by Kasey Krane
“You were very close to them, weren’t you?”
He looked at me again, swirling the ice cubes in his glass before he held it up to his lips.
“I’d always felt like they were the only people in this world who understood me.”
“What about your brothers?”
“I love my brothers, even if they don’t believe I do. But we’ve always had our own separate lives. Dad…he took me under his wing even though he knew I wasn’t like the rest of the family. Mom forgave everything I did. No matter how much I hurt her.”
“I’m sure you never intended on hurting her.”
We looked into each other’s eyes.
“What about you? Are you close to your parents?” he asked, changing the subject.
I forced a smile on my lips and then shrugged.
“They passed away a long time ago. Six years ago, to be exact. I mean, I guess we were close but I was always closer to Sean. He was my person.”
“And he still is,” Everett said.
This time it was me who had to look away. I tried to not let my hand shake as I held the glass of whiskey.
“He’s growing up.”
“Your brother seems like a cool guy.”
“He is pretty cool. He is smart and very capable, but he is…”
“I know,” he said. “I understand.”
Everett caught my gaze and I felt like throwing myself at him. I wanted him to take me in his arms. I felt like he actually saw me. He knew what I was talking about. Even Steffi never knew what I was trying to say.
“You want to hold on to him because he is the only family you’ve got.”
I forced the lump down my throat.
“And because he needs me.”
Everett nodded.
“I wish my brothers needed me like Sean needs you, but the truth is, even he doesn’t need you how you want him to.”
My nostrils flared and Everett came towards me.
“The guy I met at your brother’s apartment that day, is a guy who is ready to take on the world by its horns. You’ve raised him. You’ve taught him how to take care of himself, and if he doesn’t need you anymore, it’s because you’ve made him strong enough for it.”
I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Tears stung my eyes, making them watery. I’d never wanted to accept the reality about my brother…that Sean was maybe not as dependent on me as I wanted him to be.
Steffi had blasted it in my ears through a loudspeaker for months, but it was the first time the reality actually hit home.
“I don’t want to let him go,” I said in a voice I didn’t even recognize. It was low and deep. Everett stood in front of me, trying to hold my gaze while I didn’t want to look directly at him. I was afraid of what he’d see in me if he looked too closely.
“You don’t have to let go, Keira. You just have to loosen the grip a little. Just live a little. Let him live a little.”
“And what about you? What about you loosening the grip? Are you willing to take your own advice and let go of your past self? The person you were before your parents died? You have responsibilities now that you have to take charge of. Are you prepared for that? Prepared to stand up for your brothers and the business your father left behind?”
My speech was a result of self defense. I wanted him to stop telling me what to do so I charged at him. Everett’s eyes became darker.
I thought he’d tell me to leave his house. I thought I had made him mad but instead, he lunged at me and pulled me to him, pulling me by my waist.
My glass fell out of my hand. His crashed to the floor too, but neither of us cared or noticed because our mouths were fuzed together again.
We weren’t kissing for the cameras. We were kissing for ourselves.
“I need you to stop talking, Keira Cunningham,” he commanded. His mouth moved over mine, then down my chin and neck. His voice was muffled by my body, but I heard him clearly. “It’s my turn to tell you what to do.”
He pulled away from me and I waited to hear more. I was ready for his next command. I was in a daze. I wanted to forget about what my life had been like this far. I wanted to forget about the weight I’d been carrying this long, and just let go…like he told me to.
His fingers moved over the straps of my dress.
“You look fuckin’ hot tonight, you know that? You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”
His voice was enough to make my skin tingle, and his words set my body on fire.
I stood a little taller, a little straighter, because of the things he said to me. Because of the way he looked at me.
He found the concealed zipper on the side of my dress and slowly, he pulled down. I didn’t have to do anything, while he expertly maneuvered the straps over my head and my dress fell apart. It was like butter melting off my skin, pouring onto the floor while I had no control over it.
I wore a nude lace strapless bra and matching panty. Everett stepped back because he wanted to look at me. He wanted to really look at me. Like no man had looked at me before.
“What do you want from me?” I whispered.
“You know what I want from you. It’s what I wanted from the first moment I laid eyes on you. I had two naked women in my bed, but you were the one I wanted on top of me.”
I touched myself while he watched me. My hand rushed over my belly, over the soft spot between my legs. I was so wet for him and I wanted him to know how wet I was. I was in love with myself when he looked at me like that.
Everett grinned.
He said he wanted me on top of him.
I lunged at him, catching him by surprise. But he caught me in his arms and groaned when I climbed on top of him, wrapping my legs around his waist. We both toppled to the floor together.
I straddled him, pinning him down. I leaned forward to kiss his firm thin lips. I loved how rough his cheeks felt against my skin. I loved how muscular his chest was. He was a man who could handle me.
“Keira!” he growled, pulling his mouth away. There was a darkness in his eyes. I thought he wanted me to stop. Maybe I misjudged him. Maybe this wasn’t what he wanted.
“I said I wanted you on top of me that day, but things have changed,” he said in a deep gruff voice.
I was almost naked on top of him, desperate to have him inside me. Was he really going to push me away now? In the middle of this?
He grabbed my waist and slid himself up. In one quick flash, before I even had a chance to comprehend what was happening, he’d moved me down. Pushed me back on the floor and stretched himself on top of me.
“For a few hours, I’m going to be the boss of you, lady,” he said, shoving his hand down my panties.
Everett’s hand was on my clit and he rubbed me hard. His finger slid in my pussy and he stroked me furiously, making me breathless. I shuddered and clung to him until I was right there on the edge of coming, but he pulled back.
I thrust my hips up, begging him with my eyes to take me.
Everett stood up and started undressing.
“I could get used to this girlfriend thing,” he said as he took off his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt.
“This fake girlfriend thing you mean?” I asked. My mouth watered when he dropped his pants.
Once again, no underwear.
His cock stuck out. Big, hard and throbbing between his muscular legs. I’d never wanted a man this desperately down my throat before.
“If this is a taste of what a relationship feels like, then call me a convert,” he said, jumping back down on me again.
My heart ached just a little bit when he kissed the tops of my shoulders gently.
Did he really think this was all a real relationship entailed? Wild sex? Crazy chemistry? Things just bubbling on the surface but never going deeper than that?
He slid my bra off and took my left nipple in his mouth, sucking hard.
I winced with pleasure, weaving my fingers in his hair while I sank further into surrendering to him.
/> His hand traveled down my body. I felt his cock between my legs. He’d wedged himself between my thighs. I wanted more.
His mouth left a wet trail from my breast, down my belly, and right to my pussy. He put his mouth between my legs and pulled down my panties. His lips grazed my wet pussy. He used his tongue to delicately stroke my clit, but it was all a tease.
I moaned with desire, thrusting my hips into him even more now because I couldn’t wait.
Everett reached for his pants and pulled out his wallet. I waited while he put on a condom and then returned to me. I wanted him to know how ready I was. I stretched my legs apart and he grabbed my knees.
“Just remember, Keira, I’m the boss and you don’t get to come until I say so,” he said as he grabbed his cock and touched it on my waiting pussy.
“Yes, boss,” I replied and then my breath was taken away when he pushed himself in.
He started off slow, entering me inch by inch while holding my gaze. My mouth was parted and I almost heard every breath I took. The way it filled my lungs.
I heard his groans too. With every inch he gained inside me, he let out a deep guttural growl. He took possession of me and I gave myself up gladly.
His hands were clamped on my arms, pinning me down to the floor, pushing himself inside me. I had my legs thrown apart and at first, his width and length seemed too much for me. But then, I relaxed. I gave in to the pleasure. He moved faster too.
We moved together. I felt the carpet burn on my back but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered anymore. He felt so heavy and strong over me. My height had always been a weak point for me as far as guys were concerned, but it was barely noticeable with Everett. He was much bigger than me and I was enveloped underneath him.
My clit throbbed just as he found it with his fingers. His cock slid in and out of me, picking up speed, fucking me until I knew I was on the edge of coming.
He saw the way I pressed my eyes close, pursed my lips together trying my very best to hold back.
“Not yet, babe,” he growled into my ear. I loved this hold he had on me. I wanted him to guide me and command me, and the longer I held back my orgasm, the more pleasure rippled through every fiber of my being.
He pumped himself into me, harder and faster and then finally, he shifted gear, went slower.
“Look at me while I come inside you,” he commanded.
I opened my eyes and looked at his handsome chiseled face. Blue eyes shining. Sandy straight hair fell over his eyes.
“You may come for me now,” he said.
I cried out his name and went almost limp with relief. My orgasm washed over me and I felt numb and at the same time like I experienced every emotion there existed. I knew he was exploding inside me too, but I didn’t care. I was soaring.
He emptied into me with quick big thrusts until he was done. I was done too, but I didn’t want to let him go. So I wrapped my legs around him and clung to him like a koala clinging to a tree.
His hot breath fell over my face, making my hair shake and swirl. He smiled, and I experienced a uncontrollable urge to burst out laughing. I managed to tame it and it only came out as a giggle.
Everett kissed the tip of my nose.
“I’ll go to all the damn charity balls you want me to go to if this is how the nights are going to end,” he said.
Twenty
Everett
We woke up in my bed the next morning, tangled up in each other. The first breath I took when I opened my eyes was tinged with the smell of Keira’s hair. Her head rested on my arm, she snuggled into me and I pulled her closer, breathing her in deeper. I loved the smell of her. I wanted her in my arms. I’d never woken up the morning after sex and pictured spending the rest of the day with the girl I had in my bed.
“I have to get to work,” Keira said in a lazy voice. I didn’t even know she was awake, but she shifted and looked up at me with a smile. “I have an important conference call in about forty-five minutes and I can’t miss it. I’ll also have to stop by my apartment first and change into something more…official.”
I tried to act casual. She didn’t need to know about the thoughts I had just a few moments ago. I was embarrassed by them. I didn’t recognize myself when I was around her.
I moved my arm and she got up. I watched as she got dressed. She kept throwing nervous glances over her shoulder. I could guess what she thought. She regretted everything that happened last night. She’d briefly mentioned something about boundaries and rules in our fake relationship but it hadn’t worked out so well.
Maybe she was disappointed in herself.
I shouldn’t have cared about what she thought. I got what I wanted, and that should’ve been good enough for me. But I did care.
What was happening to me?
“What are you doing for the rest of the day?” she asked. She was back in that smashing black dress and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
“Do you have any suggestions?”
Keira shrugged. “You could go into your office for a change.”
“My office?”
“It is your office now, isn’t it?”
“I guess…I don’t know. I’ve never considered it like that.”
“Don’t you think it’s time you took on some duties?”
“You mean so the cameras following me everywhere can get a few pictures of me walking into our office building?” Once again, I felt a flicker of annoyance.
Keira stroked her hair, smoothening the top of her head.
“No, that’s not what I’m talking about. I just think you should consider getting involved. From my limited interaction with your family lawyer and your brothers, I get the feeling they want you there. They want you involved.”
How did she know what my brothers wanted?
She must’ve noticed how my eyes hardened and she composed herself again, pasting a forced smile on her face.
“It’s just a suggestion. I don’t want to trample on your shoes. I should really get going,” she said, heading for my bedroom door.
Her phone rang in my room somewhere. If it hadn’t rung, she would’ve probably forgotten it here. Keira stopped at the door and looked around suspiciously. She spotted it on the floor and rushed to it, answering it before it cut off.
“Hello?” “Oh, hi Josh. How are you?” “What do you mean?” “No…I haven’t seen him in a few days actually.” “Shit. Okay. Thanks for calling me. I really appreciate it.”
The call ended and instantly I knew this was about Sean. I had a feeling there were no other circumstances under which she’d look that worried.
“What’s going on?” I asked. Keira looked up at me, alarmed. Like she’d forgotten she was still in my house.
“That was Sean’s friend from college, Josh. He just called to say he’s been a little worried about Sean lately. He hasn’t shown up for classes today and didn’t answer his phone. He’s in school now so he can’t go to check up on him.”
I pulled myself out of bed and put on my pants lying on the floor.
Keira looked like she’d been slapped across the face.
“Hey, I’m sure he’s fine. He’s probably just sleeping in.”
I placed my hands on her shoulders and she looked up at me, still dazed.
“Everyone just…everyone I know always points out that I obsess over him. That my life revolves around my brother and I’ll be the first to admit it does. But Sean is…I know he appears to be brave and in control of his situation, but he’s isn’t always. He still has nightmares about the accident. Nobody seems to know this about him.”
I brushed the back of my fingers along her cheek.
“And you understand him because you’re his sister, and this is why he needs you. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says about you or him. You have to do what you’ve got to do to make sure he’s doing okay.”
She opened her mouth to speak but her phone rang again.
“Damn it!” she cursed as she answered the phone. “What
?”
“Yes. I know. I’ll be there. I’m on my way.”
The call ended and I guessed it was from the office.
She covered her face with her hands.
“I don’t know how I’m going to make it in time. Go to check on Sean. Go to my apartment and change my clothes, then make it in time at the office for the call. Shit. Shit. Shit!”
“How about you just go home, change and go attend that call?”
“I need to make sure Sean is doing okay.”
“I can do that. It’s not like I’m doing anything else.”
Keira looked confused for a moment and then her shoulders slumped. She allowed herself to relax a little.
“I promise I’ll call if there’s any cause for concern.”
“Sean did seem to like you,” she said.
I smiled while she exhaled deeply.
“Okay, yes, I guess I have no choice. There are a lot of people expecting me to be there on this call.”
“I’ve got it covered. You don’t have to worry about Sean,” I said.
Keira gulped and nodded. For a moment, I thought she’d give me a kiss before she left, but she didn’t.
We weren’t in that kind of relationship.
Twenty-One
Keira
I was fidgety the whole time I attended the conference call.
I sat in the middle of a boardroom with the high-ups in my organization and some equally important people on a large screen. I was expected to make a presentation about the work my team was involved in, and I was hardly focused. At that point, I didn’t even care if I messed it up.
The only thing I was concerned about was Sean and if he was okay.
What was I thinking? Why’d I agree to send Everett over to his apartment instead of going myself?
By the time the meeting had ended, my nerves were so frayed, I almost fell over in my heels. I was sure everyone else saw it on my face. I was a nervous wreck.
I took my leave immediately. George insisted on discussing the meeting, but I told him something personal had come up and ran to the elevator.
