Chapter 12
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Charli
I’m belting out the lyrics to my favorite Bon Jovi song as we head toward Sommer’s house. I can practically feel my oldest brother’s brain exploding, which is why I’m extra annoying on the short car ride tonight.
My bestie sits beside me, understanding my need to be extra, so she starts singing backup and playing the drums on the back of Collin’s seat. “Dammit, Sommer, I’m trying to drive,” Collin grumbles just loud enough to be heard over the music.
“I’ve already got the drums covered, oh grumpy one. I’d say play the air guitar, but technically, you should keep your hands on the wheel, so we’ll leave that to Q. You can be the keyboardist.”
I want to laugh, watching as the proverbial steam bellows from his ears. “Good thinking,” I tell my best friend as the song starts to wind down. “We want Collin to get us there safely, so air guitar is out. Sorry, C. You’ll have to settle for the keyboard.”
He grumbles something I can’t make out, which does make me grin.
I look straight ahead and catch Quinn’s smile.
He’s looking out the window, his dark eyes unreadable in the reflection in the glass, but the grin tells me a lot.
He’s enjoying the way we all pick on each other as only siblings can do, and for a moment, I feel bad for him.
He’d never experienced this kind of relationship until he found it with Camden.
It’s not a blood bond, but it’s just as deep as if it were.
“Get out,” Collin states, turning down the music as he pulls into Sommer’s driveway.
“Thank you, Uber driver. You’ve been most kind. I’ll add a tip online.”
Collin rolls his eyes.
“Bye, bestie!” I proclaim, moving over as much as I can to give her a hug, considering I’m belted in.
“Love you,” she replies, squeezing me equally as tight. Then, she adds with a whisper, “He’s giving off that Big D Energy again. You better take that stallion for a ride around the pen.”
“Let’s go, let’s go. We don’t have all night. I gotta get back to Lizzie,” Collin harps, though there’s no bite to his bark.
“Oh, he’s giving off that Big D Energy too, compounded with that broody vibe. I bet Lizzie gets railed against the bedroom wall tonight,” Sommer states, loud enough for Jesus and the neighbors to hear too.
“What the hell, Sommer,” Collin grumbles.
“Don’t be shy, Collin. If you got it, flaunt it like Quinn. He’s oozing Big Dick Energy,” my friend proclaims before sliding out of the truck and offering a quick, “Toodles!”
Once the door closes, Collin lets out a deep exhale. “That girl’s not right.”
“She’s amazing,” I insist, ignoring her comment about Quinn and his big D.
“I can see why you’re friends,” Collin mutters, waiting until Sommer’s inside her house before backing out of the driveway and pulling away.
“Because we’re equally amazing,” I declare.
“If you say so,” he says, turning at the corner and driving toward my condo.
I keep quiet for the remainder of the drive, keeping my eyes ahead out the windshield, yet watching Quinn in my peripheral vision. We reach my block when Collin’s phone rings. I spot Lizzie’s name on the dashboard and smile when I spot the red heart after her name.
“Miss me already?” Collin asks, his voice soft and full of the love I know he feels for her.
Her gentle chuckle fills the truck cab. “Always.”
“What’s up, babe?”
“I can’t get the front door locked.”
“What?” he asks, pulling into my driveway and putting the truck in park.
“The deadbolt won’t turn at all. I’m not sure what’s going on. Guy didn’t mention there was any issue when he opened up earlier today,” she says.
Collin runs his hand over his face, and I can tell he’s nervous. “I’ll be right back,” he states with an edge, already reaching for the gearshift.
“We’re safe,” she responds right away.
“I don’t like you not being able to lock the door, Lizzie. I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”
I’m already climbing out of the truck, so Collin can get back to Lizzie and figure out what’s going on with the lock. When I step out, I notice Quinn is too. “Go,” Quinn states.
“I can drop you on my way,” Collin says, already putting the truck in reverse.
“Go. I’m three blocks away. I’m fine to walk.”
I can tell my brother wants to argue, but the protective streak that runs a mile wide through his soul also needs to get back to his girlfriend as quickly as possible. “You sure?” he finally asks.
Quinn throws his hand, as if waving him off. “I’ll make sure Charli gets inside and then walk. Thanks for the lift, Collin. Let me know if you need any help with the lock,” Quinn says, stepping back and shutting the passenger door.
My oldest brother backs away and takes off toward town, leaving Quinn and me standing on the sidewalk in front of my condo. “Come on,” he says, pointing to my door.
“Have you heard from Camden?” I ask.
“Uhh, yeah. He’s good. He’s with Laura,” he replies with a faint grin on his face.
“Eww,” I mutter, not wanting to think about my little brother and the woman he’s probably hooking up with right now.
“You asked,” Quinn replies, shoving his hands in his pockets as we step up to my front door. I enter my code and open the door.
Crossing the threshold, I turn and face the man I can’t stop thinking about. “Thanks for walking me to my door.”
He nods. “You’re welcome.”
“Are you sure you’re okay to get home? You’ve been drinking tonight too.”
“I didn’t really have many tonight,” he says, glancing away for a moment.
“What? Really? Why not? It’s your birthday,” I proclaim, running back the night through my head. I saw Quinn—a lot—and he always had a drink in his hand. Was it the same drink for extended periods of time? I assumed when he went to the bar to get me a drink, he was getting one for himself too.
Perhaps I was wrong?
He levels me with an intense gaze, those dark eyes burning into my soul. “I was distracted.”
Warmth spreads through my veins as my eyes zero in on his mouth. “By what?” I ask, feeling a little cheeky.
He takes a step forward, meeting me at the threshold. He doesn’t touch me, but we’re only a breath apart. “You know what,” he replies, his laser-sharp eyes focused on my mouth.
“Huh, I have no clue,” I insist, lifting my chin and holding his gaze.
He leans in and inhales.
He. Fucking. Smells. Me.
And it makes my nipples hard and my pussy throb.
“You smell like a Hawaiian sunset,” he murmurs.
“That’s…oddly specific. Have you ever been to Hawaii?” I ask, our faces mere inches away from each other.
“No, but when I smell you, that’s how I envision it to be, sitting on the beach at a sunset, the scent of the ocean and coconuts dancing on your skin.”
A shiver sweeps through me. “I’d love to go to Hawaii.”
“You will look amazing with your hair blowing in the warm breeze, one of those big pink flowers tucked behind your ear,” he says, gently pushing a strand of hair away from my face without actually touching my skin.
“Quinn?” I murmur, angling my mouth toward his.
“Yes?”
“Are you going to kiss me?”
“Not until you give me permission.”
I brush my mouth faintly across his. “Yes.”
His eyes burn into mine as he searches my face.
“I’m not gonna change my mind, Quinn. Kiss me.”
He does. His mouth slams against mine in the fiercest kiss I’ve ever experienced in my life, all while he wraps his right arm around my back, gently lifts me up, and walks me backward until he can shut the door.
My hands dive into his hair, which he styled for tonight in a mohawk.
Sexy. As. Fuck.
And it doesn’t feel as crispy as I would expect. It’s soft and feels amazing sliding through my fingers.
He coaxes my mouth open with his tongue and tastes, his hands all over my body. From my ass to my back, up to my hair. I rub myself against him like a cat, needing the friction in my most sensitive areas.
“Bedroom. Now,” I instruct, ripping my mouth from his and sucking in deep breaths of air.
Spinning me around, he walks me toward my bedroom, nipping at my lips, and trailing his mouth down my neck. He never looks where he’s going. It’s as if he just knows.
The moment we step inside my bedroom, he moves. I’m pressed against the wall and my right leg’s hitched up around his hip. The position lines us up perfectly, and as he rocks his hips and grinds against me, I moan. “Why does this feel so good?” I whisper to myself.
“It’s the Big Dick Energy,” he says, drawing a hard laugh from my lungs.
“I can’t believe you just said that,” I mutter right before he claims my lips with his own once more.
“I wasn’t the one who said it first.” He grinds against me, causing me to whimper.
“How about you put that energy into fucking me instead of talking?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replies with a sexy little smirk.
I’m about to chastise him for calling me ma’am when he knocks all thought out of my brain with a kiss.
My hands are greedy, needing to touch his skin.
I grip at his tight black T-shirt, tugging it up and exposing his abs.
My fingers dance across the warm flesh, savoring the feel of his muscles tightening beneath my touch.
“Clothes off.”
I do as instructed, slipping off my top, shoes, jeans, and socks. Standing in my bra and panties, I watch the show of him stripping his own clothing. His shirt is gone and his belt and fly open, but he has to sit on the edge of my bed in order to take off his boots.
The sight of him there is both a shock to my libido and my heart, and definitely not something I want to unpack right now.
Once he removes his boots, he looks up at me.
His eyes feast on my body, at the sight of me standing in the sexiest bra and panty set I own.
No, when I put it on, it wasn’t with the intention of someone seeing it tonight.
There’s just something about this red set, the lace and lack of coverage, that makes me feel sexy, and that’s what I needed tonight.
Even for just myself, I needed to feel alive and spicy.