Malik (Carter Brother Series Book 1)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  “Come on Harlow,’’ Malik growls, snapping me out of my penis trance. I let him drag me quietly out of the bathroom and into his room before I whirl around on him. My anger finally surfacing now that I’m safely away from the penis.

  “How could you…’’ we say at the same time, both of us glaring at each other.

  “No, how could you? How dare you take my clothes off of me when I’m unconscious? How could you do that to me? Did you get a good look?’’ I snap as I move myself closer to him. “Did you? I can’t believe this. Not only does a boy see me naked, half naked anyway, for the first time, but I’m also unconscious through it. Then, to top that shit list, I see my very first penis, a very fucking frightening one for the first time. They’re big Malik. Fucking big,’’ I cry out, feeling hysterical.

  Within a flash I’m lying flat on my back on top of his bed, his body looming over the top of mine with his pelvis pressing firmly against mine, stopping me from moving.

  When I feel him loosen his weight off me I try to move out from under him, but it’s no use, he’s a lot stronger than I am.

  “Stop,’’ he demands, his voice laced with so much authority I automatically stop struggling, looking at him with wide eyes. “One; I never saw you naked Babe; I wouldn’t do that to you. I laid you down under the sheets to keep you hidden before taking them off you. I swear to you that I didn’t look. You were caked in fucking dirt, but we’ll get back to that part after,’’ he tells me, his face hard.

  “I… dirt?’’ I ask confused, but he doesn’t let me finish, instead, he presses his mouth against mine before pulling away just as quickly again, but it’s long enough to submit me to his demands.

  “First we’re going to talk about why you were staring at my brothers junk,’’ he growls looking really pissed now.

  “I wasn’t staring at his junk,’’ I defend. It’s not a total lie, I tried not to look, but it was there and my eyes were there and it just kind of happened.

  “Don’t lie to me Harlow,’’ his voice hard with a hidden warning. “You said it was fucking huge before so you must have gotten a good look. I don’t know whether I want to spank the ever-loving-shit out of you or go beat my brother to a pulp then cut his dick off,’’ he growls.

  “I’ve got nothing to compare it to,’’ I snap, “It could be a party sausage for all I know, so don’t get you knickers twisted in a knot.’’

  He shocks me by laughing, it’s the first time I’ve seen him full on laugh and he looks beautiful. His laugh earlier this morning in registration didn’t do it justice; in fact, I’m willing to put my life on it that this morning was a forced laugh. Watching him now laughing with a carefree look upon his face has me smiling up at him, wishing I could get him to laugh like this more often. Even the dimples in his cheeks stand out more when he laughs, it makes him look sexier.

  Once he realises I’m staring at him with a goofy smile on my face he looks down at me with softened eyes, “Now tell me why you were caked in dirt and why you passed out on me,’’ he demands, not pussy footing around the elephant in the room any longer.

  “I had…’’ shit, I’m about to tell him about Davis, but then remember his warning about telling someone. I can’t tell him. My Gram’s is all I have. Do I really believe he would harm her? Yes. Kill her? No, but I’m not willing to take any chances. She’s all I have. “I didn’t feel so good during my last lesson so I started rushing out when class ended thinking I was going to be sick and then fell over the bench outside,’’ I tell him, not looking him in the eye.

  “I can tell you’re lying to me which I don’t like babe, but I’m going to let it go this once because whatever happened got you spooked. I saw the fear in your eyes when you rushed around the corner and I also heard the relief when you heard my voice. Just know I’m not going to let anything happen to you.’’

  The truth in his voice hits me in the chest with full force that I have to take a couple of deep breaths before looking up at him. How does he know how to say the right things? He’s such a contradiction. On the outside he’s this rugged, broody, bad boy, and then on the inside he’s this loving, caring, and beautiful man. Not that I’d ever tell him that.

  “Why does it feel like I’ve known you longer?’’ I blurt out; ignoring the topic we’re on. I’m not changing the topic on purpose either, I genuinely want to know. It really does feel like I’ve known him much longer than I actually have.

  “I know exactly how you feel babe. You make me feel like I’ve known you my whole life. I feel like I can tell you things I’d never talk to anyone else about. It’s mad. I don’t even have this big of a connection with my brothers and we’re as close as people can get. I don’t know how you’ve done it, but it’s like you’ve put me under a spell,’’ he whispers, his voice so close.

  “I bet you say that to all the girls,’’ I mutter, rolling my eyes.

  “No Harlow, I don’t. I’ve never had to talk a girl into bed. I’ve never had a girlfriend either, but I’m not saint. I may not have slept with the girls from our school, but it doesn’t mean I’m a virgin. I’ve had my fair share of girls, but unlike my brothers I can take it or leave it when it comes to the other sex. I don’t make promises I know I can’t keep, and I certainly never lie to them.’’

  “So why me then, I don’t get it? If you could have your pick of girls then why would you pick someone who isn’t going to jump head first into bed with you? I’m not that sort of girl Malik, so if that’s what you think of me then…’’

  “Shut up,’’ he growls, pressing his hips into mine. My mouth opens letting out a gasp before I snap it shut to stop the moan from slipping past my lips. Instead, I start whimpering from the pressure of him pressing his body between my legs. “I know you’re not like any of those other girls Harlow. I want more from you than just sex, but don’t get me wrong we will be when the time is right, it’s just a matter of time. I want you for you. I’ve never wanted to be around someone as much as I do you so much in my life. It’s madness. And today, today I never wanted to hurt someone as badly as I did Davis to protect you,’’ he says softly.

  As soon as I hear the name Davis I shoot up in the bed. Luckily Malik moves out of the way just in time, before my head connected with his.

  “I need to go home. My Gram’s is most likely wondering where I am.’’

  “She’s downstairs cooking dinner,’’ he grins, but his eyes look into mine like he’s searching for something making me feel uncomfortable. It’s like he’s searching for answers for my sudden change in behaviour. Not wanting to give anything away I make sure to keep my eyes away from his. I already feel hot under his scrutiny. “You hungry?’’

  He doesn’t finish asking before my stomach rumbles loudly embarrassing me.

  “I’m taking that as a yes,’’ he chuckles. “Let’s go get some food then head over to yours. I thought we could get started on our project together.’’

  “I… yeah,’’ I agree before frowning down at my attire. Shit!

  “Don’t worry your Nan brought you some clean clothes over with her. The bag is over by the chest of drawers,’’ he says and for the first time I notice my swim bag on the floor. Grabbing it up off the floor I send a silent thank you to my Gram’s, especially when I find she has put a clean bra in there.

  All day I’ve had to put up with wearing a sticking bra thanks to Davis. At one point I wanted to rip it off, but with the size of my chest and the fact my school shirt is practically see-through I left it on. I’ve been picked on for my large chest size before, especially because of my small height at five foot.

  Wait; if my Gram’s got me a set of clean clothes then Malik must have filled her in on what happened. Does she know I had passed out again? Fuck, what if she sends me to see another doctor? They’ve wanted me to see a psychiatrist, or a bereavement counsellor since my parents were murdered but I continue to refuse.

  As if reading my thoughts Malik holds onto both of my hands supporting me. Leaning forwar
d Malik kisses my forehead before looking into my eyes with a soft and almost understanding look.

  “I’ve told your Nan that you felt tired after a long day at school. With everything that happened last night she hasn’t really questioned it. I knew you wouldn’t want her to worry. I hope you don’t mind that I lied?’’

  “No, that’s fine. If she finds out I passed out again she’d probably have me admitted,’’ I chuckle, but it’s forced.

  “Nah, she’s alright your Nan,’’ he chuckles. “She’d probably have you admitted if you told her you hated Mr. Darcy like us lot did the once. She wouldn’t cook for us for over a week.’’

  “Mr. Darcy?’’ I ask confused.

  “Oh God, no! Never bring this up with her, please. If she ever finds out you’ve never seen Pride and Prejudice she’ll make you watch it until your ears bleed.’’

  “You sound like you talk from experience,’’ I grin, sorting through the bag of clothes Gram’s sorted out for me.

  “Trust me I am,’’ he shudders making me chuckle.

  “Don’t worry I’ve seen Pride and Prejudice, but I’ll still keep stump about it. I hated it. I’ve never watched such a boring film in all my life. Seriously, he hardly spoke and when he did he was a jerk,’’ I say outraged.

  “Ha, that’s what I said, but your Nan made me watch it again. By the fourth time I realised she was doing it until one of us agreed with her. There wasn’t even any chemistry between the two. They hardly knew anything about one another, yet they spent years pining over each other?’’ he asks, before making a grunting sound.

  “Ha, my mom loved it,’’ I smile sadly thinking of how she would gush over it. “We’d debate over it for hours and hours, but I still never understood her infatuation with Mr. Darcy, I still don’t. She’d always say ‘Harlow girl, the story hasn’t ended. It was love at first sight, now they have the rest of their lives to be together.’ I’d just stare at her and wonder what my dad had put in her tea,’’ I laugh, feeling my eyes water from the pain in my chest over losing them. I miss them so much. Every. Single. Day.

  “Well, looks like your mom and Nan have a lot in common,’’ he smiles.

  “Yeah, they really do,’’ I grin, wondering if my mom and Gram’s would have ever made up if my mom were still alive.

  “I’ll wait for you downstairs, don’t be too long though, I’m starving,’’ he grins before leaning down to give me a peck on the lips. His kisses are becoming addictive and so far they’ve only been little light pecks here and there.

  I know I should stop it, be offended he keeps taking from me, but I can’t help but to respond to him whenever he’s near. I’m pretty sure he could tell I was full on lying earlier about not sleeping with him too because I’m pretty certain if he made a move on me I’d be putty in his hands. That’s how much power he has over me and my body. It scares me a little, but not enough to be scared of him. I know deep down I’ll never have a reason to be scared of him.

  Not expecting him to turn at the last minute before he walks through the door, I don’t have time to advert my eyes quickly enough, so he catches me staring at his ass. He chuckles at me before he sends me a wink, leaving me in the room alone to get myself together. Oh and get dressed.

  I fall back down onto the bed covering my face with my hands.

  “What have I gotten myself into,’’ I groan.

  *** *** *** *** ***

  We’re just finishing washing the dishes when the front doorbell rings. Everyone’s heads snap up to the door before staring at each other in confusion. Seriously, they’re acting like they never have visitors or have their door knocked.

  “Isn’t anyone going to get that?’’ I ask confused.

  “I’ll get it,’’ Myles says from the couch, getting up to answer it.

  Malik and I finish gathering our art stuff from the table before following behind him towards the door. When we get there Myles and Mason are talking to Denny in hushed tones. If it wasn’t for the fact Mason was being serious I would never have felt suspicious, like they were talking about me. All through dinner he’s done nothing but crack jokes, plays his brothers up and flirting with my Gram’s. Not used to the banter between the group it took me a while to get he was teasing.

  Now, the relaxed posture and easy grin is gone. His face is bent between Denny’s and Myles, his face pinched tight with a serious facial expression.

  He must see me from the corner of his eye because he stands up straight making the other two follow suit. I look at him through narrowed eyes, but he just grins, throwing an arm over Denny’s shoulder. Her face heats as soon as he does, and she looks up at him with such an adorable expression it makes me grin at them. She really does have it bad for the boy.

  “Hey Denny, what brings you to this neck of the woods?’’ I ask, hoping she doesn’t find my question rude.

  “Oh, I came over to see how you were, but you weren’t in, so I thought I’d ask Myles if he had seen you,’’ she stutters, blushing up at Mason again.

  “Why would you need to check in on me?’’ I ask confused, though my body tenses at the same time of the thought of her knowing something.

  “I…’’ she stutters when Mason warns her not to tell me through gritted teeth. “My friend Amy saw what Davis did to you earlier,’’ she whispers making my body grow tight. Malik’s body tenses next to me, his head whipping to mine so fast I’m surprised he didn’t just snap his neck.

  “What are you talking about?’’ I ask, feigning innocence.

  “Don’t ‘what are you talking about’ Harlow. Is this what you lied to me about earlier?’’ he asks sounding pissed at me again and I have the urge to roll my eyes.

  “Are you always this pushy?’’ I snap glaring at him.

  “I don’t know Harlow, will you always hide important shit from me?’’ he snaps back sarcastically.

  “Wow! Are they in a relationship,’’ Mason asks out loud to nobody in particular. Just as Malik says yes, I shout no, both of us turning to each other glaring. “Oh dear, the first domestic argument is always the hardest,’’ Mason mutters, making us both shoot our glares his way.

  “What did he do?’’ Malik demands, grabbing my attention away from Mason.

  I go to answer, but Mason interrupts, “Hate to break up the domestic, but can you choose a movie from next door kids. Come on, I may even let the ladies pick first,’’ he flirts, winking at Denny, who just rolls her eyes, but I still see the blush staining her cheeks from the street lamps lit around us.

  We all look up at him in confusion. Malik opens his mouth to say something when Myles jumps in, his voice quick, and kind of panicked for him when he’s usually so calm and collected, “Yeah, you don’t always have to pick the film you know. We can discuss it back at Harlow’s before one of the neighbours decides to choose for us,’’ he says emphasizing the word neighbour and that’s when I see their other neighbour standing on their lawn staring at us. Kind of weird too, it’s not like she’s watering flowers or putting the bin out, she’s literally standing their staring at us.

  Malik nods his head muttering a curse under his breath. As we near the door to mine I find the courage to talk, “Who was that?’’ I whisper.

  “The town gossip, so let’s hope she didn’t hear anything because if this gets back to Davis he’s going to be pissed,’’ Malik answers for me.

  “Why?’’ I ask confused.

  “Trust me, I know him. And the fact you wouldn’t tell me what happened earlier tells me he used the whole I’m going to hurt your family speech. And as your Nan is the only family you have here then I’m guessing he threatened her. It’s what he does Harlow. You can’t let him scare you. If he thinks you won’t risk running back to anyone just to keep her safe he’ll keep doing it.’’

  “He’s right Harlow,’’ Mason agrees. “I heard what Davis did last time to the new girl and it wasn’t pretty. No one believed her…’’

  “Hey, I believed her, she was my friend,’’ De
nny snaps.

  “Shit, Tink, how was I meant to know that? I’m on about the asshole adults around here, the police, hell, her fucking parents Denny. I didn’t even know the girl, but I saw her after, and that wasn’t a girl who got turned down by a boy. He’s sick. You need to be careful. His brother is a nasty piece of work too,’’ he adds.

  “Tink?’’ Denny asks confused.

  “Yeah, fuck, you look like Tinkerbelle, all cute and shit,’’ he smirks.

  “Is anyone going to tell me what happened to her?’’ I ask, the room falling silent once I do. I take a large gulp wondering if I just asked the worst question in history.

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea telling you,’’ Malik says.

  “What? Why? I need to know what I’m up against,’’ I tell him hearing the fear in my voice.

  “I know babe, but…’’ he looks to the others before pulling me away from them a little. “What happens if you have an attack over it?’’

  My heart melts for him when I realise why he pulled me aside. That means more to me than he will ever know. It also scares me that he knows me so well already.

  “I won’t. I promise. I passed out earlier because he said he’d hurt my Gram’s Malik. She’s all I have. And I don’t just mean around here, I mean she’s the only family I have left,’’ I say feeling my eyes water again.

  “Hey, it’s okay. Let’s go up to your room just in case your Nan comes back,’’ he says, pulling me along the hall to the stairs. Everyone follows, all of us taking the two flights of stairs up to my room that is now decorated in girly shit, and has dirty clothes thrown in the corner from where I changed out of them this morning. I have my own bathroom up here, so I always dump clothes into a pile outside and forget to take them downstairs to the laundry room.

  Everyone takes a seat, Denny and Mason on the bed, Myles in the desk chair and Malik waiting to see where I go. I’m just about to move for the end of the bed when the door flies open behind me making me scream.

  “Don’t leave me out of the fun guys,’’ Max says, his words kind of slurred.