“Holy crap. Would you look at him? Girl, you throw the best parties.” Nikki nudged me as she made a show of wriggling out of her tank top and shorts. She looked great in her suit, her flat stomach accentuated by a belly-button piercing.
I was so fixed on how much better she looked than I did, I almost forgot to check out Matt, which would’ve been a shame. His dark hair was pushed up in a faux hawk. He’d stretched his ear lobes with plugs, and he had his bottom lip pierced in each corner. Oh, I liked that. Like little fangs. Broad shoulders were covered in tattoos and the gaze of every female in the backyard. I watched him as he set down the bag and peeled off his tank top. Muscles rippled down his abdomen.
“You should totally try to hook up with him.”
Watching Matt, I’d forgotten all about Nikki. “He’ll be more into you.” He caught her eye and smiled at her. I wasn’t sure he noticed me at all. It was actually better this way.
“Gemma, you take Matt. Then we can double date.” Nikki nudged me. “Take off the cover up, and let’s get in the pool.”
Mom glared at me as I stepped in the pool. Guess she hadn’t had enough rum to get over my bikini. I hadn’t had enough to not feel self-conscious about it.
Bret trained his gaze on both of us, as we stood on the stairs. I hoped everyone around us would think he stared at Nikki, even though I knew better. At this point, I could practically read his thoughts from the look on his face. I needed to get in the water soon. I was already soaking wet.
“Hey Gemma.” My uncle Jerry intercepted us as we stepped into the pool. “You’re all grown up.”
Something about the way he said it was super creepy. Nikki’s bikini bottom was cut dangerously low, and his gaze roamed to all the wrong places. I hoped he was just drunk and being stupid. “Nice to see you, Jerry.”
“I missed seeing you.” His words slurred. We could all forget about this after the party. “When you were away at—”
“Hey.” Bret intercepted, slapping Uncle Jerry a little too hard on the shoulder, as he and Matt joined us on the stairs. “This is my friend Matt.”
Uncle Jerry stumbled away, and Matt held my hand a little too long when he said hello. I was terrified Bret told him what we’d been doing. The way he slid his gaze up and down my body was like he knew something was up. “Nice to meet you, Gemma,” he said.
“Are you in a band, too?” Nikki asked. “I love musicians.” She went from future doctor to fangirl within three paces of anyone who could read music.
“Yeah. I play drums in a punk band.” That explained the arms. And the abs. His rhythm would be amazing. Nikki needed to go for this.
“Covers or originals?” I asked. Bret taught me early to be a band snob. He always hated bands that played all covers. Thought they were posers for making money off other people’s songs.
“Originals.” No surprise there. Bret was many things, but he would never have a friend who played in a cover band.
“Maybe we can go see you guys sometime,” I said. Nikki grinned widely at the suggestion, and I went on. “I bet Bret wouldn’t mind coming to the show, too?” This was so weird. I wasn’t sure if I should be flirting or not. We’d never been out in the wild since we started our arrangement. Normally, I’d put my arm around the guy I was banging, but I couldn’t do that unless I wanted every one of my relatives to explode.
“We’re actually trying to get them on our label,” Bret said. “They’re good. I didn’t think you were into the heavy stuff, Gem.”
Ah, so I was Gem today. “You have no idea what I’m into.”
If anyone caught the look he shot me, we were busted for sure. It left no questions. A searing glare that made everything inside me pulse.
Matt cleared his throat. “The only shows we have scheduled right now are in New York.” His gaze shifted between the three of us, uncomfortable. “So unless you want to take a road trip…”
“That would be amazing.” Nikki grabbed my arm. “Gemma, let’s think about it.”
“Okay.” Nikki and I weren’t that close, and I could barely afford to see a band in town. “Let us know when you’re playing, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“I think it would be fun, the four of us in the city.” Damn. This girl was forward. She met the guys five minutes ago, and she was already making tour plans for both of their bands. “Don’t you think, Gemma?”
“What’s the name of your band?” I asked Matt. Nikki needed to back this way up. Even though I was all for her and Matt getting together, if she had another rum punch, she’d be humping legs. I needed to get her to slow down. My mom was technically her boss, and I didn’t want her to pull an Uncle Jerry and do something she didn’t mean. Rum was a nasty playmate. I’d learned that the hard way.
“Raging Bullhead.” Matt brightened now that we steered back into safe territory. “Hoping to get some gigs lined up with Enemy Impact next summer. That would be epic.”
One of my little cousins crashed into my legs. “We’re going to play pool volleyball,” she said. “Girls against boys.”
“Sounds fun,” Nikki cooed, those eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings at the guys. “I’m in.”
Matt looked out at the side of the pool my uncles and boy cousins populated, and then back to Bret. “What do you say, man?”
“I’m totally in.” That one-sided smirk spread over his face. “You ladies are going down.”
Nikki made a noise that sounded like a hum and waded over to the girls’ side.
Bret grabbed my arm before I had a chance to follow her. “Uncle Jerry’s been staring at your tits since you came out here.”
“No, he hasn’t. You are a vile human being.” I pulled away. He had no idea what Jerry had said to me. Admitting to it gave it power, and I wanted it to go away.
“You wait.” He splashed me as he walked away. “Some things can’t be unseen.”
The guys were up to something. Most of my aunts weren’t bloodthirsty competitors, and the boys were older than the girls. The game was lopsided; that was for sure. Nikki was pretty enthusiastic, picking up slack for the two little ones, who were obsessed with her belly button ring. Every time Bret and—dear God, Uncle Jerry—got the ball, they slammed it in my direction. I refused to go down without a fight. I wasn’t afraid to get wet and go for it, even though I had to adjust my top several times underwater.
We got our asses kicked, fair and square. Lunch was ready, and Nikki sat next to Matt, talking about music as she ate.
Bret walked beside me, bumping into me as we got in line for food. “Meet me upstairs after lunch.”
Chapter Ten
This was fucking dangerous, which made me want to do it even more. I made sure Nikki was busy batting her eyelashes at Matt before I made my getaway. Matt was a nice guy, sexy as sin, and they seemed to have stuff in common. A couple of rum punches in, and she didn’t seem to care who she flirted with. I just hoped she didn’t come looking for me, as I didn’t give her any reason for my absence.
We had to be quick. And I was ready.
Bret opened his bedroom door, grabbed my arm, and dragged me inside before anyone could find us, like this was a hostage situation. A couple of my cousins’ voices echoed from downstairs. They’d follow me and Bret anywhere.
I was still laughing when pushed me up against the door, that ice-green stare crisp and sparkling. It felt like diving into the deep end of the ocean, and having no idea sharks awaited to attack.
“Told you Jerry was all about your tits.” Bret yanked on the end of the string barely keeping me in my bikini top. “The game was his idea. And he didn’t even know anyone else was playing.”
“Neither did you.” My top fell, but I didn’t drop my gaze. “I thought I was going to lose my head.”
“I was hoping you’d lose this.” He picked up the fabric. “Whatever. I can see them any time I want. But something about being in public with you, Gemma, gets me hot. I know why you want people to watch you. I’ve got some ideas churning
.”
I squirmed against the door. The heat between my thighs was unbearable. So many things were wrong with this idea, but damn, it turned me on. “Hurry up,” I said. “They’re going to come looking for us. I didn’t give Nikki an excuse.”
“We can fuck Nikki, too.” Bret sat on the foot of his bed and took a sip of his beer. “She’d be into it.”
“I have no doubt, but she’s technically my boss, and I’m not fucking up my job. Even if they don’t pay me. I need it.” I picked up the other beer and took a long swing. This wasn’t going to be as easy as a simple fuck. I didn’t sit.
Bret got up and went over to the window. “She’s totally into Matt, which is good, because he’s into her too.” He motioned for me to come over. When I shook my head, he said, “No one can see us. The windows are tinted. Don’t you remember Dad had them put in, because they’re energy efficient? He bored the fuck out of me, going on and on about these damn windows, but it gives me a great idea.”
“What?” My heart pounded. I took a couple small steps closer to the window, but not close enough that anyone could see me, even if it weren’t tinted. Dad had been excited about these windows. The outside was like a mirrored wall, basically. They were coated with a tint so the sun didn’t penetrate them, and it kept the cooling costs way down. But I didn’t trust it.
“Come here, Gemma.” Bret took another sip of beer.
I tied my top before joining him. The pool was in clear view, full of our family and friends. If they could see us, no one cared enough to even look up. I fell forward when Bret lifted my leg on a box, leaving me wide open. “What the hell are you doing?”
He chuckled in my ear, pressing his body against mine. “Taking in the view.” He wrapped his arm around my waist, tickling the outline of my bikini bottom with his other hand.
I shouldn’t have been surprised he wanted to fuck me in front of the window. I could hardly breathe. What if…
“I think this party was a good idea. Ellen’s having a great time.”
Mom was having fun today. All her friends I hadn’t seen since the funeral surrounded her, telling stories and jokes. I’d missed the sound of her laughing—a deep chuckle that always ended on an up note. She’d always loved my dad’s jokes and my jokes, and she’d roll her eyes at Bret but even laughed at him. I hadn’t had much occasion to be funny since I’d been home. It was a piece of my childhood I desperately wanted back.
“I miss Mom like this.” I put my hand against the window. From up here, it was like looking at an old photograph. It felt that way too. What life was before this summer and what it had become.
“She’ll get there,” Bret murmured, slipping his fingers inside my bikini bottom. “We all will.”
I gulped as he ran his fingers along my labia. My body was slick and ready for whatever he had in mind. On the other hand, my mind raced. I’d told Bret I wanted to be watched, not caught by my fucking family. My breath fogged the glass. Maybe I didn’t have to worry about anyone seeing us, after all. I could take care of that on my own.
“Can you hand me my beer?” Bret asked. He could get it himself, if he let go of my waist.
I sneered at him over my shoulder as I bent to get it, the motion driving his fingers deeper inside me.
“Thanks.” He didn’t surprise me when he pushed my bikini to the side. His cock had been hard against my back the whole time we stood here.
I didn’t expect something cold to touch my pussy. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’ve been fantasizing about doing this to you ever since I bought these.” Bret groaned, easily slipping the neck of the beer bottle inside me. He ran his tongue against the side of my neck, like he hoped to put out the fire of my raging heartbeat with it. I gasped, falling back against him. He tightened his grip on my waist and pumped the bottle up and down. It didn’t stay cold for long, and the sensation was totally different that using a dildo. Hard and foreign. And scary. What if it broke? Or got stuck?
His body slumped, and the bottle landed on the shelf with a slam. Beer splashed out. He fumbled with his shorts behind me, wrapping up his dick before he slammed it inside me.
My hands left a trail on the fogged windows, as they slid down the glass. His cock was hot after the ice-cold bottle, the two sensations causing totally different reactions. Before, I’d been afraid to squeeze, but now I clamped down on him as hard as I could, making it hard for him to get away.
He slid out slowly, and then my face was turned to his. “I love this angle, but I miss watching your face while I fuck you.”
Our gazes locked as he thrust balls deep, the noise muffled by the back of my bathing suit. He pulled my hair back. Our lips were so close. Danger flashed behind my eyes, and my whole body pulsed. I fell on my knees with Bret still inside me. This was the hardest I ever came.
Bret kept fucking me, digging his fingers into my stomach. Shit. That was going to leave a mark.
He fell on top of me when he came. “That was fucking hot, Gemma.” It was, because it was dirty, forbidden, and totally unexpected. Even more than our usual fare. He smoothed my hair away from my face. It was drying from the pool and the heat of our union. “Even more so because you trusted me.”
“I’m still scared they saw us.” We could see everything. I adjusted my bathing suit.
Bret shook his head. “Nope. There’s no way. If they did, someone would’ve come in here.”
I popped up to peek out the window. “Crap. It looks like Nikki’s figured out I’m not around.” She wandered aimlessly around the pool area. I scrambled up to my feet. “I’ve got to get downstairs.”
“I’ll go first,” Bret suggested. “Unless you think it would be less suspicious if we came downstairs together. I mean, no one suspects there’s anything going on.”
“We hope.” I considered my options, but then I got a whiff of myself. “I smell like sex. If I go down there now, everyone will know.” And I had bright-pink marks on my stomach from Bret’s fingers.
Bret nodded. “I’ll see you in a minute.” He looked back at me before he left the room, but he didn’t say anything. It was strange to be left like this, after something so intense, with no more contact. We would’ve kissed, if we were a normal couple. But we were totally fucked up, and it made me feel empty. I didn’t like that.
There was only one way to make the feeling go away, and that idea sucked even more.
I gave up on my bathing suit. It was filthy now. I changed into the dreaded one-piece. Mom gave me money for it, so I bought it. Just in case. She was too wrapped up in her friends to give me much shit when it didn’t make its debut earlier. I’d resented buying it, but now I was glad to have something to change into.
“Oh, there you are.” Nikki was in the kitchen when I went downstairs. “You and Bret disappeared.” Fuck. She giggled, leaning against the counter. “I was going to go find him, but this house is so big.” She slurred her words.
“Have you seen him?” I asked.
“Yeah. He’s outside now.” She ran her hand along the strap of my suit. “You weren’t wearing this before. Were you?”
“Nope. I went upstairs to change. You know, don’t want to be sitting around in a wet suit.” Of course. The suit was my alibi. Duh. “Let’s go back outside and get you some water, maybe?”
Nikki held on to my arm, giggling and rambling on about Matt. Something about bowling alleys and mini golf. I was confused, but she was fucking hammered, so I just let her talk.
Bret had joined Matt at the table, looking smug. “There you are. Thought you had better plans,” he said, taking a sip of his beer. That crooked grin said too much. Maybe we had a language that was just between us. No one else seemed to notice anything. Nikki landed in the chair with a thud, and Matt looked so relieved we were back, I don’t think he’d care at this point if we fucked in front of him. My gaze fell to his stomach. Maybe he’d be the one I’d ask to join in.
No. I didn’t want to share. “The party’s right here.
” I sat beside Bret and winked. Wait a minute. “Is that the same—”
“Yup.” Bret took a long sip of his beer, finished it off, and set it in front of me on the table. I stared at it in disbelief. “What are you two doing later tonight, Gem?”
Nikki swayed in her seat. If we were doing anything else, I was going to have to get her to take a nap.
I shrugged. “Staying here?”
He grinned. “I was thinking maybe we could go watch the fireworks on the boat.”
Chapter Eleven
I’d only seen the boat in the pictures Dad had sent me. Like all babies, it was even more beautiful in person. It was all white, with its sail column—I didn’t know the proper terminology—rising from a cabin that led down into a living area with a couch, a couple chairs, and a bed. Being on it felt like entering another realm, with the water rocking below our feet. I was seasick, heartsick, everything sick. This was the best and worst idea Bret ever had. But it was perfect, because Dad was here with us.
The party was in full swing at the marina, but everyone fell eerily quiet when two tattooed rockers and their trashy looking counterparts waltzed on to the Starling boat. I was pretty sure we’d be talking to the police in a matter of minutes, until one gentleman, who looked like he’d just stepped out of a sailing catalog, waved to us. “Hey, Bret. Happy Fourth.”
“Hey, Rick,” Bret replied, his face brightening. He grabbed my arm. “This is my stepsister, Gemma, and my friends, Nikki and Matt. We decided to come watch the fireworks in style.”
“Glad to meet you.” Rick nodded at all of us. “Let me know if you need anything, Bret. We have food and wine. You’re all welcome to it.”
“Thanks. We’ve got beer and a few other things.” Bret smirked. “Let’s get this celebration started.”
“How do you know him?” I asked as Rick walked away. Bret couldn’t have come here with Dad. He was on tour when Dad bought the boat.
Dirty Little Secret: New Adult Rock Star Romance (Not Exactly A Stepbrother Romance Book 1) Page 9
