“I feel like a fool,” she says, shaking her head. “I fell for it. I’m sorry.”
“That’s all right.” I shrug and sip coffee. “It was only a matter of time before she found out, anyway. Not a big deal.”
“It is a big deal,” she protests with a solid firmness to her voice I’ve never heard. “It’s a very big deal. My brother came to me and confided in me, and I betrayed him.” She gives me a wavering closed-mouthed smile. Her eyes are watering. “See, I love my brother. Josh means the world to me. He was terrified out of his mind when he came to me and told me about what happened between you and him. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know how to handle it. He was revolted at himself because he thought he hurt you. So I told him not to bring it up unless it was absolutely necessary. I was upset with you for putting him in this situation, but more than anything I wanted to protect my brother. So when Jessica wanted to meet for drinks, I have to tell you, I didn’t meet her with pure intentions in my heart, either.”
Oh, wow.
Piper wanted to hurt me for hurting Josh. But in hurting me, she betrayed her brother. Piper has some big fucking balls. Damn, I’m almost in awe of her. Her honesty has me near speechless. Who knew tiny, dainty Piper was bold?
“I get it, Piper,” I say, setting the mug on her desk. The coffee is now tasteless in my mouth.
The first tear spills out of her right eye before they’re pouring down her cheeks in clear tracks. “I love Josh. He’s all I have in this world. I can admit to being overprotective of him. But what I did was ridiculous and wrong. It was below me. It was petty, and I would like to ask for your forgiveness.”
“You have it,” I say earnestly. “We all fuck up from time to time.”
She gives me a shaky smile, wiping her eyes with a balled-up napkin in her hand. “I see why Danny in love with you.”
I make a face, my thoughts unconvinced that Danny loves me as much as Piper thinks. He loves her more. He has to. Danny guards her from me. He has since the beginning. He keeps his secrets from me. I bet she knows everything about him. I’m severely perplexed at why he chases me so hard when he has Piper.
“I have one last thing to say, which is difficult for me,” Piper says, somberly holding my gaze.
“I’m all ears.”
“I want you to leave Josh alone.”
My entire face frowns. “What?”
She toys with the wrinkled napkin between her fingers, staring down at it. “I know I’m overstepping my boundaries here, but I need you to let Josh go. I need you to leave him alone. He’ll be hurt initially. But I know Josh. He’ll move on.”
I don’t even try to conceal my bewilderment and irritation. “Fuck you. I’m not leaving Josh for anything.”
Piper winces, but her expression softens. “No, you don’t understand. I’m not asking you to do this for my benefit. It’s for Josh’s. I see the way you and Danny are with each other since he’s been home. Despite what you think about Josh, you’re going to pick Danny. You already have. I’m trying to look out for Josh.”
“You’re right.” I push to my feet. “You are overstepping your boundaries. You don’t have the right to tell me anything when it comes to Josh, especially when you and Danny keep your relationship shielded. I can do whatever I want.”
“December, please—”
“No, I’m out of here.”
My hands are trembling when I make it to my car.
What the hell has just happened?
CHAPTER TWENTY
THE PRESENT
The Huntersville Resort is just as beautiful as I remember. It’s a resort with ten cabins. The log cabins are lined with radiant twinkle lights that shimmer on the surface of the mirror-smooth lake. I’m in the first cabin. I’ve been in the first cabin since I can remember. It’s my and Danny’s cabin. Danny and I are rooming together. I don’t really know how it’s going to work when we aren’t in a good space right now.
The cabin is spacious and rustic with earthy tones of green and brown, decorated with wood fixtures and thick, cushiony furniture. But the large picture windows in the living room are my favorite. I can sit on the couch and stare out at the enormous pines towering over everything. I love being surrounded by the woods and nature. It gives me clarity.
Danny has been here. His clothes are already folded and put away in the closet of the large bedroom. The refrigerator and kitchen cupboards are packed with food and bottled water and other refreshments. And Chloe is here, asleep by the stone fireplace. We are alone. I’m the first one to arrive at the resort. I drove straight from work to here. It’s only an hour and a half commute outside of town. Papa Pete and Mom should be on their way up here, and then my sisters and the rest of the Oliver clan.
I unbutton my wool coat and grab the thick, soft blanket from the bed and snuggle on the couch with it. The wood in the stone fireplace crackles as the flames roast it. It’s silent, and I’m left alone with my thoughts. I don’t like the thoughts in my head right now. They feel like poison. My thoughts are wicked and doubtful. They do more harm than good.
Instead of thinking anything, I stare down at my phone. I have no missed calls. No text messages. No voicemails. There’s nothing.
I’ve been calling and texting Josh nonstop for the past two days. I’ve gotten nothing in return. He’s still ignoring me. I’m going to force him to see me after the two weeks, when this is over. I power my phone off and close my eyes to take a nap…
There’s a lot of giggling and snorting. I crack an eyelid open and see three faces staring down at me with massive smiles. July, January, and Gray are all crouching down in front of the couch, watching me a little too intently. Their faces are pressed close to mine.
“What have you done?” I ask them as I stretch my entire body like a cat.
“Nothing,” January says.
I lift a brow, and they all have to stifle their laughs. “If you all did something to me, you have about five seconds to tell me. If you don’t,” I give them my best sadistic smile, “you’re going to wish you had when I’m through with each and every one of you.”
“You don’t scare us, December,” Gray says, attempting to be brave in front of January.
My smile broadens, and January’s face pales. “Really? What’s your phobia, Gray, snakes? And beetles for you, January, right? As for you, July, you seem to get really squeamish around blood. You know, blood, beetles, and snakes have never bothered me.”
“Oh, shit,” January whispers. “Let’s just tell her.”
“What? No way,” July replies. Her smile is impish and exciting.
“I’m with July,” Gray adds, shivering slightly. He really hates snakes. They have freaked him out since he got bitten by a measly garden snake a few years ago.
“Fine,” I say. “Have it your way.”
Danny catches my attention. He’s dressed casually as always in a plain black shirt and dark jeans and boots. He leans against the wall with a beer dangling from his hand. He stares at me, his brown eyes thoroughly taking me in. I gaze at him just as boldly. Danny has grown a beard.
Warmth settles low in my stomach, and a tingle hits between my legs. I shudder. Jesus. He looks feral and wild as the forest around us. I think I have a new fetish. All I want to do is tear off my clothes and jump him. My lips part, and my heart flutters in my chest. He gives me a slow smile like he knows what I’m thinking.
The arrogant bastard.
He does know he can cause my heart to race.
“We have more scheming to do,” July says as they all push to their feet. They’re still laughing when they leave out the door.
“You look like a mountain man,” I tell him when everyone is gone.
He locks the door behind them. “And you look like you’re hungry,” he says without irony or a teasing smile.
We look at each other again, having a staring contest. Danny wins. I look away first. “Piper and I had quite the chat.”
“She’s only trying to help.”
“There you go yet again.” I groan, rolling my eyes. “You always take her side.”
“I’m not taking any sides.”
“You’re such a fucking liar.”
His jaw gets tight, and then he makes his way over to sit next to me on the couch. He sets his beer bottle on the low coffee table and reaches up to gently take my face in his hand.
I try to break away from him, but his hand becomes firm on my chin. He gives my head a slight shake in his hold. “Be Danny’s good girl and listen to what I have to say.”
I wrinkle my nose at him.
He grins. “Can you be my good girl and listen? For a little while, at least?”
“Say what you have to say.”
“You’re going to have to let that poison go, baby,” he whispers, looking tenderly into my eyes and stroking my bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. “I understand that I fucked up. I understand that I hurt you. But you’re hurting yourself more than I ever did. I see the resentment and nasty bitterness when I look into your eyes. It’s going to eat you alive if you don’t let it go.”
Shit.
He’s right.
The bitterness and anger is a burden I no longer want to carry. I just don’t know how to let it go when it’s become all I know for all these years.
“How do I do that?” I murmur, looking to him.
“Forgiveness,” he answers, his thumb still running along my bottom lip. “Forgive me, December. That’ll be a great start to something new, something better.”
I stare into his irises, and I’m flooded with sincerity. He’s genuine about everything. I’d be a fool and extremely selfish if I didn’t forgive him. “I forgive you, Danny.”
“Do you truly?”
“Yes.”
He leans in and presses his lips to mine. I don’t fight him. I’m weakened when his soft lips mold to my mouth, but I’m really lost when his tongue touches mine. I release a groan into his mouth. My fingers curl into his thick, soft brown hair. Danny is hovering above me. He wedges his hips between my legs, shoving my back into the cushions of the couch. I’m spread out underneath him, helpless and wanting.
His hands slide down my sides, and his fingers grip my ass. He bites me on the pulse point of my neck. One of his hands shoves down the front of my jeans, gingerly caressing me through my panties. I melt underneath him like sugar in the heat. His deft fingers draw tiny languid circles that have me on the verge of an orgasm. He slips a finger into me, feeling me squeeze him.
Danny laughs darkly in my ear. “You’re a greedy girl.” He’s toying with me. “Let me make you come, December. Will you let me?”
“If you stop now, I will kill you.” I pant.
He grins at me, moving lower. He lifts my shirt, his firm lips grazing the skin of my stomach on his path down. I close my eyes and shudder when his hot tongue touches my navel.
“Eyes open, December,” Danny orders huskily. “Watch me.”
I open my lids, breathless.
Danny pops the button of my jeans free and pulls them down my legs. He tugs them off my ankles, spreading my legs wide. I gasp, shivering fiercely when his hot mouth covers my entire sex. He licks me over my panties.
“Danny.” I moan as I claw at the cushions beneath me.
“Shh.”
He peels off my panties, rubbing his rough beard across my inner thighs. The heavenly sensation has me squirming. His coarse beard scrapes against my bare sex. My hips surge forward, and I almost fly off the couch. He has to pin me down with his heavy palms pressing on my hips.
Danny’s tongue spreads my folds, lapping at me with such tenderness and slowness. He licks where I ache the most. My body is desperate and needing under his teasing mouth.
Danny doesn’t let me come right away. He watches my face as I whimper and moan. His jaw is working relentlessly between my legs. His licks are long and slow strokes, promising unbearable pleasure yet denying me everything. I push hard against his mouth, unashamed of my excitement and enjoyment.
A warm, tight knot of pleasure builds low in my belly, in my sex, in my entire body. He sucks and bites, shoving two fingers harshly into me.
I come instantly with a crying moan, gripping and pulling at the roots of his hair. Danny doesn’t stop. He cradles my backside with punishing force, pushing me even more into his hot mouth.
His fingers press into a soft spot inside of me that has me seeing every spectrum of the rainbow. Everything is unbearably sensitive and incredibly swollen, but his tongue constantly teases, his lips sucking, his teeth grazing.
He fucks me slowly with his fingers and mouth, leisurely drawing pleasure out of me with every tremble and moan. I orgasm too many times to keep count. He reaches up to entwine our fingers together. His tongue slides into me, tasting my quivering flesh. It’s a beautiful kind of strange to feel my muscles involuntarily convulse against his tongue.
Danny leaves wet trails of kisses as he moves up my stomach. He kisses my neck and chin before pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “My bad little kitty loves my mouth.”
I release a hysterical laugh into his neck.
He pulls my jeans up my legs and laces my boots.
I watch him, too spent to say anything.
“We have to meet our parents for dinner. Everyone will be waiting on us.”
“I don’t have any panties on.” My joints seem boneless when he lifts me up.
He gives me a smirk I feel in my chest. Danny cups me between my legs, and I gasp from the sensitivity. “That’s how I want you. Now let me grab your coat and a wet washcloth.” He helps me into my coat and buttons it up, and then he rubs the damp washcloth across my forehead.
“You’re washing my face?” I ask, looking up at him, confused.
“You’re sweet after you come.” He smiles before he leans in to kiss me. I kiss him back, wanting more of his lips and heat. We break apart and stare at each other. “I can’t let you walk out of here with dicks sketched across your forehead.”
I laugh some more, leaning into him. “I’m so going to get them back.”
Everyone is having dinner in the main cabin. Pans of food are lined against the wall in a buffet-style selection. My sisters and the other Oliver brothers and my niece Bliss are seated at the table together with Mom and Papa Pete. Papa Pete looks young and energized at age sixty in his suede vest and snug jeans. Papa Pete has the best cowboy boots I’ve ever seen.
“How’s my girl?” Papa Pete says when Danny and I walk through the door.
“Fine,” I say, leaning into Danny when he puts his arm around my shoulder.
He smiles at me and then at Danny. “I’m glad. Come sit with me. You can tell an old man about your life.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
THE PAST
December, age fifteen
Josh, age seventeen
Josh and I play video games in his room. I don’t see much of Josh anymore. We’re always too busy to hang out, but not tonight. Danny is busy doing the secretive things Danny does, so he can’t be with me tonight. Josh just so happens to be free.
So here I am.
Playing video games with him.
Josh sits on his floor with the controller between his legs, his eyes focused on the screen. I stare at him. I’ve been staring at him for the past two hours I’ve been here. He’s beautiful. All I think about is touching his long blond hair and kissing those kissable pink lips for some reason. I’ve been getting more curious about the opposite sex. I like boys, but I like Danny more and there is no way he’ll give me what I want. And what I want is to experience what all the other kids at school have.
I want sex.
How does it feel for someone else to touch me, to love me?
“You’re doing it again.”
“What?” I ask, pretending to be clueless.
He keeps his gaze on the screen, blowing up little blue aliens. “You’re staring at me, December. Do I have something on my face? Just wipe it off. My hands are a little
busy right now.”
“No, there’s nothing on your face. I just like your face.”
He gives me a glance and then smiles. “Thank you. I like your face too.”
“I like your lips too.”
His blue eyes get big when he aims them at me. “You’re aggressive. I like it. It’s usually the guy who makes the first move.”
“Well, I know what I want.”
He hits a button on the controller to pause the game, returning his scrutinizing gaze to mine. “Which is?”
“Sex.”
Josh’s golden brows lift, his eyes expanding. His mouth opens and shuts a few times. It’s almost comical. “You want sex?”
I keep his leveled gaze, my face serious. “Yes.”
He grins slowly. I feel that grin in my stomach. “Have you even been kissed before?”
“No.”
“Then don’t you think you should start off with baby steps?” he suggests. “Sex is a leap and a hop and a plane ride away from kissing. You haven’t even been kissed by anyone. What makes you think you’re ready to jump into full-blown sex?”
“How hard can it really be? You touch me. I touch you. We keep touching each other and see where this goes. Your sister’s gone. We have the house to ourselves. We can have sex. You and me, Josh. I’m ready.”
His grin broadens, and he gives his head a slight shake like it is the silliest thing he’s heard. “You’re ready? And you want to have sex with me?”
I square my shoulders. He’s not taking me seriously. “That’s what I’ve said.”
He stares into my eyes for a brief eternity, trying to read my emotions. I look into his clear ice-blue irises, never wavering from his head-on intense gaze. I attempt at being transparent. I let him read me.
“You mean what you’re saying, don’t you?”
“I do.”
His brows furrow. “Why?”
I shrug. “I know what I want.”
Josh’s expression is contorted with confused bewilderment. “I don’t understand why you would want sex after what happened to you.”
December (The Oliver Brothers Book 1) Page 17
