by Anna Brooks
He smirks. Duh. What else would he be doing? “Technology is kind of my thing.”
“That’s… cool.”
He rocks back on his heels and shoves his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Yeah.”
“So, uh, is this all you do?”
“No.” He takes a step closer to me, and I can’t tell if the pine smell is coming from him or the trees surrounding us. “Harlan is the expert in systems. I’m just helping him out. I’m usually in the office, holed up behind a computer doing all sorts of other sh- uh, stuff.”
“You don’t look like you sit behind a computer all day.” I can’t believe I just said that out loud, but I’m getting more and more comfortable at Noble’s place, and my natural personality is coming back in full force. Normally, I have no filter.
I can feel my eyes widening, and he drops his head, hiding a smirk. Or at least trying to because when he looks at me again, his lips are still tilted up. He clears his throat. “You headed to the beach?”
“Yeah. I guess it’s going to be kind of noisy, so…”
“It will be. Drilling tends to make a lot of noise.” The dimple that appears on the right side of his face makes him look younger.
“How old are you?”
His head tilts. “Older than you.”
“Well, duh. You just look familiar. I feel like I’ve seen you before somewhere. I thought that when Noble introduced us earlier.”
He studies me, his eyes slightly squinted, and I swallow nervously under his scrutiny. But then he clears his throat. “Yeah, I don’t think so. I have a sister who’s your age, though.”
“Unless she grew up in foster care, I doubt I ever saw her.”
“You two went to the same high school. You might have.”
My spine steels. “How do you know what high school I went to?”
One of his thick brows raises. “I know a lot of things, Brinley. It’s my job to find out all the things about all the people.”
“That’s kind of stalkerish.”
“Erik just needed a basic background on you when you first went to their house. I didn’t dig deep enough to know anything more than that.”
A sigh of relief leaves me unintentionally, but I cover it with a laugh. “There’s really nothing to know. But since you stalked me”—he grins and crosses his arms—“I’m sure you know I didn’t graduate high school, and whenever I was there, I barely paid attention, so I doubt I knew your sister.”
“Only reason I can think of why I’d look familiar.” It’s not lost on me that he doesn’t acknowledge that I didn’t finish high school. “I should give you her number.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the same age. You two could hang out.”
The concept is so foreign to me, I actually have to think about what he’s saying. “What?”
“Figured you’d like to maybe have someone your age to get your nails done with and shit.”
“I’ve never had my nails done a day in my life, Q. That’s not exactly something girls like me do.”
His face falls, and I open my mouth to apologize for being bitchy, but he doesn’t let me talk. “I don’t know what kind of girl you think you were or are, but I’m guessing it’s one who doesn’t think too highly of herself, and I’ll tell you now, you need to knock that shit off. Noble won’t put up with it, and I won’t either. I don’t feel sorry for you, but I do sympathize with your situation. Doesn’t mean that you can’t embrace the people around you now and enjoy life.”
“Geez, okay, Dad.”
He shakes his head and chuckles. “I’m way too young for that.”
“Uncle?”
“Um, no.”
“Brother?”
He nods after feigning deep contemplation. “That works.”
“All right, bro.” I put my fist out for him to bump, and he does it with a laugh.
“Gimme your phone, and I’ll add my number and my sister’s to it. No pressure.”
“Uh, thanks, I guess.” I hand him my phone, and joke, “You didn’t just do some crazy thing where you can read all of my messages now or anything, did you?” I meant it to be funny, but he stops and tilts his head.
“You think I’d invade your privacy like that? I mean… technically, I could, but I wouldn’t. Unless I needed to find out if you’re hiding something…”
“I’m not hiding anything.” I answer too quickly because his eyes narrow, and a long minute passes with me under his scrutiny. I laugh as I take my phone back.
He eventually rolls his eyes, and then uses his thumb to point over his shoulder. “I should get to work…”
“Yeah, for sure. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
“You will, sis.” He turns around, and I head to the beach that’s a short walk from Noble’s house, wondering how this is my life. Despite what I did, these people all are welcoming and don’t treat me like I have a disease, something I was mentally prepared for. It’s humbling, almost.
After laying a towel down over the warm sand, I take my tank and shorts off, then step toward the shoreline. My feet sink into the sand, and I actually giggle at the sensation. In the far distance, I can see a few other homes, but other than that, it’s nothing but nature. I stick my toes in and shriek when the cool water tickles my feet.
As much as I’d like to go in deeper, I can’t swim, and I’d be afraid I’d drown, so I go back to the towel and lie down.
I don’t know how much time passes before the shadow of someone covers my face. When I look up, I’m not surprised to see Noble. I know he’s tall, and obviously, since I’m lying down, he’s going to seem even taller, but right now, he looks like a giant. He’s a sexy giant who’s wearing the shorts he had on this morning when he went for a run and a white tank top. Such an imposing figure that if I didn’t know him, I’d be afraid of him.
“Hey.” He grunts, and with the single syllable, I can tell he’s irritated or something.
I sit up, facing the water, and he plops down behind me in the sand. His knees are bent as he surrounds me without touching me, but I can practically feel his skin against mine, his hard body against my soft one. I shudder at the closeness, wanting to lean back into him and have him wrap his arms around me so badly.
“Hi.” Feeling exposed in my swimsuit and slightly rejected when he doesn’t respond, I reach for the other towel, but he grabs my wrist in a firm grasp. Just that simple touch makes the inside of my thighs tingle.
“If you were worried about someone seeing you in that horrible excuse for a swimsuit, you should have thought about that when you put this stupid dental floss on.” His finger slides under the strap on my left shoulder, slow and soft, the complete opposite of the harsh tone he’s using, and he releases it with a snap that shoots straight to my belly.
I shiver from more than just his shadow blocking my sun and turn around, needing to look into his eyes. My knees dig into the towel and warm sand trickles against my skin. I find myself closer to him than I expected, and the sweltering hotness from the proximity of his body quickly replaces any heat I felt from the sun. “You were with me when I picked out the stupid dental floss.”
“I didn’t plan on anyone but me seeing you in it.”
“You’re the only one who can see me. You said so yourself. You said it was private.”
“It is private, but I’ve got two men, men who I trust, but men nonetheless, who can see practically every inch of your skin from my house, and I don’t fucking like it.” His shoulders are rising and falling from his heavy breathing. “They’re trying not to look, but when the temptation of you is so close, it’s impossible not to risk a glance. So if you wanna lay in the sun, you do it with me blocking their view, or you get your ass in the water where they can’t see your tight little body.”
The fact that he looked at my body and said something about it makes said body break out in chills before it immediately heats up again. Lord knows I’ve checked him out before, though I’d never admit it to him
. But what’s the point of laying out if he’s just going to block the sun? And the water’s out for obvious reasons. “I’ll just get dressed and—”
“That wasn’t an option. Pick.”
I don’t know where it comes from, but I lean in and glare at him. Time freezes as I realize the only thing between our lips is a breath of air. His pupils dilate, and my nipples pucker against my bikini top. “I’m not a child.”
The heat from his body turns to fire as his eyes trail down to my chest, then back up again. “You most certainly fucking are not a child, are you? You’re all grown up, huh, little red? You think you’re a big girl?” Each word gets louder and angrier as he continues. “As if just your pretty face isn’t enough for them to fantasize about when they go home tonight, jackin’ their junk thinking about how fucking beautiful you are, they get to see you flaunting your flawless figure, too. Give ’em goddamn wet dreams they probably haven’t had since they were teenagers. Knowing you’re off-limits only makes you that much more forbidden, which makes it all that much worse.”
My mouth falls open, and I rear my head back. “Wha… What are you talking about?” All of this is coming out of nowhere, but one thing in particular. “How am I forbidden?”
He clamps his jaw shut, and a muscle in his cheek jumps, but he doesn’t say anything.
The barrage of emotions consuming me right now is so overwhelming I don’t know if I should be mad or cry or laugh. Or worse, excited. Turned on. I love that he thinks I’m pretty, that he thinks I’m flawless when I’ve never felt that about myself in my entire life. I always thought I was worn down, washed out, and homely.
But he makes me think I’m not as bad as I always thought. The way he’s looking at me right now makes me feel… desired.
I can’t remember the last time I felt a pleasant sensation between my legs, but no matter how long ago, I know it was never like this. It wasn’t enough to make me melt and not even close enough to make my entire body vibrate. It never made my legs quiver and my mouth never dried up because all the moisture from my body went directly to my core.
I straighten my back and shoulders, forcing my breasts to his eye level and feel triumphant at the deep growl that comes from his throat. Instead of arguing or egging him on more, or doing something stupid like throwing myself at him so he’ll kiss me, I put my mouth by his ear. “I’m gonna go get wet.”
The sharp intake of his breath is the last thing I hear before I start to stand. Somehow, he’s faster than me because I find myself thrown over his shoulder as he walks toward the water. “Put me down.”
“Shut it.”
I kick at him, but he smacks my butt, and that makes me freeze. The soft moan that comes from my throat is uncontrollable when the sting buzzes through my belly. He makes a noise, and before it registers that it’s a groan, his palm connects with my backside again, and I squirm, desperate for some of the pressure between my legs to go away. But my wish doesn’t come true because I feel the cool water hit my knees, then my thighs, and I start to panic. “Noble, stop. I can’t swim.”
“I thought you wanted to get wet.” His growly voice sends a brief thrill down my spine.
I’m suddenly set on my feet, and since the water comes up to my chin, I scramble and grab onto his wet tank. “What are you doing?” I sputter and climb him, wrapping my legs around his stomach and digging my nails into his shoulders.
When I bump against the giant, swollen bulge beneath his shorts, I drop my head forward. It lands on his pec and his hands slide to my ass, where he massages the globes, and grinds me against him. It feels so damn good. “Fuck, shit.” He curses low and almost unintelligible and I hold on tighter and pant against his shirt.
He pulls me off him even when I try with all my strength to hold on, grasping me by my waist at arm’s length. Grabbing his wrists, I kick my feet instinctually, but I’m no longer full of desire. Instead, I’m weighed down with dread. Not only am I afraid of drowning, but I’m also humiliated from his rejection. “You’re playing with fire, Rinny. And you need to take a big fucking step back unless you wanna get burned. I told you I’d watch your back, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. You understand me?”
Of course. I get it now. The realization has me becoming lax in his arms, and I see the flex in his biceps when he has to use more effort to hold me up. He’s protective of me not because he wants me, but because he’s looking out for me. Warning me about the other guys. Protecting me.
It makes sense now. Why the hell would he want me? All the times I thought he miiiight just feel for me as more than just his daughter’s best friend, I obviously was wrong. Way wrong. Totally off base and now I’m totally embarrassed in a way I never thought I’d be. Especially around him.
God.
God.
My face heats up, and I look away from his gray eyes, the ever-present storm stirring and making the color darker and lighter at the same time.
Noble
Her cheeks are rosier than just a sun-kissed glow. They’re more like a freshly fucked pink while my balls turn bluer than the sky. I don’t know if she’s mad or embarrassed, but I really don’t care right now. I only care about the fact that there’s absolutely no way I’m gonna stand back and let her be on display for any-fucking-body else other than me.
I pull her closer to me and step back until her feet touch the ground. She tries to walk around me, but I hook my arm around her flat stomach. “Let’s work on swimming.” I throw out the lame suggestion just to keep her here, closer to me. So I have an excuse to run my hands along her skin.
“No, I don’t want to.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I’m hungry.”
Yeah, I’m starved too. For you. I gesture toward the house. “Get dressed first then let me feed you.”
Her arms cross, and she taps her bare foot against the sand. “I can feed myself. You can stay here.” She licks her lips and narrows her eyes at me. The horny little minx who just rubbed her pussy against my cock no longer exists. Instead, she’s now a bitter little brat.
“Don’t get an attitude with me, Brinley.”
“I don’t have one.” She tears away and bends down to grab her stuff, holding all of it in her arms.
No way is she walking into the house showing that much skin. She’d draw attention from anyone with a dick even in a snowsuit, but I still can’t let her walk through the house in what amounts to lingerie. No way in hell. “Put your clothes on.”
“I’m just gonna take them off when I get inside.”
“Brinley Nicole Reid.” I snap her name, and she turns around slowly. Her perky tits are high on her chest, tight nipples push against the fabric, and dewdrops fall from the ends of her wet hair and drip down her cleavage. My mouth waters, and I’m so tempted to kiss the fucking attitude off her goddamn lips.
“What?”
“Go cover yourself.”
“Go fuck yourself.”
Her eyes widen, and she covers her mouth with her free hand, then smartly runs from me. Oh, hell no. I take off after her and pass both Q and Harlan who are in the living room now watching the show like they paid tickets for it. I don’t have locks for my doors inside, not that that would stop me, so I open the bathroom door and slam it shut. She jumps, holding a towel up to her chin. The material reaches the floor but only covers the center of her.
Her tits are still popping out of her suit, and her thighs are trembling. “I’m sorry,” she whispers and scoots back until she’s against the shower door.
“You’re sorry?”
“Yes.”
“For what?”
She licks her lips, and I can see it takes effort for her to swallow. “For saying that.”
“For saying what?”
“Fu-fuck yourself.”
Hearing that word out of her pretty little mouth does exactly what it’s supposed to… it fucks with me. I have to fight getting hard again as I crowd her. I rest my forearms on either side of her head a
nd brush my nose against hers. “Good girls don’t say bad words.” She makes a noise of protest and drops the towel, then grabs my biceps to hold herself up. “What should I do with you, Rinny? How should I punish naughty girls when they misbehave?”
I don’t expect an answer from her, and I don’t get one. Instead, I get her shaky breaths warm against my already hot skin. “Should I give you a warning this time? Should I put you over my knee? Throw you over my shoulder and spank your ass again?” I slide my hand over and rub my knuckle down the side of her face. “Or should I put something in your mouth so filthy words can’t get past your lips?” I drag my thumb across her lips and push in slightly. Her tongue rubs against the pad, and I groan at the sound of her whimper and the feel of her slick tongue against my finger.
It’d be so easy for me to just lift her right here and fuck her against the wall. On the countertop. Bend her over the sink. I could think of a dozen ways to take her in here, but none of them would be what she deserves.
Before taking a very necessary large step back, I cup her jaw and kiss her forehead, offering her an apology without the words.
She’s shivering and brings her hand up, holding it over her mouth. Her innocent eyes stare back at me with a mixture of confusion and disappointment. Christ, I’m a dick. “Goddammit.” I run a frustrated hand through my hair and walk out, slamming the door behind me.
Harlan and Q are packing up their stuff, and they both stop and give me an expectant look. I don’t bother trying to hide the emotion pouring off me; the frustration, the fuckin’ turmoil at feeling things I shouldn’t but not being able to stop them.
I brush past them and hold a hand up. “Don’t say a fuckin’ word.”
Chapter 8
Brinley
After Noble’s little display of whatever the hell that was a couple of days ago, I stayed in the bathroom until I heard the other guys leave, then I quickly showered and changed. The house was silent, so I rushed across the hall and stayed hunkered in the bedroom.
I never left to get dinner, and he didn’t bring me anything either. I wasn’t hungry anyway, so it didn’t bother me. I had Luna to keep me company so that was all I needed. I barely slept, though tossing and turning all night in agitation made for a ridiculously restless night.
