My throat sighs in gratitude as the hot coffee Buzz brought back eases the arid discomfort that has left me parched since he brought me here. The small house is an old rundown place, but it’s like the Ritz compared to the first day we got here. For one, the toilet flush works, and two, it has a fireplace that I managed to build a fire in out of old newspapers and sticks Buzz found outside. He’s been fixing things like we’re a couple of new house owners and it worries me that he’s planning on keeping me longer. It’s been days and days now and I’m starting to give up hope Brenner is coming for me.

The burger he also brought back is heaven on my tongue, my stomach noisily devouring the first bit of food in hours.

Buzz sits beside me, biting into his triple chicken deluxe burger like he’s afraid someone will come and take it from him. It’s something I’ve noticed more and more about him, and I wonder if he’s even aware of how quickly he eats.

He sees me watching him and frowns. “Something wrong?”

Shaking my head, I smile faintly and carry on eating. The more time that passes I know Brenner isn’t going to come charging in and give himself up for me.

Slade will be going out of his mind, as will Scorch. My mind has wandered to Scorch frequently as usual, the boring nothingness generating an overload of thoughts, questions, memories. With nothing else to do, my brain refuses to give in to the boredom and keeps itself eternally busy. His scent, his smile, his lips, his body, his caress.

Sometimes I hate that my mind never rests, that it’s always on the go, the many nights without sleep taking their toll on me most days. Insomnia is a bitch, and with such an active mind, it’s an even bigger pain in the ass. Brenner had mentioned once or twice about me seeing a doctor, and I’d always brushed him off. Yet, right now, I wish for a small pill that would allow my mind some peace for the first time in days.

Unable to stop myself, I ask, “Anything from Brenner?” I take a bite of my burger, trying to act casual as though I don’t care if he’s been in touch or not, but Buzz seems to know me a bit better than I thought.

“No, but I’ve had numerous texts and calls from Frost.” He stares at me with such intent that I shrink back a little when he adds with contempt, “And Scorch.”

Scorch has been blowing up Buzz’s cell, that doesn’t surprise me but appears to surprise Buzz.

Scorch has always seen me as forbidden fruit and never showed his affection towards me in front of the other brothers out of respect for his best friend and my brother but it’s always been there between us, building and growing into an unstoppable inferno. I can’t even concentrate when he’s in the room, all I want to do is paint his body with my lips. He knows how I feel about him, even slipped a couple of times and gave in to what he knew we both wanted. It was one of the best moments of my entire being. Slade thinks Scorch sees me as a little sister, his constant protectiveness occasionally aggravating me. But if only Slade would look closer to the way Scorch gazes at me with a look that is, without a doubt, not an expression a sibling should exhibit. It’s a heated look, an firestorm in his eyes that penetrates through to the marrow in my bones and settles in the pit of my belly, melting me.

I can’t help my mind from drifting back to that night. A couple of months ago. The night Scorch was stoned and drunk, and he let me touch him and touched me back. The night he touched me so tenderly. And then pretended it didn’t happen the very next morning.

It wasn’t the first time he’s let slip his attraction. When I was fifteen, he gave me my first kiss so Jeremy King couldn’t get the chance. I’d lied to him about Jeremy, told him he invited me to winter formal and I’d said yes. I hadn’t, I’d told him no because I didn’t want him turning up on the news, found in pieces if Brenner ever found out.

That first kiss was everything and I relive it over and over to the drum of my fingers against my clit at night when I’m alone.

“Who the hell is that?” Courtney whisper yells as Scorch waves to me from across the yard of our school courtyard.

“My brother’s best friend.” I shrug, not wanting her to drool all over him.

“I’ll catch you later,” I yell over my shoulder, breaking into a little jog towards the truck.

“I thought your brother was going to drop me off?” She calls after me, but I’m not turning back or letting her share this time I get with Scorch. Every time I need a ride and text Slade I hope with butterflies in my gut that he will send Scorch. My heart squeezes inside my chest as he leans over and opens the door. The goofy grin on his beautiful face sends waves of hormones rushing to the apex of my thighs.

“Hey, Princess,”

“Hey.” I greet him and hope the blush on my cheeks can go unnoticed. His eyes drag to my bare legs. I’d just finished track and still in my race shorts. They’re getting too small and hug my thighs like a second skin.

I notice the swipe of his tongue over his bottom lip and the foolish girl inside me awakens with the hope that he could see me as a woman and not the brat sister of his best friend. A duty, burden on him.

“So where did you need to go?” He asks, training his eyes out front. I’m a little bummed he brought the truck and not his bike. The entire school would be talking if he rode up here on a Harley wearing his cut and looking badass and fine all wrapped in a neat leather package.

“Do I have something on my face?” He asks, his brows tugging down. He flips the mirror down on his sun visor and looks. Shit, I was daydreaming and staring at him. I quickly wet the pad of my thumb and brazenly reach over and pretend to smudge off a none existing mark.

“There,” I say, sitting back in my seat. He’s frozen, like I’m Medusa and he’s turned to stone. “Scorch?”

Blinking a couple of times, he snaps the visor closed and shifts in his seat. “So where did you say we were going?” His voice is strained but it’s not the first time he’s acted all weird. One time I made him run in to a drugstore for me because my friend wanted condoms, he went all stuttering and said I wasn’t old enough for sex. I had to convince him they weren’t for me and that I hadn’t ever had a boyfriend so my V card was still intact.

“Princess, are you going to tell me where we’re going or we going to sit here all day?”

“The mall.”

He cocks a brow at that statement but moves the truck into gear. I hit play on the CD he’s always got cued up in this truck and grin to myself. Scorch loves country music.

I’m rocking to the beat and I catch his eyes keep flitting towards me.

“You still like to dance, Rhi?”

“I hope so, that’s what I’m going to the mall for.”

“To dance?” His face is a puzzle of confusion, and I roll my eyes.

“No, dummy, to pick out a dress for winter formal.”

He taps his two fingers on the open window frame and there’s a pulse in his jaw that has me mesmerized. “Don’t you have girlfriends to do this shit with?”

I shrug and look out of my own window, admiring the first signs of the leaves falling from the trees.

“Is this a bachelorette thing?”

At that, I turn to face him. “As in we all go alone?” I ask, making him clarify.

“As in you’re going alone.” It’s not a question. He knows how protective my brothers are, especially my twin Brenner.

“Actually, I have a date,” I blush and let the lie roll off my tongue.

His hand comes up to rub at his jaw. “You’re not really old enough to have dates.”

I scoff and punch his arm.

“What are you, my dad?”

“Who is this date? I think he should be inspected.”

We pull into the mall parking lot and I jump out and begin walking to the entrance. Scorch’s feet pounding the asphalt to catch up with me makes my insides swirl.

“Not sure what you’re wearing counts as clothes, Princess.”

He’s eyeing my bare legs and looking around the empty space to make sure no one is looking at me. Overprotective just like my brothers. I’m lucky it was him picking me up because Slade would have marched me back into school, down to the locker rooms and made me change.

The dress shop is only a few stores down from where we entered, thank god, because Scorch has growled at every male that’s passed us. The cashier’s eyes widen when I enter followed by six foot two inches of biker. He’s young but his dominance commands any room he steps into.

“Can I assist you with anything?” An older lady asks, appearing to the left of me.

“No.” Scorch rumbles, taking my arm and leading me down the shop. “Not really my scene, Princess.” He’s uncomfortable and it’s adorable.

“I already know the one I want.” I’d looked online and could have ordered the dress, with free shipping, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity, and it played out perfectly. It would have sucked if Slade decided to spend time with me instead.

I pick up a silver A-line gown that has spaghetti straps and a gaping backdrop that exposes the back completely. I take my size and walk over to the changing rooms.

“What are you doing?” Scorch asks, scanning the shop as if I’m about to steal it and run.

“Trying it on, that’s what we’re here for. Here, hold my purse.”

I pull the curtain and hang the dress on the provided hook. Slipping out of my shirt and shorts, I look down at the white sports bra and cringe. This dress cannot have a bra and definitely not a sports bra.

Unhooking my bra, I drop it to the floor and slip the dress from the hanger and up my legs. The material is satin and molds to every inch of my body. You can see my entire outline and the tiny dip where my belly button is. The strings of my bikini style panties leave raised lines, and my nipples harden and tent the fabric.

Sucking in an encouraging breath, I pull the curtain back and ask, “What do you think?”

Scorch stands, clutching my purse. If the look on his face didn’t make my knees want to buckle, the image of him with my purse would make me giggle.

There’s a flame in his eyes, a desire ignited and strong and it takes my breath away.

The swallow he makes is audible and the visual of his Adam’s apple bobbing makes me blush all over.

“Do you think my date will like it?”

Silence.

“Do you think I’ll get my first kiss?”

At this, his eyes blink and his brows pull together. “Is that what you’re hoping for?”

I shrug my shoulder and the strap falls onto my arm. He moves towards me and his fingers brush at my skin as he places the strap back on my shoulder.

“Well?” he probes.

“I’m not sure if I’ll be good at it. I’m nervous that I’ll mess it up, but it has to happen at some point, right?” I whisper, looking up at him. He’s so close I can almost taste his breath.

“Kissing is like dancing, Princess.”

“Show me.” It’s a plea and one I can’t believe I let slip free from my lips. I’m waiting for him to laugh and tell me to stop being stupid, but he hasn’t, the air around us is thickening, condensing unbearably.

Bringing the pad of his thumb up to my lips he swipes it across my bottom lip. Brazen and empowered by the dress, I flick my tongue out to taste him.

His intake of breath warms my lower stomach and I swear he can sense my arousal, it’s that potent, a pooling warmth in my gut.

Moving his thumb over my mouth with more vigor, he then slips it inside when I part my lips. Oh god. I take him in and swirl my tongue around his thumb like it’s a lollipop and I’m craving sugar.

He slowly pulls it free and I risk a look into his eyes. They’re heavy and glassy and I know mine will reflect the same need.

“Fuck it,” he says, almost to himself, and then he’s cupping my cheeks and leaning in. His lips clash with mine, brutal and perfect. I grip his forearms to stop myself from falling into a puddle at his shitkicker boots. I’m throbbing all over and my head is spinning. Stars dance in the back of my eyes as our tongues duel. I hiss when his teeth puncture my bottom lip and a new wave of excitement floods through me.

He pulls away, leaving me woozy and stunned. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand he blinks a few times, just glaring at me. And then the magic pops like someone stuck a pin in it.

“You can’t wear that, Frost would kill me. Get something else and let’s go, I have other shit to do.”

“You fucking him?”

Buzz’s question catches me so off-guard that I stare at him in disbelief, my mouth wide open in stunned silence.

“You know he wants to fuck you, don’t you?”

I’m not sure if it’s a rhetorical question, or if he’s genuinely asking if I’m aware Scorch feels something for me other than in a brotherly way.

“Umm.” The blush that flames my cheeks makes me look away from him. I have no idea why he looks so hurt. I can only put it down to loyalty to his brother. If Tats had feelings for me, then I suppose, to Buzz, every other guy that feels the same is an enemy.

His eyes narrow on me. “Your pussy’s hot for him too. Fucking hell!” he scoffs, shaking his head, exasperated.

Changing the subject as swiftly as possible, I turn to look at him. Being sat on the hard floor so long has made my backside numb, and I flinch at the ache. “So, how long do you think we’ll be here?”

His expression hardens, and he sucks in a sharp breath. “As long as it takes, Rhiannon!”

“But it’s obvious Bren isn’t going to give in!” I fire back when his harsh tone angers me. “What the hell is all this achieving?”

The dark chuckle that leaves him makes my blood curdle. “Brenner thinks I won’t hurt you. He has no reason to. But he’s going to have to find out he’s very much mistaken!”

My whole body stiffens in trepidation when Buzz’s fingers curl around my chin, and his fingers dig painfully into my cheeks. The burger I was holding slips from my grasp onto my lap.

“Don’t think I won’t, Rhiannon. Your brother killed mine. Whether or not you’re to blame for that doesn’t make a shits bit of difference to me. I’m not your knight in shining armor, nor am I besotted with you like everyone else seems to be. Brenner isn’t losing sleep over you, neither will I. You’re not as fucking holy as you think you are!”

My eyes widen further with each spiteful word that he sprays at me. I’m not sure what I’ve done that has angered him, and I scurry through the last ten minutes trying to anchor down what suddenly changed his mood. His menacing gray eyes pierce mine. He is so close that I can feel how cold his nose is when the tip presses against mine.

As suddenly as he’d grabbed me, he lets go. My face snaps to the side with the roughness of the action, and I wince when the door slams loudly behind him.

I pick up the piece of meat that’s dropped from the bun and fling it into the fire. The flames dance in the haze of my vision and I swallow back the lump that has formed in my throat. The ketchup that’s coated my jeans gives my brain a reprieve from the horror of my thoughts, and I focus hard on it, drawing patterns with my finger.

I can hear Buzz tearing through the house. I’m not sure why he’s suddenly furious enough to destroy what’s left of the derelict house with his bare hands, but I suspect he needs to shoot up. I know he injects, every brother knows he’s an addict. I would imagine by now he’s struggling more and more with every minute his veins run clear of the shit that allows his own mind a break from the horrors that crucify him.

His bitter screams echo through the void of the empty rooms, ricocheting off each bare wall until they come to rest in the hollow of my heart.

Self-pity is more soul destroying than any hurtful action of another. My thoughts are as cruel as the toxic words Buzz spewed at me. Each one takes a blade to my soul and hacks at it until I can do no other than curl into a ball, shield myself from Buzz’s screams with a hand over each ear, and give into the rush of desolate tears that incinerate my heart.