Shit, I am late and need to get this house ready for everyone.
Tyler arrives about ten minutes later, my savior. “Hey babe, figured you needed some help, and I couldn’t wait to see your beautiful face,” he says as he walks into the kitchen.
I reach up on my tip-toes to kiss him, and I am still not tall enough to reach him. He is 6’4” and fine as hell. He grabs me around my waist and latches his lips on mine. This is my heaven. I love this man with all that I am. After six years of being together, every day is still like a new beginning. When my grandmother used to tell me I was going to marry him, I knew he was the one for me.
I had just turned fifteen when we moved here, and I met him the first day of high school. He was a football, baseball, and track star, plus smart as hell. From the moment we met, we were just inseparable. When we went to different schools for college, and he asked to take a break after the first year, it broke my heart. I used my anger and hurt to really live the college life, which is what I wanted for Brielle. I didn’t turn into a slut, but I did have a few relationships. Tyler never asked about that time away, and I never volunteered information. Since it was all his idea he would have to live with the consequences. I am just thankful he didn’t find anyone to take my place; I don’t know if I would have recovered.
“Thanks baby, I can always count on you,” I whisper, since he left me breathless from his kiss. He gets this pained expression on his face when I say that, and I am concerned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing babe, just hurt my back. I will get Colby to look at it later,” Tyler answers.
“I am sorry. Want me to rub it?” I ask.
“I have something you can rub, and it is not a genie lamp,” he responds.
I smirk and shake my head and ask coyly, “Will I get more than three wishes from it?”
He just grabs me and pushes me against the counter telling me, “I will spend all night later giving you more than three wishes.” I have this feeling something is going on with him, and he isn’t being honest. Damn. What is it with people and keeping shit from me? I just smile playfully.
“Yeah, promises, promises, but since Colby is coming over, maybe he can help.”
Tyler growls, and presses me further into the counter while whispering in my ear, “Does it feel like I need help Little Bit?” Ahh, Little Bit. I have missed him calling me that name. Stupid I know, but it is what he used to call me all the time.
“I would like to feel a lot more big guy,” I whisper seductively in his ear.
As he grabs my hand to pull me up to my room, Brielle shouts from the door “Hey, douche lord, great to see you! Now how about using another muscle besides the one you were going to use on my sister and carry in some groceries.”
I laugh so hard at Brielle. She is one of a kind, and she always has a smartass comment. I give Tyler a sympathetic smile as he turns and laughs at Brielle.
“Hey bitch queen, glad to see your ass back. Now get it in the kitchen and make yourself useful.”
I smile so big because I have the most dysfunctional family ever, but they are mine.
Chapter 6
Colby
I had a great workout. I went hard, but now I am ready to relax and enjoy the evening with my friends. I haven’t been in my groove lately at the gym, but today, I found it. I miss it; the relentless boxing workouts I did in college. I loved fighting, but it was a hobby, and one my mother is thrilled I gave up. I did some amateur events, but it was just for fun. I can hold my own in a fight, but only for the right cause. I don’t go around beating the shit out of dudes because I can.
As I pull up to the Parker household, I see all the lights burning in the house and a few out in the converted barn. I have only been inside the house once when I was picking up Tyler for a meeting, but I have been all around the property with Dustin. He is a great kid, extremely cocky, but being surrounded by so much estrogen, who could blame him. I knock on the door, and a little lady, in her sixties I would guess, answers the door.
I smile at her and say, “I am Colby, Tyler’s cousin, and you must be Amelia.” From what Tyler told me this is the housekeeper and nanny Addison and Brielle had in Florida. When they moved she came to help their grandparents with the younger kids.
She smiles and says in her cute Brazilian accent, “Yes sir. Before you come in you know the rules about nuts? Ms. Brielle is home and she will slice you.”
I stare at her confused, and I hear a voice in the background say, “It is ‘cut you,’ Amelia. I will cut him if he brings peanuts in this house.”
As she appears around the corner, I cannot stop staring. She has the most fluid of movements, almost like she is gliding across the floor. Her eyes twinkle with humor as she smiles at Amelia. Damn, there is that smile again. Seeing her today in the car did not do her justice. She has on a plain green tank top that is form fitting, but not too tight, with little white shorts that show off her perfect legs. Now I am picturing those legs wrapped around my waist. I swear I could lose myself for days in her body. It would be no hardship either.
She has the longest hair I have ever seen. It hangs past her mid-back and it does this crazy spiral shit it looks like the color of corn silk. Her smile literally knocks the wind out of me. She turns and looks to see who Amelia is talking to, and the most crystal clear blue eyes stare at me like she is waiting for me to speak, but I can’t. Seriously, I don’t even think I could swallow right now.
Amelia saves me and says, “This is Mr. Colby, Tyler’s cousin. I was warning him about your rules.” Then she turns to give me the sweetest smile with the hint of a smirk because she knows she just saved my dumbass.
I recover quickly, “I have been here riding with Dustin and know the rules: I have no nuts.”
While I cringe replaying what I just said about having no nuts, she starts laughing, doubling over at the waist. From this angle I can see her sexy-ass turquoise bra and hint of cleavage. I think I just swallowed my tongue. I have to get out of here before I mount her like a dog does a fire hydrant mark my territory. Make no mistake, Brielle Parker will be mine, and the sooner the better.
She finally stands and stops laughing. “Ahh, yes, the family resemblance of no nuts is noted. I always knew that to be true about Tyler, but thanks for confirming it. Now come in and get a beer. The adults are outside right now, but Addy and I will be going in between. Apparently, in the year I have been away, my brother thinks he is Rico Suave, and my sister thinks she is Chynna the wrestler. They can’t be left alone with each other. I don’t know if you know about the annual party at the bar, but that’s why we had to postpone it.”
I just smile and thank her as I go out back. As much as I want to sniff her, mark her, and never leave her side, I have to get away from her to get my shit together. I am just about to grab a beer when Tyler walks up with Addy in his arms. “Glad you made it bro. Caleb, Clint, and Danny are over at the fire. Trey will be here shortly.”
I nod and grab a beer. Before I can make it to the other side of the yard Addy shrugs out of Tyler’s embrace and says, “What the hell, Ty? You are having Trey here?” He looks clueless as he stares at her. “Trey, as in Brielle’s ex? With a history they refuse to speak about? You do remember that my very temperamental sister is home for good?”
It clicks for him, I think, because he just mutters, “Oh shit.”
“Yeah, oh shit. Now you can march your dumbass self in the house and tell Brielle what you did, and, no, I am not going with you for cover. You are going inside unarmed and getting your ass kicked in front of a bunch of twelve and thirteen year olds when you tell her. So man-up now because you know the whole town will know by tomorrow how unmanned Brielle is about to make you.”
With that, she walks off to join the other guys. Tyler stares at me, and I swear to God he has fear in his eyes. I am clueless. He whispers, “I am afraid, please go in with me.”
What the fuck? He is afraid of Brielle? She is tiny compared to him. From what I could tell she has t
he voice of an angel and looks like a goddess.
“Pussy. Go in there, and I will be right behind you,” I tell him.
He shakes his head and says, “If I die this go-round, you can have my SEC championship ring. Please make sure you take care of Addy.”
I laugh at him, but see he isn’t laughing or joking at all. “You are serious?”
He answers, “Dead. Which is what I will be when I tell her, but I swear, man, I didn’t think. Trey called and asked what was up today, so I told him to head over. When I mentioned Brielle was home, and we were going to just chill he was excited, too excited now that I think about it. I don’t know what happened between them: I know it was some bad shit. Neither of them will fess up about it. He wants her back. He has from the second she ended it, but she wants him six feet under. Oh shit, I am so dead.”
He hangs his head and says a silent prayer, then looks to me. “Come on, and don’t use yourself as a sacrifice, because I swear she can take both of us.”
Holy hell, I have to see this.
As we walk in the back door, Brielle is carrying food out to the younger ones. I notice she has placed the boys on one side with video games and the girls on one side with music and magazines. A few girls sit in the middle, not fitting in either place.
I smile as I ask her, “Need any help carrying that?”
She looks up and says, “I got it, thanks. I will have some snacks for y’all outside in about five minutes.”
She places the tray down as I ask, “What’s up with the girls in the middle, are they shy?”
Tyler laughs, and she looks at me then back at the girls and speaks towards their direction. “No, these are the skanks that thought it was appropriate to put their dirty ass lips on my brother and upset my sister. They can sit their little tramp asses in the middle of the room where everyone can stare at them. Maybe then they will learn who they shouldn’t mess with.”
My mouth drops open and the poor little girls’ faces flame with embarrassment. I look over at Dustin, and he is as red as a beet. I can tell he wants to say something, but wisely doesn’t. I glance towards Cambree’s direction and she see her smirking at them. She seems just fine with the arrangement. When I look back at Brielle I see her looking at me and she says, “I suggest you learn real quickly: I am one not to be messed with.” Oh I don’t doubt that, sugar.
I look over at Tyler, “This is all you, God speed bro.” I carefully take a large step back. No way in hell will I get into the middle of their arguement. Although everything that happened in this room, every word that was spoken was wrong in so many ways my cock springs to attention when I think of her fiery ass getting mouthy. The passion she has for her family seems to turn me on. Down boy, I tell my cock, now is not the time. I really don’t want to give her anything to aim at or grab hold of when she is killing my cousin. Damn, she is hot!
Tyler clears his throat and looks at her sweetly, “B, I am so sorry, but Trey called me earlier . . .” He doesn’t even get to finish his sentence when she takes a step closer to him. He steps back with a look of terror on his face.
She says, “Why Tyler, would you ever say sorry and Trey’s name in the same sentence? Unless you are about to tell me right now that you invited that cock-sucking bastard to my house.” She pauses and stares right at him, “If that is what you came in here to tell me, all I can say is run and keep running.”
Tyler doesn’t hesitate. He turns and runs out the back door before I can blink. I don’t think I have ever seen that lazy bastard move so fast. I turn to look at Brielle, and the pain in her eyes is shining through. I automatically reach out for her.
I hear her gasp before she turns and flees towards the kitchen. Damn. Tyler is like a brother to me, but right now I am ready to kick his ass. I don’t even know what the reason is. The look on Brielle’s face made me feel like I was splitting in two. I think my heart broke. I don’t know whose fault the break up was, or what is actually going on, but the fact that Brielle is hurt in any of it makes me want to beat somebody’s ass.
I guess the gym didn’t help me too much today.
Chapter 7
Brielle
Seriously, I have not even been home twenty-four freaking hours, but yet I have psycho siblings who are possessed by the devil, and Addy pushing me to open up. Now Tyler has invited Trey over. I love Ty, I really do. He is great to Addy. He loves her with all his heart: I even sometimes find I am jealous of their relationship. But, I can’t believe he told Trey it would be okay to come over here. Granted, I didn’t tell the entire town why we broke up. It wasn’t their business. Frankly, I don’t want everyone knowing that no matter what I do I am not enough. Ever.
Trey and I dated off and on for a few years. It was your typical high school romance . . . except without the love and romance. I didn’t love Trey, hell, half of the time I couldn’t stand Trey. He is an asshole, cocky, and self-absorbed. He feels he is entitled to whatever he wants, and he wanted me. Trey and I never had sex, but I did give him a few hand jobs. After two years of his non-stop bitching, I figured I owed him something. Of course, he has led everyone to believe that we slept together, and I don’t bother to contradict him. I don’t even care. Trey cheated on me with my arch nemesis, Felicity. I hate that bitch with everything I have.
Funny thing is, we were once best friends. It didn’t bother me when Trey told me he cheated on me. What bothered me was that he cheated on me with her. Fact is, I hate Trey, not for cheating on me but for hitting me after I found out.
Sure, I said some pretty ruthless things, but did I deserve to be given a black eye? I swore to him I would never tell anyone because I broke his heart and that haunts me. I know how it feels to not be enough. I cannot stand to be in his vicinity. He is childish and holds a grudge against me for embarrassing him by not “staying with him.”
I take a deep breath as I rest my head against the refrigerator. What almost happened back there? When Colby reached for me, my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. As soon as I walked to the door tonight and saw him, I had had butterflies in my stomach. I swear my heart stopped beating because I felt nothing but complete obsession and heat-filled lust. For me to think he was eyefuckingdelicious before was an understatement.
He stands about 6’6” and is built to perfection. He has the broadest chest. I just want to lay my cheek against it and feel his strong arms hold me. He is wearing basketball shorts that hang loosely on him and a fitted t-shirt that I swear I could count at least an eight-pack under. His chocolate colored eyes seem to read me, but I have a mask I wear. I can’t let anyone see the real me. He has the right amount of scruff along his jaw that I just want to rub my cheek against. He is pure sin. I almost want to become a devil worshiper and he can be my altar. How in the hell can any one person be perfection? When he smiled and those damn dimples peeked out, I wanted to lick him from head to toe. I imagined what that scruff would feel like between my legs. I about passed out from lack of oxygen.
I am not opposed to sex, but I don’t know enough about it. Sure, Addy and I read about it, and we have our book boyfriends that seem to change weekly. I have had many ‘book-gasms,’ but nobody has ever made me want it. I want to bend him in ways Gumby would be jealous of. I wonder if there is a pill or a shot for these feelings.
I feel a hand on my lower back and jump away. When I turn around, I see Colby staring at me. I almost feel like he is trying to see in me, or through me. Maybe he wants something in the refrigerator?
I move and say, “Sorry if I was blocking your way to the snacks.”
He laughs at that. Not a full out belly laugh, but more like a he-can’t-believe-I-just-said-that laugh. He responds by placing his hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t come in here for food Brielle. I came to see if you were okay. If you are offering me something to eat, though, I am game.”
Oh holy hell, did he proposition me? Was he asking about food, because I am half a second away from jumping on the counter, spread-eagle, and telli
ng him to feast away. I would die of mortification if he just wants chips and dip. See the dilemma I am having here?
I swallow and try and find my voice. “I am fine” I squeak out. Since when do I sound like Minnie Mouse? No person has ever made me react this way. I have to avoid him: it isn’t good for me. I know I won’t be enough for him.
He looks at me like he doesn’t believe me. “Okay, but if you want I will find Tyler and kick his ass. I can even tell Trey he can’t be here if that is what you want.” Holy swoon moment. Is he actually trying to do something for me? We don’t even know each other, but he acts like he is trying to protect me. So I turn smartass mode on. “No, it is cool. I don’t like to make a scene.”
I am waiting on him to call bullshit because I don’t care if there is a scene. I am who I am. He just chuckles, “Yeah, I noticed that about you.”
I don’t know what to do. I want him to go, yet I want him to stay. Trey will make a scene and possibly start a fight with Colby. This is not Colby’s fight. “What else did you notice about me, pretty boy?” I cannot believe I just sealed my fate. I don’t flirt, but it comes so naturally with him.
He leans in close to me and dips his head to my ear. “Brielle, I am in no way, shape, or form a boy. If you need me to demonstrate that at any given time, I am up for it.” He pauses, letting that statement sink in. Then he continues, “I have noticed so much about you it hurts. I literally just want to crawl inside you and never leave.” He brushes his hand across my cheek and kisses my forehead. He pulls back and stares into my eyes before telling me, “If you need me to handle Trey or anything else for you, I am here. I got you.” He places one more kiss on my forehead then turns around and walks out of the kitchen.
I know this is a lust-filled infatuation I am having for him. I don’t even know him and he acts like I hung the moon. He seems to connect with me in a way I don’t understand. I think maybe he feels something for me but more than likely wants to scratch an itch. I know Tyler and Addy had that instant attraction and fell in love, but I don’t believe in fairytales. They are just that . . . tales. No truth or substance behind them. For now, I will play his flirting game and see where it may go, but I don’t believe in love at first sight, just lust, and I have that in spades for Colby.
Parker Sibling Series Box Set Page 3
