• Twenty- Nine •
· Twenty- Nine ·
I was shelfing that guilt because I hadn’t actually done it.
Storm
Pacing back and forth in front of my Jeep outside Maeme’s, I fought the urge to go inside and throw Briar over my shoulder, then leave with her. I wanted her in my house. In my bed. Naked all the time.
Finding eighteen thousand dollars in cash tucked under the seat of her car had set me on edge. Sure, I’d taken it and hidden it in my safe. There was no way I was letting her have that kind of freedom to leave me.
I was itchy with the idea. I hadn’t been able to stay there and continue going through her things. I needed to take her to the car so she could get what she needed, but I had to make sure there was no more money hidden anywhere.
My inability to stay away from her had me back here though. Although I’d put two cameras in her bedroom so that I could watch her, I still wanted to be near her. Yes, I was crossing all kinds of lines, but I really did not give a fuck.
What I cared about was making sure Briar was mine. Keeping her safe. Giving her everything she ever wanted. But first, I had to stop acting like a psychopath in case she noticed.
Looking back at the road, I swore under my breath. Where the hell was Nailyah? I’d called her an hour ago. She should be here by now. I needed to make sure Dovie had something to do so that Briar would be available to go with me. To my house. For the night. Nailyah was coming to meet Dovie and make hanging out with a seventy-five-year-old woman more interesting. The more intertwined I got Dovie into the family, the easier it would be to hook Briar. Nailyah had better become Dovie’s best damn friend.
The red Porsche finally slowed and turned into the drive leading up to Maeme’s. About fucking time. I waited as Nailyah climbed out of the driver’s seat and glanced at me like I was acting unstable. Probably because I was. I had to check that shit, but it seemed every time I tried to stop, I just got worse.
“You okay?” she asked, walking over to me.
“Yeah,” I replied. “Thanks for coming over.”
She shrugged. “You didn’t exactly ask me. You told me. But you’re welcome.”
I’d been ready to blackmail her ass if needed, but thankfully, she hadn’t been difficult. Yes, I had considered blackmailing my baby sister. I was shelfing that guilt because I hadn’t actually done it.
“It’s not like you don’t owe me,” I told her, letting the things I could have blackmailed her with hang in the air.
If our parents knew half the shit I’d gotten her out of, she’d lose that expensive car of hers and one or more of her credit cards.
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be a douche,” she said, glancing back at the house. “So, this girl is living at Maeme’s?” she asked.
“Yes. She’s not deaf, but she is mute.”
She nodded. “You explained that already. Lucky for you, I know enough sign language from my extra-credit course in high school that I can talk to her. Now, this is because of her sister? You want her alone?”
“You don’t need details. But I do want a night out with her sister. Yes.”
I hadn’t known how else to explain their relationship. I’d figured sisters was the easiest way.
I started toward the house. “Briar said that Dovie can swim if you want to take her over to the house to swim.”
“That’s good. But I was hoping I could get Maeme to make cupcakes first.”
“Fine. Whatever. Just be friendly. Keep her happy.”
“I’m always friendly.”
I could argue that, but we had reached the door, and I was ready to get inside to Briar. Leaving her earlier had been painful. She’d been watching me as if she was expecting me to turn on her at any minute. Which I deserved. I had to prove myself to her. I knew that, and I was going to pull out all the stops to do it.
Nailyah opened the door, and I followed her inside.
Maeme came walking through the doorway leading into the great room, and her face lit up at the sight of my sister. “I’m so glad you’re coming to spend some time here. It’s been too long since I had any quality time with you,” she said as Nailyah walked over to hug Maeme.
“I know. I’ve been so busy with my classes. But finals are over now, and I have the summer break ahead of me.”
Maeme patted her back. “That’s good to hear,” she told her, then nodded her head back toward the great room. “Come meet Dovie. I’ve been teaching her how to crotchet this afternoon.”
Nailyah grinned. “I haven’t done that in years. Are you showing her how to make the dish cloths we always used to make?”
Maeme nodded. “Sure am.” Then, she glanced back at me. “Briar will be down shortly.”
Which meant she was still upstairs, alone. I’d checked the camera I had in her room before getting out of my Jeep. She’d been walking around in a pair of the panties I’d bought for her. Turning that view off had been hard, but my sister had been on her way, and me having an erection would have been awkward.
“I’ll go grab a beer from the fridge while I wait,” I told her.
I waited until the two of them were out of sight before heading to the stairs and walking up them as quietly as possible. The only thing better than watching Briar on my phone was watching her in person. My patience was gone, and I’d been away from her longer than I could handle.
Turning the knob to her door, I’d expected it to be locked, but it wasn’t. She should lock her doors. Anyone could walk in and see what was mine. I didn’t like that idea.
Briar was standing in front of the floor-length mirror with her long hair over one shoulder as she braided it. Her eyes swung to me as I stepped inside the room, then closed the door with a soft click behind me.
“You need to lock your door,” I told her, still feeling unsettled about her being in here, where anyone who tried could come inside.
“Clearly,” she replied, looking back at her reflection as her fingers continued fixing her hair.
“I don’t like anyone being able to walk in on you.”
She smirked. “If I’d locked it, then you would have had to knock. What if I hadn’t let you in?”
It was my turn to smirk. “I know where the key is.”
She frowned, then looked as if she didn’t believe me. “And where would that be?”
I slipped my hand into my pocket and pulled out the only key to this room. Maeme didn’t know I’d taken it the night I brought Briar here. If she knew, I’d have been dressed down over it by now. I was going to put it back after making two more copies, but I hadn’t taken the time to return it yet.
Holding up the key, I enjoyed the mixed expressions on Briar’s face. She wasn’t sure how she felt about it, but I could tell she wasn’t mad about it either. Maybe she wouldn’t be angry about the cameras in her room … no, she’d be pissed. That was something I couldn’t tell her about. Ever.
I dropped the key back into my pocket as I walked over to her. The shorts and sleeveless blouse she was wearing looked much better on her than it had on the mannequin in the upscale boutique I’d bought it at in Buckhead.
“Are you finished?” I asked her as she placed an elastic hair band at the end of her braid.
“Yes.”
“Then, let’s go.”
She turned to face me fully then. “Where are we going exactly?”
“To my house.” So I can fuck you in my bed.
“Oh,” she whispered, looking surprised.
I reached out and took her braid, wrapping it around my hand. This was going to be enjoyable later. I pulled at it. “Where were you expecting me to take you?” I asked, unable to keep from watching her mouth as it moved.
“I didn’t know, but … I definitely hadn’t expected that you’d take me there.”
I tugged on her hair gently. “And why is that?”
She licked her lips nervously. “I … well, it’s your house. And we … we are … I don’t know what we are. Not anymore.”
I used my hold on her braid to pull her to me. “What do you want to be?” I asked her when, internally, I was shouting, MINE. I couldn’t exactly say that to her though. Not yet.
She let out a soft sigh, then laughed that sweet musical sound I craved. “I don’t know, Storm. You scare me. I’m afraid to want you at all.”
I didn’t like that answer. But I had caused this.
I leaned down and brushed my lips over hers, no longer able to wait to taste them. “I’ll fix that,” I promised her.