Her Super-Secret Rebound Boyfriend

by Kerri Carpenter

Her heart clenched. How she would love to see it at the holidays. She could imagine that Lorraine would have every inch of the house decorated with twinkly lights and decorations that had been in the family for ages. Luke and his sisters probably rushed around yelling at each other and snagging food, just as they were now. Homey aromas of cinnamon and spices probably emanated from the kitchen.

  Yes, she’d very much like to witness that.

  “Come on.” Luke tugged on her hand and pulled her out of her thoughts.

  He showed her the backyard and pool area. When they walked back down the hallway, she made him stop and explain each of the framed photos on the wall. They had a pretty killer game room set up in the finished basement with an enormous television, a pool table, air hockey, and a bar in one corner.

  “This is amazing. I bet you guys had so much fun down here when you were in high school.”

  “Oh, we did,” Luke said. “I think my mom had the basement refinished for the specific purpose of getting us out of her hair. We’d all gather down here with our friends, and mom would stay upstairs with her book and enjoy some peace and quiet.”

  They walked up to the second floor. Luke pointed out his mom’s room and the large bedroom his sisters had shared. She peeked in and saw three twin beds were still positioned around the room. Above each bed where posters and other decorations. Funny how each of his sisters had a completely different personality. Winnie was the sweet, girly-girl while Gwen was her polar opposite and definitely the most badass of the three. Mia sat somewhere in between with a touch of practicality.

  “And this is my room. Well, it was my room.” Luke ushered her inside.

  Lola walked around, getting a feel for the place. It was much smaller than his sister’s room. But he had a double bed, a dresser, desk, closet. All the usual stuff.

  “Nice bean bag chair,” she noted with a grin.

  “It’s a necessity for game playing.”

  “Your room is very…masculine.” The furniture was a dark wood, and his bedding and curtains were navy blue.

  “My mom keeps saying she’s going to turn our bedrooms into different things like a scrapbooking room and a gym, but she never does. Every time we come home, our stuff is still exactly where we left it.”

  Must be nice, she thought. A lot of her stuff from high school and most of the furniture and belongings from her parents’ house was now in storage. Someday she would have a house of her own and get everything back out.

  Luke’s arms came around her from behind, snaking around her waist. He moved her hair to the side, his mouth nuzzling her neck.

  “Mmm,” she moaned. “That feels…wrong!”

  Luke’s head snapped up. “What?”

  “You can’t do that to me. Not here.”

  He spun her around. “Why not?”

  Was he crazy? “We’re in your mother’s house.” She over exaggerated each word, speaking very slowly.

  “So?” He closed the door, flicking the lock. Then he crossed back to her, backing her up until her legs bumped the edge of his bed.

  “Luke, what are you doing?”

  He ran his fingertips up her arm, grazing her breasts as he did. Then he placed a kiss at the left edge of her mouth, then the right. Finally, he took her lips in a sultry kiss that had her legs buckling.

  “What do you think I’m doing?” he said against her lips.

  She pushed back. “Oh, I think I can figure it out. But you have to stop.”

  He covered one breast with his large hand. Through the thin material of the red tank top she wore, she could feel the heat from his hand. He caressed her. Her nipples hardened, and he pinched one.

  “You really want me to stop?” he asked with a cocky grin.

  He knew damn well she didn’t, especially when he began feasting on her neck and her head fell back. “But…but…your mother, your sisters…downstairs.” She closed her eyes and moaned.

  He took advantage of the opportunity to gently push her back onto his bed.

  “Luke, we can’t,” she said as she tumbled backward.

  He covered her body with his. “Yes, we can.”

  His lips were on hers again, teasing, taunting, daring her to protest. How could she when her own traitorous hands had made their way under his shirt and were happily roaming over the taut, ripped muscles of his back?

  He smelled so good. That scent that she thought of as purely Luke surrounded her, taking over her senses. It was a combination of clean soap and whatever amazing cologne he wore. She had to remember to ask him. Then his hand had undone the snap of her shorts and was inside her panties, and she couldn’t remember anything.

  Luke wasted no time inserting a finger inside her. She sighed loudly and deeply. He covered her mouth again with his, even as his finger was working its magic. She helpfully spread her legs for him, and he added a second finger. He knew just the right speed, just the right rhythm to drive her crazy.

  She felt her body responding, could hear her breathing picking up, knew what was about to happen. Then Luke surprised her by backing off. He withdrew his hand and rose, standing over her at the bottom of the bed.

  “Wh-what?” Her mind was hazy with the sudden loss of his touch.

  “Don’t worry, baby. I’m right here. Since we are in my mom’s house, I thought this might not be the best opportunity to take our time.” He reached into his back pocket, removing a condom.

  He quickly shed his shorts and underwear, sheathed himself, and returned to her. Lola was still reeling and couldn’t get herself to move from the bed. That didn’t seem to be a problem for Luke. He simply removed her shorts and panties. Then he put his arms around her legs and gave one good tug, yanking her to the bottom of the bed.

  “This is a much better angle.” With that, Luke buried himself inside of her to the hilt.

  The pressure was amazing. She loved the way he filled her so completely. She wanted to yell out, but Luke covered her mouth with his hand.

  “Not this time, baby. We have to be quiet.”

  It was such a sexy feeling to be lying on his childhood bed, still completely clothed on the top but joined with him in such a primal way. His family was right downstairs as Luke began to move in and out of her. He was standing at the bottom of the bed, still holding her legs, anchoring her right where he wanted her.

  He had the perfect leverage to thrust into her, each time going even deeper until she could feel his balls banging against her. He was pumping his hips quickly now, intensifying their mating, upping the ante.

  She couldn’t scream, couldn’t yell. She desperately wanted a release. She began to move her hips so she could meet him thrust for thrust. Using her muscles to tighten around his thick shaft, she stifled a laugh when he ground out an oath. Looks like he wanted to make noise as much as she did.

  “Shh,” she whispered with a twinkle in her eye as he continued to rock into her. “They’ll hear us downstairs.”

  Her words seemed to ignite something inside of him. His hips moved at a greater speed; his fingers gripped her legs even tighter as he pushed into her. His grip would have hurt her if she wasn’t experiencing such divine pleasure everywhere else.

  Luke’s eyes never left hers. Light streamed into the room, illuminating his face. He was so intense, so serious, as he brought her up the mountain of desire.

  “Yes, that’s it. Come for me, Lola.”

  “Yes, yes, Luke, just like that.”

  He was playing her just right, hitting all the right spots. He’d paid attention this last week, learning exactly what she liked. She hoped she could say the same about herself.

  Her breasts felt heavy, and she was starting to sweat. A sensation began in her lower belly as Luke brought her exactly where she wanted to be. She came hard and fast, and Luke offered a triumphant smile. Then he thrust three more times and fell off his own cliff. As he did, she tightened around him as hard as she could.

  “Oh fuck, Lola.” He shuddered severely before collapsing on top of her.r />
  “Wow,” she cooed into his neck, taking a moment to lick the salty perspiration that had beaded there.

  “Wow is right. How is it possible for it to get better every time?”

  She had no clue. All she did know was that it was going to be difficult to put her clothes back on and walk downstairs like everything was normal, pretend Luke hadn’t just rocked her world and devoured her body.

  “Luke, Lola,” Gwen yelled up the stairs. “What are you guys doing?”

  “Nothing,” they both answered at the same time. Their bodies were still joined, their voices still raspy.

  “Food’s on. Burgers have been placed on the grill. Although, I think you guys may have already started with dessert.”

  Lola groaned and Luke grinned. He placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “Welcome to the family.”

  Chapter Ten

  “I’m depressed. I need a cookie.”

  -Sophia Petrillo

  “Who’s up for a little Marco Polo?”

  Oliver’s question was answered with a resounding round of no’s and groans and then, since they were all hanging out in the pool, a chorus of splashing in his general direction.

  “No one ever wants to have fun with me,” Oliver said.

  “I’ll have some fun.” Gwen jumped up. “Let’s race.”

  Oliver grinned and rose up in the five feet of water. The sun glimmered off his tanned skin and muscled body. “You think you can take me?”

  “I know I can,” Gwen said.

  “But you’re a girl.” Oliver stated this fact in a manner similar to a five-year-old. It had the desired effect though. Gwen gritted her teeth and stared him down.

  “Let’s go, fly boy. Prepare yourself to be embarrassed by a girl.”

  Mia clapped her hands together. “Yes. Lola can be the judge. She’s the only impartial one here.”

  “I don’t know,” Lola said. “I didn’t care for the girl comment,” she teased.

  Luke emerged from the house, looking hot as hell in his blue swim trunks. He threw on a pair of shades and strutted toward the pool. Lola was pretty sure he’d hate that description, but she didn’t care. She was having too good a time watching him.

  “Earth to Judge Lola. Stopping ogling my brother.”

  Lola snapped to attention. Ugh. “I plead the fifth.”

  “We’ll let it slide. This time,” Mia warned with a smile. “Go sit over there on the steps. You are the eyes and ears of this race. Your final word is the word.”

  Lola half swam and half walked to the steps. “That’s a lot of power. Hope it doesn’t go to my head.”

  She made herself comfortable on the steps, enjoying feeling the hot sun on her skin, while she was halfway submerged in the cool water. Luke made his way to her.

  “Hey, Lo, want to—”

  She stopped him with a hand in the air. “Shh, I’m busy right now.”

  Laughing, he leaned down and placed a kiss on her shoulder. “So I don’t need to be worried about you being alone with my family?”

  “Stop distracting me. The race is about to start.”

  Luke perused the scene. “Ollie and Gwen are racing? My money’s on Gwen.” With that prediction, he rounded the pool and went to sit with his mom, who was under the large umbrella at one of the tables.

  The race was fast and furious. Luke should have put money on it, because he’d been right. Gwen started off slow but when she made her move, Oliver didn’t stand a chance. After that, Oliver needed to reclaim his man card by racing Mia, who did a doggy paddle across the pool.

  Lola was still sitting on the steps of the pool, enjoying watching everything go down and partaking in her second—or was it third?—piña colada. Gwen swam over to her and perched herself next to Lola.

  “Having fun?”

  “So much. You guys are great. And it’s fun to spend the day in a pool. We have one at my apartment building, but we always have to fight over getting a lawn chair and then there’s always some kid screaming and then someone gets yelled at for having their music on too loud.”

  “Hashtag, first world problems,” Gwen said with a wink.

  “Totally.” Lola laughed.

  Gwen pushed her hair back and took a moment to glance around the backyard. Luke was still talking to his mom and aunt, Oliver and Mia were engaging in some kind of competition that Lola couldn’t identify, and she had no idea where Winnie had run off to.

  “I’ve been meaning to get you alone,” Gwen said.

  Uh-oh. Lola’s mouth suddenly went dry.

  Gwen didn’t waste any time getting to it. “What’s the deal?”

  “The deal?” Lola repeated.

  “With you and my brother.”

  “What do you mean? We’re, you know, dating.”

  Gwen tilted her head, studying Lola. Then she swiveled to take in her brother across the patio. Finally, she shook her head. “Nope. I don’t buy the whole meeting on a dating website.”

  “Lots of people meet online,” Lola said, trying to divert the conversation.

  “True and I have absolutely nothing against them. It’s just…I can’t see Luke going on one.”

  Good thing she was already in the pool because Lola would be sweating bullets about now. Instead, she wrung her fingers together. “How do you think we met?”

  Gwen considered the question. “I’m not sure. But I do know it wasn’t on Match or Tinder or whatever. The question is, why are you guys lying about it?”

  Lola frantically tried to make eye contact with Luke. Clearly, he wasn’t receiving her psychic message for help.

  “So you don’t think we’re really dating?” Lola asked in a quiet voice.

  “To be honest, no, I didn’t think you were really dating. At least, not at first.”

  Lola shot her a questioning look.

  Gwen shrugged. “You’re not my brother’s type. No offense, by the way. His type is usually heinous.”

  Finally, Lola chuckled. “Thanks for that.”

  “No prob. If I had to guess, I would say that Luke isn’t your type either. Yet, I see the way the two of you look at each other.” She gazed off in the distance for a long moment before blowing out a long breath of air. “There’s something there, I know it.”

  “That’s a good thing, right?”

  “But there’s a secret here, too. I can feel it.”

  Lola was torn. More conflicted than she’d been in a long time. On the one hand, she wanted to jump up and dance at the suggestion that she and Luke had something. But on the other, watching Gwen question her was horrible. She really liked Luke’s sister.

  She could feel the other woman’s stare on her. Once again, she tried to silently beckon Luke to her side. And once again, it didn’t work.

  She was on her own.

  “The truth is, Gwen…” Gwen leaned forward, her eyes intent on the next words out of Lola’s mouth. “The truth is that I think it would be best for you to ask your brother any lingering questions. He’s your family. I’m just some girl you met a week ago.”

  Clearly not the answer she wanted or expected, Gwen scrunched up her nose. “That’s just it. This is only the second time my family has met you, and we all really like you.”

  “Thank you,” Lola said around a throat thick with emotion.

  “I like to make fun of Luke and give him hell. But the truth is that I really love my dumb brother. I don’t want to see him get hurt. You’re not going to hurt him, are you?”

  Ever since she first met Gwen, Lola had been abundantly aware that she was the tough sister. Full of confidence and bravado and passion. But her question now was anything but. It showed her vulnerability.

  “You know about my dad?” Gwen asked.

  Surprised to be asked that question, Lola nodded.

  “I think we’re all still trying to get over that in our own way. Luke especially. Please don’t hurt him.”

  Lola gulped down a large lump. “I wouldn’t consciously hurt him. Please trust me on that
. I wouldn’t hurt any of you.”

  Only she’d just lied. She was going to hurt all of them when the truth came out. Her only hope was that Luke would change his stance on relationships.

  Her mind wandered back up to his bedroom. Sure, they’d had sex. But it had been more than that, too. It had been special and magical.

  The other morning she woke up cocooned in his arms. And he sent her texts throughout the day. Just checking up on her and saying hi. Little things that added up to one big gesture of caring.

  They weren’t being truthful to his family. But maybe there was a way out of it. Maybe they weren’t pretending as much as they claimed. Maybe she could help Luke realize that a relationship with her wouldn’t be the end of the world.

  Maybe she was fooling herself. But damn if she wasn’t going to try.

  …

  Hell of a party.

  Luke was having a great time. Maybe because it started off with some fun with Lola up in his bedroom. She was wearing the most appealing little pink bikini. He’d love nothing more than to snap his fingers, make everyone disappear, and then have his way with Lola in the pool. On the patio furniture. In the garden.

  He caught her eye across the pool where she was talking to his sister. He offered a wink and she blushed.

  Damn, he loved when she did that. He loved the way she looked. Loved the way she laughed. Loved…

  Luke’s grin faded, and he felt like he’d just been slammed against a brick wall. No way. He couldn’t be in love with Lola or anyone else. He didn’t allow himself to experience that emotion. No matter how great a girl’s smile, laugh, body, heart was.

  “What’s with the frown?”

  He snapped to attention at the sound of his mother’s voice.

  “What? Oh, nothing. Some stuff from work popped into my mind.” He hated lying, but he didn’t want to reveal to his mother that he wanted to make love to Lola all over her pristine backyard. Not to mention, he had no idea what to do with the feelings he was experiencing for her.

  “More chips and guac?” his aunt asked.

  “That would be great. Thanks.” His mom watched his aunt make her way inside before turning to him. “I really like Lola.”

  “Ma, don’t.”