Chapter 26
Blake is in the air on his way home, and my insides hum, playing a song of longing and love. He has spun a web around my soul, trapping it forever.
Sitting at my desk, after I finish reading the children’s story online, I go through some homework while I glance at the time, wishing it to trickle faster. Then I curl up in bed with a book, but I can barely concentrate when my mind replays how Blake plays my body, making me come so hard, and often, no wonder I am in this constant relaxed yet wanton mood.
There’s a knock on my door, and Celine pokes her head inside.
“Hi, we’re watching a movie. Wanna join us?”
I show her the romance book, and she tilts her head. “Is reality better than fiction?”
“He surely gives these guys serious competition.”
When she closes the door, I hear a commotion and search for the sound. Hunter and Bailey are fighting in front of her door. She slams it shut in his face, and I say, “Hey, what’s the problem?”
“Not now, sis.”
He looks so torn as he rakes both hands through his hair and closes himself in his room.
Knocking on Bailey’s door, I let myself in. Her body is stiff as she monitors her screens. I wish I could help her and take away all that pressure she puts on herself.
“Bailey?”
She turns around, her posture softening.
“Were we loud? Sorry,” she says, and I plop on the edge of her bed.
“I am his twin, but you’re my friend, and I care deeply about you. What I mean is, if you need to talk, I’m here.”
She shoots up and starts pacing around.
“Has he always been this intrusive? Hunter knows no personal space or boundaries.”
“He’s like that when he cares about people.”
“Yeah, right,” she huffs.
“I think you need to just get out of this room.”
Her gaze redirects toward the screens. “But…”
“Come on, let’s go to The Cave. The others are watching a movie, anyway.”
I don’t let her think twice about it, so after changing, I take her hand, and we slip out the front door.
The frosty air bites into my exposed skin, and I pull my jacket tighter around me.
She inhales deeply, closing her eyes. “I hate feeling this useless.”
“You’re not alone in this, Bailey. We’re a team.”
I pull my phone out and message the group that we’re out.
The moment we step inside the club, Tyson greets us. “Such an honor to have you lovely ladies here.”
“Get me drunk,” Bailey says.
That is not what I had in mind, but if that’s what she needs to relax, fine by me. I’ll be by her side and make sure nothing happens to her.
He guides her to the bar, and Xander puts two shots in front of us.
Bailey tosses back both, and with a shudder, she says, “Let’s dance.”
We move to the middle of the club, and after a few songs, I need a moment to catch my breath. Heading to the bar, I ask for a bottle of water when I see a guy looking intently at Bailey. There’s something in his gaze I don’t like, but Bailey crashes into me and says, “I want another shot.”
She downs that, too, and that’s when my brother reaches us.
“The fun police is here,” she grumbles.
“Someone has to watch over your ass,” he bites back.
“I thought you wanted me to go out. Here, I’m out,” she snaps and moves to the dance floor.
The tension between them has me shifting in my seat.
My phone vibrates, and when I pluck it out of my jacket pocket, I find a text from Blake.
I want your ass home and waiting for me.
And my ass wants to dance.
If someone touches you…
That threat goes straight to the place between my thighs, making it throb.
No one would even dare, you caveman.
You never know if someone is suicidal enough.
I’m not even drinking, and for your info, I have an awesome boyfriend who fucks my brains out. I don’t even see other guys.
Good, but now I am fucking hard.
I’ll take care of it when you come back.
I want you in my bed wearing fucking nothing.
Heat flames up my body, aching for him to soothe the fiery need. I slide the phone back in my pocket, and my brother slumps into the seat next to me.
“I have this. You can go home.”
“Sure?” Not that I would leave Bailey. We came together, and we’ll leave together, but I just want to see if Hunter reveals more.
“Yes. This girl will be the fucking death of me,” he grumbles and orders a glass of whiskey neat.
“And why are you blushing like that?” he asks, narrowing his eyes at me.
“I doubt you want to hear about it.”
His face scrunches up, and he takes a long gulp of the amber liquid. “It’s like I live in a brothel. At any given moment, someone is fucking.”
I burst into laughter. “Is that a bit of jealousy I detect? I doubt you lack willing women.”
His grip on the glass tightens, and he downs it in one go before slapping the empty glass down.
“No time for that, when I have to make sure this girl rests enough and actually sleeps. She listens to Blake, but with me, she is so damn stubborn I could wring her neck.”
This is the most he has talked to me about how he feels in ages. I want him to continue to let me in. I have no idea how to broach the subject again without him blocking my attempt.
“I think it’s normal to be a little scared when someone has so much power over you.”
He tenses up, and through a clenched jaw, he says, “No one will ever have power over me again.”
With that, he leaves me with more questions than answers again and the need to find out what happened to my twin. Not being able to help him is pure agony.
I catch his wrist. “Please, whatever it is… you’re my other half.”
“The lack of sex must be getting to me. Don’t worry, sis. Nothing a good fuck can’t cure.”
I swallow the bitter taste of disappointment and offer him a nod before he walks away, getting lost in the crowd.
Bailey is all flushed and sweaty by the time she reaches me. Her pupils are big and swimming in alcohol. “Can we stay a while longer? I mean, only if you want that too.”
She is the sweetest person ever. I’ll stay with her for as long as she needs.
“Of course.”
Dragging her to the other seat and offering her a bit of water, I say, “There’s a guy who hasn’t stopped looking at you.”
She steals a glance. “Hmm, didn’t notice, but that’s Eric. He’s a fellow student.”
I can’t shake off this nagging feeling, though. Maybe he likes her and is socially awkward. I am getting paranoid by the second.
Two sips of water and two shots later, she drags me to the dance floor.
My anxiety dissolves as I sway my hips, raise my arms, and let my body undulate to the rhythm of the music.
My brother hasn’t moved from his spot, still leaning against the opposite wall, watching us—or, more accurately, watching Bailey.
It’s another half an hour by the time she says, “We can go.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. I can’t wait to return and get ready to be Blake’s welcome home present.
We weave through the throng of students partying. That guy Eric is still at the far end of the bar, watching Bailey. Hunter stares at him intently as we walk past and step outside. If my brother noticed him, too, I can’t be that paranoid.
“You have an admirer, Bailey,” he says low enough that the already low temperature outside decreases so drastically I expect frostbites.
“Just so you know, he likes me,” she slurs, clearly hammered. “He keeps asking me out.”
My brother grinds his teeth so hard I’m surprised they don’t break. I just want to go home—fast.
“Only you could think of dating with danger lurking around,” my brother says. That was a low blow.
I move between them, playing the referee. “No one is saying anything more.”
“Your brother is awful. What is his problem?”
“Your friend is like a damn deer, such an easy prey for predators.”
Help.
“I am not prey,” she says haughtily.
“You still can’t throw a punch to save your life.”
“Maybe it’s because of my teacher.”
They completely ignore me as they continue bickering.
Reaching the house, they keep at each other’s throats as they head upstairs. They both slam their doors in each other’s faces.
With the commotion they caused, the girls come out of their rooms.
“We have to do something about these two,” Abi says.
“It’s getting worse,” Celine adds.
“I know, but my brother is too damn blind, and she’s too damn upset. They speak different languages.”
“Maybe force them to face whatever is going on,” Abi suggests.
“Trapping Hunter with all that bottled-up emotion wouldn’t be good,” Celine says.
We move to the kitchen and sit down to eat muffins.
“I think they like each other,” Celine says low.
“Why are you whispering?” Abi says, whispering back.
A peal of laughter bursts from us, and I say, “I don’t wish unrequited love on anyone.”
“Shut up. Blake has had something for you since the beginning,” Abi says.
“I never thought it could be like this…” I rasp.
“Welcome to the other side of love. When you’re scared shitless for the other person, more than you are yourself,” Celine says, taking a small bite.
“It’s terrifying. I’m tracking his location every minute to know he hasn’t crashed.”
“I feel like I die and come back to life only when I see Dane step out of his racing car.”
“I don’t know how you do that,” Celine says.
“Because he would give up racing for me, and I would never allow that. I want him to live as free as he can. We both know afterward, the Family will come first.”
“I was thinking about our roles. I want to create an NGO—give something back. We always had a problem with our legacy being corrupt, but we have a lot of influence and money to make a difference. Make a real change,” Celine says.
A bright smile takes over Abi’s features. “My plan has always been to lead the real estate company. Then I can see my creations come to life.”
“And I am going to climb the ladder until I am the president of Eagleton College. I don’t see myself doing anything else,” I say, determination filling my chest.
We raise imaginary glasses in a toast.
“I can’t wait to be done with college and move into our home,” Abi says wistfully.
“We’re still searching for a place. Fact is, neither of us wants to move to the compound. I know we have to at some point, but maybe we can all make the estate our homes,” Celine says.
“Like a big, happy family,” I offer, thinking of Blake’s house in the woods. I could see myself living there. But I wouldn’t mind sharing a place once a week—a place with my found family.
I stand up, needing to get ready for him. “I am heading to bed.”
“You should rest while you can. Blake will be here any moment,” Abi says, voice laced with innuendo.
“Will you stop?”
“You’re loud,” Celine says, both of them giggling.
“It’s not like you’re any better.”
“Personally, I think the guys are in some sort of competition,” Celine says matter-of-factly.
“True, but I don’t mind, though,” Abi replies.
The echoes of our laughter only disappear when I close the door to Blake’s bedroom.
Getting into the tub, I soak in the bubbles.
Just a bit longer, and he’ll be here. That knowledge has butterflies flapping their wings in an erratic flurry, caressing my ribcage. Bending over the tub, I pick up my phone and I snap a pic of myself. Bubbles cover most of my body, but you can see my pointed nipples and the apex of my thighs.
I hit send. Not even a few seconds later, I get a voice message. I play it, and his low groan reverberates through me.
His voice message follows a text.
You look delicious enough to eat, and baby, I am starving.
I know what his message implies: a very long and hot sex session. From a virgin to fucking like I am a sex addict. I guess I am. He’s even surpassed my expectations.
Rinsing myself off, I blow-dry my hair and get in bed, naked.
I am his good girl, after all, and I can’t wait for him to wake me up and dirty me up.