22. Blake
BLAKE
So we didn’t mean to, but thanks to Trollhunters , Wily and I have been binge-watching all the shows we grew up on as kids. And now we’re immersed in a hilarious Looney Tunes episode that Satch put us onto.
She’s sitting beside my brother, all curled up against him and giggling away as Road Runner screeches to a halt next to a smoking Wile E. Coyote and goes, “Meep, meep,” before disappearing down the road in a cloud of dust.
“This shit is ridiculous.” Wily laughs before kissing Satch on the head. “I love it.”
“Yay.” She nestles her cheek back against his chest, still grinning.
Ugh, could these two get any cuter? Seriously, they’re so sticky sweet, I can practically see sugar particles floating through the air.
They whisk past me, and I try my best not to be irritated by them .
I’m happy for my brother. He deserves a sweetheart care bear like Satch. I’m just annoyed because…
Shit, I don’t even know why I’m annoyed.
Yes, you do. It’s because the one you want isn’t available.
Except that he is… if it weren’t for the big, overly protective lug sitting next to you.
The cartoon wraps up with Road Runner once again triumphant, and I figure this is my cue to feign studying and disappear up to my room. But before I can even rise off the couch, Grady steps into the archway, and that flush of desire rockets right through me.
Shit. I can’t even look at him without feeling something. This hiking trip is going to be interesting. It’s lucky that Tyrell will be there. I’ll just have to stick close to his side, I guess. Do my best to always keep him between Grady and me.
Although, that really doesn’t sound like as much fun.
Oh man, why can’t Grady and I just get it on the way we want to?
I force myself to look at his face and act as though nothing is bothering me… until I notice that something is definitely bothering him .
He gives me a half-hearted smile before raising his chin at Wily.
“Hey, Satch.” He smiles at her, and she gives him a shy wave.
“Hi, Grady.”
“How’d your test go this morning?”
“Yeah, good.” She sits up, her confidence boosted by a safe topic like schoolwork. Blech! “I finished early but stayed for the full time.” Her cheeks tinge pink, and Wily’s smiling at her, brushing his fingers through the ends of her hair while she speaks. “How did yours go?”
“It’s tomorrow, but I think I’ll pass. I’ve been studying my ass off in prep, so…” Grady nods. “It’s my weakest subject this semester, but I’m feelin’ okay about it. As long as the questions aren’t any harder than my practice ones.” He grins, and I take a mental snapshot of that smile.
“I love it when that happens.” Satch grins back, then glances at me. “Have you finished all your online assessments?”
I nod, avoiding Grady’s gaze. I can feel it all over me, and I can’t go looking at him while I’m lying through my teeth. “Yep. All cleared away. I’m up-to-date on everything.”
“Awesome.” Satch grins. “Now you can really go and enjoy your time off camping. No school pressure hanging over you.”
“Exactly.” I look at Grady, desperate to move the topic away from school. “Did you just walk in here to bore us with school talk or…?”
Grady smirks at me, but his lips soon drop into a frown. “Looks like the hiking trip is off.”
“What?” I ping up straight. “What do you mean? Why?”
I can’t help noticing the disappointed look Wily and Satch are sharing right now.
Yeah, I’m sure they had big plans for this empty house.
Big naked plans.
Ew. I so don’t want to think about my brother that way or what he might get up to with his girlfriend while they have the house to themselves .
Wily clears his throat. “What happened?”
Grady points his thumb over his shoulder. “Tyrell’s family needs him, so he’s heading back to Texas. Figure I’ll just go on my own now.”
Crossing my arms again, I glare at him. “Wait, so you’re uninviting me?”
“Uh…” He whips his gaze to me, his brown eyes bulging just a little. “I figured you wouldn’t want?—”
“Why not? Should I be worried about hiking with just you?”
Oh, this is going to be fun!
Yes. Just Grady and me for like four whole days. Or is it five? I can’t remember. I don’t even care!
Grady, me, and a forest with no one else around. This could be my chance to finally convince him that?—
“Of course you shouldn’t be worried.” He frowns at me, silently screaming “What are you doing?” but I just smirk right back at him.
Clenching his jaw, he looks at my brother for support.
And it turns out that miracles do actually happen, because Wily looks up at Grady with a shrug. “If she wants to go, why can’t she?”
The running back’s lips part for a second before he reins in his shocked expression.
Oh yes, baby.
This is happening!
It takes everything in me not to bounce over to Wily and kiss his big ol’ cheek for being awesome.
With a swallow, Grady starts nodding and then croaks, “She can. I’m not saying she can’t come, I just…”
His words trail off, because I don’t think Wily’s listening anymore. Satch turns to grin at him, and then he’s touching her face… and now they’re kissing like no one else is in the room.
Annnnd… I’m done.
Clearing my throat, I eye Grady up with a triumphant little grin.
He shakes his head at me like I’ve lost my ever-loving mind, so I walk toward him.
“It’s settled, then. We’re going hiking, Grady Newman. And I might be a newbie, but I’m sure you’ll take great care of me .” I pat his cheek, one pat per word, then give that sexy chin of his a little squeeze.
Wily is oblivious to my suggestive eyebrow wiggling because he’s too busy sucking face with his girlfriend.
Grady stares at me, his brown gaze warning me away. Darting a look over my shoulder, he then puts on an unaffected smile, gritting out the words my brother needs to hear. “Yeah, it’ll be great to have your company, Blake. Always love introducing people to the wilderness.”
“He’s like our very own Bear Grylls.” Wily laughs before planting his mouth back on Satch’s.
Okay, I’m really done now.
Making a disgusted face, I mutter, “Get a room, you guys.”
“This is my room,” Wily mumbles between kisses. “You can get out of it, if you like.”
Glancing up with a cheesy grin, my brother silently tells us to get lost.
Rolling my eyes, I spin away, following Grady up the stairs.
His very fine ass is in line with my face, and it’s taking everything in me not to give those toned butt cheeks a squeeze .
Save it for camping.
If he’ll let me.
Surely he will.
It’ll just be the two of us! No one has to know.
We can get the release we so desperately need and then?—
Grady spins at the top of the stairs, crossing his arms and staring me down with an intense look that’s… okay, it’s a little unnerving.
“I know what you’re thinking, and I can’t be going there with you.” His voice is gruff. “I already told you that.”
Disappointment sears me, but I hide it behind my wide-eyed blink. “Going where? What are you thinking about right now, Grady? Where’s that brain of yours at?” I tease him.
This sexy little growl reverberates in his throat, and a thrill of desire travels right through me.
Oh, he is going there.
With me.
Because we’d be insane not to take this opportunity.
It’s obvious we both want each other.
A little fling in the forest isn’t going to hurt anybody.
We’ll both come back sated, and then he can get on with his life, and I can…
Okay, so I have no fucking idea what I’m going to do after spring break. I told everyone I’d be flying back to Chicago, but like hell that’s happening.
But I’ll have to fly somewhere. Maybe Grady can help me come up with the perfect place to escape to.
“You don’t need to worry.” I flick my finger lightly under his chin, then wink at him. “We’re gonna have fun, Flash.”
His nickname floats off my lips, whistling between us like a promise.
Swanning around his rigid body, I throw caution to the wind and give that exquisite ass of his a playful tap before wandering to my room with a soft giggle.