“The centerpieces?” I asked, giving Hugh a knowing look.
“No it's my wedding bouquet!” My mom placed a photo of a white roses in front of me. “The one I ordered isn't going to come in time and I have no idea what to do.”
“Take a deep breath, Mom.” I waited a moment for her to follow my order. She took a deep breath and looked more visibly relaxed. “It's not that big of a deal. You could do the wedding without a bouquet if you had to.”
My mom had a look of horror on her face.
I spoke up before she could say anything. “We have white roses in the garden. Why don't you have the gardener pick the best ones and then wrap them into a bouquet. I think they'll look better than the one you were going to order. Plus it will be like having something more personal with you the whole time.
My mom thought about it for a moment and smiled. “I don't know what I'd do without you, Sarah. You truly are a lifesaver.”
She gave me another kiss on the forehead and ran off to find the gardener.
“Putting out fires should be my full-time job,” I said to Hugh. He almost cracked a smile which was very unusual for him and that in turn made me laugh.
Chapter Two
I thanked Hugh for the amazing breakfast and went back upstairs to start the rest of my day. I didn't have any plans except to try and stay out of everyone's way. I would've like to go somewhere else and get away from all the craziness but my mom wouldn't like that. She needed me here in case another one of her “problems” cropped up.
After a quick shower, I decided on taking a walk around the grounds. The land surrounding the mansion was exceptionally beautiful. It also helped that there wasn't another neighbor around for half a mile.
I put on a pair of blue jeans and a tighter white t-shirt with a v-neck this time. My mom would just silently complain to herself about my appearance if she saw me. I didn't care. I wasn't going to dress all nice just to take a walk outside. I put on some black converse that would make my mom cringe and went outside.
The April air was cooler than I was used to. The sun wasn't directly overhead yet and the mansion cast a large shadow over the whole backyard. My arms were a little cold as I walked about but they eventually warmed up.
I went through the rows of white chairs and past the stage where the ceremony would take place. The reception area was set in clearing in the woods about one hundred yards from the mansion.
A dance floor had been set up surrounded by reception tables. Servants were busy perfecting the centerpieces that would be on each table. I didn't need to guess where my mom and her new groom would be sitting.
Elevated above the rest was a long ornate wooden table that had no business being outside. My mom loved being the center of attention but this was getting a little ridiculous.
Of to the side, I spotted a man near the makeshift bar attending to the drinks. He was tall and incredibly handsome. His short dark hair complimented his black stubble. He looked exactly how you would expect a bartender to look at a high-end bar or club.
I watched him as he poured a drink and tasted it. He took another sip and then I realized he wasn't tasting it but actually drinking it.
“Isn't it a little early to be drinking?”
The man looked up and locked eyes with me. He didn't seem startled by my sudden accusation. In fact he was as calm as a cucumber. He swirled the glass with dark liquid around in his hand. The ice cubes clinked.
“Never too early to drink. Especially if you haven't been to bed yet. You want some?” He lifted a bottle of whiskey.
The thought of whiskey in the morning made me want to gag. “I think I'll be okay.”
The man shrugged and continued to drink.
“I don't think my mom would appreciate the bartender drinking all the booze days before the wedding.”
The man laughed. “So you're the daughter.” He made it seem like that was a bad thing.
“Yeah and I could get you fired from this job that she's overpaying you for.”
He let out another laugh and took one last sip of whiskey. He wiped his mouth and put down the empty glass, extending his hand to me. “My name's Bryant.”
I was caught off guard by his apparent lack of respect. None of the other servants would dare say anything like that to me or my mother.
But there was something different about this guy. Maybe it was the fact that he seemed wild. Untamed. He wasn't the usual type my mom hired for events.
I reluctantly took his hand. “I'm Sarah.” His hand was rough and warm.
Bryant took in a deep breath of fresh air. “I'm going to be around for a few days for the wedding. Mind taking me on a tour of the place?”
I was taken aback at his proposal. I didn't usually fraternize with bartenders. But this guy was cute and didn't seem to be put off by my false threats.
I pointed to the woods around us. “Well you've seen this already. Want to see inside the house?”
Bryant nodded. “The place looks gigantic from the outside.”
I laughed. “Trust me, it's even bigger on the inside.” I brought him across the grounds and through the wedding ceremony area.
“Looks like it's going to be a big wedding,” he said as we walked around the aisles of chairs.
“My mom must've invited the entire town to this. I'm sure the groom's side doesn't even compare.”
I brought him inside the mansion and a butler bowed to me.
Bryant gave me a sideways glance.
Trying to explain it to him would take longer than it's worth. “Here's the kitchen,” I said.
Bryant looked around. “So I've met your mother. Nice lady. What about the husband? What's he like?”
“Irving is your typical male trophy with money. Exactly what my mom loves. To be honest, I never really gave him the time of day. You never know with my mom if this guy is going to be another the one.”
I showed him the living room with the enormous flat-screen television with a sound system that would knock your socks off. Bryant didn't seem impressed. I figured for a bartender he probably would be wowed by expensive things.
Not this guy.
Chapter Three
I had taken Bryant through all the rooms on the first floor. Bryant quietly listened as I explained what each room was used for. He actually listened to me and seemed somewhat interested. He probably had to listen people at the bar all the time so faking it came natural to him.
We arrived back at the kitchen. “Well I guess that about does it. I'm sure you need to get back to mixing drinks or drinking them.”
“What about the upstairs?” Bryant asked.
At parties we never allowed guests to go upstairs. Only the servants were allowed up there. “I don't think it would be a good idea,” I replied.
“What? Are there are bunch of family secrets up there that nobody can know about. I bet you have a disfigured older brother who's chained to the wall and only gets fed once a day.”
I slapped him on the chest. I was amazed at how hard it was. He must work out a lot. “Nothing of the sort. It's just private up there.”
“Sure,” Bryant replied with a slow nod.
This man was so frustrating. “Fine, I'll take you upstairs.”
Bryant grinned. He knew he'd won the battle.
We ascended the marble stairs and I pointed down the hallway. “That's the wing with the master bedroom. We won't go in there.”
“The master has it's own wing?”
“The bathroom is bigger than most houses.”
We started down the opposite hallway. I showed him one of the guest rooms and a guest bathrooms.
“So I thought you lived here?” Bryant asked.
“I'm away at college. I live in a tiny apartment with four other girls.”
“Sounds cozy,” he replied.
“Trust me, cozy is a nice way of putting it.”
We walked past a closed door. “What's in here?” Bryant asked. He went for the door knob and I jumped in fron
t of him.
“That room is completely off limits.”
“I see.” Bryant looked disinterested and continued down the hallway.
I sped up to join him and that's when he did a complete u-turn and made a run for the closed door. There was no way I could beat him in time.
Bryant swung the door open and revealed my room filled with everything unicorn-related. Bryant walked around with the biggest grin. “So this is your room, huh?”
My face couldn't be any redder. “I've been away at college and my mom hasn't touched it since.”
Bryant sat down on the edge of my bed and tested the springs. “That doesn't explain why it was like this during high school.”
I couldn't believe this bartender was sitting on my bed and touching my stuff. Who did he think he was? “What can I say, I like unicorns.”
Bryant stood up and took a step towards. “Well I like you.”
He had me backed up against my mirrored closet door. There wasn't any way to escape. That's if I wanted to escape. The thought of this dirty guy taking me on my pristine bed was thrilling.
I gulped and squeaked out, “What are you doing?”
Bryant ignored my question and continued his advance until we were within inches of each other. I could smell the whiskey on his breath.
I didn't want him to kiss me but at the same time I did.
Bryant slipped his hand behind my back and pulled me into his orbit. There was no turning back now. I closed my eyes and parted my lips. Bryant's mouth met mine and electricity shot through my veins.
His fingers dug into my back as he pushed deeper into the kiss. His tongue entered my mouth and explored. A wetness appeared between my thighs. I was like putty in his hands. Bryant could do whatever he wanted to me now and I wouldn't be able to protest.
Bryant pulled away and I was stuck on my tippy toes in a state of bliss. He turned around and walked around my room like he owned the place now.
“I'm not really for all this unicorn stuff but it's a nice room.”
It took awhile for me to gather my senses. Who did this guy think he was? He just waltzes in into my house and kisses me like I'm his woman.
I was about to tell him to go to hell when my mom appeared in the doorway. “There you are, Sarah!” She spotted Bryant. “Oh I see you've two have met.”
“Yeah we started talking by the bar and he wanted a tour around the house.”
“Did you show him the guest room down the hall where he'll be staying?”
“What do you mean?” The servants had a whole separate house where they lived.
“You have to show your new stepbrother where he's going to be staying for awhile.”
What the fuck!
Chapter Four
My entire body seized in fright. I looked over at Bryant and his expression hadn't changed. He knew what he was doing the entire time. My skin turned a dark shade of red. I'd said some really stupid shit to him. I even said that his father was a male trophy with money.
And the kiss!
That fucking kiss!
He knew who I was and still kissed me. I couldn't believe what was happening.
“Well if you aren't going to show him then I will. Come with me Bryant and I'll get you settled,” my mom said.
Bryant walked past me with a big smile plastered on his face. That son of a bitch. He manipulated me perfectly.
They left me alone and I collapsed onto my bed out of embarrassment. My lungs strained for air. The kiss kept cycling through my head. I'd never been kissed like that in my entire life. Something had awakened within me.
But it was wrong. So fucking wrong. A forbidden taboo that we could never cross.
And now I'd have to be around him for the next few days while our parents got married.
My mom popped her head back in. “Oh by the way, Sarah, Irving will be by tonight for dinner so I want us to all be there as a family.
A family. It made me want to puke.
There was no way I could say no. There wasn't a reasonable excuse. And my mom left without waiting for an answer.
–
I had spent most of the day in my room, playing with my makeup and trying to find something to wear for dinner that night. I kept going back and forth between trying to impress Bryant and trying to dissuade him from every seeing me in a sexual way again.
He's wasn't my real stepbrother yet. We weren't related so it wasn't wrong.
But he will be in a few days. Was it wrong if I wanted to pursue this if it couldn't last?
If that kiss was any indicator, I'd be in for a wild ride.
I didn't get a chance to make a final decision when the bell rang for dinner. I was wearing my short black dress that was off-the-shoulder. It showed off an ample amount of cleavage. Bryant wouldn't be able to take his eyes off me.
I imagined him touching my bare thigh during dinner, traveling upwards until he found out I wasn't wearing any panties. I'd try to keep cool while his fingers explored my pussy, slipping them into my tight hole.
My mom called me from downstairs.
I was wearing a thong and the thought of taking it off was just too crazy.
I arrived downstairs to find everyone already sitting down at the impossibly long table. It was straight out of a movie where the only way you could talk to someone on the other end was with a telephone.
My mom sat at one end and Irving on the other. He stood up when I arrived and gave me a hug. Irving was a pretty decent looking guy. He was tall, well built, and dressed in expensive clothes. All the things my mom required in a husband. It didn't matter if his personality was boring as hell. Or the fact that he was always picking his teeth with a toothpick.
“It's good to see you, Sarah. How's school going?” Irving said.
“It's going good.” I walked past him and took my seat across from Bryant. The table was so big that there could be an ocean between us. I tried not to make eye contact with him.
A butler took a white napkin and placed it neatly in my lap. I thanked him and then a horde of servants arrived with silver platters with those shiny covers on top. Each one of us got our own platter set down in front of us. The covers were taken off and revealed the most delectable sights.
Hugh arrived with his arms clasped behind his back. “Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight for you we have a duck confit, rice pilaf, and a vegetable medley.” He bowed. “Please enjoy.”
My mother thanked him and Hugh exited the dining room. “Before we eat, I'd just like to say a couple things.”
I almost put a forkful of duck into my mouth before I was stopped. My stomach grumbled as I set the food down and waited as patiently as I could.
My mom continued, “I know we haven't really been able to spend much time as a family yet but I hope that after Irving and I are married, that will change. I want all of us to be happy.” She reached out her hand to meet Irving's but he sat all the way on the other end of the table. They just pretended to hold hands.
“Let's dig in and enjoy this meal cooked by Hugh,” Irving announced.
I didn't wait for him to finish his sentence before I put that duck back in my mouth. My eyes popped open and a moan escaped my lips. The flavors were intense and inviting. I'd never had duck like this before. I took another bite with rice and whatever sauce Hugh had prepared for it. I wanted to lick the entire plate.
I looked up and accidentally caught Bryant's eyes. He had the dumbest smirk on his face as he watched me eat.
I just ignored him and proceeded to clean my plate. I wasn't going to leave anything behind.
“Did you get a chance to talk with Sarah today, Bryant,” Irving asked his son.
I did my best not to look up at Bryant. I knew he'd be staring at me while he replied.
“Yeah we spent most of the day together. She gave me a tour of the place.”
“And how's the job going?”
“Better than ever. I think I have a lot of room to grow there.”
I found myself lookin
g up and watching Bryant talk with Irving. I wasn't even listening to anything they were saying. His smile was contagious and so was his laughter. I stared at those lips of his and remembered the kiss.
I wanted him to kiss me again.
Forbidden Summer Page 4