Chapter Three
Stephan
I am going to tan Jade’s hide. Why couldn’t she stay where I tell her? I turned to Scott. “Looks like you’re with us. Come on, Derick will drive us back so I can get my car. I need to get Jade from your place.”
Scott scrubbed his face with a towel. “Stephan, I don’t think you can get Jade if she’s at my place. My parents wouldn’t allow it. They aren’t like everyone here. They wouldn’t let you just take her. Jade is new and they know it.”
“She’s mine. I n—”
“Stephan, shut it.”
I glared at Derick as he narrowed his eyes at me. I knew he wanted me to keep quiet. I probably sounded like a possessive arsehole. It was the curse’s fault, and I couldn’t explain to Scott or my friends, they’d think I really was crazy. I knew people thought us Silverman’s were eccentric.
“You’ll see Jade tomorrow at the party. Right, Scott?”
Scott’s gaze went from me to Derick. He knew something was going on, just not exactly what. “Er, yeah, sure. Cassie is dying to go to one of your parties. She’ll make sure Jade comes. I’ll drive them to your place myself.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. I could wait until tomorrow to see her again. I’d call Zeck again when I got home and see what he’d found out.
*****
Scott stayed for a while and he’d help distract me. Derick took him home half an hour ago and I’d just gotten off the phone with Zeck. I sat at my computer shocked at the information I was reading. Jade was only seventeen, she was a little over a month away from eighteen. I was nineteen, so there wasn’t a huge difference in age. She was smart, not only to keep up with people a year older at school, but she was street smart. I felt like an even bigger arse as I read about her. Jade’s mother had died of a meth overdose only two weeks ago. She had no known father, and there were three different restraining orders against men her mother had been with. DoCS, Department of Community Services, had been called several times, but nothing had come of the visits. There were notes though, and he felt sick as he read one after another. Why the hell hadn’t they taken her? Jade had raised herself. She now lived with her mother’s father who was her only known relative and a drug dealer. Zeck had dug deeper finding out she received Centerlink benefits from the age of fourteen. He’d hacked into her account and I could now see how Jade spent the money, with care at the grocery store, and the cheapest clothing stores.
A knock sounded on my door and knew it would be Derick. “Come in.” I didn’t turn to him I kept reading.
“So anything good?” He didn’t need to ask what I was looking at.
Running fingers through my hair, I cleared my dry throat. “I’ve been an idiot. I knew we were lucky and spoiled, but…” I couldn’t tell him. I stood and moved from the computer. Derick took my place. I laid on my bed and tried not to come up with images of what Jade’s life would have looked like and what she’d been through.
After a while the side of the bed sank. “Fuck, bro, that’s some serious shit. What are you going to do?”
Ha, that was the big question. “I don’t know. I’m going to need help. I didn’t want to bother Mum and Dad, but I’m gonna need Mum.”
“Do you still want her?”
I sat up and snarled, “What the fuck kind of question is that? Of course I still want her, she’s mine. I just have to take it slower than I wanted.” I stared at Derick. “I’m going to give her everything, Derick. I promise she will want for nothing. I’m going to surround her with everything she could ever want, luxury, friends, family—and love.”
Derick stood. “You know I’ll support you, and Mum will love spoiling her.” He walked to the door. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but you need to go slow and build up her trust. You won’t be able to just move her in here and expect her to follow your orders. You need to give her time to get to know you. Jade is not one of your normal women, so treat her right.” He left my room, shutting the door.
As much as I wanted to get angry at Derick for what he said, I couldn’t because it was all true.
*****
Jade
Cassie’s parents were nice, and I learned were she got her no filter—her father. He just said whatever came to mind. I didn’t think I’d blushed so much in my life and I’d definitely not had a sheltered life. He seemed like the laid back one in the relationship, were Cassie’s mother was all perfectly put together, not a hair or piece of clothing out of place.
Scott didn’t come home until after dinner. I was relieved when Derick came with him to the front door and not the wanker. Derick hadn’t stayed long and he didn’t say a word to me.
I stayed in the guest bedroom, which was the biggest room I’d ever seen. The bed felt odd, it was soft and the sheets were of a high thread count. I’d never had a bed so soft or sheets so smooth and soothing against the skin. I tossed and turned all night.
No one woke me in the morning, and when I looked at the bedside clock I was shocked to see I’d slept past ten. I’d never done that before. I was an early riser. I showered and rushed to get dressed so it wasn’t too late when I made it downstairs. When I walked into the kitchen I was surprised to see Cassie’s dad at the stove and only Cassie at the table, set with plates, knives, forks, juice and cups.
“Hi, Jade. I hope you slept okay.” I smiled at Cassie’s father. I couldn’t tell him I hadn’t. “Yes, thanks.”
“Are you hungry? Go sit down. I’m doing sausages, hash browns, bacon, and eggs.”
I sat at the table next to Cassie. I wasn’t really a breakfast person. I sometimes had an apple or a mandarin, but nothing like what was being offered. “Yes. Could I please have a hash brown and an egg?”
“Sure.” He came over with a plate filled with already cooked food.
I placed the items on the plate.
“So what are you girls doing today?”
I had no idea so I looked to Cassie. “We are going to go to the beach. It’s such a nice day. A bit cool, but still hot enough to have a dip and sunbathe.”
“Sounds good, sweetie. You can take the car. But your brother asked for it tonight.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Cassie said. “Derick and Stephan are having a party tonight we’re going too. Scott said he’d pick up Stacy and Renee. The others are meeting us there.” Cassie’s father opened his mouth but Cassie put up her hand to stop what he was saying.
“Before you worry, we are going with Scott. You know the Silverman boys.”
“Okay. Promise me you’ll call no matter what, even if you need picking up or just want to leave.”
Cassie beamed. “Promise.”
For once in a long time jealousy flowed through me. I’d never had anyone care about me enough to give me options like Cassie’s father. The love was obvious between father and daughter. I hoped Cassie knew how lucky she was to have such caring parents. I decided I would say something. I hadn’t told Cassie much about my life before moving here, just the basics like my mother died and I didn’t have any other relatives beside my grandpa and I didn’t know my own father. Cassie hadn’t pried much, she’d been more interested in what my other high school was like and my friends. I‘d tell her a little bit, enough to understand she was extremely lucky.
After eating, we changed into our swimmers. Cassie grabbed towels, sunscreen, and the keys off the hook by the front door and we headed for the car. She jumped in the driver's side and I got in the passenger, chucking the towels and sunscreen in the back. Cassie started the car and backed out of the drive and we were heading toward the beach.
“You’re really lucky you know, to have parents like you do.”
Cassie smiled. “I know. My brother’s not too bad either. What was your mother like?”
“Not like yours. My mum would never have said anything like your father did. I don’t think she ever asked where I was going when I went out. I stayed at friends places and sometimes didn’t come home for days. She didn’t even seem to notice I was gone. I remember one time she was dating this guy and they were both high as kites. He got angry at something she did, probably stole money from him and he started beating her. When I called the cops and ambulance, the paramedic asked her a bunch of questions, I remember her saying she had no children. Another similar time she did the opposite and screamed I was a slut and no daughter of hers and went crazy attacking me. The cops pulled her off me.”
I hadn’t realized the car had stopped. I shook my head out of memory lane and turned to Cassie, she had tears rolling down her eyes and she was gripping the steering wheel so tight her knuckles were white. “I’m glad your mother is dead. She sounds like a selfish bitch.”
I flinched at her hard words. They were harsh. I didn’t hate my mother. I never had anyone else so I didn’t know what I was missing. It wasn’t until I started staying over at friends’ houses that I noticed my mother was different.
Cassie threw herself across the car and hugged me. I was stiff in her arms. Not many people hugged me, my best friend, Jess, from my old life and a couple of other friends, but not many. I‘d learned at a young age to avoid touch. It didn’t usually have a positive meaning.
Making myself relax I, slowly wrapped my arms around Cassie. She hiccupped and hugged me tighter. I had no idea how long I was supposed to hold her so I waited for her to let me go first.
Cassie took a deep breath, loud against my ear. “Let’s go before we miss out on any more sun.” She let me go and I grabbed the towels and sunscreen before getting out of the car.
We walked down the beach and I was surprised at how packed it was. The shore was lined with families, teens, and couples, some were swimming and others sunbathing. Cassie stood still and looked around.
“Do you have a certain spot or are you looking for someone?”
“Both. I’m looking for the best view.”
I raised my eyebrow. “What do you mean view?”
“We don’t want to be with the families or the couples. We want to sit with the hot singles. So both.”
I couldn’t help laughing at Cassie’s logic. I may not want a boyfriend or any man, but it didn’t stop me from looking.
Cassie tugged on my arm and we walked to our left away from the flags. We sat on the edge of the safe swimming flags, right behind a group of what looked to be university guys. I rolled my eyes. Cassie was full of surprises.
We’d been at the beach for half an hour, enough time to set up and put sunscreen on both our bodies. Before today I didn’t realize how putting sunscreen on a friend’s back could be such a turn on, but it got the guys’ attention in front of us.
Cassie and I now sat among four university guys in their early twenties. I tried not to be nervous or show how uncomfortable I was because I knew Cassie loved the attention. Cassie called Patricia, Renee, Stacy, and Racheal and they were on their way. I hoped when they arrived I could fade into the background.
Cassie’s phone rang and she rushed to answer it. “Hello. Nope. Jade and I are at the beach. Aha. Okay. See ya.” She hung up.
“Who was that?”
“Scott, he wanted to know where we were. He probably wants the car.”
I nodded. One of the Uni guys, Brent, was trying to talk to me. I just wasn’t interested. The guys were nice to look at but I didn’t feel any real attraction to them. An image of Stephan, the wanker, flashed before me and my body heated. I touched my lips as memories of the kiss assaulted me. I’d never been kissed like Stephan had kissed me. My mother’s ‘friends’ had kissed me but they had been sloppy and I always felt sick in the stomach when they were doing it. I hadn’t felt like that with Stephan, I felt the opposite. I inwardly sighed with happiness, because I’d been worried after what all those men tried to do I’d never be able to feel anything for someone of the opposite sex. I worried I was broken.
Closing my eyes, I let the image of Stephan surface, his big ocean blue eyes, and thick jet-black hair that fell just past his eyes. It made me want to reach up and brush it to the side. His killer dimples were lethal and I knew they could get him out of any situation with a woman, all he would have to do was smile and they would damn near swoon at his feet. I’d almost given in to him, to the temptation he was to me, but I knew I had to be strong. I heard about the Silverman brothers at school and what I’d heard about Stephan made me know he wasn’t for me. He would use me and break my heart. Oh, I knew I could get sucked in and fall for him. He was every teenager’s dream—at least most I knew.
I opened my eyes and sighed. I was new. He was a pretty rich boy who had never heard the word no. He was only interested in me because I’d said no. I needed to stop thinking about him and forget about the kiss and the way he acted. Boys like Stephan were not for girls like me. Oh they may use us, but they never stayed with people like me.
The sun beamed down and the afternoon heat was rising, I needed to stop thinking about him. I needed to relax.
“Cassie, I’m going for a swim. You coming or staying here?” I hoped she’d come. I didn’t want to leave her with the Uni guys by herself. I slipped out of my shorts and yanked my tank top off placing them on my towel. As I stood in only my tiny bikini I wished I’d had a bigger budget for a swim suit, because the one I had didn’t cover much. It was hard to find swimmers to fit me with my large bust. You had to spend a fortune to get them in big boobs' size.
“Sure. It’s getting hotter. Let’s cool off.”
I sighed in relief as Cassie shed her clothes and linked her arm in mine and we walked into the water. The ocean was cold and we both squealed as it hit us. Once we had gotten deep enough to enjoy the water, I relaxed.
“Are they making you that uncomfortable?”
I felt bad. I didn’t realize I was showing my discomfort so easily. “I’m sorry, Cassie. I’m just not used to letting my guard down, especially around men.”
“Ah, Jade. No it’s me. I’m sorry. I’m just being horny. I only wanted to have some fun.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “You know, live a little.”
I laughed and glanced back at the shore to see the Uni guys getting into the water. They looked harmless enough. I was a teenager. I should be like Cassie and want to have fun. Rolling my shoulders, I winked at Cassie. “You’re right. Let’s go live a little.”
*****
Stephan
I followed Scott, Brad, and Derick onto the beach. Scott had rung and said to meet him at the beach so Derick and I now followed him and Brad toward the water. The beach was busy and the sand between my toes was nice and warm.
I needed to get out of the house. I’d been in the gym all morning letting off steam to keep myself calm. I wanted so badly to go find all three men Jade had restraining orders on and strangle them.
“Oh fuck. Scott, you’re an idiot.”
I glanced up to see why my brother was talking to Scott like that, only to still, my whole body hardened at the sight. My Jade was in an itty-bitty bikini and running in the water. Her breasts bounced and threatened to flee their confinement. When arms wrapped around her and she squealed then giggled, I saw red.
“Holy shit, grab him, Brad.” I hadn’t realized I’d been storming forward until I was tackled.
“Scott, go help Brad while I get Jade, otherwise we’ll have bloodshed.”
I fought to get my two dead friends off me. Well they would be if they didn’t get off me. I took Brad down and stood as Scott came at me. I dodged and kicked and had him face planting into the sand. I gazed at my prey in time to see my brother arguing with the guy I was going to kill. The guy let Jade go and Derick placed her behind him. I marched down to the water yanking my shirt off.
Jade’s eyes widened as soon as she saw me. “Stephan.” Even her breathless voice didn’t squash my burning anger. I’d been so angry about what happened in her life that I’d spent my morning working it off. Now I see her playing with a man in a barely there bikini and all my morning’s hard work vanished. Pulling her to me, I lifted her arms and placed my shirt over her body covering her up.
“What the hell are you wearing?”
“I was wearing a bikini, but now I’m wearing your shirt. What are you doing here, wanker?”
“Looking out for you.”
Jade placed her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed on me. “Well I didn’t ask you to.”
She looked hot standing there at the shoreline with her eyes flaring with annoyance. She came to just above my nipple. She was a little thing, but full of fire. My anger slipped away and filled with a fluttering of something new. Something I hadn’t felt for a woman outside of my family. I reached out and stroked her cheek. “Someone has to, little bit.” I gathered her hand in mine and walked to the towels, she had to run to keep up. I saw my brother fixing the towels away from the guys. Derick held out a towel and I wrapped it around Jade, rubbing her arms to get her warm. I was surprised that she didn’t say anything; she just stared at me.
I sat down on a towel and pulled her down onto my lap. I took deep breaths to calm myself as I held her, trying to ignore my body as heated up with need. I needed to slow down.
“You’re crazy. You know that right? I don’t know you and you’re acting all caveman.” Jade wiggled back and gazed up at me. “Are you on something?”
I rested my forehead on hers, needing more contact. “I’m not on anything. This is all what you do to me. Only you can do this to me.”
“I didn’t do anything to you. This isn’t why you’re crazy. I don’t understand why you’re being like this with me. We have only just met. I haven’t encouraged you in any way.”
I debated for a moment what to say. She already thought me crazy, so if I told her the truth I think I would just double her belief. Easing away, I cupped her face then stroked her smooth skin. “I know what I want, and from the moment I laid eyes on you, I wanted you.”
“So you want to have sex with me?” Jade shook her head. “You can’t have me. I won’t have sex with you.” She backed off my lap and kneeled on the sand. “Ever.” She looked me up and down. “Besides, you’re not my type.”
I laughed; I couldn’t help it. She was the worst liar. “Is that right?” I gathered her back to me and sat her so she straddled me. “So if I did this—” I captured her mouth to mine and wrapped my arms around her back holding her closer to my body. My whole body came awake as soon as I kissed her lips. When her body came against mine, tension like I’d never felt before made my entire body stiffen with aching need.
Jade remained stiff against me and I could tell she was fighting to stay in control. I ran my hands down her back and squeezed her well-rounded arse. She jumped against me and her mouth opened on a gasp. I slid my tongue in and found hers, tangling them together. Her body became soft against my hard one and I almost tore my mouth from hers to cheer in triumph.
My cock throbbed and I didn’t know if I could continue and keep my cool. When Jade’s hands slowly trailed up my chest and circled my neck before running through my hair, I knew if I didn’t stop I’d be a goner. I prided myself on control. I’d been fucking women since the age of thirteen. I knew I had stamina. I could hold off coming for hours. But my girl had my control shot to shit and I felt like I was gonna come with only a kiss and her touch.
Tearing my mouth from hers, I looked into her face and groaned. She looked like a sex kitten ready to pounce on her prey. Her eyes were bright with passion and her lips plump and swollen from our kiss and just slightly parted as she panted, trying to catch her breath as her body heaved with lust.
“So much for taking it slow, bro.”
I shot a glare at Derick telling him without using words to shut up.
He raised his hands in surrender. “I was just coming over to say the rest of your girlfriends are here, Jade.”
Jade blinked a couple of times and scrambled off my lap.
“That didn’t mean anything. I’m sure my body would have given the same response to anyone.”
“I don’t think so, little bit.” I narrowed my gaze at her. “Don’t get any ideas about checking out the theory either, not unless you want my hands wrapped around that guy’s neck.”
“You’re an arrogant jerk, aren’t you? I don’t want to play the game you’re playing.”
“I’m not playing a game with you. I promise you that.” I stood and she backed up.
Jade looked over at his brother who was pretending to talk to their friends. “Derick, help please. I want him to leave me alone.”
Clenching my fist, I stared at Derick daring him to side with her. My chest felt tight and I tried not to get jealous she trusted my brother more than me.
“He’s not lying to you, Jade.”
Jade studied my brother for a while before she glanced at me. She straightened her shoulders and I honed in as she nibbled on her bottom lip. “We’ll see,” she mumbled.
I grinned as she scurried over to her friends. The university guys nowhere to be seen.