as he nods his head. “I know. I appreciate it, too.”
After breakfast, Brix takes the tray downstairs and takes care of cleaning up the dishes while I escape to the bathroom to shower. We decide since today is our last day in Myrtle Beach, we’ll get out of the house and do some sightseeing.
I’ve visited here before, but I was much younger and don’t really remember it. We walk from our house to downtown, taking in some of the shops and bars along the boardwalk.
Being away from home, away from the people, it’s almost like we’re two different people. Brix, the once wild bad boy with a reputation for spending his nights with random women, is seemingly the attentive boyfriend.
He held my hand, kissed me without thought, and made me laugh more times than I can count. We joked about my taste in music when I told him I still enjoy listening to some of the country music I grew up on.
When I see the spark hit his eye and his smile stretch across his face, for a moment, I’m lost in thought, thinking about how perfect this weekend has been and how I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I try to push out of my mind how it’s all going to change when we leave here and head back home. While we’ll still have our moments together, we still have the secret of who we are and what we’re going to contend with.
After we grab dinner, we decide to take another walk along the boardwalk, overlooking the ocean.
“Want to go for a ride?” Brix asks, his eyebrow quips deviously.
For a second, my mind goes to a dirtier version of what he could mean until a sly grin stretches across his face, pointing to the Ferris wheel.
“I mean, go on that ride.” He chuckles. “Although, if you have other ideas in mind, who am I to deny you what you want?”
Pressing my lips together, I shake my head as I playfully push on his chest. Reaching for my hand, he reels me back until I fall against his chest. His arms band around me, holding me close as he leans in to whisper, “Think of all the naughty things I could do to you up there.”
I gasp at the thought, staring up at the Ferris wheel moving above us. Each car is covered with blue glass surrounding it. While you could very much see through it, there’s still plenty that can’t be seen at a hundred eighty feet in the air.
“Like what?”
He doesn’t bother to look around him, careful of who may hear him as he replies, “For starters, I want those sexy as fuck legs spread open for me while I feel you cum around my fingers.”
Instantly, my face heats at the visual he’s put in my mind. I picture Brix kneeling in front of me, as the Ferris wheel moves, with my legs spread open for only him to see.
His eyes blaze, recognizing where my thoughts have drifted, too, as his hand wraps in mine, tugging me with him toward where the line starts. Each long second that ticks by as we wait feels excruciating.
I rub my thighs together, rocking my ass against his Brix, feeling his hard cock against the curve of my ass. He tilts his head forward, blowing his hot breath against the column of my neck.
“Do you know how fucking hard you’re making me right now?”
“No…” I trail off, tilting my head toward his.
“Hard enough that if you keep that shit up, I’m going to cum in my fuckin’ pants in front of all these damn people,” he grunts harshly, stealing my breath with every word.
Brix does dirty talk very well. No matter who is around to see or hear, the thoughts and images he puts in my mind can turn me up to another level.
When we are finally next in line, Brix doesn’t wait for the man to hold the door open for us, helping me into the lift and pulling me into his lap.
The sexual tension must be thick around us, as the operator laughs before slamming the door shut behind us.
With each rider joining, we move higher and higher into the sky. Wrapping my arm around Brix, my fingers rake through the hair at the base of his neck, kissing my way up toward his ear.
“Now that you have me here, what are you going to do with me?”
Brix trails his fingers over my knee, up my thigh to the edge of my shorts. Once his fingers reach the apex of my thigh, he drives me wild when he runs his finger back down my leg forcing my body to tremble with need.
My breath comes out heavily with each stroke of his fingertips. When he reaches the hem of my shorts once again, my legs fall open further, tempting him.
“Please,” I plead quietly, begging him to touch me where I want to feel him most. I grind down on him, earning me a heavy growl.
“Ivy,” he grunts.
“Brix, please,” I cry. We’re slowly reaching the top, and all I can think about is him touching me. I don’t give a shit where we are or who can see us, I want him to put me out of my misery right here.
He continues his slow and agonizing torture of dragging his fingers over my legs, loving how my body reacts to him. His mouth kisses his way up my neck, as my fingers grip his hair, holding him to me.
When his fingers reach my upper thigh once again, I reach down, clenching my hand around his.
“If you don’t touch me, I will.”
Groaning, he mutters, “Fuck,” before he finally gives in to me. When I let go of his hand, he stops, telling me he wants me to help him.
I’m in a daze, not following what he means at first before folding my hand over his. Adjusting my legs over his thighs, keeping them spread open, he guides our hands along the edge of my panties, tracing them.
My stomach clenches with anticipation when his finger grazes along my wet core, as he murmurs in my ear about how badly he wants me right now. The sound of blood rushing through my body sends me into a spiral. The thought of what we’re doing, the possibility of someone seeing or being caught sends a spike of adrenaline gushing through me.
His hand slips under my panties, brushing over my clit. I tilt my head back against his shoulder, feeling my body tremor with need.
“So wet,” he mutters. “So fucking sexy.”
Moving my hand over his, I guide him down closer to where I want him to be. When his large finger slips inside of me, my entire body shudders, squeezing
my eyes shut.
I hear the distant sound of people around us laughing and the faint hum of music playing below, but it all falls away in this moment with Brix. The basket we’re riding in jolts as it moves a few feet. My heart hammers in my chest, chancing a peek at the world around us and the boardwalk below, wondering if anyone can see us.
“Do you really think I’d let anyone see you like this?”
He doesn’t wait for me to respond, his eyes blazing into me when I peer up at him.
“Not a fucking chance.” His words are low, so full of desire. My pussy clenches around his finger as he adds his thumb rubbing over my clit.
“You’re driving me crazy.”
Each subtle flick of his finger tracing over my sensitive skin causes my stomach to quiver. He alternates between rubbing my clit to slowly torturing me with his finger, each move unpredictable but delivered with precision.
He knows how to work me up to the point I’m damn near begging.
“Brix,” I pant.
The basket moves again, sending us closer and closer to the bottom. My body is wound tight with need. I’m so close to the edge.
Brix adjusts his hand, curling his finger inside me as he brushes his thumb over my tight bud once again. The move, combined with the soft feel of his teeth grazing against my shoulder, barely containing his moan as he rocks his hips against my ass, sends me spiraling over the cliff.
Squeezing my eyes shut tight, I struggle to breathe, the air changing as the sun beats down on us.
“So mine,” he growls, crashing his mouth on mine in a soul-searing kiss.
All I can do is wrap my hand around his neck as I hold on for the ride.
Twenty-Two
Brix
Jogging down the front steps, I run my hand over the front of my pants, checking to make sure I have my phone. I’m reaching for the handle of my pickup, swinging the door open when I hear the soft purr of an engine pull up behind me, spotting my dad’s Lexus pull into the driveway.
BRIX: A Stepbrother Bully Romance (A Rebels Havoc Book 1) Page 13