Anti-Stepbrother

I was stunned. No one had ever done something like that for me. I wanted to thank Caden, say something to show him my appreciation, but I could only gape at him.

He laughed softly. “Do not cry.”

Two tears formed at the corners of my eyes. I wiped them away and blinked rapidly. “Who’s crying here? Not me. That’s for sissies.”

“You’re not a sissy.”

“Well, we both know you’re not. Holy crap, Caden. No one’s ever stuck up for me like that before.” I felt choked up again. “Thank you.”

He shrugged. “It’s no problem, but maybe we should get going? I don’t want to deal with a crazy chick.”

My lip twitched. “No doubt. They’re like serial killers. They bounce back.”

“Yeah. Just like serial killers.”

Our eyes caught and held as we smiled at each other, feeling all sorts of feelings—emotions that maybe we shouldn’t have been feeling. Or at least I was.

Caden’s eyes darkened. His look was like a sensual caress, moving over me, sending tingles and sensations in its wake, and getting me all sorts of excited. Images of us in his bed flashed in my mind. How I sat down, straddling him. How his hands grasped the back of my legs. How he held me tight, then pulled me on top of him. How he carried me to his bed, our lips touching, kissing, exploring. My hand resting on his stomach, the way his paused on my jeans, his thumb at the ready, just waiting for my permission.

I wondered why the hell we’d stopped in the first place.

“You scared that girl out of her skin.” Diego plopped back down in his chair, setting a beer on the table. “I should know. I had to give her three shots on the house.”

I coughed, feeling yanked out of my sensual cocoon. It’d been so nice and warm in there.

“You should’ve let her try,” Caden remarked, recovering more quickly than me.

Diego harrumphed. “And let you have a second go at that girl? No, thank you. You might not like having them here, but I welcome almost all patrons. And girls who look like that and drink like that? Bring on all their friends.” He began to raise his arms, like he was going to make an announcement, but he stopped. He looked between us. “Am I missing something?”

“No.” Caden sat forward and patted his friend on the arm. “We’re going to head out. I think we’ve done enough damage for the night.”

Following his cue, I stood.

Diego remained sitting, a befuddled look on his face. “Something happened. What was it? What’d I miss?” Then a gleam appeared. “Wait. Are you guys—”

“Going home.” Caden touched my arm, gently guiding me in front of him. “I’m dropping her off at her dorm, and I’m going to my place.” His hands came down on my shoulders, and I almost jumped out of my skin. He was touching me, holding me in front of him. He guided me away from the table and out the back way like before.

We were leaving. That was all. I tried to tell myself that, but as Caden said goodbye to Diego and maneuvered us through the remaining tables, I could only concentrate on the feel of his hands.

His thumbs slipped over my collar and began to rub against the skin there. And he was right behind me. I could feel his heat. I could almost feel him. If I paused, I knew I could lean back against him and he would hold me a moment. When we got to the fence, I did just that. I closed my eyes, leaning against him. His hands dropped to my waist. Soon he would hoist me in the air, lifting me over the fence. It’d come any second…but it didn’t. He stood like that too.

His fingers tightened around my waist. I held my breath. He’d break our contact any second now.

He let out a soft sigh, warming the back of my neck, and I was airborne as he lifted me up and over.

My legs were shaky as he leaped across, landing in front of me. He moved so seamlessly. He didn’t stand there and gape at me, like I had with him. His eyes didn’t even meet mine, and I frowned at that for a beat, but then his hand grabbed mine and we were walking to his vehicle.

I didn’t say anything when we got inside the Land Rover.

He didn’t reach for me, or grab my hand, so I kept it on my leg, palm turned up. He could grab it any time he wanted.

He didn’t. A part of me ached at the emptiness, as if the weight of his hand on mine had become natural, like my own skin. I bit my lip, not sure how I felt about that. Well, I knew how I felt. I didn’t know how I should feel.

When he stopped at my dorm, I murmured, “You really did bring me back here.”

He frowned. “Did you want to go back to my place?”

I didn’t reply. I couldn’t. I wanted him, and I knew what would’ve happened if we’d gone there instead. I would’ve kissed him, or he would’ve kissed me. I would’ve let him do a whole bunch of other stuff that he would be fine with and I couldn’t handle.

I swallowed over a lump in my throat. “No. This is okay. I’m…I’m kinda tired anyway.” Liar. You’re wide awake.

He nodded. “Talk tomorrow?”

My heart slammed against my chest. “About what?”

“About anything. Do we need reasons to talk to each other now?”

“No.” I laughed. “I’m being weird again. Okay.”

We were friends. That’s right. Friends.

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“’Night, Summer.”

I walked away, but I couldn’t shake a nagging feeling.