The Slade Brothers: A Complete Small Town Contemporary Romance Collection

by Alexis Winter

  In the morning, I wake and feel like I haven’t gotten any sleep at all. My body is stiff and tired, and I feel like I didn’t move all night long. With a groan, I sit up and push the blankets back. I roll my neck and listen as it pops a dozen times before I push myself out of bed to use the bathroom and grab a drink. When I exit the bathroom, I find her sound asleep on the couch in the living room. I gaze down at her beautiful face as she sleeps. Her long, dark lashes are fanned out across her cheeks, and her lips slightly parted. She looks completely at ease, which is a nice change. She’s beautiful, but she always looks like she’s stressed or annoyed. Hell, living with me, she probably is.

  “What are you doing?” Brad asks, stepping out of the kitchen to find me standing and watching her sleep.

  I wave him off. “I was just thinking about drawing something on her face to see how long it would take her to notice,” I lie, walking past him to grab a glass of water.

  He chuckles as he follows me back into the kitchen. “That would be some funny shit. What were you thinking about drawing? I got some markers in my room.”

  I laugh. “I don’t know. I don’t want to be an ass. I was just about to forget about it when you walked in.”

  “Nah, this is great. It’s something a big brother would do. I’m glad you’re treating her like she’s your own sister. Makes me proud to call you my friend.” He walks up and hugs me quickly, making me feel as low as dirt. Fuck. I’m really fucking this up. I can’t trade Brad over for a good time with his sister, no matter how life changing, earth shatteringly perfect it would be. I have to put a stop to these thoughts I’m having about her. I have to keep my eyes and hands to myself for that matter. It’s not hard. I’ve been in the army, fought wars, grew up with four older brothers. I can handle one tiny woman.

  I quickly drink down my water and then head back to my bedroom to get dressed. When I walk out, Deven and Brad are both in the kitchen arguing over breakfast.

  She looks at me. “Hudson, what do you want? Eggs or French toast?”

  “Sorry, I can’t be your tie breaker today, guys. I have an interview at the fire department.”

  “What? That’s great, buddy,” Brad says.

  Deven smiles, but her eyes glaze over. “Yeah, good luck. Firemen are hot!”

  I snort and Brad smacks her on the arm. “He’s my friend. Mine. You stay away,” he teases, but there’s truth to it.

  She shrugs her shoulders. “I just meant that maybe he could hook me up with some of his hot firemen buddies after he gets the job.”

  “Not any better,” I tell her, grabbing my keys off the kitchen table.

  “What are you even doing with your life?” he asks Deven as I’m walking out.

  “What do you mean? A girl’s gotta get laid once in a while.”

  “Ewwww. I don’t want to hear anything about your sex life. Keep it to yourself,” he says as I’m walking out and shutting the door behind me.

  I laugh and shake my head as I’m heading down the stairs. I hate that they’re so close, but I love it at the same time. I have a feeling they need one another more than either of them lets on. That’s another reason why I can’t fuck this up. Brad only has Deven, and Deven only has Brad now that their father’s passed away and they’re no longer speaking with their mother after Deven was kicked out for whatever reason. It still drives me crazy that I don’t know the full story there, but I intend on finding out. Maybe I can refuse to fuck her again until she tells me. No! I can’t do that! Have I even been listening to myself?

  Fuck. I’m going crazy.

  I walk back into the apartment a couple hours later, and Brad and Deven are both sitting on the couch. “I got the job!” I cheer and they both stand up, cheering with me. “My training starts first thing Monday morning.

  “That’s awesome, Hudson. Congrats,” Deven says, hugging me.

  I hug her quickly but push her away before Brad can think anything of it.

  “So, did you meet any firefighters that may have a thing for me?” She smiles wide.

  I laugh it off but head to the kitchen for a drink. Deven follows me in. I open the fridge, grab a soda, and then stand up, leaning against the counter.

  “What’s up?” I ask, taking a sip.

  She shrugs. “Last night?” she whispers.

  I shrug. “What about it?” I act like I have no idea what she’s talking about.

  She rolls her dark eyes. “The bathroom. Did you mean what you said?”

  “What’d I say?”

  “You said that you—”

  Brad walks in and she quickly changes her sentence. “We’re going to go horseback riding. Are you still going to do that?”

  “Oh,” I say, glancing back and forth between her and Brad. “I’m not sure. I have to call my brother.”

  “Well, if you go, can I go with you? I love horses and haven’t ridden one since I was a kid. It’d really mean the world to me.” She bats her lashes and smiles wide.

  Brad looks over at me. “She really does love horses. Come on, make her day,” he insists.

  I scoff. “Fine. But I get the good horse.”

  She squeals and jumps up and down, clapping her hands. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m going to change.” She rushes out of the room, leaving me alone with Brad.

  “Guess I’m going horseback riding,” I mumble.

  He laughs. “Welcome to getting guilt tripped by your sister,” he teases, now that he sees me as her big brother too.

  “Thanks for the help.” I act annoyed by having her tag along, but truth is, it excites me.

  “Sorry, bro. Gotta learn sooner or later how to dodge them sister eyes.” He walks out of the kitchen, leaving me alone.

  I call Drake and he says it’s cool if we come out. We load up in the truck, and as soon as we’re out of the parking lot, she’s sliding into the middle, placing her hand on my thigh, so close to my aching dick.

  “Deven,” I grind out.

  “Yes?” she asks, looking at me all sweetly, like she doesn’t know what she’s doing, but she knows exactly what she’s doing.

  “I’ve been thinking about everything. You, Brad, me. And I really think it’s in everyone’s best interest if we just stay friends, keep things G-rated.”

  She scoffs and rolls her eyes as her head lulls back against the seat. “Again with this shit? Hudson, I’m a grown woman. I can make my own decisions.”

  “I know,” I say. “It’s just that Brad’s my friend. I don’t like lying to him or all this sneaking around.”

  “Really? I think the sneaking around is kind of hot.”

  I can’t lie. I do too. It’s really fucking hot. Something is always more fun where you have to sneak to do it. Stolen food tastes the best, forbidden fruit is the sweetest. “I just…I don’t know.”

  “Don’t you want me?”

  “You have no fucking idea how many times I’ve daydreamed of fucking you until you beg me to stop.”

  “Then do it, and don’t think about anything else. Fuck the consequences.”

  I pull into Drake’s drive and she looks surprised. “Oh, we’re really doing this?”

  “Yes, that’s what we agreed to, isn’t it?” I shift into park and turn off the truck.

  “I thought we were just talking code in front of my stupid brother, but okay. Let’s go.”

  Drake already has the horse saddled and ready to go. With his permission, we hop on and take off at full speed.

  “When can I drive?” she asks from behind me.

  “You want to drive?” I ask, slowing the horse to a stop. She jumps down, and I slide back as far as I can. Then, she climbs back up in front of me. The saddle isn’t big enough for two to sit comfortably, so she ends up sitting more on my lap than anything else. As the horse gallops, she moves back and forth in my lap. I know I can’t avoid what’s coming.

  After a few minutes, she says, “Oh.” She looks back at me. She clearly felt the erection I’m now sporting.

 
; “Shut up,” I tell her, refusing to give into my body’s wants.

  She lets out a long, drawn out breath and stops the horse before climbing down. She starts pacing back and forth until finally, I climb down and step in front of her to stop her in her tracks.

  “This is bullshit, Hudson. You want me and I want you. Isn’t that all that matters?”

  “Normally, yes,” I admit, but before I can say anything else, she launches herself at me. Her arms wrap around my neck and her legs around my hips. Her lips are on mine, her tongue prodding its way into my mouth.

  For a second, I hold back, wanting to stand firm and hold my ground, but she feels too good pressed against me, kissing me. All I can think about is how sweet she tasted on my hand last night, the way her lips parted with her heavy breathing, the sweet sounds of her whimpering my name and begging me to fuck her. I’m harder than I’ve ever been before, but I’m not ready to give in yet. In my eyes, the sooner I give in, the sooner we get caught fucking around and the sooner we’re over.

  I break our kiss and push her away. I turn my back to her in an attempt at getting myself under control. Fuck. How can she do this to me? I’m a strong man. I’ve been through shit, seen shit. And yet, this is all it takes is her to have me falling to my knees, waving the white flag? No, I’m stronger than this.

  I climb back up on the horse. “Come on,” I demand, pissed off at myself for ever laying eyes on her. Pissed off at her for being so goddamn irresistible. Pissed at Brad for butting his nose into my business. I should be able to fuck any woman I want. I’m an adult. I run my own life and have for many years.

  “Where we going?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest and digging in her heels.

  “Get the fuck on. I’m not going to ask you again.” I use the deepest voice I can muster, and she comes directly to me like I knew she would, and that only makes me want to dominate her more.

  I hold out my hand and she takes it, pulling herself back onto the horse behind me. We’re back at the house ten minutes after we left, and I’m putting the horse away. As I get her settled, I tell Deven to wait in the truck for me. She doesn’t argue. She goes like a good little girl. Maybe all she needed with someone to be stern with her. Then, she wouldn’t have gotten in all that trouble.

  Once I have the horse settled in and locked up tight, I climb behind the wheel. Deven is sitting in the passenger seat, feet on the dash and her arms crossed over her chest, silently stewing.

  “I’m not a child, you know?”

  “I know.” Boy, do I know.

  “You don’t have to treat me like one.”

  “Then listen when I tell you something. I’m not the kind of guy you can push around, Deven. If you want this to work between us, then you need to respect my wishes like I respect yours.”

  She laughs. “You respect my wishes?”

  “Yeah, I respect your wishes. If you would’ve told me to stop at any point, I would have.”

  We’re driving down the road now, completely ignoring one another. The ride is silent the whole way home. When we get back to the apartment, it’s empty. Brad left a note on the kitchen: Got a hot date. Be back late. Don’t wait up.

  I roll my eyes when I see that, immediately pissed because I was hoping to use him as a buffer.

  But I think I’ve angered Deven enough for her to leave me alone for a little while. She hasn’t spoken to me since the truck.

  She walks into the kitchen, dressed in a skintight, black minidress and sky-high heels.

  “Where are you going dressed like that?” I ask, suddenly amused.

  “I’m going out. If you don’t want to be with me, I’ll find someone who does. Maybe he’ll fuck me in a dark parking lot too,” she shoots back, grabbing her purse off the table.

  I reach down and catch her arm, holding it tight so she can’t pull it away. Using my other hand, I take the purse from her hand and drop it onto the top of the table. She looks at me with curious eyes, but she doesn’t open her mouth to protest.

  “You’re not going anywhere,” I tell her, stepping closer and causing her to step back. “You’re acting like a spoiled fucking brat right now. You’re not going to go out and do something you’ll regret later. Haven’t you learned your lesson already?”

  I have her backed against the counter, her eyes locked on mine. I have a newsflash for her. I don’t do this give-me-attention bullshit. What we had, it was amazing and great, but things change. We have to be better. Doesn’t she see that? Can’t she see that I’m trying to be better, do right by her?

  Six

  Deven

  I know he’s right. This has been my thing for entirely way too long now. Don’t get your way, just act out. That’ll teach them. But it never does. It only ever teaches me. But I can’t say how much I learn from it. I keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. This time, I’m not fighting to go to a party or to drink or do drugs. This time, I’m fighting for a man, a good man, the best man. He’s not like the useless thugs I’ve dated in the past. When you find something good, do you roll over and let it go, or do you fight for it?

  I jerk my arm out of his grasp, but I can’t go anywhere. He has me backed up into the corner of the counter. I take a deep, calming breath.

  “I’m not acting like a spoiled brat because I’m not getting my way,” I tell him. “I’m pissed because for once in my life, I made the right decision. Can’t you see that? I fell for a guy who’s good, who works hard, and would never treat me badly. For once, I’m not chasing after a loser who will cheat on me or hit me or verbally abuse me. The one time in my life I make the right decision, I’m still stuck with disappointment because the right choice is too afraid to take things further with me. You don’t want me. If you did, nothing would be able to stop you.” I take a step forward, my anger propelling me. He steps back but keeps his eyes on mine. “You’ll never understand how it feels to finally, for once in your whole existence, make the best choice possible, only to be pushed aside like every other guy has done.”

  “I’m not pushing you aside. I didn’t use you and throw you away. I’m respecting your brother’s wishes.”

  I shrug. “We’re in different seats, but the view is still the same.”

  He clamps his mouth shut, grinding his teeth together, making his angular jaw flex. “Goddamn it,” he breathes out, hanging his head and pinching his nose between his eyes. When he looks back up at me, I see a fire raging in his eyes that I haven’t ever seen. Without warning, he pulls me against him, his lips crushing mine. My heart begins to pound loudly in my ears. The sound of blood rushing through my body is the only sound I can hear.

  My arms move up, wrapping around his neck as I double the speed of our kiss. I kiss him hard, full of passion and purpose. I want to work myself beneath the surface of his facade. I want to plant myself in his heart. I don’t want him to push me away ever again. I want him unable to turn away. I want him to fight. Fight for me, for us. Fight everyone who tries to come between us, whether that’s my brother or our friends and family. I want to be his number one, the one he can’t walk away from.

  His hands find my ass, and he picks me up against him, where my legs wrap around his hips as he carries me through the apartment and into his bedroom. Pressing my back against the door, he locks it, our lips never breaking apart. My hands move up, fingers threading through his short stands of dark hair. I pull slightly, but he likes the pain because he does the same to me. His hand latches onto a big wad of my hair as he jerks my head back, exposing my throat to him. He smiles greedily as his mouth moves to my neck, kissing, sucking, nibbling.

  When a whimper escapes my lips, he growls as he pulls me away from the door, moving us over to the bed. He drops me on top and stays on his knees between my parted legs, looking down on me. His hands grab my ankle, and he starts to work my shoe off my foot. “You asked for this,” he tells me as he drops one shoe into the floor and moves to the other.

  I nod. I know I asked for this. Something te
lls me that our night at the bar was only the tip of the iceberg. I have a feeling that when it comes to having sex in a bed, Hudson is a monster that cannot be stopped.

  When he has my shoes off, his mouth moves to my ankle. He presses hot kisses up my calf, to the inside of my knee, up my thigh. Shivers break out across my skin as his hands move up under my dress. He yanks them down forcefully, and I hear them tear at the seams. But something about the hunger in his eyes has me panting, needing more, and not caring about the twenty-five-dollar underwear he just ruined.

  He tosses them over his shoulder, then picks up my left knee and presses a kiss to it. “I had a small taste of you,” he says, moving his lips upward. “It wasn’t nearly enough.” His hands move up my dress to my ass, squeezing it firmly as my dress rolls up to my hips, exposing only my lower half to him.

  There’s no warning before he dives between my legs. His tongue runs between my slick folds, causing me to jump, my hips bucking upward with the sensation. As his tongue works me over, his hands squeeze and massage, pushing me closer to the edge I so desperately want to be on. There’s never been a man in my life that I couldn’t turn down or walk away from, until Hudson. I don’t want to walk away from him. I can’t. He planted something inside me that first night, and the urge has only grown. As he laps me, tongue flicking against my clit, one hand moves around, sliding two fingers deep within me. My back arches and a gasp escapes. My hands fist at the bed, tangling into the sheets.

  “Fuck, Deven. You taste so sweet, baby,” he breathes out, his hot breath blowing over my sensitive bundle of nerves, making me shiver. His face dips again, his tongue double its work. He curls his finger inside of me, making me see stars. My breathing picks up and my moans grow louder. A tingle forms in my tummy that grows like a wildfire, spreading hot and fast throughout my body. My release explodes, consuming all of me. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. I can’t do anything but hold myself down to the bed and enjoy the pleasure coursing through me.