Crash: A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance (11 page)

“But… why did you call me a stuck-up bitch?” she asked.

A lump rose in my throat. I was hoping she’d forgotten that.

“You were so beautiful, Katherine,” I told her. “I wanted you to be attracted to me the way I was to you, but you refused to shake my hand. I was… hurt.”

“Oh, Luke,” she gushed. “I’m sorry. I was so overwhelmed by you that I was nervous and I couldn’t move. God, you were so sexy. I wanted to take your hand! I just couldn’t!”

“Really?” I asked her. She nodded. “I’m sorry I called you a stuck-up bitch. You’re anything but that.”

She smiled and fluttered her lashes at me, and I leaned back down to capture her lips again. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close against me as the waves crashed around us, sending a mist of salt water over us that I was nearly oblivious to.

“God, I could take you right here and now,” I told her.

“Do it,” she told me. “Take me. Here. Now.”

My cock twitched in response, but I backed away from her.

“No,” I shook my head. “Not here.”

“Please, Luke,” she said. “I want my first time to be with you.”

First time? She was a virgin? Oh, shit.

“Okay, then definitely not here,” I told her.

“Then where?” she asked. “Let’s get a room.”

I caressed her cheek and ran my thumb along her jawline and then her soft lips. As much as I wanted to fuck her silly right there on the rocks, she deserved better. She also deserved better than some sleazy by-the-hour motel room.

“Be patient, Duchess,” I told her. “You’ll have your first time.”

“Duchess?”

I chuckled and said, “Sorry, it’s a nickname I’ve had in my head for you since we met. I thought you were a pretentious little rich girl. Boy, was I wrong.”

She laughed merrily and said, “Clearly I was wrong about a lot of things, too!”

“This may get complicated,” I said. “Are you prepared for that?”

“I don’t care anymore,” she said softly. “Who cares what anyone thinks? This is
our
life, not theirs.”

I hooked my hand over her shoulders and guided her back toward the rocks. I tugged her close to me and planted a kiss on top of her head.

“Let’s get you home,” I told her.

“My car’s still at school,” she objected, pausing. “I’ll need it to get to work tomorrow.”

“I’ll take you to work tomorrow,” I told her. I didn’t leave it open for discussion, and she didn’t try to argue.

I helped her scramble over the rocks, and we made our way back to my bike and donned our helmets. Then I drove her home.

It was a long, agonizing ride. Her arms were wrapped around me, and I could still taste the sweetness of her kiss lingering on my lips. I cock was aching painfully, and I half wished I’d just taken her right there on the beach, but I just couldn’t bring myself to regret it fully. She was a good girl. She deserved better than a fuck on the beach. That was for people like Ashley—and with some other man than me, because I’d had enough of fake bitches like her.

I’d told myself I was going to stay single—that I didn’t need anyone. I was certain all women were going to be like my mother, or like Ashley. But Katherine was proving me wrong. Not only were all women not like my mother or Ashley, but I did need someone. I needed her.

Katherine

My arms were wrapped around his waist, and I had my head leaned on his back, my eyes closed. I was wishing I didn’t have to wear a helmet so I could feel my cheek against him.

I wondered what he would do if I slid my hand up his shirt to feel the ridges of his abdomen, or slid them further down to grab his package. I blushed at the thought.

We pulled out outside my mother’s house, and I was reluctant to let him go. I could have ridden there behind him, feeling his body against mine, forever. I removed my helmet and handed it to him.

“Thanks for dinner,” I said. “And for the beach, and the ride home.”

Just as I turned to move toward the door, he grabbed my wrist. I froze, afraid to turn around. I didn’t want him to kiss me. Not there. Not where my mother could see.

“What time should I pick you up tomorrow?” he asked.

“I have to be at work at eight-thirty,” I answered. “If you pick me up at eight, you can take me to pick up my car by eight-fifteen.”

“I’ll be here,” he said. He still hadn’t released my wrist, and I still hadn’t turned to face him.

He slid off his bike and stepped in front of me, tilting my chin upward with his finger. My cheeks flushed, and I couldn’t help but glance toward the house to be sure we weren’t being watched.

“Relax,” he said. “Your mother’s car isn’t here.”

“But the neighbors…” I objected.

“The neighbors can’t even see us,” he pointed out.

It was true. We lived at the end of a very long drive. I could barely see one neighbor’s house on the hill in the distance, but they’d have to be using binoculars to see what we were doing.

The truth was, I was scared to death. Oh, sure, I’d been big and brave at the beach, but we were hidden there. I’d said I didn’t care what people thought, but I did. I was terrified at what our parents would say. Would it cost me Berkeley?

But most of all, I was terrified that I’d fall for him—really fall for him—and something terrible would happen. What if we broke up on bad terms? Not only would I have to deal with the heartbreak, but it would make every family gathering an awkward nightmare of epic proportions.

“Something else is bothering you,” he said. “Tell me.”

“I… I can’t…”

He grabbed my shoulders, holding me at arm’s length and capturing my eyes with his own.

“Tell me,” he insisted.

“It’s just that I…”

The honk of a car made us both jump, and we each stepped away from one another, putting distance between us. I turned to see Mom’s car barreling up the driveway. She pulled up beside us and got out, approaching us with a broad grin.

“Oh, I’m so happy to see you two together!” Mom beamed. “Are you getting along?”

“Um, sure,” I said, heat rising to my cheeks.

Luke jammed his hands in his pockets and said, “Yeah, just fine.”

“Wonderful!” she exclaimed. “Luke, your father will be thrilled! Come on in, you two. I’ll make us all dinner!”

“We just ate,” Luke said. “And I better be going.”

“Nonsense,” Mom said, wrapping one arm around each of us. “Now’s the perfect time for us all to get to know one another.”

She dragged us toward the door, and once she unlocked us, she waved us inside. She tossed her keys onto the table in the foyer.

“I’m going to order some Chinese food, because I’m starving,” she said. “You two sure you’re not hungry?”

“I’m fine, Mom,” I told her, and Luke agreed.

“Alright, I’ll just order my usual,” she said. “Have a seat, and we’ll watch a movie or something. Family time! Yay!”

She disappeared into the kitchen to locate her menus, and Luke and I sat on opposite ends of the couch. I propped my elbow on the arm of the couch and stared at the wall.

“I’ve decided something,” Luke said.

“Oh?”

“I’m staying here tonight,” he said.

“What? Why?” I gasped.

No, no, no. Not a good idea. Nope. I couldn’t even be trusted to sit on his bike without wanting to grope him, much less sleep in the same house!

“Why not?” he shrugged. “If I’m going to be staying late to watch a movie, and I have to be here early tomorrow to take you to your car…”

“Are you staying here tonight?” Mom asked as she entered the room with a menu in her hands and a phone pressed to her ear. Then she said into the phone, “Yes, I’ll hold.”

“I was thinking about it,” Luke said. “That is, if you don’t mind.”

“No, I don’t mind at all!” Mom said. “I think that’s a great idea!”

Great. Thanks, Mom.

“Yes, I’d like delivery, please,” Mom said. “Yes, that’s right. Same address. Okay, I’ll take one order of crab Rangoon, one order of egg rolls, and an order of sesame chicken. Yes, that’s all. Okay, thank you very much.”

She hung up the phone and slid off her shoes, flopping down onto the chaise lounge and scooping up the remote.

“What would you guys like to watch?” she asked.

“Something terrifying,” Luke suggested.

“Ah, a man after my own heart!” Mom gushed. “Love horror!”

She found some random horror flick on Netflix and started the show, and I tried to dissolve myself into the arm of the sofa in an attempt to stay as far away from Luke as possible.

I couldn’t even concentrate on the movie. I could see him looking at me now and then out the corner of my eye, but I refused to look at him. I was certain my mother would see right through me if she saw me looking at him.

The doorbell rang nearly an hour into the movie. Mom started to stand up, but Luke beat her to it.

“I’ll get it,” he said. “Just sit. Enjoy the movie.”

He pulled the door open, and I could hear a female voice in the foyer. I strained to listen.

“Well, hello!” the female voice said. “Did you order all this food for just you?”

I cringed and resisted the urge to make my presence known.

“My step-mother ordered it,” he said.

“Nothing for you?” she asked.

“Nope,” was his simple response.

“Oh,” she said. I could hear the disappointment in her voice. “Well, I just need you to sign this.”

“Be right back,” Luke said.

He brought the receipt and a pen to my mother to sign for the credit card payment. She signed it and handed it back to Luke.

“Here you go,” he told her.

“Thanks!” she said. “Oh, and if you get hungry later, I’d be happy to bring something out to you.”

“Goodnight,” Luke said, closing the door.

When Luke got back into the room, Mom said, “Wow, she was hitting on you!”

“Me?” Luke asked. “No, she was just trying to get a bigger tip.”

“She was flirting!” Mom said. “You should have got her number!”

I snagged a throw pillow and clenched it against me, pulling my knees up and wrapping my arms around them. I was seething. I mean, I shouldn’t have been. Luke and I weren’t an item. But the thought of another girl flirting with him made me furious.

“Here’s your food,” Luke said, setting the white plastic bag on the coffee table.

“Are you shy, Luke?” Mom asked.

He snorted and said, “No, not at all.”

“Well, why didn’t you ask for her number? Was she cute?” Mom asked him.

Luke raked his hand through his hair and then rubbed the back of his neck. He exhaled sharply.

“I didn’t notice,” he finally said.

“Ah, there must be a girl you like already,” Mom said.

“Will you just eat your damned food and shut up?” I shouted at her.

Mom froze, her eyes wide, and her jaw slack. I instantly regretted talking to her that way, but she was driving me crazy and making me think all kinds of awful things about other girls flirting with Luke.

“Katherine!” Mom gasped. “Are you feeling alright?”

“I’m just tired,” I said. “I’m going to bed.”

Without waiting for a response, I jumped off the touch, threw the throw pillow onto the floor, and stormed off to my room, slamming the door. I half expected someone to come after me, but when no one did, I took a shower, changed into my comfiest pajama short set, and climbed into bed.

It was nearly impossible to sleep. I kept thinking of that delivery bitch flirting with Luke, and I wanted to call the restaurant and ask for her manager so I could tell him to make sure his employees don’t flirt with the customers. But I managed to calm myself.

Maybe it was harmless,
I thought.

Harmless. Yeah, right.

Then I started to wonder how many women hit on him on a regular basis. I’d seen first hand the way women seemed to fall at his feet. Mariana at the restaurant, every girl on the beach, this delivery chick… women just seemed to gravitate in his direction.

My stomach twisted into tight pretzel knots and churned with rage and fear. So, what, I was supposed to give my heart to him and then have to compete with every other woman on the planet to keep him? No, thanks.

I decided right then and there that I’d just have to forget about him. Not only was he going to be my stepbrother, but I’d have to deal with women hitting on him constantly. I just couldn’t do it.