by Terry Towers
“Thanks. I’m glad you like it.” She pulled back and their eyes locked. Desire had flared up within his dark eyes and she could see the fight to restrain himself in his expression.
“Oh, I do,” Ivy purred and nearly cringed at the way she cooed at him. She was reminding herself of those slutty cheerleaders she hated so much in high school. No matter how much hurt Ethan caused her and they caused other women, did she really want to stoop to being just like those girls? Because the bottom line, even though she hated to admit it, was that she still wanted Ethan and she was beginning to have feelings toward Trey, even though the ones for Trey were mostly based on attraction. But he seemed to have changed. Maybe they both had.
Is this what I really want? Maybe this was just a plain bad idea.
Ivy looked down into Trey’s dark lust-filled eyes and then quickly glanced over at Ethan, whose blue eyes were filling with rage. Was she over her head? Better question, who was I to think I could ever pull this off?
~*~*~*~
Ethan
What. The. Fuck!
Ethan was hitting his breaking point watching Ivy with Trey. He was trying to ignore it, but neither one of them seemed to be shy about their excessive flirting, while he was virtually ignored. It had been going on for hours, through dinner and two movies. There wasn’t enough liquor in the fucking world to calm him at this point.
To hell with this! When Trey nuzzled her neck and she closed her eyes giggling he’d had enough. Slamming his empty beer bottle down on the coffee table Ethan stood and stormed from the living room, heading up the staircase to the bedrooms. He wasn’t sure what he was angrier about: the fact she was being so open to Trey’s advances or the fact it was bothering him as much as it was.
What did it matter anyhow? I had my chance and I rejected her.
He didn’t even want to consider the guilt. It had been eating at him since she took off to college. He’d been an ass and he knew it. He’d rejected her because of what… ’Cause she was fat and he wanted the beauty queen on his arm. She was the perfect woman and he’d given her up and now it appeared she was going to be Trey’s. If he could turn back time and have a redo on that moment when she’d told him she loved him he would in a heartbeat.
Maybe I don’t deserve her anyhow…
Reaching the top of the staircase, he made his way to the room that had been his until a year ago and entered, slamming the door behind him. Remembering that he had a pint of Jack Daniel’s tucked away on the top shelf of his closet from his high school days, he grabbed it and then flopped himself onto his bed intent on getting himself nice and hammered to override the feelings swelling and swirling within him.
Fine, let Trey have her. It’s not like she’d want me after what happened. She’d made that crystal clear, and it fucking hurt.
~*~*~*~*~
Ivy
Seeing Ethan storm off didn’t give Ivy the satisfaction she thought it would – quite the opposite, it left her feeling guilty and ashamed.
“What the fuck was wrong with him?” Trey asked, all playfulness gone as she pushed herself off of his lap and onto the sofa next to him.
“I don’t know.” But she was lying, she suspected she knew. Looking up and into Trey’s eyes she came to the conclusion that Ethan must not have shared that she’d bared her soul to him, which was unusual since they knew virtually everything about each other – talking about women and conquests had always been one of their favourite topics.
Why didn’t he tell Trey? Maybe he was embarrassed… of me… for me. She frowned looking toward the staircase. She didn’t know which. She had to find out.
“Are you okay? I was just messing around.”
The sound of his voice pulled her gaze from where Ethan exited back to Trey. She forced a smile on her face. “Of course I am. I know.”
“It’s just…” he shrugged. “You’ve really transformed into a stunning woman, Ivy. It’s hard to keep in my mind who you were.”
She huffed. Yeah, fat Ivy. The girl who had a beautiful face, too bad she’s so fat. She’d overheard one of Ethan’s other friends say that more than once. She’d run to her room and cried for ten minutes and then found relief in a bottle of Coca-Cola, along with some chips and dip. They had been her friends and vices – still would be had she not replaced them with exercise.
“Damn.” Trey thrust a hand into his short dark hair. “I think I’m making this worse.”
Ivy’s green eyes caught his dark ones. “No. It’s good.” She looked over her shoulder at the staircase outside of the room again and then back at him. “It’s good. We’re good.” Sliding from the sofa she stood and adjusted her skirt, which had risen dangerously high on her thighs. “Just give me a second to see if everything is good with Ethan, okay?” She hesitated and with a surge of brazenness she leaned down and brushed her lips across his, kissing him softly, but pulling away before he could deepen the kiss; if that happened, she’d never get upstairs to get to the bottom of things, she’d be putty in Trey’s hands.
Standing, she readjusted her skirt once more and gave him another smile before spinning around and rushing up the stairs. She had to move quickly or she’d lose the nerve – or before he got so much alcohol in him that he’d be impossible to reason with. If she recalled correctly he had quite a stash of liquor hidden in his closet and seemed intent on getting wasted tonight, so just because he was heading upstairs didn’t mean the drinking was ending anytime soon. While a drunk Trey was flirty and fun, a drunk Ethan was not even close to being a fun person to be around.
Approaching his door, she paused with her hand on the door handle. It was in his room where she’d opened her heart to him to have it handed to her on a platter.
“That was a lifetime ago,” she murmured, opening the door and stepping inside.
“Ever hear of knocking, Ivy?” Ivy’s eyes lifted to see Ethan. He’d removed his shirt and was reclining against the head of the bed in a pair of black jogging pants with the Bangor FD emblem on the thigh. There was a long scar on his side that hadn’t been there before.
She shrugged. “It’s something I’ll have to work on. Can I come in?”
“Looks to me you’re already in.” His eyes scanned her, slowly, from head to toe and back again. He didn’t even attempt to hide his examination, or the look of annoyance on his face.
“Can we talk?” She took a few more steps into the room and closed the door behind her, not wanting Trey to hear their conversation.
He took a swig from the bottle of Jack and then set it onto the night table by the bed. “Why now, Ivy?” He sat up straighter on the bed and slid his legs over the edge, leaning forward and bracing his elbows on his knees. “Do you know how many times I tried to call you after you left? You wouldn’t even give me five minutes to explain.”
All right, guess we’re going there already.
“What was there to explain, Ethan? I told you I was in love with you and you didn’t want me.” To her surprise tears sprang to her eyes. How could this hurt so much when it was so long ago? She turned slightly, enough so that he wouldn’t notice her swipe at her eyes with the back of her hand.
“That wasn’t it exactly.”
“So you rejected me because of what? I was too hot for you. Too smart. Too good of a friend? Too devoted. Loved you too much. Come on Ethan, stop me when I’ve come to the reason!”
He frowned, his stare catching hers. “We’re stepsiblings, Ivy… We were living under the same roof.”
She huffed. “So my weight had nothing to do with it.”
He opened his mouth to respond.
“Don’t lie to me.”
He snapped his mouth shut again.
“Yeah.” She gave her head a shake. “That’s what I thought. I wasn’t the tiny cheerleader you could show off. I get it.”
Ethan rose to his feet and all of a sudden seemed taller, larger. And too damned sexy. He took a few steps toward her, but she held her ground. Ivy tilted her head up, keeping her eye
s locked to his, refusing to back down.
“Maybe you’re right to a certain extent. A year and a half can make a big difference in someone – as you know. So maybe back then I was a bit of an ass and was swayed by the popular girls and women like that. But people change, Ivy. When you left and refused to talk to me it really hurt.”
A laugh escaped her. “Hurt? You were hurt? You have got to be kidding me right now. You were given a choice and you didn’t choose me and now you what… You want what? Pity from me ’cause you lost your fat friend?”
“I never saw you as that.”
“But you never saw me as someone you’d want to be with either.”
“I never saw you as someone to be with because you were a good friend. And we’re stepsiblings. And let’s not forget the fact you told me a day before you left for college. Just out of the blue, just before you leave you announce you were in love with me. Even if I had felt the same way, how did you figure that would play out? Me here and you in Boston?”
“We could have made it work, Ethan. It’s not like I was across the country. It’s not like Boston is very far. You just had to hop in a car and drive south an hour and a half.”
“But you didn’t give me time to process it, Ivy. You tossed it at me and then took off. I tried to talk to you, but you shut me out.”
“If you really wanted to sort it out you could have come after me.” She knew she was beginning to become unreasonable and that what he was saying did have some merit, that there was a chance her weight wasn’t the only thing that had been a factor, but didn’t give a damn. She needed a reason to pursue her plan. The plan had been the outlet for her heartache for a long time.
“So drive down there, while in the middle of training for the department so you could slam the door in my face and tell me to go fuck myself? If you wouldn’t answer the phone no matter how many calls or texts I sent what would lead me to believe showing up and making a fool out of myself in person would provide better results?”
She frowned. She didn’t have a reasonable answer for him. “You could have tried.”
“And what is going on with you and Trey? You never had an interest in him before. At least I didn’t think so. What’s your game plan, Ivy? You’re using him to make me jealous? Is that it?”
Ivy chewed at her lower lip, averting her gaze. The truth was that she didn’t really know anymore. A few hours in the guy’s presence and her whole plan was falling to pieces at her feet. There was a definite attraction toward Trey and it rivalled her attraction to Ethan. It was surprising and confusing at the same time.
Ethan sighed, drawing her attention back to him. She stared up at him as he thrust a hand into his brown hair in agitation. “Don’t answer that, Ivy. I don’t want to know.”
“But –”
His gaze shifted to meet hers. “Can we just forget that past happened and just start over? Maybe just accept my apology and go from there. I handled the situation wrong and I don’t think I’m entirely to blame, but if accepting full blame can help put this behind us then I’ll happily accept it.”
She hesitated for a brief moment, but eventually nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Good.” He took another step closer, then two, pulling her into his arms. This time she didn’t tense or hold back like she’d done in the kitchen, but fell into him, slipping her arms around his neck and burying her face into the crook between his neck and shoulder.
Unlike Trey who had the enticing smell of cologne Ethan was simpler and more natural, soap and aftershave. It was equally good and enticing and seemed to reflect their personalities. Trey had always been the wilder one, he always tended to do things in a big way. Ethan had always been the quieter and more responsible one. The only thing the two friends had in common was the fact they were devilishly handsome and sinfully sexy in their own unique ways and they were desired by most of the women Ivy knew.
He pulled her tighter and she responded. “That’s more like it.”
“Huh?”
Ethan chuckled. “The hug. You’re actually hugging me like you mean it and not like I have some disease or something.”
“I didn’t –”
“You did. And it’s okay. Maybe I deserved it.” He pulled back from her and she immediately missed the feel of his body against hers. It had felt so damned right in his arms. “I’m not feeling great. I think it’s a mixture of exhaustion and too much alcohol. I’m going to hit the sack, but I’m sure Trey will be happy to keep you entertained.”
“All right. ’Night.” She grabbed the doorknob and went to open the bedroom door when he stopped her, his hand over hers. She looked up with questions in her eyes and met his gaze.
“We’re not the same men we were, Ivy. Neither of us are. And yes, we did know you had a weight problem, but we never considered you the fat girl, even if that’s what you may have felt.”
Chapter 4
Trey
Trey watched her in amusement from atop his bike as Ivy eyed his motorcycle with skepticism.
“I don’t think this is what Ethan meant when he said you should entertain me today while he’s working. Personally, I was thinking we could drive down to the beach,” Ivy stated.
“We will.” He patted the back of his bike with his gloved hand. “But on this, not in your car. It’s too nice of a day to be cramped up in a car.”
Ivy looked down at the helmet in her hands then back up at him. She looked so damned cute in the leather jacket and tight jeans it was becoming agony to keep his hands to himself. The memory of their kiss the previous night kept replaying itself in his mind and he wanted more. The problem was that her demeanor had changed after she’d come back downstairs from her talk with Ethan; she’d gone from flirty and seemingly into him to subdued. He wasn’t sure quite yet what that meant – neither she nor Ethan said what they’d spoken about – but he intended to find out. Usually he preferred working the same shifts as Ethan, but was glad this week their shifts were alternating so he could get some alone time with Ivy.
“But, I’ve never been on the back of a bike before. What if I do something wrong and the bike falls over or something?”
A wide grin spread across Trey’s lips as he looked over his shoulder and patted the back of his motorcycle seat again. “Get on, hold tight to me and that’s all you need to do. Come on. The girl I used to know wouldn’t think twice about it. Has college made you uptight and rigid?”
“That’s a nervy assumption.”
He shrugged, his smile widening.
Cocking her head to the side she returned his grin. “Fine. You win.” Pulling a pair of black leather gloves onto her hands she swung her leg over the bike and settled in behind him. “Uptight my ass.” Pressing her front tight to his back she pulled the full-faced black helmet over her head.
“Tighter.” Grabbing her hands in his, Trey pulled her even tighter to him, until she was flush against him and then settled her hands around his chest. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
~*~*~*~
Ivy
He started the bike and it roared to life. Her legs tightened to the machine under her as the vibrations of the bike between her legs raced through her body. Excitement filled her. Despite her slight fear of being on a bike she’d always secretly hoped Ethan would take her for a ride, but he never did.
The bike lunged forward and she yelped, tightening her grip around him and placing her forehead against his shoulder. Hearing him chuckling, she smiled as they pulled out onto the street and tore down it.
While she was initially timid, after Trey took several turns with expert ease she began to get used to the feel of the bike under her. Her confidence in Trey increased and she was able to relax somewhat and begin to enjoy the ride. In fact, there seemed to be something soothing and sexy about being behind Trey, cuddled tight with the roar of the motorcycle engine in her ears and bike vibrations rushing through her. Twenty minutes later, when they pulled into the parking lot of the nearly deserted beach,
she was disappointed the ride was ending so soon.
Slipping the bike into a slot, Trey cut the engine and kicked the kickstand down. With reluctance, Ivy released her tight grip on him and swung her leg out, sliding off of the bike. By the time she finished fiddling with the chin strap of the helmet Trey had already removed his gloves, helmet and jacket and was leaning against the bike, arms folded across his chest watching her with amusement dancing in his dark eyes.
“You could have helped, you know.” She hung the helmet off of the handle of the bike, bent over and fluffed out her hair. When she straightened back up her eyes met his; the amusement had disappeared and was replaced with hunger. It took her by surprise and for a moment her breath caught in her throat as their eyes locked.
“Come here a minute.” Trey crooked his finger at her.
Ivy’s brow furrowed as she took a step toward him, then another. “What’s wrong?” She raked her fingers through her hair, trying to straighten out the flattened mess the helmet had made of it. “My hair –”
Once she got within his reach he grabbed the front of her leather jacket and pulled her to him until only a couple of inches remained between them. “Your hair is fine.” His gaze lowered from hers to settle on her lips.
She looked down at the ground between them as she ran her tongue along her lower lip. “Then –”
Releasing her jacket, Trey cupped her chin in his hand and forced her face up so she was looking him in the eye. His lips turned into a sexy smirk and sent her pulse racing. “You owe me something.”
She crinkled her nose up at him. “I do?”
“Yup. And I think I’ve waited long enough.” Before she could respond his lips were on hers and the hand that was grasping her chin slid around to the back of her neck, urging her closer to him.
Every nerve ending in her body seemed to come alive at the feel of his lips on hers and the need to be closer, for even more intimate contact became undeniable – and why shouldn’t she? There was no harm in wanting him. Sure the point was for him to want her, but there’s no reason why she couldn’t enjoy the ride, she just couldn’t get emotionally attached – that’s all. As their tongues duelled, she fisted the front of his shirt, attempting to keep her desires in check. But the feel of his growing erection against her stomach and his hands sliding down her back to grasp her ass, pulling her tight to his erection was fuelling her desire, coaxing her body to respond in turn.
