26. Mayson
Mayson
W hen we get to the giant mansion, I shake my head just like I do every time I see this place.
It’s crazy how we went from living in a tiny apartment to this.
It’s never felt like home, but really nowhere has for me.
We moved around too much and while this was the most stable place we lived, it wasn’t ours .
It was never mine. It was us moving into someone else’s home and inserting ourselves into their lives.
Which Colin made sure to make extremely clear when we met. And ever since. I don’t belong in his world, in his house. Or with him.
Except lately, it’s felt the opposite and I don’t know what to do with that.
He’s always made it seem like he hates me and wants nothing to do with me.
I fully realize whatever we’re doing is probably temporary and that he's just using me for sex. That he wanted that level of control over me. Maybe it’s all some extra level to the Rites that the guys are doing.
I don’t know, but it’s why I’m not letting myself get too invested in this. No feelings. I could never have feelings for him.
The sex is nice. More than nice. It’s better than I could ever imagine, and that only makes me want to guard myself even more.
Especially right now as we walk into the house. Colin’s carrying both our bags, and I wasn’t going to argue because he can be my pack mule. I’m independent, but if he wants to carry my shit, then he can go right ahead.
“Mayson!” my mom exclaims when we walk into the large open house and she sees us. She sounds way more excited than she usually is when I’ve come back from school. Immediately, I know there are guests here.
I’m proven right when we walk further into the entertainment area and see a woman around my moms age and a guy that has to be around mine.
“Welcome home, sweetie.” She pulls me into a hug I’m slow to return because we’ve never been overly affectionate and I hate when she puts on a show like this in front of other people.
“Uh, hi,” I hesitate.
“Be nice,” she whispers so only I can hear, then speaks up. “Come here, I want you to meet someone.”
She guides me over, and I look over my shoulder to Colin because I don’t want him to leave me alone with this mess. He drops the bags before trailing behind us. I can already see the anger burning in his eyes, and I worry this may take a turn very quickly.
“Mayson, this is my friend Nancy and her son Garrett.” She beams while introducing them.
“Hi.” I wave awkwardly. Nancy looks me up and down and I can see her nose wrinkle. Though, it looks like more of her face would do the same if it could move under the face lifts and botox.
I know I’m not dressed well, fully aware I’m in sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt with my hair thrown up in a messy bun. But it’s not my fault, I didn’t expect strangers to be here on our first night back for a holiday.
“Nice to meet you.” Garrett steps up to me, taking my hand and shaking it. I can feel Colin’s death stare without even looking back at him.
For some reason it has me pasting on a wide, fake as shit smile when I respond, sweetly. “Nice to meet you too.”
“Your mom has been telling us all about you. She said you were pretty, but you are drop dead gorgeous.” He grins, and I feel Colin step closer to my back as I smile at Garrett.
“I’m Colin, what has she said about me?” His deep timbre takes over the space. He covers my back with his chest, reaching around me to extend his own hand toward the new guy.
I fight the urge to sink back against Colin. Instead, straightening my spine, but I can feel his other hand grip my hip. I bite back my reaction because I’m not sure if everyone can see how he’s holding me, but it’s not very subtle.
“Oh, uh, n-nice to meet you too. Haven’t heard much about you,” Garrett stutters and I want to laugh at how nervous he is. If only he knew Colin is not someone to be afraid of, even if he thinks he is.
“Hm, interesting.” I can see how tightly he’s squeezing Garrett’s hand before he lets go.
“Well no offense, Colin, but he isn’t here for you,” my mom says with her tone trying to be lighthearted, but it only has me tensing. She clearly doesn’t know what she’s saying or who she’s talking to.
His hand tightens on my hip even more, and I don’t know if anyone other than me has noticed that he hasn’t stepped away from my body. “Then why is he here?”
“Be nice,” my mom scolds. “Nancy is my friend, and I thought Garrett and Mayson could get to know each other. Is that okay with you?”
I don’t even have to look back at Colin to know his face is completely still, blue eyes flared with anger. “No. It’s not.”
My mom just laughs lightly like it’s a joke, but I know better. “Oh, stop. Anyway you two go take your stuff upstairs and then you can join us.”
Colin pulls me into him, and guides me out of the room, grabbing our bags and continues to walk behind me as we walk upstairs. As soon as we step into my room he shuts the door, drops the bag, spins me around, and pushes me up against the door, caging me in with his hands on either side of my head.
“What the fuck was that?” he sneers, and I bite back a smile because I’m clearly deranged.
“My mom being my mom.” I shrug, and he clearly is not happy with that answer because he presses closer to me, closing off any escape I could have possibly had.
“You going to entertain him?”
“Maybe, it’s not like anyone can stop me,” I goad.
“No? You don’t think I’m against bending you over the table down there, and making them watch as you scream my name with my cock buried deep in your needy pussy.”
“You threaten that, but I know you wouldn’t let anyone see me like that. Maybe you should do that and prove it.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“Not even a little bit.”
“Hm,” he hums, pressing his hips against me, and I can feel how hard he is already. “Maybe I want to see how far you’d be willing to entertain that idiot because we both know you wouldn’t let him touch you.”
“I wouldn’t? I’m not a virgin anymore. Maybe I want to see what else is out there.”
I’m poking a bear and fully aware of it, but so is he.
We’re just poking at each other and we both are too stubborn to let up first. I don’t have any interest in Garrett.
He’s okay, but with his pushed back hair, button up, and lanky frame, he looks too put together for me.
I like them with messed up dark hair, covered in sweat from playing soccer, tattoos on his thighs and a chain around his neck.
I want him dangerous, and forbidden. And standing right in front of me testing my limits.
“Sure, okay. You go down there and entertain them, and when you get bored you’ll be on your knees begging for my cock again.”
I scoff. “You really are so full of yourself, you know?”
“Yeah, but you love being full of me.” He rubs himself against me just barely. “Go have fun, but you’ll be screaming my name by the end of the night.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Garrett. Is. Boring.
Holy fuck, I didn’t know it was possible to be this bored.
The worst part is I know Colin’s loving every second of this because he can read me better than anyone and no matter how hard I try to hide my boredom, I’m sure he can see it written all over my face.
Apparently Garrett is a couple years older than me and already working at his dad’s business doing…businessy things? I don’t know, I really zoned out as soon as the word “spreadsheets” was said.
“Isn’t that great, Mayson?” my mom said, way more excitedly than someone should be about this conversation.
“ So great.” I fake smile at Garrett. It’s probably not his fault he’s so boring, he just is.
“I had an idea, would you two like to go out to dinner sometime and get to know each other a little bit more?” my mom asks like it’s the greatest idea she’s ever had.
Garrett looks at me. “If you’d like to, I’d love to take you out.”
“Yeah, Mayson.” Colin’s booming voice feels louder even though he’s speaking normally. “Would you like that?”
I glare at my stepbrother, remembering our challenge earlier, and knowing it’s only going to piss him off more when I say, “I’d love that.”
I expect Colin to glare at me, or dive across the table we’re sitting at to beat Garrett’s face in. But instead, he smiles. It’s that one that looks sinister. And promises that I’ll be the one paying for it later.
But I’m not scared, even though I probably should be. It’s too much fun to mess with him, and I always end up winning in the end anyways.