Other than stupid stuff like that when I was younger, I pretty much did, and still do, toe the line. I don’t party, do drugs, or sleep around.
Chelsea hangs up her phone. “Ready?”
“Hold on.” I pick up a wine glass and hold it up to the light. “This has a smudge. Crap.”
The tent flaps open, and both Chelsea and I look to see who’s dared come into the tent without my say so.
The glass I’m holding falls to the floor and shatters.
“No fucking way,” Chelsea screams, glee filling her voice, and she barrels forward.
My nipples harden, and my panties dampen.
No fucking way is right.
Chapter 3- Aaron
“Quite a welcome,” I say, hauling Chelsea into a bear hug. “Good to see you, too, sis.” She might be happy to see me now, but I give it two hours before we start getting on one another’s nerves.
Taylor looks like she’s about to keel over. She was a beautiful girl when I left, if a bit skinny, but now she’s filled out in all the right places—tits, hips, and ass. I’d kill to get my hands on those curves, and I will get my hands on them.
Right now, her small nose is turned up in disgust, and her cupid’s bow lips are narrowed into a thin slash that look nothing like the pouty lips I once enjoyed kissing. As for her eyes, they’re darker than the ocean beneath a stormy summer sky.
My gaze slides lower to the dress she’s wearing. A dress that leaves nearly nothing to my imagination. It’s a floaty summer thing covered in flowers, almost see-through with low-cut cleavage.
I lower Chelsea to the ground.
“What are you doing here?” my sister asks.
I hook my arm around her shoulder. “What? A guy can’t come to watch his dad marry the woman of his dreams?” My words sound caustic and bitter. I don’t mean them to, but I can’t seem to control the tone of my voice.
“I can’t believe you just showed up like this, you jerk. Not even a phone call? Taylor and I busted our asses to make this perfect for our dad and her mom.” She’s acting like she’s pissed, but she’s not really. “And here you come waltzing in like no time has passed.”
“You’ll get over it.” I turn my attention to Taylor, a smile playing on my lips. “How are you, Tay?”
“I guess I’m good. Surprised, I guess. I guess it’s good you’re here.” She swipes the side of her shoe along the broken glass, moving it into a pile. “I guess I should clean this mess up.”
I chuckle at her nervousness. “I guess you should.”
“I’ll go get a brush,” Chelsea offers. “You,” she says, turning to me, “stay here and pick up the glass. I’ll get Dad, too. He’ll freak.”
I bet he will, but not in a good way. “Maybe now isn’t the best time. I don’t want to start anything.”
She gives her eyes a dramatic roll. “It’s better he sees you for the first time in here rather than in front of everyone.”
“Yeah,” I agree, but I’m doubtful. Chelsea flounces out of the tent, leaving me alone with Taylor.
I saunter towards her, loving the way her throat works and how hard she swallows when I get close.
“It’s been a while,” I say.
She gives me a hard stare and her nostrils flare, but in a cute way. “Is that what you say to all the girls you fuck then flee from? You left me on the beach on my own and didn’t so much as say “thanks” for the fuck.”
“So, you still think about me,” I say, taking another step toward her.
She steps back and bumps up against the table so hard, the wine glasses shake. She pauses before she answers. “No, I don’t. You never crossed my mind. Not once.”
I don’t miss the lie in her eyes, and I take another step until I’m close enough to kiss those plump red lips of hers. “I’ve taken a few psychology electives and I’m pretty good at seeing when someone is lying. There are certain tells. You want to know what those tells are?”
She lowers her face and shakes her head.
“Lying again. You’re avoiding my gaze, your pulse rate is fast, and your breathing is erratic.”
She blinks fast and swallows hard. “You’re so full of shit I can smell it coming from your pores.”
I laugh, and I can’t help but reach up and run my thumb over her plump bottom lip. She closes her eyes and sighs, but then her eyes snap open, and she looks like she’s just woken up from a daydream.
“Don’t you dare touch me,” she spits. “You have absolutely no right to invade my space. And stop flirting.”
I step back and hold up my hands. “You’re right. I’m sorry. But what if we could have one more night together before we become siblings? Before you become my sister. We could relive that night on the beach.”
Her pupils dilate, and she inhales sharply.
“I’m going to let you in on a secret,” I say. “I jerk off to thoughts of you. I wrap my hand around my cock and pump hard until I explode. Wanna know what sends me over the edge?”
The tip of her tongue slicks over her lips.
“The memory of you crying my name when you came on my mouth.”
“You’re a disgusting pig.” She pushes me out of her way and goes towards the entrance to the tent “Stay the fuck away. I’m not interested.”
“Sure you’re not.” This could definitely turn out to be a weekend to enjoy and not endure.
As she stomps out of the tent, my dad and Chelsea walk in. Or I should say, Chelsea walks, my dad storms.
Dad’s narrowed eyes take me in, from head to toe and back again. He slides his hands into the pockets of his dress khakis. The old man looks good. A hell of a lot better than the last time I saw him. He’s put on weight, and his face isn’t as haunted.
“Aaron,” he simply says.
“Dad,” I say in return.
“Can’t say I’m not surprised to see you. It’s been a while. How’s your shoulder?”
“I’m getting by.”
He nods. “You’re not exactly dressed for tonight.”
“Last minute decision to come here,” I admit.
Dad purses his lips in thought and then nods. “Since you’re here, you might as well stay.”
“That was my plan.” I wasn’t expecting a welcome with open arms, but I also wasn’t expecting him to act like I’d killed someone. “Thanks for the warm invitation.”
He makes a move to leave the tent, but before he does, he says, “Whatever you said to upset Taylor, apologize. She’s busted her ass to make this wedding a success. If you think you’re going to ruin anything for me, your sister, Sherry, or her girls, you’re in for a rude awakening.”
I want to go back at him so much it hurts my gut. I want to fling words and insults, but I see the fear in Chelsea’s eyes. The one I saw every time dad and I got into it. I don’t want to hurt her, so I swallow my words.
“Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll be on my best behavior.”
He nods again, but I can tell he doesn’t believe a word I say.
“I’m so glad you came,” Chelsea says, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “We have a lot to catch up on.”
“Thanks, sis.”
Chelsea and my dad leave the tent, and when they do, I let out a loud breath. In the grand scheme of things, it could have gone a lot worse.
The one shining light in this shit show is how much Taylor wants me. My proposition interested her. Shocked her, maybe, but definitely interested her. For one more night, I’ll make her mine so that for the rest of her life when she closes her eyes to sleep, I’m the one she’ll dream about.
I leave the tent and go out to the lawn where everyone is drinking cocktails and making small talk.
I spot some of my old high school teammates who now play for Calton and make my way over to them. Some faces I know some I don’t. Chelsea is holding hands with a guy who, from his height and width, I can tell is a quarterback.
He looks like he’s a Wildcat from the way he’s going back and forth with the guys. But, Dad
isn’t the kind of man who’d let his precious princess date someone from the team. Curious, I go introduce myself.
“Aaron Thompson.” I hold out my hand, which the guy takes into a short, firm handshake.
“Wesley Reynolds, Chelsea’s boyfriend. Nice to meet you, man.”
I quirk an eyebrow towards Chelsea. “Dad’s letting you date a player? How times have changed.”
“You missed a lot,” she says, “I’ll fill you in later.”
I say hi to the other guys on the team. Some are happy to see me. Some see me as a traitor. Some eye me curiously. Not that I give a crap. I’m not here for their approval.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and I glance over my shoulder. Taylor glances away, but not before I catch her staring. Yeah, she’s thinking about me all right, and I’d bet anyone a million bucks that by the end of the night, I’ll have her crying my name and begging for more.
Chapter 4- Taylor
I can’t concentrate, and it’s all Aaron Thompson’s fault. Of all the nights he had to show up, why did it have to be tonight? Why did it have to be the one night when I didn’t need him here? The night I need all my wits about me so I can focus all my attention on my mom and Jack.
Sure, I was disappointed that he hadn’t RSVP’d, but I didn’t actually think he’d come.
Plus, Aaron’s dressed totally wrong and looks totally out of place, but at the same time totally sexy in an “I don’t give a fuck” way.
The way his t-shirt clings to his chest and his arms makes me want to lick him from head to toe. And he’s so stacked right now, he looks like he could bench-press ten times my body weight without breaking a sweat.
The past two years have been good to him. They’ve added a maturity to his face along with a few spiderweb lines around his eyes, probably caused by squinting on the field. His nose looks like it’s been broken one or two times, but that only adds to the allure. His stubbled chin is as strong as ever, his cheekbones still high, and his lips are full and pouting. As for his eyes, they’re not called bedroom brown for nothing.
Every time I glance at him, he catches me. It’s like my eyes are attached to him because I can’t look away for more than a second. And when he looks at me, the intensity of his gaze makes me feel buck naked. Like he’s imagining me with no clothes on.
I’ve piled a plate full of salads and chicken, and hold a fork in my hand, but my appetite is less than zero, and I end up playing around with my food instead of eating.
His proposition loops around my mind. He’s right, after the wedding tomorrow we’ll be brother and sister. Not blood related, obviously, but still, brother and sister.
What would it be like to relive the night he took my virginity? To have sex with him again? It’s not like I haven’t relived that night in my mind every single night since. I know I’m crazy to even consider it.
The band starts playing top forty music, and the makeshift dance floor in the garden fills. Everyone has had enough drinks by now and they’ve loosened up. They all look like they’re having a good time, but I still can’t seem to relax.
I glance over at my mom who’s holding Jack’s hand and is laughing at something he said. She’s glowing. I’ve never seen her this happy in my life, and I’m happy that she’s happy. I’m happy that finally after all these years, she’s found a man she can trust and believe.
A light tap on my shoulder makes me jump, and I spill my food on the grass.
“Fucking wonderful,” I mumble.
I turn around to glare at whoever snuck up on me. I should have known. Aaron. He’s smiling and holding out his hand.
“Care to dance with your soon-to-be brother?” He asks, his dark brown eyes glinting with mischief.
“No. I’m all good,” I say. “Now excuse me. This mess isn’t going to clean itself.”
“Come on, Taylor, I’m not going to maul you on the dance floor. Don’t leave me hanging.”
I blow out an exasperated sigh, but I’m secretly thrilled. “Fine. But keep your hands above my waist. Got it?”
“I can’t promise because you’re so fucking gorgeous, but I’ll do my best.”
I roll my eyes as if to say, save your crap for someone else.
The band starts playing a schmaltzy song by one of the 80s hairbands my mom loves so much. Something about not being in love and it being a phase. Sounds something similar to what I’m going through right now.
Once we’re on the dance floor, and in the middle of the other couples, Aaron rests his hands on the curve of my waist. I shudder at his touch. I hate how I’m ready to lay down, spread my legs and say “do me now.”
By the grin in his eyes, he can tell how much his touch affects me. Bastard.
Even though I’m five-seven and wearing 4-inch stilettos, my forehead only reaches his nose, and I have to look up to see his eyes.
I place my hands on his broad shoulders but don’t get too close. I’m afraid if I do, his beachy cologne will intoxicate me and make me do something I’ll later regret.
“So,” he begins, “what have you been doing for the past two years.”
“Like you really care,” I say with another roll of my eyes.
“I’m serious, Tay. I want to know what you’ve been up to.”
“Oh, the usual. Pining for you. I spend my days wishing you were mine. Wishing you were here with me.”
Now it’s his turn to roll his eyes. “You don’t think I’m genuinely interested?”
I give my head a slight shake. “If you were interested in anyone here, like, say, your family, you would’ve come home a long time ago.”
“It’s complicated. And we all do things we regret.”
I snort out a laugh. “You’ve got that right.”
He lowers his lips and brushes them over the shell of my ear. “If you really regret me fucking you on the sand, I’ll leave you alone. But you don’t regret it, do you? You want me.”
I shiver, and goosebumps dot my skin. “I won’t lie, you look good Aaron. Better than good. You’re hot, and you know it, but I won’t go there. I’d rather screw every member of the football team than give myself to you again.” At my lies, my heartbeat quickens, and my body overheats through my summer dress. “I’m a lot pickier now when it comes to who, or what, I get into bed with. Lots of guys want to date me. Lots of guys have asked me, but I’m not interested.
“Your dad is a good guy, and I know he’ll be good to my mom, but in my mind all men are users. They may not start that way, but that’s the way it always ends up. And I won’t allow that to happen to me again.”
He tightens his grip on my waist. “Don’t bullshit a bullshitter. You’re not curious to see if we can make it even better than the last time? See if I can make you scream my name even louder?”
“Why are you such a jerk?” I walk off the dancefloor leaving him standing there with his arms hanging by his side. I don’t look back, but I do see his dad glaring towards him with a pissed expression on his face.
“He giving you a hard time,” Coach asks when I walk past.
I shake my head and smile. The last thing I want to do is to cause any tension between Aaron and his dad. “He’s just teasing me the way he did when we were growing up. Taking the annoying big brother roll a little too seriously.” Jack smiles totally getting what I mean when I say that.
For the rest of the evening, I avoid Aaron by talking to the other guests and dancing with Chelsea and my sisters.
When the night comes to an end, it’s been a while since I last saw him, and I’m pretty sure he’s gone back to whatever rock he crawled out from under. I breathe a sigh of relief because him not being here means I don’t have to deal with him and my off-the-charts hormones. My body and the brain are at war. If I’d taken him up on his so-called proposition, would it be like the first time or even better?
The night we slept together is seared into my brain and has kept me entertained on many occasions. It’s my go-to fantasy, the one that alway
s gets me off.
My mom comes over and pulls me into a vanilla scented hug. “Baby, everything was amazing. I can’t thank you enough for all the work you put into this.”
“Are you happy, Mom?” She cups my cheek in her hand, and I inhale the scent of her ever-familiar perfume. “When your dad left, I was young and angry, and I didn’t think I’d ever fall in love again. I didn’t think I’d ever need anyone but you girls. This wasn’t something that happened overnight. My friendship with Jack built for years before I’d even have a cup of coffee with him.
“And then, it snowballed. He gets and accepts everything about me. We’ve both been through a rough time and know there’s baggage, but that’s the baggage we’ll carry for each other. I hope someday you’ll find someone like him.”
“Thanks, Mom. Men like him are few and far between and are snapped up straight away. I won’t hold my breath.”
“Someday, baby girl, you’ll fall in love. Just don’t be in a hurry. It’s hard to believe when I was your age, I was married and had a baby. Do I regret getting married so young, hell yes, but I’ll never regret you or your sisters. There isn’t a mom alive who’s prouder of her daughter than I am of you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
She yawns and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Time for bed or this blushing bride will look like an old hag in the morning. Don’t stay up too much later.”
“I won’t, Mom. Promise”
And then there was just me. Chelsea and Wesley skipped off early, probably to have sex in the fairground or something, and the other guests left sometime around eleven.
I walk around the tent, giving it one last check, making sure everything is in its place for tomorrow.
Outside the tent, a balmy summer breeze wraps around my body. I’m surrounded by nothing but silence and the crashing ocean. A quick walk along the beach will clear my head before bed and allow me to process everything that’s happened this evening.
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