Santa's Pet

by Rachelle Ayala

  “Ben, oh, Ben. I love you, love you.” I pant and moan, thumping my head on the mattress as my climax crests, flinging me to the stars and back.

  Ben’s entire body tightens, and he pumps his release hard, groaning and exhaling. He hangs over me a split second before collapsing at my side, wet with sweat.

  It’s only after the entire glow in my body subsides, that I realize he hadn’t said a word or called my name. Maybe he’s nervous about his first time. Maybe he’s just not the expressive type. Strong and silent, I have to trust his actions speak louder than words.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  ~ Ben ~

  Ben couldn’t calm his heart. No way. Brittney was everything he’d imagined and more—hot, sweet, sexy, and so responsive to him. But it was more than her body and the way she moved. It was the way he trusted her completely that poured her into his heart, flooding every corner and making him putty in her hands.

  She loved him. Said it herself at that sweet moment when nothing could go wrong. But a niggling thought scratched at the back of his mind. What if she’d said that to Nash too? Had she also loved him only to be crushed when he walked away the next morning?

  Stop thinking about him. She didn’t know you back then. You never paid her any attention. You were too into football to notice her.

  But as much as he tried, it was the only thing he could focus on. What a way to ruin the afterglow of his first time ever—which was a rush of wonderful and more than anything he’d dreamt off. Mother was right to hold off for the right woman—the perfect one. He’d held her to his heart and poured out his soul to her. She had to be the right one. He’d accepted her, no matter what, because she was his—or was she?

  Idly, he stroked her dewy skin and held her close. She felt so good and warm. He’d made love to her, a first for him, and maybe, just maybe it’d been for her too, except for that thorn in the heart, Nash.

  Ugh. Stop thinking about him.

  Pleasure and equal amounts of pain tore through every fiber of his body. She’d ripped his heart to pieces by telling him about Nash—not only had she had sex with Nash, but she’d loved him and pined over him.

  Could he truly accept that his bad-boy brother had been between her legs? That it had been more than a casual hookup? That he’d truly walked away for good?

  Not if he’s out there demanding to see her, or running benefit concerts for her.

  If he knew anything about his brother, it was that he did nothing except when it benefited himself. The guy had to be in love with Brittney. How could anyone not be if they really knew her?

  Ben wrapped his arms around her and cradled Brittney—his treasure. From the looks of it, he’d worn her out.

  Her eyes were closed and her face flushed. She breathed deeply, and a sweet smile twinkled over her gorgeous face. She appeared totally and completely loved—secure and assured.

  Spikes of fear hip-hopped inside his heart. Could he truly keep this up? Keep her secure and assured? Wipe away all memories of Nash and his charming-ass ways? Ben’s muscles tightened enough that Brittney stirred in his arms.

  “Mmmm …” Brittney yawned, stretching. She rolled over onto her side and rested her head on his chest. “I was surprised you went ahead, but it was great. Guys don’t have cherries, so what should I say I plucked?”

  “My banana?” He tried to keep the turmoil from his voice.

  “Oh, wonderful. I peeled your banana. That’s a new one.” The glow on her face was at once wonderful and cute. Bet that was the first time she’d done that.

  “Sounds better than foreskin.” Immediately, the taste in his mouth soured. She surely hadn’t been Nash’s first one.

  “Ewww, yes.” She rolled on her back and put her hands on her forehead, chuckling. “So, does this mean we’re together now?”

  Ben’s shoulders and back prickled with spikes of sweat. Because this was what she wanted—a relationship, someone to love. He should be the lucky one, except had she said this to Nash? Wished it of him?

  “We’re as together as you want.” He resorted to a male’s vague whatever-you-want phrase. Usually, women were so into themselves and what they wanted, they’d interpret it any way they wanted, giving him time to make his getaway.

  Except he didn’t want to get away from her, or did he?

  Ben tightened his muscles and shrugged from her embrace. He had to be the tough one here. Face reality. He’d waited all his life for her, only she hadn’t waited for him.

  “What’s wrong?” Brittney wasn’t fooled. Her blue eyes blinked, going from dazed and dilated to clear and pointed. “Something’s bothering you. Maybe we moved too fast.”

  “No, nothing’s wrong. It was great. You were great.”

  She twisted her eyebrows. “‘Great’ sounds like a kiss off.”

  “It’s not.” Ben’s stomach churned, fighting his pounding heart. “We’re together now. Did you mean it? What you said?”

  She bit her lip and one side of her mouth quivered while the other side curved up as she nodded. “I do. I hope it doesn’t scare you away, but Ben, you’re really special to me.”

  How could she be so perfect and yet so dangerous?

  Ben felt his insides melting in both a good and bad way. What he dreamed of was within reach, in the palm of his hand. He leaned toward her and kissed her cheek, not wanting to let go.

  “You’re special to me too,” he said, his voice choked.

  “I better be. I’m your first one.”

  “Yep, but I better be your last one, too. No more banana peeling for you, young lady.” He forced a lighthearted chuckle. After all, it wasn’t Brittney’s fault he couldn’t get over the fact that she’d slept with his brother.

  He’d have to deal with it on his own.

  “So, what now?” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his lips. “Do we want to explore this thing we have going on some more? I was hoping we could spend more time together, now that we’re really together.” She filled his heart with adoration, her face beaming—still flushed from the orgasms he’d given her.

  “Sure, but we have to get rid of your sister. She’s outside waiting for us. Let me peek through the window and see if she’s still there.” Ugh. This was going to be hard, even for him, to skirt around that other person who was out there, too.

  “I can text her and tell her to leave. I left my phone in the kitchen. Let me get it.” Wisely, she refrained from mentioning his brother.

  Ben turned around and tied a knot in the used condom, depositing it in a wastebasket. He pulled on his jeans and crouched to the dormer window where the roof slanted. Easing the curtains aside, he said, “Her car’s still there, but I don’t see them.”

  “Oh, crap.” Brittney slapped the mattress for her clothes. “I hear her calling my name. She’s inside the house.”

  Ben grabbed his shirt and perked his ears.

  “Ben, Brittney,” Nash called from below. “Where’d you two go?”

  “Brittney!” Lacy screamed and Big Blizzard screeched, “Nee, neee!”

  Ben’s hands and legs scrambled as he hurriedly dressed himself. Beside him, Brittney pulled on her clothes, pausing to examine her busted buttons. Fortunately she had a tank top underneath the shirt she’d borrowed, but she wasn’t wearing a bra. No way in hell he’d let Nash ogle her bounties.

  He threw his shirt at her. “Cover yourself up.”

  “You can’t go down there without a shirt. Lacy will think.”

  “Let her think.” Let Nash think. “Button yourself all the way up.”

  “Can you get rid of them?” Her fingers scrambled over the buttons, shaking, as she buttoned the oversized shirt.

  “Gladly.” He finger-combed his hair. If Nash knew what was good for him, he’d leave quietly. “I’ll take care of them. Stay here.”

  Ben clambered down the ladder, pulled the hatch-door shut and bolted it.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  ~ Brittney ~

  “Ben, Ben,” I c
all after him. Damn him. He’s shut the hatch door. Why can’t I pull it open?

  He pointedly spoke as if Lacy’s the only one out there. It’s like his brother doesn’t exist. He’s bothered by what Nash and I did, and he’s not hiding it well at all.

  I pound on the door. “Open up. Ben. Let me speak to them.”

  I have to warn Nash. He has no idea what just happened between me and Ben. It’s not like Nash has a hold on me or anything. We’re nothing more than friends, and yes, it happened that one time, when my sister and all my sexy cousins made me feel like one big loser nerd.

  It was about a year ago. Nash was the only one who’d understood, and who’d cared to listen to me. My dating life was a big fat zero, and I was tricked by Dex Steele, a hacker who supposedly had a crush on me. I trusted him to secure my network and work on encryption modules with me.

  Instead, all Dex wanted was to set me up to take the fall while he poked holes in our networks. He acted like a friend, even kissed me a few times—right before he kidnapped me and forced me into playing along with him and his evil sister in an effort to blackmail Lacy’s then boyfriend, Brandon Cole, into signing away his house. I felt like a piece of shit after that. Even though Lacy and Brandon forgave me and I didn’t get in trouble with the law, it should have taught me not to trust anyone.

  I was so beaten down and upset with myself, I withdrew from the family, even over the Christmas holiday.

  Nash was the only one I could trust. He came through town to do a New Year’s Eve concert at the Cow Palace. He stayed with me in the days leading up to it, and while everyone in my family was congratulating Lacy on her Christmas day engagement to Brandon, Nash took me ice skating at Union Square. We walked hand in hand through the City and played tourist, taking the street car and shopping. Whenever we were recognized, people asked him for autographs and women threw envious glances my way. Even though I knew he was only a friend, just being with him had made me hope for a little more. That was almost a year ago.

  Down below, I hear shouting—booming voices interspersed with Lacy’s sharp screeches. Sounds like she’s trying to calm them down, but knowing the Powers boys, they’re anything but calm. I keep pounding on the hatch door, but with all the noise below, no one hears me. Treat is baying like a backup singer at a hound dog concert, and Big Blizzard must be flying around and screaming at the top of his bird lungs.

  There’s only one thing to do. I try the windows. Fortunately, they’re not locked, and I would be coming out on the second floor. There’s a tree not far from the window. If I can somehow jump from the window ledge to the tree branch, I can make it.

  I ease the window open and stare at the steeply sloped roof. That’s the problem with dormer windows. They’re possible only because they stick out of a steeply sloped roof. I’m going to need something to hold onto.

  I sure hope the trick with bedsheets works. Luckily, I got a badge for camping skills in Girl Scouts and that included basic knot tying. I secure the sheet to a loop of the old-fashioned steam radiator. It’s made of cast iron and bolted to the wall and floor. It had better hold, or I’m in deep doo doo.

  Dizziness hits me when I step onto the roof, holding onto the sheets. The tree branches are farther than I thought and not very thick, and the slate on the roof is more slippery than I thought.

  “Wwoooahhhhroo!” Treat howls from below.

  How’d he get out?

  He barks and wags his tail. Great. Now I have an audience in my big fail. I creep closer to the tree, but am now at the end of the sheet.

  “Woof! Woof.” Treat barks and points his nose at me as if he treed a squirrel.

  “Here goes nothing.” I let go of the sheet and take a running leap.

  “Ow, ow, ow, ow.” I fall onto the top branches of the tree and they crack all around me, scratching me.

  Grabbing wildly, I manage to get one that doesn’t break, although it’s bending dangerously. Thankfully the tree has lost its leaves so it’s easy to see where the main branches are.

  I wiggle my feet around until I find a crotch where two main branches split. One foot after the other, I feel my way down. Too late, I realize the tree’s higher than I thought. Who planted rosebushes beneath it?

  The shouting becomes louder as the humans stomp off the porch.

  “What did you do to my sister?” Lacy says. “You better tell or I’m calling the police.”

  “Exactly,” Nash says. “She can’t have disappeared. What’d you do? Hide her in the basement?”

  There’s a basement in this house too? Most houses in California don’t have one since the ground doesn’t freeze here. But then, Grandpa Powers built this one a long time ago and maybe he had a basement put in.

  “I didn’t do anything to her you wouldn’t do.” Ben sneers at his brother, glowering with all his muscles pumped.

  “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Nash pushes him. “You slept with her? Is that what you did? She’s not one of your sluts, asshole.”

  Pow. Ben’s fist is fast as it slams into Nash’s jaw. Nash staggers and puts up his fists. He swings but Ben blocks his punch and lands another one, sending Nash sprawling to the ground.

  “Ben. Stop it,” I yell and lose my balance. “Ahhhh!”

  I tumble, bouncing off branches and getting scratched. Desperately, I grab and flail trying to slow my fall. I roll onto the last branch, but my momentum is too fast to stop me.

  This is going to hurt.

  I shut my eyes and clench my fists and land on something hard, but cushioned. Ben catches me and we both fall to the ground.

  “You okay?” he says, as he gets up and pulls me to my feet.

  “What are you doing fighting?” I jerk from his grasp and rush to Nash, who’s lying on the ground, out cold. “Is he going to be okay?”

  Ben stands by glumly, but doesn’t move to help his brother.

  I crouch down and examine Nash. He’s still warm, and I think he’s breathing. Has a pulse. “Dammit, Ben. What if you hurt him? You could have killed him.”

  “He’s fine.” Ben grunts and walks toward the house.

  Lacy’s at my side. “What happened to you? Why were you on the roof?”

  “Nash. Nash.” I shake his head. “Wake up. Lacy, we might have to call an ambulance. What if he has brain damage?”

  Splash. I’m partially hit by a bucketful of water that lands on Nash. He sputters and rolls his head around, trying to open his eyes.

  Ben stands over Nash and grabs him by both armpits. “He’s okay. Haven’t you ever seen a barroom brawl? I didn’t hit him as hard as I could have.”

  “No, Ben.” I wipe the water from my hands. “You shouldn’t be fighting at all.”

  “He called you a slut.” Ben juts out his lower lip.

  “Did not,” Nash grumbles as Ben lets him go.

  “He didn’t,” I agree. “He said I’m not like one of them.”

  “So, you’re taking his side?” A vein throbs on Ben’s forehead.

  “I’m not taking anyone’s side. Now, both of you, go in and get cleaned up. I can’t believe you’re fighting.”

  Lacy hooks her arm around me and smirks. “Me either. And fighting over you, too. Amazing.”

  I glare at her, hating that she’s enjoying the spectacle. “Why does that surprise you so much?”

  She looks me up and down. I know she doesn’t see anything because I’m wearing a baggy oversized shirt and sweatpants. There’s no makeup on my face and my hair is a mess.

  “My baby sister’s growing up.” She tosses her head and pats my back. “I knew the sexy elf outfit would work.”

  ~ Ben ~

  “Both of you, sit.” Brittney ordered Ben and Nash onto the sofa side by side. Her face was a deep red and if someone were to draw a cartoon of her, she’d have steam coming out of her ears.

  Ben rubbed his knuckles and hunched over with his elbows on his knees. The way she glared at him made him feel like a third-grader sent to the principal’s
office.

  Beside him, Nash groaned and held his stomach, clearly a ploy to get sympathy from the soft-hearted Brittney.

  Lacy sat on the rocking chair next to the fireplace with Big Blizzard perched on her shoulder while Treat the Traitor rested his head on Nash’s feet.

  “Can you two explain why you’re fighting?” Brittney stood over them. “Whatever happened to using words.”

  “I was using words,” Nash said. “But Ben attacked me.”

  “You were insulting Brittney,” Ben grumbled.

  “You were making insinuating remarks. You have a problem with me and Brittney?” Nash raised his hackles and jutted himself forward, knowing he was safe from being punched.

  “You have nothing with her, nothing.”

  “You mean she didn’t tell you?” A smirk stretched Nash’s thin lips.

  “Look, you two.” Brittney stomped her feet. “I told Ben everything. The truth. And I expect you two to not discuss this any further. What I did or didn’t do is private.”

  “So why’d you tell him about us?” Nash drilled her with a laser glare.

  “I had to clear the air. What happened was over long ago. My future’s with Ben.” Brittney came to Ben’s side and laid a hand on his shoulder.

  Nash turned toward Ben and raised an eyebrow. He waved his hand between Brittney and himself. “And you’re okay with all this?”

  “As she explained. It’s over and done with. Forgotten.” Ben clenched his jaw and held his brother’s insolent gaze.

  “I wouldn’t be too sure,” Nash said, turning to Brittney. “Ben’s moody. I don’t think he’s okay with it at all. I know my brother. Look at the way he attacked me just now.”

  “It’s not something to brush under the rug,” Lacy agreed from the rocking chair. “But if Ben says he’s done with it, then we should all drop it.”

  She darted a signaled glance at her sister.

  Ben’s hackles rose as Brittney blushed and retreated. What did Lacy know? Had they done it more than once? Or maybe they had been friends with benefits and Nash was expecting benefits in exchange for his benefit concert.