Chapter 2
Bianca
I’m used to teasing boys my own age. I’m a bit of a mocciosa, a brat. I guess that’s what happens when you’re the only girl in a family full of boys. Not only am I the youngest of five, I’m also the only girl. My father died before I was ten. I think that made my brothers even more protective.
I grew up teasing all my brothers’ friends. Well, maybe I didn’t grow up doing it. In truth, my brothers’ friends were the ones teasing me. But once I started growing up and filling out, I discovered that I could tease them more effectively than they ever teased me.
I could be as flirtatious and outrageous as I wanted, but they could never touch me.
My brothers would have banded together to kill anyone who dared touch me.
But that’s a double-edged sword. I’m safe to tease, but no one has ever been willing to risk my brother’s wrath enough to actually do anything more than kiss me.
As much as I’m willing to show men what I have to offer, no one has been confident enough to accept it.
That’s really too bad. If one of those boys made me feel good, I’d never tell my brothers what they did.
But if they simply used me for their own pleasure, not giving me any in return, I might have let their name slip. Probably not, but maybe.
I bite my lip as I watch Mr. Walker strut out to the pool. He’s not a boy. He’s a man. And the way he was looking at me had my pulse beating between my thighs. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to be touched by him. The very thought makes me want to touch myself.
As I sit down at the table, my gaze keeps turning to the pool. I was going to go wait to go for a swim, but now I’m tempted to join Mr. Walker.
Drew tries to pull me into a conversation, but it’s hard to follow his words when his father has my full attention. I know what’s on Drew’s mind. It’s the same thing as all the boys back home.
Even if Drew wasn’t too young for me, I’m done with boys. Maybe I should start looking for a man. Would they be as easy to tempt and tease? I guess there’s only one way to find out. I’m about to get up from the table when Mrs. Walker sets a plate of food in front of me.
With a smile, I thank her and take a few bites. Looks like I’ll be waiting until later for that swim. Still, I wonder if the man of the house will join me.
I hear Drew whispering with his friends. I know what they’re doing. And while I did encourage my brothers’ friends to look, I really don’t want the attention of a bunch of thirteen-year-olds. So I stay on my stomach on a lounger that’s partially shaded.
Going back inside so soon would be too obvious that I’m avoiding the boys. I also don’t want to get sunburned. I sigh as I try to keep reading my book, even with all the boys whispering.
“I told you she was hot,” I hear Drew say.
I roll my eyes. Much more of this and I’ll have to head back inside.
“Are we having a party?” Mr. Walker asks as he comes outside.
He’s in a pair of shorts that go almost to his knees. I’m used to men wearing tight trunks or Speedos. I guess it’s different in America. Men don’t seem as willing to show off their size. I can’t help but wonder if that’s because they have smaller packages.
“Not a party,” Drew says. “Just a few friends over.”
“A few? It’s practically the whole baseball team,” Mr. Walker pauses. It’s like he was going to say something but stopped mid-thought when his eyes connect with mine. “Most of you have pools. Time to head to someone else’s house.”
“What? Why?” Drew demands.
“I’m happy to spell it out for you right here, right now,” his father says. “Or we can talk about it later.”
There’s a pause. “Later,” Drew finally says.
“Smart choice. Now, I think you need to run it by me if you’re going to invite more than one friend over.”
“I thought you said we’d talk about it later,” Drew whines.
“Go to Jake’s house,” Mr. Walker says. “His pool is the only one big enough for all of you, anyway.”
The boys grumble, but they start moving, gathering their things then heading inside. Most of them send one last look my way before they disappear into the house. Once they're gone, Mr. Walker approaches.
“Sorry about that,” he says. “I hope it didn’t make you uncomfortable to have all those teenage eyes on you. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“Thank you,” I tell him as I untie my swimsuit. “I was worried my back would get sunburned.” With that, I let the strings of my bikini top fall away.