Mistaken Identities (18 page)

“Come inside. I’ll try and think of places she might be but I can’t promise anything,” Stasia said with a sigh. Damn it, she still had an emotional connection to Kim. Hearing the story put a crack in her shield.

“That’s all I ask.” Bryce waited patiently behind her as she unlocked the door and stepped inside. He looked around as she turned on the light. “Nice place.”

“Were you expecting crack pipes and drug vials?” Stasia asked. “I’m going to shower and get cleaned up. Grab a beer or something from the fridge if you’d like.”

She didn’t wait for a response. Stasia went upstairs to the bedroom to shower and change. All the while she was thinking about the man downstairs who brought her past right back to her doorstep.
Why’d you go and run off Kim?
Stasia dried off and got dressed in her usual sleepwear of shorts and a spaghetti strap shirt and went to face him. He was standing, leaning against the small bar area that separated her kitchen from the living room. He lowered the bottle of beer from his lips slowly when he saw her.

“You still look sixteen,” Bryce said.

“Yeah, well, trust me, the sixteen-year-old ideals are gone,” Stasia said and walked past him to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. She sat down on the black suede sofa and tucked her feet under her. “You can sit down if you like, but it’s after one and I need to get some sleep.”

“I figured you’d have some guy waiting for you,” he commented as he sat down.

“Oh, you mean my second job, lying on my back? That’s Mondays to Thursdays,” Stasia said sarcastically.

“Christ, Stasia, I meant a boyfriend,” he said.

She took a long drink from her water bottle. “I don’t have the patience to take care of someone else’s ego.”

“Are you into girls?” he asked.

Stasia laughed. “So because I don’t have a man I’m now gay? Wow, an uneducated, low class whore who likes girls? Boy, I’m batting high scores in your book.”

“Why do you change everything I say into an insult?” Bryce asked.

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Why do you insult me in everything you say? Anyway, Kim liked Lake Norman. You may want to try up there. She liked a little bed and breakfast by the water and always dreamed of buying it and running it on her own some day.”

“I never knew that,” he said softly.

“Yeah, you had a lot on your plate being the golden boy and all,” Stasia answered.

“You’re not going to let me live any of that down, are you?”

“Why should I? I knew what your father was doing long before you did,” Stasia retorted. “She felt she could confide in me and not you. For a while there I almost thought you were molesting her too. But how could I tell you, huh? You were the golden child of Mr. McDowell and if I told anyone, this Ruby House reject would have been tarred and feathered. I saw him that night the cops were looking for us. Kim tried to hide me and he found us. He was going to turn me in until she said she would tell on him and I never saw a man turn as white as he did. How do you think I got the money to run? Daddy McDowell gave it to me from the safe. Kim made him do it.”

“Then why won’t you come back and help me find her?” Bryce stood and grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her up from the sofa. “She had four years of abuse that went on after that. Did you ever think of her?”

“Every day.” Stasia met his eyes defiantly. “No one thought about me—if I was eating, had a place to sleep or even if I was safe. I was the fucking scapegoat and everyone, including my mama, was willing to bury me alive and forget my existence. No one questioned Dani, but she is the one who threatened to kill Kim that night if she said a word against her. So why would I go back there?”

“To find Kim and to show all of them you survived,” he answered.

“That would mean I give a shit what any of those pompous fuckers think, and I don’t,” Stasia said. “Let me see papers saying that I won’t be thrown in jail the first day I step into Caldwell and I’ll consider it. I want that shit off my name and on to Dani’s before I will consider a yes or no.”

“You’re so hard,” Bryce said. “We don’t have evidence or proof, only your word against hers.”

“I suggest you find some and then get back to me. That is what happens living hand to mouth for years. You learn to push all the hurt away and be hard.” Stasia lifted her head with pride. “I didn’t break then and I sure as hell won’t now.”

She didn’t expect what happened next. Bryce kissed her hard, long and deep. She struggled for only a moment until she fisted her hands in his hair and gave as good as she got. He pulled her against him roughly and she ground herself against the hardness in his jeans. The kiss went from hot to nuclear in seconds.

She tore her mouth away and shoved him. “What’s this part called, let me fuck her into submission?” Stasia tried to calm her breathing. “What are you playing at? Trying to do what you wanted twelve years ago—to have a taste of the girl from the wrong side of the tracks?”

“You were kissing me right back,” he pointed out.

“Yeah, but I feel nothing for you so I can do what I like,” Stasia boasted.

His blue eyes were fierce as he pulled her close again. “Then say yes and we can prove that point as a lie right now. I’ll have you begging and screaming my name a few times before dawn.”

Stasia looked at him and licked her lips, considering his offer for just a moment. It was sex, nothing more, just scratching an itch she’d had for a long time. She’d take her fill of him and send him away. Nothing he said could take away the past, but right now all she was thinking was how his cock would feel inside her.

“Yes.”

Her answer was barely out of her mouth before he had her in his arms again and was kissing her senseless. She wrapped her legs around his lean waist and he began walking towards the stairs. They never made it that far as he stopped and pressed her against the wall. Stasia was standing on one leg and the other he lifted around the back of his thigh as their tongues fought for dominance.

“I want you naked,” he growled softly.

“Then make it so. I won’t make this easy for you. Earn me,” Stasia said boldly.

“I didn’t expect you to,” Bryce answered. He grabbed the front of her thin shirt. “I’ll buy you a new one.”

“I can buy my own.”

“Stubborn.”

With one yank, the shirt ripped like it was paper. Her bra was a front clasp lacy piece that he unclipped easily and he filled his hands with her breasts. Stasia whimpered and bit her lip.

“You won’t deny me hearing you scream when I pleasure you,” Bryce said before he lowered his head to hers and their lips met again.

Stasia dug her fingers into his hair. She felt like she was trying to hold on to lightning in a bottle and it couldn’t be done. Instead, she immersed herself in everything that Bryce was making her feel and of how she wanted him for as long as she had known him. Every part of her tingled as she touched him and their tongues parried and played. The barrier of his shirt rubbed against her sensitive breasts. Stasia pressed her body closer to his, wanting to feel more. He trailed his mouth down her neck to her breasts and she cried out as his hot mouth closed over her nipple. He took the other smooth mound in his hand and rubbed the nipple between his thumb and forefinger until her pussy clenched in anticipation.

“There’s a sound I like,” Bryce said.

“What else you got?” she asked brazenly.

“Just you wait.”

He lowered himself on his knees in front of her and his breath was hot on her stomach as his tongue paved a path down her torso and dipped into her belly button. She felt his hands on her shorts and panties as he stripped them down her legs. He looked up at her with dark desire in his eyes. His eyes never left hers as he parted her legs and slid his finger between her wet slit. Stasia shuddered and undulated her hips towards his fingers. She wanted to feel more of the pleasure he offered. He gave her more than that—he bent his head and she felt the first flick of his tongue. Stasia whimpered and held his head to her, inviting him to taste her more thoroughly.

He gave a soft growl in the back of his throat, one that made her shiver with need. Bryce lifted one of her legs over his shoulder while she leaned back against the wall. At the first touch of his hot mouth pressed against the shaved skin of her pussy, Stasia bucked against him. Bryce’s tongue licked between the folds of flesh before he spread the lips of her pussy with his fingers and sucked on her clit. She wanted to scream from the sheer pleasure coursing through her.

“Don’t you dare move. You wanted it and now you will take it all,” Bryce growled.

He went back to her sex and laved at it once more. Stasia felt his tongue penetrate her and then his fingers. She closed her eyes and let the sensations take her away. He fucked her with his fingers until she felt a wave of heat wash over her and she screamed as she came. Her orgasm only heightened her want and she was on him like a sleek cat and struggled with his shirt. Bryce moved away long enough to drag the shirt over his head and toss it aside. They were now on the steps leading up to the one bedroom she slept in.

“I want you completely naked,” she demanded. “You can’t fight dirty and not take your clothes off after.”

He got undressed quickly and she admired his muscled body. “Come get what you want.”

She ran her hand down his sculpted abs and cupped his balls. “I’m not in this alone, Bryce, your cock’s not hard for just some girl. It’s always been me you wanted.”

“Damn, I admit it, I’ve wanted you since you were in high school,” he said huskily and nipped at her lips. “And you wanted me too. I saw it in your eyes and the looks you gave me.”

“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t.” Stasia bit his lip in return and ran her arms over his biceps. “But you found me now, so show me how much you wanted me.”

The next kiss they shared was a primal one and seared her senses. On the carpet they sat facing each other, their hands stroked and massaged until they were both craving more. She felt his hand delve between her legs and cup the mound of her pussy. His fingers stroked and teased between the wet slit before penetrating her and she moaned against his mouth.

She looked down and watched his hand as he used his fingers to please her.

“Damn, you’re so tight and wet.”

“Mmm, I like that,” she moaned.

“Then tell me you want more,” his husky voice demanded. “What do you want, Stasia?”

“I want you to make me come.”

“Like this?” He penetrated her faster and she whimpered. “Yeah, you like that.”

She couldn’t resist even if she wanted to. Stasia was drawn to the blue-eyed gaze. He drew out her pleasure until she was shaking. “Oh, God, yes,” she cried out as he buried his fingers deep inside her.

“Look how wet you are, Stasia. You want to come all over my hand, don’t you?” His arousal was evident in his every word as well as his cock, erect between his legs.

“Yes, damn you, yes!” She panted and lifted her hips in earnest, seeking her release.

He was rock hard now and she could see he was wet with pre-come. She wished she could reach him and pump his cock in her hands. He used two fingers now, sliding them deeper, faster and she ceased thinking, only striving for release. Her head fell back as ecstasy coursed through her. She could feel the orgasm building inside her, tightening to the point she could hardly bear it.

Bryce’s harsh breathing filled her ears and through her half-opened eyes she could see raw desire on his face as he watched her. She spread her legs wider, taking more of his fingers. Stasia wasn’t able to hold back and a cry escaped her lips. She dug her fingers into the soft carpet beneath her and tried to anchor herself in the storm of passion that was crashing through her body. She came hard with a scream and he moaned his satisfaction as he watched.

“Oh, I could see you do that over and over,” Bryce said. “I need to take you right now.”

“Wrong, it’s my turn.”

Stasia pushed him back and knelt between his legs. She took the hard length of him in her hand and stroked.

“You like that, don’t you, my hands around your cock? It makes you think about how it will feel inside me, doesn’t it?” she purred.

“God, Stasia, yes.”

A low moan escaped his lips as her mouth was poised over the tip of his cock and she blew lightly on it. Stasia licked the tip of his cock slowly then ran her tongue down the erect shaft. She cupped his balls and ran her teeth over the sensitive skin and he bucked on the stairs. She trailed her tongue back up to the tip and inch by pleasurable inch she took the entire length of him into her mouth. Stasia sucked and swirled her tongue, tasting and teasing his cock. She gave a satisfied moan when he called her name. He sank his hands in her hair and lifted his hips so his cock slid in and out of her mouth.

“Fuck, I like that,” he groaned.

Stasia felt his body tighten beneath her hands and his cock throb in her mouth and knew he was close to coming. An arc of pleasure traveled through her at the thought of tasting his come but Bryce denied her the pleasure.

“I’m going to come inside you. I won’t be denied what I’ve wanted for so long,” Bryce said.

Bryce pulled her up and devoured her lips in a kiss before he turned her around and bent her over so her hands were on one step and her knees were on another. Stasia spread her legs wider and could feel his erection against her ass. Oh, she wanted him inside her. The need was so great that Stasia moaned in excitement. But Bryce teased her. She felt his tongue delving between the lips of her pussy and whimpered.

“Now, Bryce, don’t make me wait,” Stasia demanded.

“Your wish is my pleasure.” With those words, he thrust his cock inside her and they both groaned. “Oh, damn, you feel so good.”

This time he didn’t tease her. He pumped into her at a feverish pace that made her feel like she was covered in heat. The slapping, wet noises their bodies made as he took her were primal. His hands gripped her hips tight as he pounded into her. They were striving for that pinnacle of ecstasy that washed over them in heated waves. He reached around to cup her breasts while he fucked her.

“Yes, yes, more!” Stasia chanted the words over and over.