Love is Strange: A Taboo Anthology

by Yolanda Olson

  Chapter Six

  ASH

  When I saw Ember standing on the doorstep, I couldn’t move from the spot. She was right there in front of me, and I ached to grab her and show her just how much I’d missed her. She was smiling when I opened the door until she saw me standing there. I wasn’t about to let her in without her speaking to me, but I didn’t expect her to squeeze past me like she did.

  My skin still burns from where she brushed up against me. I very nearly grabbed and pinned her to the wall right there by the door. I managed to hold back, though, because not only is my sister in the house but also, as I have to keep reminding myself, she's only seventeen and not old enough for all I want to do to her. I want to do everything to her.

  Mom actually succeeded in getting home this evening, which was a pleasant surprise and made this impromptu trip even more worthwhile. I barely saw her when I was back for the summer break. She looks exhausted and overworked but content. I hug her tightly, breathing in her familiar smell: the smell of home.

  “I’ll see you in the morning, Ash,” she says tiredly, and makes her way upstairs, leaving me alone in the living room.

  Flopping down onto the couch, I lean my head back with my eyes closed as the long trip here catches up with me. I’m starting to drift off when the sound of quiet footsteps draws my mind away from sleep, and I open my eyes to see Ember standing in front of me, looking nervous and biting her lip.

  I’m instantly hard at the way she worries her bottom lip with her teeth. I want to grab her and suck on that lip, sinking my own teeth into it.

  “Ash...” Ember says quietly but tapers off, her eyes fixed on the way my cock is tenting the denim of my pants.

  Grabbing myself, I adjust it without caring to hide what I’m doing. The light blush that pinks her cheeks has me salivating to see what else I can do to arouse that response from her, again. Ember opens and closes her mouth, but no words come out, and then to my surprise, she turns and bolts from the room.

  I’m tempted to give chase, but I’m fucking exhausted. Also, with both my mom and sister in the house, I wouldn’t be able to explain away my actions if I got caught. Casey would kill me if I took her friend, especially with them both still at school and me heading back to college tomorrow.

  This little visit wasn’t a waste, though, not only did I get to see my mom and Casey, but I also got to unnerve and mess with the girl who features in every one of my filthiest fantasies. Ember is a sweet temptation I need to resist, for now, but when the time comes…. fuck what my sister says. I want her friend, and I will have her.

  Although it’s time to head back, I'm fighting the urge to stay here. Unfortunately, my classes won’t take themselves, and I can’t afford to miss any if I want to keep my grades up. Torn between leaving and staying, I let out a frustrated groan because I know what I have to do, but I’ll have to come back again soon. This visit wasn’t nearly long enough.

  I say goodbye to Mom and Casey while Ember hovers in the background..

  “I’ll be home for Thanksgiving, I wouldn’t miss that for anything. I’ll be back so soon you won’t have had a chance to miss me,” I tell them, giving Casey a hug and Mom a kiss on the cheek, but my eyes never leave Ember the whole time.

  I’m home sooner than any of them expected, and none of them know. It’s been two weeks since I returned to college, but waiting until Thanksgiving was an impossibility. I couldn’t go so long without seeing Ember. Yesterday, when I got back to town, I started watching her house. I know her room is on the ground floor, having seen her go into it several times over the last twenty-four hours. Ember wasn’t aware that her barely open window was wide enough for me to peek through and watch her. Last night I nearly snuck in while she was sleeping, but I’m not that fucking creepy. So once she fell asleep, I slipped away and crept into my own house for the night. But here I am the next day, and while she is out, I’m going to sneak into her room.

  The little temptation is obliviously beautiful as I watch her go about her day, and when she goes out in her dad’s truck, presumably to run errands or buy groceries, I break into her room.

  There isn’t much of interest. Her underwear drawer is undoubtedly intriguing, and hidden in among her plain colored bras and panties are a few matching sets of sexy lace ones. But she doesn’t seem to have much for me to snoop through, and I don’t find a diary or anything else that might hold secrets about her. I lie down on her bed, breathing in her intoxicatingly sweet scent.

  With Ember’s smell surrounding me, I picture her wearing the delicate lacy lingerie for me, and I feel myself getting hard. Pulling my cock out, I grip it firmly and start moving my hand up and down my length, remembering how she felt clenching around my fingers. I switch positions to kneel on her bed, and burying my nose in her pillow, I breathe in deeply as I pump my cock faster and harder.

  I’m panting heavily by the time I feel my balls tighten, and I come hard with a groan, and Ember’s name on my lips. Cum spurts from my cock in white ribbons, coating the bed and marking it with my release. When I hear the sound of the front door closing, I make a hasty retreat out of the window and move out of sight but not earshot.

  I smirk when I hear Ember’s high pitched voice exclaiming, “What the fuck?”

  Chapter Seven

  EMBER

  I drop my purse to the floor with a thud when I spot the open window. I didn’t leave it like that; someone else has been in here.

  Panic floods through me, and I exclaim aloud, “What the fuck!”

  I dart over to the window, and pulling out my phone, I call Casey.

  The phone rings out and I mutter, “Pick up, pick up.”

  When Casey’s voice comes through the phone, I immediately interrupt her. “Case, get over to my house. Someone’s broken in, and I’m scared. My window is open, and I’m sure I didn’t leave it like that.”

  “What! Call the cops! I’m on my way, babe,” she answers, and I can hear her pulling on shoes and the sound of keys rattling.

  “Please stay on the phone with me. We can call the cops after you get here, please hurry.”

  I slam the window shut and lock it before running down to the front door to wait outside for Casey. I don’t want to be in my bedroom alone.

  “I’m not far now, babe. I’ll be there in a few.” I must be on loudspeaker because her voice sounds far away, and I can hear the noise of her car.

  “I’m outside. I’m not going back in without you,” I whisper down the phone, biting my lip while I scan the road for her.

  When I finally see her car turn onto the street, I hang up and run down the path to meet her. Casey is barely out of the car before I throw myself at her, clutching her to me. I’m shaking so much I can hardly stand.

  She hugs me tightly and taking my hand, she squeezes it reassuringly, “Let’s check the house and see if anything is missing first. Then we can call the cops.”

  I nod and squeeze back, glad that she's here with me. I don’t want to bother my dad as he's away on business and can’t exactly rush back. We go back to my room, and Casey sits on my bed while I look through my belongings, trying to determine if anything has been taken.

  “I think everything is here, Case,” I tell her, biting my lip again.

  “Are you sure you didn’t leave the window open, Em?” Casey enquires. Her voice, which is now calmer, settles my nerves.

  “I don't know. I mean…I could have sworn I shut it...but it’s possible that I didn’t,” I say slowly as I think back, trying to remember if I left it open.

  “I’ve been so all over the place lately with school and homework. I probably did forget to shut it.” I exhale a laugh and shake my head.

  She grins at me. “Sooo, sleepover at my house again?”

  I throw myself down onto the bed with my legs dangling over the side, “Yes! It beats being here alone since Dad won’t be home until super late.”

  I roll over onto my side to look at her and start to play with the open weave patte
rn of the blanket when I feel something wet and sticky on my fingers. I pause, and then sitting up, I examine a mark on my bedcover.

  “Case, what do think that is?” I ask her, pointing to a damp patch, which I can now see is glistening slightly on the blanket.

  “What?” she says, turning with a frown on her face.

  She leans a little closer, inspecting it more carefully.

  After a moment she rears back, her eyes are filled with shock, and a light blush colors her cheeks. She appears to be fighting back a laugh. “Somebody was definitely in here, Em, because unless you gave yourself a little self-love before I got here, then someone else clearly did.”

  “Eww. What the hell! Why would someone break in and do that?” I gasp incredulously.

  “Has anyone been acting weird around you lately?” Casey asks.

  “Only your brother,” I say sarcastically, and she rolls her eyes.

  “Not him, he’s at college. But I don’t know, maybe you have a stalker.”

  My hands fly to my mouth at her words, and then I remember I put my hand in it and start gagging. “Ugh, I need to wash my hands and bleach my face.”

  I run to the bathroom and scrub my hands and face twice, probably using way too much soap, but I don’t care; I need it gone. Coming from my room, I can hear the sound of the bed sheets being removed, and once again I'm thankful for my best friend.

  I return to the bedroom where Casey is sitting on the bare mattress, and the now full laundry hamper is by the bedroom door.

  She has her phone in her hand, and holds it out for me to take. “Call the cops.”

  I take it from her, dial the number I need, and hold the phone to my ear. When I get through, I tell them everything, but as I listen to their response my shoulders slump, and Casey puts her arm around me, and gives me a hug.

  “What did they say?” she asks quietly.

  I inhale shakily and reply, “They said that one incident doesn’t suggest stalking, but I should be vigilant and alert them if anything else occurs. The dispatcher said that someone will be around to talk to me when my dad is home and asked if I had somewhere I could stay, for now.”

  Chapter Eight

  ASH

  When I see my sister’s car pull up, I leave. Aware that if I'm caught here by either of them, then they will know, and I can’t risk that. Ember will most likely stay with Casey tonight, so I won’t be able to see her again, just yet. I walk around the block to where I left my car and hopping in, I begin the two-hour drive back to college. I glance at the town in my rearview mirror knowing very soon I'll be back.

  The entire drive back I’m feeling restless and on edge. I know it has everything to do with the pretty, young woman I’m once again leaving behind. I can’t get her scent out of my head and the urge to turn the car around is strong, but I know I have to wait. I have to keep reminding myself she's too young, but that knowledge doesn’t stop me from fucking craving her.

  Ember’s birthday is coming up, and I want to get her a gift. As it's on October 30th and so close to Halloween, I’ll actually be able to come home and give it to her in person. I don’t really know what to get her, so I might have to ask Casey for ideas. Knowing my little sister, though, she’ll speculate about my reasons, but it’ll be worth it.

  Art supplies. Casey said to get Ember art supplies. So here I am in an arts and crafts store, and I have no idea what to get her. The young female cashier hasn’t stopped staring at me since I walked through the doors, twenty minutes ago. I’m not sure if it’s because she’s interested in me, or because I have been in here for so long, looking lost as fuck and without asking for help. In the end, I grab a nice looking art book and some pencils, walk up to the desk with them, and hand her my credit card.

  “Will that be everything, sir?” she says, blushing at me. Christ!

  “Yes, thank you,” I reply shortly and turn away from her, making my disinterest clear.

  When I hear the rustling of a bag, I turn back and take my purchases and card without another word. I swiftly exit the shop and head back to the comfort and privacy of my room where I can fantasize about the girl I'm going to have soon. One more year, I can wait that long for her, my Ember.

  It’s time to head home for the short Halloween break, and I’m thankful that I don’t go to a college further away. Otherwise, the frequent drives would be a fucking nightmare. Ember’s present is in my backpack, and although her birthday isn’t until tomorrow, I’m tempted to give it to her early. That’s not the only thing I want to give her, but that will have to wait.

  I pull up outside my mom’s house and smile when I see Ember’s car parked on the driveway. I smirk, knowing that very soon I'll be in her presence again. I wonder what she thought when she saw the mess I made of her bedcover, not that I’ll tell her it was me of course. I get hard just thinking about how I came all over the bed where she sleeps, just like I did her ass that night. Fuck, I need a minute to calm down. I can’t walk into my house with a fucking hard-on.

  I take a few deep breaths and attempt to focus my mind elsewhere, using my recent engineering classes to distract my brain and calm my body. I would like to be able to leave the car and enter the house without fucking embarrassing myself, and after a few moments, my damn cock obeys my head.

  I grab my backpack from the passenger seat, and slinging it over my shoulder, I stride up the path and into the house. Memories assault me when I see Casey and Ember sprawled out on the living room floor with their schoolwork, but this time Ember is wearing a pair of skinny jeans that hug her tight ass in a way that makes my cock instantly jump in my pants.

  “I’m home! I’m just going to grab a quick shower to wash the journey off. I’ll be down in a minute,” I call out, knowing full well that I’m going to need to do a lot more than shower if I want to spend any time in their company.

  Casey doesn’t need to see the evidence of how much I'm lusting after her best friend, and Ember will probably take one look and then blush. If I see that sweet pink on her cheeks again, I won’t be able to resist stealing a kiss and maybe another orgasm from her gorgeous, beautifully responsive body.

  I dash up the stairs and head straight for my room when I see Casey’s open bedroom door. I can’t help but wander in, hoping for a peek at Ember’s things.

  I’m just picking up her overnight bag when I hear her voice behind me. “What are you doing with my bag?”

  Chapter Nine

  EMBER

  Ash drops my bag on the bed and turns his dark, focused gaze entirely on me. I nervously lick my lips, and he suddenly looks hungry. He doesn’t answer, but instead he drops my bag, removes his backpack, and unzips the pocket before pulling out a plain gift box, which he holds out to me.

  “I was going to put this in it. A present for your birthday,” he says in a quiet voice.

  “Oh, thank you,” I tell him, smiling timidly and knowing that I’m probably ten shades of red by now. While I’m pleased that he thought to buy me a gift, it doesn’t change what happened between us or erase how he made me feel. But I’m aware that my resolve to hate him is beginning to waver.

  Ash puts the box down on the bed and walks over to where I’m standing in the doorway. Brushing past me on the way out, he places a soft kiss on my cheek, which I can’t help but lean into. Feeling foolish, I turn away from him, but he doesn't linger, and when I hear the bathroom door close and the shower turn on, I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding.

  Curiosity gets the better of me, so I walk back over to the box and carefully lifting the lid, I peek inside. I drop the cover with a gasp when I see what Ash has bought for me: an expensive sketchpad and artist pencils stare up at me from the bottom of the box. I'm speechless at having received such a thoughtful gift from him, but it’s too much.

  When I hear the water stop running, I grab the box and go to his room. I hover in the doorway for a moment before entering. Even though he's hardly ever here anymore, it still smells of him, and I can’t help
but inhale deeply. I go over to the bed and put the box down onto it before turning and slamming straight into a hard wall of hot, bare flesh.

  Arms wrap around me to stop me from falling, and when I look up, I see Ash’s dark blue eyes carefully assessing me, and I freeze.

  He looks past me and frowns when he notices the box on his bed, “Why’s that in here?”

  I chew my lip, nervously. “I want you to take it back; it’s way too much.”

  Ash scowls. “Don’t you like them?”

  I gasp, “No! I love them. They’re just too much. What did they even cost? I know these kinds of supplies aren’t cheap.”

  Ash waves me off. “If you like them, then keep them.”

  “I can’t,” I say in a small voice, and he looks at me with a raised eyebrow.

  He sucks his lip rings into his mouth, and I find myself staring. Ash’s lip quirks up at one corner when he notices where my eyes are, and he leans in closer to me.

  He's so close I can feel his breath on my lips.“It’s not too much, and I don’t care about the money. I care about you. Besides, Casey is the one who told me what to get for you. Do you really want me to have to tell her you refused the gift she said you’d love?”

  I’m sure he can see me caving, and I'm kicking myself internally for once again being sucked in by his magnetic eyes and warm husky voice. Casey knows me better than anyone, and if she told him to get me something so thoughtful, then I don’t want to hurt her feelings by rejecting it, even if it really is too much.

  I suck in a breath, look up at him, and say quietly, “No, I don’t want that.”

  Ash murmurs his response, but his eyes flash with the victory, “Good girl, now that wasn’t so hard was it?”