by Rye Hart
Even Jane expected me to fall into a specific line. I was her best friend, her confidante. I listened to all her stories of all her wild escapades, and I offered her my shoulder when her latest bad decision blew up in her face. That was my job.
No one seemed to want the real me. And part of that was because I wasn’t sure who “me” was. I caught a glimpse of it when I’d stood up to Ike. When I’d finally told him how I felt, turned him down, and kicked him out. I caught a glimpse of the strong woman I knew I was inside, but I wasn’t sure where to go from there. I wasn’t sure what the next step was.
But I knew typing away at a computer in my father’s dental office wasn’t it.
I wanted to do something no one expected of me. Like the tattoo, I’d gotten with Jane. After my mom died, I’d gone through a reckless phase. I’d had a similar one back in high school when my father threw Grant out of the house. I was making poor decisions and throwing caution to the wind, and Jane was right there by my side, making sure I didn’t hurt myself in the process. A joyriding venture to a bar that served underaged girls landed me in a tattoo parlor getting my mother’s favorite flower—a lily—tattooed on the outside of my thigh. It was a way to commemorate her, work through my grief, and fulfill a want inside of myself to do something totally unexpected.
But after I got it, I hid it.
The only two people who had seen it were Jane and Ike. And now, I knew Grant had seen it as well. Jane was ecstatic that I’d gotten a tattoo and, of course, Ike was furious at it. He thought it was trashy, and he didn’t want to look at it, but after a while, he stopped complaining. But Grant? Of course, he would be the one to ask about it. Of course, he would know me well enough to know I wouldn’t do something like that without good reason.
And something about the fact that he’d taken the time to really study my body during our night together filled me with all sorts of warm and tingly sensations. I stared at the computer screen until five o’clock, then I left without saying goodbye to my dad. That was usually my routine. Sticking my head into his office and saying goodbye. But I didn’t want to today. I wanted to get out and roam around and be free for a little bit. I wanted to indulge this part of me that was rearing its head again.
I wanted to do something exciting.
I got into my car and pulled out my phone, but Jane wasn’t available. She was still working, and from the sounds of it, she wouldn’t be done for a few more hours, which sucked, because I wanted to share this moment with her.
Part of me debated on asking Grant to come with me, but I didn’t have his number. And I couldn’t simply go over to Hollis’ house and ask him to come out. My brother would have both of our heads on a damn platter if he were to think anything was going on between us. So, I was on my own. I cranked up my car and tossed my phone into the passenger seat. Then I backed out of the parking lot and sped onto the main road.
I rolled down my windows and let the breeze fill my car. I closed my eyes at every stop light and drew in deep breaths of the refreshing scent of the world. I raced back to my apartment and bounded up the stairs, then threw the front door open and began to change. I left a trail of clothes behind me—an action that would’ve pissed Ike off—and I changed into some shorts, a tank top, and some flip-flops. I rushed over to the fridge and grabbed the last bottle of wine in it, then I made my way back to my car.
I knew exactly where I was headed.
Hollis had a beautiful creek behind his house. It was about a mile into the woods, running straight through a beautiful, sun-bathed clearing. I had a towel and some other things in the trunk of my car, so I wrapped up the wine bottle and started for that side of town. It was one of my favorite spots. It was known to very few people, so there wasn’t a lot of foot traffic, and the babbling creek was one of the most soothing sounds I’d ever found around this area.
It felt like the perfect place to be when a break in my routine was necessary.
I pulled my car into the empty driveway of a foreclosed property and took everything out of the trunk. The wine. The towel. The portable charger for my phone. I gathered everything in my arms and rolled it all up, then began to walk back into the woods. I crossed over Hollis’ backyard, and I couldn’t help but turn my gaze toward the back of his house. There were wood and tools and a pile of other things sitting out on his lawn, but no one was outside.
And I felt myself feeling a little disappointed.
I drew in a deep breath and forced my eyes away from the house. I couldn’t go looking for Grant. That would spell trouble for the both of us. Plus, he wasn’t mine to search for. He never was. I drew in a deep breath and forced my body to start walking, and I found the rough trail that led straight back to the creek. And after a half a mile of walking, I could hear the faint sounds of water running.
I took off in a dead sprint and made my way to the edge of the creek. I reached up and released my hair, allowing it to waft in the breeze. I felt freer already, better than I had in days. I came to a stop in the clearing and turned my face up to the sky, taking in the sun beating down on my face.
It was perfect.
This entire moment was perfect.
I walked to the edge of the creek and spread the towel out. I set my phone off to the side and opened the bottle of wine so I could take a few sips. The alcohol was filling my stomach and already crashing over my head. It loosened me up just enough to make me act on the ideas running through my mind.
I dug a space for the bottle of wine to sit in, then I pulled my tank top over my head. My bare breasts were puckered in the light breeze as I laid down on my towel. I kicked off my flip-flops and hung my feet over the side of the babbling creek, allowing the warm water to trickle over my toes. The sun was bright and full, and I could feel my body already relaxing under the beating down of its hot rays.
This was what I’d needed.
A moment to be free of every single little thing and every minute’s expectation.
I closed my eyes and took in the moment. The sound of the birds flapping their wings and calling for their mates. The sound of deer walking over branches that cracked underneath their hooves. The sound of the wind washing over the grass and swaying it in the breeze.
I felt my eyes growing heavy with sleep.
My head fell off to the side as my arms slid out from my body. I was trying to capture as much of the sun as I could. My skin was prickling, and the creek was rushing, and my heart was pounding. I’d never felt so alive. I debated on whether to take off my shorts. To lie there naked underneath the sun and commune with the earth around me.
But before I could drink enough wine to aid in that decision, I heard footsteps.
I grabbed my tank top and threw it over my body. Shit. Hollis must’ve seen me walking back here. I scrambled to try and cover up my prominent bosom as I tried to wake myself up enough to address what was going on. I could already feel the flush of embarrassment coating my skin.
“It’s not like I haven’t seen it all before.”
That voice. His voice. It sent shivers down my spine. My shirt was haphazardly slung over my body, and I was propped up on my forearms. His voice, like melted butter running over a hot biscuit, hit my ears as the footsteps grew closer. I could feel his presence closing the distance slowly stalking up toward me like the prey I was.
“You don’t have to cover up,” Grant said. “Nature’s beauty should be cherished, after all.”
I could feel him standing behind me. I could see his choppy reflection in the creek. He was standing over me. His tall form was casting a shadow along my legs. I watched him crouch down, his massive body shifting in the rippling reflection of the creek my feet were stuck in.
I sat up, and he settled behind me. I felt his hands sliding along my arms. Goosebumps prickled along my skin as my nipples began to pucker with want.
His touch was electric.
I eased myself back into his lap as my head fell off to the side. He slid the tank top from my body, revealing my bare
breasts. The sun felt so good, and his legs were so strong around my body, and his hands were delicate in the way they stroked my arms. I leaned my head against his chest, allowing my neck to fall open to him.
I’d wanted to be reckless, so this was my chance.
Lying half-naked in the heated sun with a man whose mere presence soaked my panties.
I closed my eyes and took in the way his fingertips danced along my skin. Up and down my arms. All along my neck. Running through my hair. The breeze picked up and blew my tendrils about, causing me to giggle as they tickled my nose.
Then his hands smoothed along my face, brushing my hair out of the way before his thumb traced my bottom lip.
And I parted them to receive his thumb, biting it gently between my teeth.
CHAPTER 12
GRANT
Fuck. This woman was going to be the death of me. I’d seen her out of the back window crossing the edge of the property. I’d seen her in those tight little shorts and her thin tank top, carrying that damn bottle of wine in her hand. If Hollis had seen her, he’d have been furious. But thankfully, I could slip away from him, tell him I was headed out for a walk to clear my head.
All I could focus on now was her silky skin.
Her hair barely covered her breasts, but I knew what they looked like. How good they felt in the palms of my hands, her nipples puckered between my teeth. It took so much willpower to walk up to her slowly. To alert her that I was there instead of retaining the element of surprise. I was sitting behind her, watching her puckered breasts glisten in the sun with her body sprawled out and her head on my chest.
The willpower I had amazed even myself, because I wanted to sink my every inch into her and have my way with her.
I stroked her skin with my fingertips, watching as it heated underneath my touch. The goosebumps that popped up smoothed a grin against my cheeks. I gazed down into her beautiful face before my eyes trailed along her body. Taking in her practically naked form as her legs spread wider to catch the sun on her thighs. Damn it. I wanted to be between those thighs, lapping up her juices and nibbling on the tight little bud that would bring her so much pleasure.
I stroked my thumb along her pouty lower lip and watched her slowly pull it between her lips.
Holy hell, this woman was going to kill me.
“So, what made you come out here and get naked?” I asked.
Her eyes fluttered up to mine, and I could feel my cock jumping to life.
“Just communing with nature,” she said with a grin.
But I didn’t think that was funny. Her lying out here naked and vulnerable to anyone who walked by wasn’t fucking funny to me. Anyone could’ve found her out here. She was lucky it was me who saw her crossing the damn backyard and not Hollis or Ike for that matter.
Theresa shifted her body to face me and brushed against my growing cock. She positioned herself so she could look up at me and I bit down on my tongue. I saw that look in her eyes. That lustful, darkened look I’d seen the night before. She wanted me. I knew she did. And the slight hitch in her breath when I touched her confirmed my suspicions. Her eyes fell to my lap, and I knew she saw my cock tenting my shorts.
“You want the truth?” Theresa asked.
“Always,” I said.
“I wanted to be reckless.”
“You’re out here naked in the sun because you wanted to be reckless?”
“Yes.”
I chuckled and shook my head as her body scooted closer to mine.
“Then you got it,” I said. “Because me being alone with you is completely reckless.”
My eyes fell to hers as she crawled closer to my body. I wanted to dirty her up in every way possible. Muss up her hair and fuck her against the creek and slip into the water with her and take her the way she deserved. But I kept my hands planted into the ground. Even as she put her hands by my hips and knelt to sit eye-level with me, I kept myself under control.
I kept the animal inside caged.
“You shouldn’t be out here,” I said. “Anyone could’ve walked by.”
“Hardly anyone knows about this place.”
“Hollis does. And you know he would’ve killed you if he’d seen you the way I’m seeing you now.”
“Maybe it’s time I stopped letting Hollis and my father control who I should be.”
“It isn’t a matter of who you should be. It’s a matter of you staying safe.”
“And you think you can keep me safe?” she asked.
I know I can keep you safe.
“Like I said, anyone could’ve walked this way.”
“What? Should I be worried about the big, bad wolf?”
Images bombarded my mind. Scenes of Theresa in nothing but red lace and tied down to a bed. Spread for me and ready to feast. I felt a wolfish grin cross my cheeks as electricity sparked behind her eyes. Images of kicking up dirt as I pounded into her body assaulted my mind. Blinding me to the throbbing of my cock as her hands fell to my chest. It was killing me, not touching her. She was killing me. My mind raced with want for her as her tits swung dangerously close to my chest.
I wouldn’t be strong enough to resist her if she pressed into me.
I wouldn’t be strong enough to keep the animal caged if she let me take her.
I was ready to devour her. I closed my eyes and saw myself dipping between her thighs. Ripping that damned red lace off her body and swallowing down her sweet juices. I saw myself nibbling on her tits until they were covered in my marks. Mine. Mine. Mine. I chanted it as I slammed into her. Filling her with my cock as she wiggled and writhed against the red leather ties that bound her to my bed.
To my body.
To my heart.
I opened my eyes as my heart slammed hard against my rib cage.
“Seriously Theresa, it really wasn’t a good idea for you to be out here alone like this,” I said.
“You really know how to ruin the moment, don’t you?” Theresa asked.
She groaned and rolled her eyes as the moment dissipated. She sat back on her heels before she turned her back to me. She curled her knees up to her chest and placed her chin on top of them, and I felt frustration welling inside of me. My cock was aching, and my balls were hanging low with the need to release. My entire body was screaming at me to wrap my arms around her. Take what was mine and leave her breathless and sweating and covered in my cum. I shook my head as she sighed heavily, and I stood up just to put a little more distance between the two of us.
“Some fun you are,” she murmured.
“Your brother won’t see it that way if he comes looking for me,” I said.
She snickered and shook her head as she reached for her tank top. She pulled it back over her head, her movements telling of the anger she felt at the situation. I was angry, too. I wanted her. I wanted her more than I had ever wanted any woman in my life, and I couldn’t have her. Shouldn’t have her. I backed up from the towel as she pulled herself up, picking the fabric up from the ground before snatching the bottle of wine.
“Believe it or not, Grant, I can take care of myself.”
I watched her take another long pull from the wine bottle before she bent down to grab her phone.
“Are you driving?” I asked.
“Why the hell do you care?”
“Because you’re Hollis’ sister and I don’t want anything happening to you.”
That was why I’d fucking come to town in the first damn place.
“Really?” Theresa asked as she spun around. “Is that why you care? That’s the only reason? Because I’m Hollis’ sister?”
Her eyes were heated, heavy with anger as her chest heaved. She was gripping everything tightly in her hands, white-knuckling them and threatening to shatter the glass bottle in her palm. I shoved my hands into my pockets, forcing myself not to reach out for her and pull her into me, press my lips to hers, strip her of the measly fabric that clung to her body and cover her in a sweat-drenched tirade of wolfish desire.
But instead, I bit down on my tongue to keep from answering.
Her look turned from anger to sadness and it nearly broke me.
She turned away from me, and I couldn’t take it any longer. I reached out and grabbed her arm. I spun her around back into my arms, and she squealed, her body pressing heavily against mine. She looked up at me from underneath those long eyelashes, and I felt my heart skip a beat.
What the hell had this woman done to me?”
“I’m worried about you,” I said. “That’s all.”
And as quickly as it had switched the first time, her innocent doe eyes narrowed to slits as she pushed me away.
“I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself. I don’t need you, or my father, or Hollis trying to map out and manipulate my every move,” she said.
“This isn’t about trying to control you, Theresa.”
“It is. It’s always been about that. My father expected something of me and did whatever he could to get it. He expected his daughter to go to school, get a business degree, and come work for him. And that was what I did because I wasn’t given any other choice. He threw you out of the house because he thought you were a distraction, right?”
I clenched down onto my teeth to keep from confirming her question.
“Right? My father threw you out because he thought we were fooling around and that it would somehow ruin my chances of getting into college, didn’t he? And it’s insane, you know that? That my father had blatantly manipulated the situation because he thought he knew what was best for me.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and I felt anger bubbling in my gut.
“And Hollis is no damn better. Telling me who I should and shouldn’t date. Wanting me to move in with him because he thinks I’m not capable of taking care of myself. I’m twenty-six goddamn years old!” she railed.
