I felt my eyes widen as I sipped the orange juice.
When she made no effort to say who she was, I couldn’t wait any longer. “I’m sorry we haven’t been introduced. I’m Piper,” After how Simon had behaved with me I didn’t feel very friendly toward her. She was at home in his kitchen, and obviously comfortable around his possessions.
“Yep. That’s right. I know all about you, honey,” she replied not taking the hand I had offered and instead stuffed hers into some oven mitts. “Just a sec, I need to grab these,” she informed me and turned to pull some perfectly baked pain au chocolat from the oven.
Dumping the trays on the gray granite countertop she slipped off the mitts, rinsed her hands and dried them. “Stevie,” she offered, and I shook her hand. Dipping her knees slightly she looked quizzically into my eyes, “Aw fuck, he never told you about me, did he?” she asked.
Huh? My heart fell to my stomach as I chewed the side of my mouth. I narrowed my eyes in question. “Stevie McLennan, or Stephanie as the ‘Olds’ call me. I'm Simon’s sister,” she informed me, and my punctured heart instantly inflated again.
“Olds?” I asked, cursing Simon for leaving me to face the awkwardness of the moment. Never once had he spoken about a sister.
“Our parents. Since I was little, I’ve always hated my name. Not that Stephanie is a bad name, just my association with it. One great aunt and our grandma on my dad’s side. They were kinda crinkly since I was a baby, so I always thought of it as an old-fashioned name, you feel me?” I grinned at her explanation and nodded. I knew people at school who had names that I thought of like that too.
“All right, since Simon has neglected to tell you about me, here goes. At twenty-four I’m Simon’s famous foot model sister. I live in the house next door. Yep, Simon bought it for me… but it comes with conditions.”
“Conditions?” I mused.
“When he’s home I order his groceries and supplies, take care of the laundry deliveries, and manage the house maids who also do mine. Robbie, my guy, who’s a voice-over actor, keeps the pool area maintained and manages the groundsmen. When Simon’s away he has a realtor management company take care of everything.”
Before I could ask what in the world a foot model was, Simon’s voice cut into the conversation. “You forgot to tell her you also eat my food, drink my wine, and skinny dip in my pool when you think I’m not looking, and according to the CCTV, have the occasional sex romp on my patio with my pool guy.”
“Are you fucking kidding me, you’re spying on me? You’ve watched—” she asked, her eyes wide with shock as they darted around the room looking for cameras.
“Nope, but your reaction tells me I’m right on all counts,” he replied with a smug grin. Stretching over the counter he swiped one of her pastries from the hot tray and stuffed it almost whole into his mouth.
It took me a second to connect that the pool guy was her partner and then I grinned. Simon finished his pastry, swiped the empty water bottle he’d been carrying and filled it up with fresh water from the fridge dispenser.
Stevie remained speechless as she shook her head with a smirk on her face while she transferred the remaining breakfast pastries to a large oval tub and sealed the lid.
Meanwhile Simon bit back a grin as he watched his sister gather her composure, then sucked down the water. Immediately my focus was on his long, tanned neck and I felt instantly thirsty as I watched him drink every drop.
A loud gasp escaped his throat when he withdrew the bottle and his eyes connected with mine. I smiled shyly, and he wandered around the counter to stand beside me.
“Sleep well?” he asked and leaned in, placing a small kiss with his cold wet lips on my temple. His gesture was all that it took to reignite my desire from the previous night.
“I did. Too much wine though,” I replied and nodded toward the orange juice. As he stood so close, I became acutely aware of heat radiating from his sweaty body.
“I’m gonna grab a quick shower, then we’ll eat and plan the day, all right?” I nodded again, too tongue-tied to speak and too dazed by his sexy sweaty appearance to think in words.
My eyes followed him until he disappeared from sight and I sighed before I turned and looked back at my juice. “Well, there’s a first,” Stevie muttered shaking her head as she folded a tablecloth and placed it on the counter.
“Excuse me?” I asked wondering what I’d missed.
“My big ugly brother is more than a little smitten, kitten,” she teased, and I felt my face redden.
“Aw, honey. Sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” Hearing her instant retraction told me she knew she’d overstepped. “For the six years I’ve lived next door, I can honestly say no one comes here apart from the band and their other halves, my parents, and two of his old friends from school.”
Stevie didn’t have to spell out the significance of her statement, but I wondered if it was because of my connection to Gibson and Chloe that the exception to his rule had been made.
“Can I be frank with you, Piper?” Oh, Lord here comes the lecture.
“Of course.”
“Up until the tail end of last year we all despaired of Simon. I felt ashamed of him because he was a pig in the way he treated women. A dog even. Every time I picked up a magazine, opened a newspaper, or searched online for something I cringed because of his behavior.
“It felt as if he was always in my face; him acting out some crude gesture or other for the cameras with some bimbo on his arm. ‘Eye candy with air between their ears and zippers in their pussies’ my mom said.”
I frowned in distaste because I figured her build up was supposed to warn me off. Obviously, I knew all about his past, but I had never seen that side of Simon. With me he had always been gentle, respectful and caring.
In my head I began to formulate a speech to defend us because I figured I was about to get the ‘he’ll hurt you’ or ‘you’re too young and naïve to know’ lecture. They were the same issues I struggled with in my own mind when I thought of how everyone else would view us.
“All I’m going to say is I hope you make it together. Sure, you’re young, but I’ve never seen him as centered as he’s been this last year or so. He’s really been getting his shit together. Clean living, no other women, and I had no idea what the change in him was due to until he told me you were coming to Santa Monica.”
It came as a shock that she thought the reason for Simon’s turnaround behavior was because of me. We were nothing but mentor and pupil in real terms… until our kiss in the pool.
Relief flowed through me because having an alliance like Simon’s sister was important if our relationship did develop to more. I loved her for her open mind and lack of judgment about our differences already.
“At first, I thought it unusual for him to be so enthusiastic about helping you, but then I figured he most likely had grown up a little since Gibson had taken you on and decided it was time to give back. That was until he began to talk about you nonstop.”
Watching how serious her expression was made me listen intently.
“One day it all clicked, and I knew he’d developed strong feelings for you. When I finally put it to him I had expected him to deny it, but I guess he needed someone to pour his heart out to.” A warm smile stretched on her lips and I smiled nervously in return.
“Anyway, if I know Simon, Gibson and Chloe will be the last to know about this, so if you need someone to talk to I’ll try to be objective, but he’s my brother first and I guess I may be pretty biased unless he fucks you over.”
I grinned at her honesty, but my mind went straight back to Gibson’s warning. “This business is so fucking tough… and it's riddled with people who either want to fuck you, fuck you over, or kick you the fuck out of the way.”
Stevie picked up an oversized purse, slung it over her shoulder, and came around to my side of the counter. “Lunch basket is packed; drinks are in the cooler; bacon, patties, and pancakes, are on the warming set
ting in the oven. I’m not sure what his plans are for later so can you ask him to text me please?”
Placing a hand on my back, she leaned in and pecked me on the cheek. She grabbed my hand and squeezed, “Take your time, Piper. If Simon really wants something he’s patient, and he’s got a great heart.”
Turning away from me she left the house and closed the door softly behind her.
Chapter Twelve
Simon returned looking drop dead gorgeous in a white linen shirt with his sleeves rolled up, his inked muscular arms partly showing. Black jeans and expensive black, soft-leather shoes completed his rather immaculate appearance. Damn he’s got taste.
Sliding his hand around my back he asked playfully, “Do you mind if I kidnap you for the whole weekend? I want to take you for a ride somewhere.” As far as I was concerned he could have kidnapped me all year with no complaints. My only issue was the clothes I wore.
“Look at me,” I said with a frown and gestured down at my attire, “I didn’t bring another change because I thought I would be going home last night.”
Casting his eyes slowly down my front his eyes stopped over my breasts and he swallowed roughly and quickly looked up at my face. “Fuck, that wasn’t a good idea,” he said and chuckled. “I’ve never wanted to take a breast in my mouth as much as I want to right now.”
“What’s stopping you?” My comment was out before I realized the implications of what I had said, and I blushed. Eyeing me warily, he reached up and stroked my left breast tenderly with the back of his fingers.
Simon’s eyes immediately glanced up to meet mine and when I didn’t object he did it again before engulfing it in his huge hand and giving it a small squeeze.
My whole body shook with the small thrill I felt. Sure, I’d had my breast felt before but not in the way Simon did it so openly.
In the blink of an eye, he plucked me off the counter stool and carried me over to his couch and gently sat me down. Grabbing the hem of my tank top he shoved it up past my breasts to my neck and hissed in a breath at my bare chest.
“You’re so fucking perfect, Piper,” he crooned as his hands slid gingerly up the sides of my ribs and came to rest over my breasts. “Is this okay?” he asked me again, and I swallowed, nodded, and willed him in my head to do more.
“I need you to say it, baby,” he told me, and I heard the restraint in his voice.
“Yes,” I whispered nervously, and he gave me a half smile.
Letting go, he eyed me carefully, knelt in front of me and spread my legs at the knees.
My core pulsed as electricity seared through my veins and my panties became flooded with desire. Glancing down toward him I saw my belly vibrate from my heart beating rapidly inside me.
Kneeling up, he swiftly grabbed both sides of my tank and pulled it over my head. Lying me on my back he took a good long look at my upper body. “Look at you, baby. No tats, no belly piercing, my blank canvas… pure in every way.”
My heart fluttered wildly as I watched lust fill his eyes and his tongue ran the length of his lips. Looking intently at him became an addiction. Sitting back on his knees he sighed. “You’re so beautiful, sweetheart. I don’t know what’s wrong with me but I’m kinda scared to touch you in case I fuck this up.”
“You won’t,” I replied on impulse. We both smiled at the same time and I guess I must have made a face after being so bold because he chuckled again.
“You gotta let me know what’s cool; you hear, Piper?”
“I will,” I said, growing in confidence the longer he sat there just looking at me.
When his hands began to skate smoothly over my bare legs, a tiny buzz radiated through me. It was a tremor of need, and the building anticipation of what may come next. My breath hitched as my senses came alive with his sensual attentive strokes.
Simon’s breathing changed from the calm slow intakes of breath to more ragged, shallow, and occasionally deeper ones. Blowing slowly out of his nose, his breathing sounded urgent, heavy and shaky as he attempted to control his feelings.
I became hyper-focused on his touch when his middle finger scored a perfect feather-light trail from the middle of the waistline of my shorts, up over the valley of my breasts to my collarbone.
Goose bumps erupted from every pore and my scalp crept with the sensation. Next, he traced his fingers in a tentative motion across my neck, then closed his hand around it on one side.
Rising between my legs he leaned over me and held my neck firmly on both sides before he dropped his forehead to mine.
The intent in his stare made my heart skip a beat.
“You want more, Piper? You want me to keep going?” he asked, with a questioning stare. His eyes were heavy with lust.
“If you want,” I replied, too shy to voice what I needed.
“Oh, I want… fuck do I ever want,” he groaned as the intensity in his eyes reached a whole new level. “But this isn’t about me, baby… I’ve had my turn of being where you are or where you’re headed, and it has to be your call.” My heart swelled with affection when I noted he was still committed to doing things at my pace even if his need was apparent.
“Now I’m gonna ask you one more time, Piper. Do I keep going or are we done here?”
“Not done,” I said in a whisper, but with a serious tone. I shook my head in case my words weren’t enough. Every fiber of my being was on edge, my anticipation so overwhelming I almost begged for more.
Simon had a highly addictive effect on me, and I knew since the moment he’d kissed me I wanted anything he was willing to give me, for however long he was willing to give it. The realization of this sounded so wrong in my head, but it felt so right when I was with him.
“Sure?”
“Positive,” I said, and he chuckled again.
“That’s what I needed to hear,” he said with his sexy grin. My heart flipped over again, and I felt petrified and excited once more.
Lowering his lips to touch mine, the kiss that followed was nothing like any of the ones we’d had before. This kiss was all-consuming, breathtaking, and full of passion. Bruising my lips, it was packed full of desire.
“Oh,” I moaned as his thumbs smoothed over my stomach, setting off tiny detonators of thrilling sensations running through my veins. I felt my knees relax open.
“Jesus Christ,” Simon cussed under his breath and moved his lips from my mouth to my neck. Kissing sensually along my collar bone he then traveled lower until he engulfed my breast in his mouth. He swirled the other between his thumb and forefinger before paying the same attention to this one as well.
My breathing was shallow and rapid, my pulse erratic, as his passionate assault on my body made me feel like my bones were melting while my core pulsed more times than I’d ever imagined it could. For the first time in my life I felt empty inside and I ached like I had never known before.
Sitting back on his heels again, Simon feathered his fingertips all over my stomach and reached for my waistband. “This, okay?” he asked with a note of concern with his fingers on the button.
“Yes,” I muttered, my voice cracking between a soft voice and a whisper. My mouth was dry, and I swallowed again.
I wondered if I hadn’t sounded convincing when he didn’t move and figured it was up to me. Reaching down, I popped the button on my jean shorts and pulled the zipper down. It never even occurred to me I was being too forward.
Watching me closely, Simon shook his head, his eyes never leaving my hands until I was done then he glanced back to me.
“Sweet Jesus, baby,” He muttered. “Maybe we can fool around for a bit, but I don’t want to fuck you yet, Piper. I don’t want this to be like all the others.”
If I hadn’t been so sensitive, I may have taken his comment as a compliment, but for some reason what he had said had made me feel less than a woman. Immediately, my body stiffened again as embarrassment took over. Simon flinched at my reaction, but I could see he didn’t understand what he’d done wrong.
His new explanation settled my nerves and made me feel calm. All the possibilities there were between us were instantly there again. I got it he was afraid of the impact of his actions on me and my heart clenched with affection that he was so willing to put me first.
Simon pulled his shirt over his head and discarded it on the floor. Next, he stood up, scooped me up, and sat with me straddled across his lap. When he pulled me forward, my skin grazed his, and he moaned.
“Oh damn that feels amazing.” He let out a shaky breath, “Your skin feels like satin, baby,” he whispered into my ear as he cradled my head with one hand.
In that moment I felt we were on the precipice of something monumental happening between us—life changing even—yet strangely I had never felt safer in my whole life. Tears sprang to my eyes, touched by his tender care. I blinked them back.
Simon slid one hand down into the back of the denim and cupped my ass.
“Thank you, Piper.” His voice was both gruff and loaded with emotion.
I lifted my head and looked at him.
“What for?” I asked, puzzled because we hadn’t done much at all in my eyes.
“Your trust. Your faith in me.”
I placed my lips lightly to his and kissed him, softly. Simon deepened the kiss like he was claiming me. It would have knocked me off my feet had I not been sitting down. The demanding force of it left me breathless and his hands gripped my hips as wiggled my center directly over his solid cock.
My heart thudded hard in my chest when Simon’s other hand slid gently into the back of my jean shorts and his fingers stretched under my butt cheeks and slid to my warm, wet folds.
Piper: A Last Score Spin Off Page 11
