Chapter 2
two
GENEVA
Peter Winsloe is without a doubt the most honorable person I’ve ever known. Hell, he’s probably the most honorable person anyone who’s ever met him knows.
I know that sounds old-fashioned, which is sad, really. This world could use more men like him. Rand and I agree that Peter is the best of us. I’m sure he has flaws; I know he does. They’re just hard to see around the shining armor.
He was raised by parents who, while lacking money, provided all the love and support a child would need. Hugs and “good jobs” were handed out in equal supply between him and his four siblings. His parents still hold hands after thirty years of marriage. They call him every Thursday night just to tell him they love him. They’re those people.
That’s how I know he’s going to hate my answer. “Fourteen.”
“Fourteen?” He says it like he’s casting a curse. “Fourteen?” As if saying it louder changes the answer. “Geneva, what were you thinking? Fourteen is way too young. Hell, seventeen was too young.”
“Okay, Dad.”
“It’s not funny.” He runs a hand down his face. Peter has a lot of tells when it comes to emotions. This particular one means he’s frustrated. I’ve studied him for years now. I know every non-verbal cue he has. “Jesus. Why didn’t Rand tell me?” he mumbles to himself.
“Rand doesn’t know,” I snap. “Rand doesn’t need to know. Rand isn’t going to know.”
It’s not an idle threat, and Peter knows it. Rand would completely lose his shit about it. I shouldn’t have told Peter. He’s like having another, much hotter brother. The brother I’d like to see naked. Well, that’s just wrong when thought out loud.
“How old was he?” You think he’s angry now. Just wait until he hears this.
“Twenty-five.” I watch his knuckles turn white as he strangles the steering wheel. “It’s not a big deal. I knew what I was doing.”
“There’s no way you knew what you were doing at fourteen. It was?—”
“Don’t, Peter,” I warn. I know what it was. I’ve had years of regret about that night under my belt. I don’t need any more guilt forced on me. I stare out the window as I leave California behind little by little. He sighs beside me.
“Okay,” he says. “Let’s just find something else to talk about.”
I close the magazine and toss it onto the back seat. We ride in silence for another half hour.
Peter keeps glancing at me as we hurl down the road toward the mountains. He thinks he’s being stealthy about it, but he doesn’t realize I can see his reflection in the window. He’s been watching me like that for years. At first, I hated it; now, I find I like the attention.
Crossing my legs, I catch when Peter glances at my thighs for a beat before focusing back on the road. I smile to myself when he adjusts in his seat. I’ve also been able to make him uncomfortably hard for years. Maybe it’s the fact I insist on doing everything in the shortest skirts I can get away with. Wait until he sees what I’m hiking in.
“Are we there yet?” I ask in my drollest voice. He smiles like I knew he would. The one thing about Peter and I is we squabble often, but we move on quickly.
“We’ll be there in just under an hour.”
I sigh dramatically. Rummaging through my bag, I pull out a book to help me pass the time. I bought it specifically for this trip.
“Murder mystery?” he asks.
“It’s about a group of campers that are slaughtered on a cross-country hike. More of a thriller.”
“Lovely.”
“Nothing like a good book to relax me.” I flip open my book. Peter’s gaze bores into the side of my head. I ignore it and find the chapter I earmarked. Yes, I’m a monster, but I picked the book up at a second-hand store. A little corner bending is the least of its problems. I bought several similar books, planning on leaving them behind as I go.
“Mmmm,” he hums, looking back at the road.
“What?” I look up from my book. “No sexual innuendo about relaxing?”
“You know I only do that when Rand is around. Drives him crazy.” He smiles. “Seems incredibly inappropriate while we’re alone, doesn’t it?”
“Mmmm.” Now it’s my turn to hum.
I’ve begun to enjoy seeing how he can turn every comment into something salacious. If any other man said the things Peter has to me, I’d break his face. I just laugh when he does it. I’m sure that is something my therapist should know about. Then again, we all have our secrets.
We drive in silence through the dark until we pull up outside of a small cottage. Peter shuts off the engine, and we climb out. The air is colder here. I feel a shiver work its way through my body as I join him at the front of the SUV. Before I can go hunt for a warmer coat, Peter’s arm is draped around my shoulders. I press closer to his warm body.
“What do you think?” he asks. I have so many thoughts swirling in my head. Thoughts of confusion about moving on from what I’ve ever known. Worry about us making a success of our new business. Fear of not being important to my only brother anymore now that he has his own family.
“Looks promising,” is what I say instead. “Shall we check it out?” He motions me forward. He punches in a code on the keypad near the door, and the lock disengages. Inside is an inviting living area with a large fireplace at one end.
“There are two bedrooms; one upstairs, the other down the hall. You can choose which one you want.” I walk upstairs to see the first bedroom. It’s got large windows that, even though it’s currently dark, promise an incredible view. When I return to the living area, Peter has started a fire.
“I’ll take the one upstairs.” My bags are sitting by the door. How long was I up there?
“I opened a bottle of wine. Help yourself.”
Damn. Peter’s on his game. I pour myself a glass, toe off my shoes, and sit on the end of the couch. He pokes at the fire for a few more minutes before joining me. Pulling his shoes off, he sets his feet on the coffee table. I tuck my feet underneath me.
“Can I ask you something?” Peter asks after a few minutes.
“Can I stop you?”
“Do you worry we’ve taken on too much too soon?” he asks, ignoring my comment. It’s like he’s looked directly into my mind. “I mean, I think we made a good choice, I just…I don’t know. I worry that we won’t be able to make this work.”
He waits for me to say something. But what do I say? Growing up, I learned you never admit your fears. It makes you weak.
“Doesn’t matter. There’s nowhere else to go but forward at this point,” I say, not nearly as confident as I sound.
“Yeah, you’re right.” He stares at the fire. I wish he’d tell me what else is swirling in that beautiful mind of his. I need him to tell me everything will be alright. I need him to make me forget my fears. “Well, if we’re going to get in the Yosemite Valley hike tomorrow, I should probably get some rest.”
“Good idea. I would hate for you to slow me down, old man.”
I smirk; he smiles.
“I’ll see you bright and early.” I watch as Peter sets his glass in the sink, closes the screen on the fireplace, and picks up his bag. “Good night, Geneva.” With one last look, he walks down the hallway.
“Good night, Peter,” I say softly. “Sweet dreams.”
* * *
PETER
I know Geneva is scared about this move. Even though she won’t share her feelings with me, I can see it.
I know more about her than she thinks I do. Like how she fidgets when she’s nervous. Or how she becomes unnaturally still when she’s angry. How her eyes dilate when I get too close. I’m still working on what that means.
When she’s scared, she becomes even more acidic acting than normal. I’m surprised she didn’t refer to me by several lady-bit names when I mentioned my concerns about our new business venture.
I pull tomorrow’s clothes out of my bag and set them on the dresser. My hiking boots, I set on the floor. I figured Geneva would want to spend the entire day hiking, so I booked this cabin for two nights.
It’s been a while since I’ve been hiking. I’m in good shape, but I have no doubt I’ll be sore. I just don’t want to disappoint her. I brush my teeth and climb into bed.
I can hear her moving around upstairs. We hang out all the time. I’ve even stayed at their family home when Rand and I were roommates in school. This is the first time, however, I’ve ever stayed alone with her.
The shower upstairs turns on and my mind is filled with water rolling down Geneva’s naked body. I admit that I’ve been jacking off to visions of her for years. It’s not right. She’s my best friend’s sister. I’ve tried pushing her out of my mind to no avail. Even when I’ve had the occasional girlfriend, they couldn’t replace her. And no one-night stand can do her justice.
I slide my hand under the covers and into my boxer briefs. It’s the same every time. I start slow as I mentally undress her in my mind. Then I pick up the pace as the action continues from there.
Tonight, however, I don’t have to start slow. She’s already naked in the shower. My hand begins stroking my hard cock as my mind presses her back against the shower wall.
I imagine Geneva likes it rough, so I waste no time lifting her up so she can wrap her legs around me. My fist squeezes as I push inside her in one thrust. She gasps, but I don’t give her any quarter. I drive my hips forward in punishing strokes. She tries to close her eyes, but I demand they stay on me. I want to see them when she comes.
It never takes long. She’s too perfect for me to last. My spine tingles as she undulates on top of me. She uses her thighs to work me exactly how I like it. My hands squeeze her ass, encouraging her to speed up. I’m so close.
She moans, and I can’t hold on any longer. Hot cum squirts over my hand. I sigh. Once again, I’m left wishing for more.
I climb out of bed to clean up. The water upstairs is off. I stare up at the ceiling, wondering what she’s wearing. Doesn’t matter; she’s still my best friend’s sister. She’s still so far out of my reach, she’s untouchable. I lay back down and continue staring at the ceiling.
If she wasn’t Rand’s sister, would I make a play for her? I doubt it. She’s too far out of my league. She’s beautiful, but terrifying. It takes a long time to get to know the real her. She rarely lets down her walls.
I know she’s as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. But I only see it because of the years I’ve been friends with Rand. It’s why she never has a boyfriend. And why she cared so little about her virginity that she gave it away so young.
I roll over on my side. I’ve got to get my mind off of her for tonight. I’m exhausted from everything that’s been happening. I’ve got to get some sleep.
I want to be my best tomorrow. I get to spend the entire day with her and I want it to be perfect. And like every night since I was a boy, I drift off with visions of Geneva sifting through my mind.