by Jacob Chance
She doesn’t seem intimidated by my tall stature, or my tattoo-covered arms. Instead, she unabashedly looks me over from head to toe. I like her confidence. It’s attractive and sexy. My dark brown eyes stare right back at her, before they slowly travel from her head, down over the enticing curves of her breasts, to her tiny waist and long legs perfectly revealed by the jean cutoff shorts she’s wearing. Fuck. Those legs – all that smooth golden skin. I can picture them wrapped around my hips as I thrust into her over and over, deeper and deeper. I can picture all the things I want to do to her; to do with her, but she’s too young.
“Don’t look at my little sister like that, dude.” Kyle comes up beside me and hands me a new beer. His sister?
“Kenna’s here?” I swivel my head from one side to the other looking for his baby sister I’ve heard so much about, but never had the opportunity to meet. “Where is she?” I question.
“She’s the girl in the cutoff shorts you’ve been ogling for the past ten minutes.”
Fuck.
“She’s way too good for you – too good for any guy. Come on, I’ll introduce you, but you better behave and put your tongue back in your mouth before I cut it off. My sister is off limits to you.”
I put my hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Hey, I get it man. No worries. I would never go there.”
He flicks a quick glance at me. “Damn straight. If you did, that would be some fucked up shit for sure.” We slowly walk across the patio. Each step that brings me closer to her has my body humming with an awareness I’ve never experienced before. The hair on my arms stands at attention and my heart pounds harder and faster.
“Kenna, this is Derek...Derek, this is Kenna.” She stretches her tiny hand out and when I clasp it with mine, I fight the urge to pull her into my arms. I can already imagine how perfectly she’d fit in them. My eyes lock on her golden gaze that’s burning me up with its fiery intensity. She slowly studies my face like she’ll be quizzed later on each feature.
“It’s nice to meet you Kenna. Kyle told me you’re about to go off to college in a few more weeks. You must be excited.” She’s only eighteen, I remind myself.
She smiles. “I’m looking forward to going. I think it will be a nice change for both of us.”
“You’re not going to know what to do without me,” Kyle tells her.
“Sure.” She rolls her eyes before reconnecting them with mine. I feel a punch of desire run through me. What is it about this girl that has me wanting to hold her one minute and fuck her the next?
Nothing has changed in all the years since then. She’s still seven years younger than me and my best friend, Kyle’s, baby sister. I know I could never let things go where I want. I couldn’t corrupt her – taint her with my darkness. I know it could never happen...but it will.
Chapter One
DEREK
“Hey man, welcome back. How’s Janny doing?” I lean against the door frame of Kyle’s office. He and his fiancé just got back from a much needed vacation. Janny was stalked by someone from Kyle’s police officer past while she was living in NY for an internship with an advertising firm. The situation got out of control and ended with an altercation. Fortunately, it ended poorly for Zack, the stalker. He’s presumed dead, and Kyle made it out pretty much unscathed.
“She’s doing as well as she can be. She’s skittish and struggling with anxiety from the whole ordeal, but my girl’s a fighter. She’ll be okay.” He flashes a smile at me. He and Janny have a special relationship. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen two people more in love. I know they were meant for each other, and after all they’ve both been through, they deserve the happily ever after – if such a thing exists.
“Did you get the report I sent you on the Maxwell case?” I ask.
“Yes, I did. How much longer does she want us to follow her son? We told her he has a drug problem. Put the kid in rehab.” He grimaces. “Get the kid some help, before it’s too late.”
I nod my head. “I agree. His addiction will only get worse, the more time passes.”
“Hey, I was thinking I’d take Janny out, and I’m going to invite some friends. She hasn’t seen Elle or Josh since we got engaged. Are you up for it?” He taps his pen against his desk while he waits for my answer.
“Yeah, I can do that. Where are, we going and what time?”
“This coming Friday night, eight o’clock at Quake.” He drops his head and jots a few words on a piece of scrap paper.
“Sure, I’ll be there, dude. I hope it takes her mind off all that’s happened.” I move away from the door jamb. “I’ll see you later. I have some shit to take care of, and then I’m heading out for the night.”
“Okay sounds good, man. See you tomorrow.” His focus immediately returns to his computer. I take a step back and turn, walking down the hallway. The last time we were all together at Quake was about six months ago, the night I met Janny for the first time. I spent most of the night staring across the table at Kenna McKenzie’s alluring face imagining what her naked body would look like tied up in my bed. I know nothing could be sexier than having her there.
As much as the idea held appeal, I didn’t get to take her home and have my way with her that night. Even though the pressure of her foot against my leg had my dick hard for hours, and I never moved away.
Kyle and Janny left early and Josh and Elle went to the bar to get drinks, leaving us alone at the table. The silence between us felt awkward and tangible – so thick you could cut it with a fucking knife. There was enough sexual energy flowing between us to jumpstart a dead car battery. At one point, she licked her glossy, red lips and I had to grip the edge of the table with both hands to stop myself from grabbing her and tugging her over to me. I knew if that happened I’d never be able to let her go until my cock had been buried inside her mouth and pussy repeatedly until I was satisfied.
“How’s work?” I asked, trying to break up the uncomfortable tension between us.
She arched one black, brow at me. “Do you really care?” she asked looking bored. The flat expression on her face had me wanting to show her how fucking exciting I could be, but instead I called it a night. Why should I subject myself to more of her attitude when I could go find some easy pussy that wasn’t stamped with the word forbidden? Besides, nothing could ever happen between us and I needed to stop wasting my time imagining it could.
Why in the hell did I agree to Kyle's invitation to meet up at Quake tonight? Now I have to deal with his sister, Kenna. I couldn't exactly say no, though. He's my best friend and dude does deserve some fun after everything he and Janny went through; a stroke, brain surgery, and all the crazy stalker shit that left Kyle with a knife wound and a psycho presumed dead. I'd say that's cause for celebration.
I’ve had a shitty day, and listening to Kenna’s sarcastic comments is the last fucking thing I need. Ever since we met, my attitude toward her flips from hot to cold without warning because I can’t handle the way I feel about her. And tonight, she better watch herself, my patience is already running low. I can’t be held responsible for what happens if she pushes me. She might find herself facing the big bad wolf, and I’m all for eating her. I’ll fucking devour her. Once she rides my tongue, she’ll never forget it. And if she’s lucky enough to ride my cock – fucking life changing.
Every time I’m near her I think about what her lips would feel like against mine. Would they feel the same as they did when we kissed so long ago?
Four years ago
“What are you doing here?” Kenna asks, her eyes narrowed and arms crossed.
“Aren’t you happy to see me?” I smirk and raise the bottle of beer to my lips for a long pull.
“Why are you here, Derek?” She taps her foot on the kitchen floor, noticeably annoyed with my question.
“I’m here to babysit you and your friends. Your brother asked me to check on you.”
She bristles at my answer and shakes her head. Goddamn, she’s more beautiful every time I see
her. She’s turning into a goddess and it’s impossible for me to keep my thoughts away from all the things I want to do to her.
“I call bullshit. I’m twenty-one years old. I’m not a fucking child. I don’t need a babysitter at my party.” I place the bottle down on the counter and walk toward her, stopping just shy of our chests touching.
I place my finger on her lips. “Don’t say that word.”
She pushes my hand aside. “I’ll fucking say whatever I fucking want to and you can’t do a fucking thing about it,” she taunts making me see red.
I grip her arms and pull her into me. She gasps.
“Don’t test me tonight, Kenna. I’m not in the mood to ignore your bullshit.”
Her whiskey eyes are locked with mine, her lips pressed together. “Go away, Derek.” She scowls. “No one wants you here.”
I smile back at her and lean down like I’m going to kiss her. “You want me here. Admit it.” I stare at her tempting dark-pink mouth as I get closer and closer. Her wide eyes are focused on my lips. I move to the side at the last second and place a kiss below her ear. She shivers from my touch and all I want to do is kiss her tempting mouth. I want to see what kind of reaction I can make her have with my lips on hers. I grip the back of her silky hair tight in my fist and tug her forward until our lips are just shy of touching.
“Is this what you want?” I ask, my voice gruff. “Do you want to see how close to this fire you can be without getting burned, little girl?” I take her mouth without any warning, my tongue twists around hers and my cock goes rock hard. She moans into my mouth and falls into me, wrapping her arms around my neck. Fuck. The way she responds to my touch – to my kiss, has my dick rock hard. What is she doing to me? How can she make me so on edge with just one kiss?
When I walk into Quake I notice the overwhelming smell of perfume and alcohol permeating the air. My eyes scan the room for safety as I make my way to their table in the back near the rear exit. Tonight, is going to be a repeat of six months ago, when I met Janny for the first time.
As I approach where they’re seated, Kyle stands, shakes my outstretched hand and thumps me on the back.
Janny stands and I pull her into my arms, squeezing her tiny frame tight. She’s the reason my best friend is still alive. If it wasn’t for her, I’m not sure he would’ve found the will to survive the stroke he suffered and brain surgery he had as a result. As I step back from our embrace I get a sense of déjà vu. Kenna is seated in the same place as last time and once again, I end up across from her. She avoids looking at me, her eyes darting around the room.
“Hi Kenna.” I say, my lips twisted into a smirk. She glances at me before looking away.
“Hi.” She can pretend she’s unaffected by me, but I know better. The tell-tale pulse racing in her neck gives her away. She looks like an angel in her strapless white dress, sipping her drink. All that's missing is the halo sitting on top of all that long black hair. Except she's not an angel. Those pouty red lips wrapped around her thin straw were made to do wicked things. Too bad they're used for wise-ass remarks instead.
She keeps her head turned to the side, allowing me to study her profile. The curve of her forehead is subtle above her black arched brows. Her golden-brown eyes are large and almond shaped, surrounded by thick, black, curvy lashes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such long eyelashes before. Not that I pay attention to those details, at least not with other women. With Kenna, I seem to notice it all. She’s always on my radar when we’re near each other. When I haven’t seen her for a while, I wonder what she’s doing. Who she’s keeping company with. Who she’s fucking. The thought of someone else’s hands on her sexy-as-fuck body drives me insane. The thought of some dude’s dick inside her can send me over the edge. I fight to keep myself from thinking about those things. I have no control over what she does and I never will.
Chapter Two
Kenna
He’s Lucifer in the flesh with those deep brown eyes and dark-as-sin hair. My eyes move down, taking in the close-shaved beard hiding the contours of his chiseled jawline, before continuing to his full lips. I carefully study their masculine shape. I can still remember what those lips felt like on mine; even though I’ve done everything I can to forget. I wish I could erase the memory of how he gripped the back of my hair tight in his fist and tugged me forward until our lips were just a whisper of a breath apart.
“Is this what you want?” he’d asked. I could feel his warm breath on my mouth before he’d softly brushed his lips against mine. “Do you want to see how close to the fire you can be without getting burned, little girl?”
I tried to pull away, incensed at being called little girl. I wasn’t a girl. I was a twenty-one- year-old woman; perfectly capable of knowing what I should and shouldn’t be doing. I knew which heading kissing him fell under – insanity.
He was my brother’s best friend.
He was seven years older than me.
He was a pig when it came to casual sex; indulging in one-night stands like they were going out of style.
That alone should have been enough to repulse me, but for some odd reason, it didn’t. It only made me wonder what kind of things he would do to me. I was smart enough to recognize that those three things combined were a recipe for disaster. The wreckage left over would be the pieces of my heart, and I couldn’t put myself out there for him on the off chance that he wouldn’t break me. My heart was damaged enough already.
He’d held my head in place as he’d swooped in, taking my lips in a kiss so hot I felt like I was going to burn up in flames. His tongue had plundered my mouth, punishing me for pulling away, for trying to resist him. He showed me who was in control with that kiss. He showed me I wouldn’t ever truly get away from him, and I hated him for that. I hated him for ruining other guys for me; but most of all I hated him for what he’d said when he pulled away from me.
“Stick to kissing those boys at school. Men want a woman in their arms, not a little girl.” He looked at me with such disdain, I wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole. I wanted to disappear, go someplace where his painful words couldn’t hurt me anymore. Where my memory could be wiped clean of Derek Santiago and his handsome face.
That kiss is still the hottest one I’ve ever had to this day, but I still despise him for the cruel words he callously threw at me. Those words tore me apart and made me second guess myself. It took me a long time to realize what he said wasn’t motivated by me at all. It was the result of him despising himself.
“Do you still live in Cambridge?” His question breaks me out of my memories.
“Yes, I do,” I reply curtly. I can’t really ignore him, no matter how much I’d like to. Kyle has no idea that Derek and I kissed, and he can never find out. He would freak out and end his friendship with Derek. That’s not what I want. He might be an asshole when it comes to me, but he’s definitely proven his worth over the years as a great friend to my brother.
“Do you plan to stay there?” he asks. His calf bumps into mine when he stretches his legs out under the table.
I arch my eyebrow at him. What the hell? Is this the best he can do making small talk? “I don’t plan on moving out of there anytime soon. It’s close to my work and I like my apartment.” I’m saved from further awkward conversation when the waitress appears beside the table to take our order. I need alcohol; stat. Beer won’t cut it tonight. I ask for a Captain Morgan and Coke. Derek leans forward. “I’ll have a Sam Adams.” No surprise there. It’s his favorite beer and it’s pathetic that I actually know this.
I listen to the conversation going on around me while I nurse my drink. I’d love to drink it down, but I need to be sober around Derek. He’s hard enough to deal with even when I have all my wits about me.
“Where are, you thinking of having the wedding?” Lana, K.D. Investigations tech specialist, asks Janny. I glance over at Kyle and smile. He’s so hopelessly in love with Janny, and I couldn’t be happier for him – for them.
&
nbsp; “We’re not sure yet. We just know that we want to do it somewhere tropical and only invite close friends.” Janny smiles when she gazes over at my brother. Kyle takes her hand in his and lifts it to his lips, gently kissing the top.
Will I ever find someone who loves me that much? Will I ever find someone who loves me; period?
Derek nudges my leg with his. “Do you want another one?” He gestures to my drink. I look down and realize it’s empty.
“Yes. Please.” He rises from his chair, and I study him as he walks away from me. He’s tall, a couple inches over six feet, with broad shoulders. His arms have well-defined muscles and are covered in tattoos. His jeans hang low on his hips and the plain black t-shirt he’s wearing is no surprise. He only wears black shirts. I’ve never seen him in another color; not in the seven years I’ve known him. I don’t know why. That color is a great choice for him, though. It matches his black heart.
“Kenna, when are we going out again?” Lana asks, drawing my attention away from Derek. She and I have become good friends over the past couple of months.
“I’ve been working a lot of overtime, but we need to figure something out. I’ll call you.” Lana’s new to the area and doesn’t know many people. I’m a private person and it’s not easy for me to let people in, but for some reason I was comfortable with her from day one.
“Here.” Derek places a fresh drink down on the table in front of me. He takes his seat, staring in my direction.
“Thanks,” I murmur, wrapping my hand around the cool glass, before taking a sip. The coke and rum mixture is cold and refreshing. I have to stop myself from gulping it down to soothe my parched throat. He nudges my leg with his. I stare down into my drink and ignore the tingles now traveling through my calf. He nudges my leg again. I look up at him, our gazes connect and send a jolt of longing through me. Why do I have to be so attracted to him?
