33. Someone’s a Little Possessive
SOMEONE’S A LITTLE POSSESSIVE
Axel
My fingers tightened around the steering wheel as I tried to navigate the route to my parents’ house. Lorelei’s intoxicating floral perfume filled my Jeep. Was it possible to get high off someone’s scent?
And why did she have to wear that little pink dress? The modest cut—a high neckline and the hem just above the knees—didn’t do much to hide her banging body.
I shifted in my seat again, willing my dick to stay down, but the woman next to me had apparently hypnotized the motherfucker. It had a mind of its own now, and she was currently the center of its world.
Lorelei was supposed to be my way to get Cordelia back, and here I was, thirsting for my fake girlfriend.
This was going to be a long weekend. At least it would be a nice distraction from the storm brewing with this whole Susanna and Micah shit.
I had yet to search through the jump drive I stole from the archives.
Part of me feared it would reveal Susanna’s untimely demise was a direct result of my horrible mistake with Peter.
Could I really tell Micah his friend was dead because of me?
“We should have left earlier.” Lorelei bit her bottom lip and stared out the window at the holiday traffic. “We’re totally going to be late for dinner—if we make it at all.”
All my dark thoughts evaporated at the nervous flutter in her voice. “We’ll make it, blondie,” I assured her. Again. “Besides, don’t you like to be fashionably late?”
She fidgeted with her perfectly curled golden locks. “Not when I’m having dinner with my boyfriend’s family. I don’t want to look like a rude jerk.”
The setting sun glinted off the glossy nude polish on her nails. She must have gotten them done, but they weren’t those long fake ones she usually had.
Those couldn’t pluck my eyeballs out if I pissed her off, but they’d definitely feel good dragging down my back while I had her pinned to a bed with my cock buried in her pussy.
Shit! Focus, Axel.
Desire hummed through my body in her presence, and I had to choose my words and actions carefully so she didn’t notice. I felt awkward as hell while she seemed perfectly fine.
Lorelei was either a world-class actor, or our hot session hadn’t affected her at all, and I wasn’t sure which was worse.
“You’ve already won my dad over. There’s no need to stress about it. My family will love you. How could they not? You’re awesome.” I winked. “And apparently, you play football.”
She gave a casual shrug. “I have many talents. I do like to be well-rounded.”
A laugh burst out of my mouth. “Blondie, you didn’t even know what a strike was when we went bowling, and you expect me to believe you know how to chuck the pig's skin?”
“Bowling and football are in totally different leagues.” She gave a haughty toss of her head. “I’m not just a delicate ballerina, Vanderhart. I can kick some ass, too.”
I pictured her covered in sweat and dirt, slipping by my giant brothers to sprint to the endzone.
Fuck. There went my dick again.
Thankfully, my grandparents were coming this year. Even though Gigi Evie wanted me married with kids soon, she and Grandpa were old school, so Lorelei and I wouldn’t be sleeping in the same room. I wasn’t sure I could keep my hands to myself if we were.
Lorelei’s hand felt so tiny and delicate in mine. I couldn’t wipe the proud smile off my face as I pulled her through the grand entrance, the elegant chandelier casting a glow across the multitude of white marble. Our relationship might have been fake. But I was excited to show her off.
She was the first girlfriend I’d ever brought home.
I had imagined this moment with Cordi a hundred times, but the giddiness coursing through my veins had never been so intense as it was now with Lorelei.
Loud conversation echoed from one of the sitting rooms, so I towed her toward the left, past the double staircase with intricate wrought iron railings, a sharp contrast against the white marble.
“See, blondie, I told you we wouldn’t be late. Everyone’s still having drinks.”
She nervously smoothed the nonexistent wrinkles in her dress. “You got lucky, Ax. Now I don’t have to punish you.”
“You can still spank me if you want.”
Heat climbed into my cheeks. Damn it. Did that really just come out of my mouth?
Lorelei’s brown eyes widened infinitesimally before she gave a dry chuckle. “I’m sure you’ll do something naughty to earn yourself a spanking sooner or later.”
Football, sweaty guys in the locker room, old men in a sauna…
We entered the large room through a set of open French doors. The décor perfectly reflected my parents with a mix of dark leather, rich burnished wood, soft white silk, and gleaming marble.
My oldest brother stopped mid-conversation with his wife when we caught his eye.
“Baby boy has finally arrived!” Jackson lifted his glass of scotch, his green button-down shirt stretching over his thick arms. “And he’s brought a beautiful masterpiece of a woman. Is he blackmailing you to be here? Because you are way out of his league, sweetheart.”
I flipped him off as my hand flexed around Lorelei’s. “Just because you had to beg Everly to marry you doesn’t mean the rest of us are so lacking.”
Footsteps sounded right before a huge figure barreled toward me, and I released Lorelei just as Aaron, my second oldest brother, tackled me to the ground. The hit barely fazed me, but I allowed him to pin me to the plush carpet.
“Boys! Take that kind of roughhousing outside. You’d think you’d been raised by a pack of wolves.”
My mother easily stepped over us, used to this kind of thing after raising five sons with a husband just as rambunctious.
It was a miracle she always looked so composed and flawless, even when we were kids.
Her blond curls were shorter now, slightly above her shoulders, and plenty of laugh lines crinkled around her blue eyes.
“Hello, Lorelei. It’s lovely to see you again,” she said. “Last season’s football banquet was immaculate, by the way. And with you in charge, I’d expect nothing less.”
“Thank you.” The shy smile that crossed my fake girlfriend’s lips had me so distracted I didn’t block Aaron’s punch to my side.
The hit drove the air from my lungs as pain burst across my ribs. That would definitely leave a mark.
“It’s really nice to see you, Mrs. Vanderhart.” Lorelei tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, then clasped her hands in front of her like a well-mannered heiress. “Thank you so much for having me.”
“Oh, honey, call me Deb.” My mother, the epitome of class and sophistication, tossed a throw pillow at Aaron and me.
“If you two break another table, I’ll make you wear those awful patriotic outfits from Great Aunt Clarissa all day tomorrow.
The bedazzled baseball hats and all. Don’t think I didn’t keep them. ”
Aaron groaned as he tried to force me onto my stomach. “How could you threaten such horror upon us? We’re your children.”
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Lorelei. As always, you are a vision.” Jeremy, the brother closest in age to me, swooped in on Lorelei and grabbed her hand, kissing the back of it. “You are way too beautiful for my baby brother. Give me a chance, and I’ll make all your dreams come true.”
The fucker had the audacity to wink and lick his lips.
I effortlessly tossed Aaron aside and hopped to my feet, drawing Lorelei away from the sly one in the family. Jeremy could charm the panties off a nun, and I’d be damned if he’d try it with my blondie.
Shit. She wasn’t my anything.
Not really.
Or was she…
“Knock it off, Jer.” I punched his bicep a little harder than necessary. “She’s too smart to fall for your crap.”
Jeremy laughed, his blue eyes brightening with mischief like my father’s as he strolled toward us. “Someone’s a little possessive.”
“Wouldn’t you be if this lovely young woman was on your arm?” My father gave Lorelei a hug. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
An adorable blush coated her cheeks. “Thanks for inviting me. I’m really excited for tomorrow’s festivities.”
He pumped his fist in the air. “I think we got us a keeper here. I can already see that competitive streak in you.”
“Lore definitely doesn’t like to lose.” I draped my arm around her shoulders. “I’d hate to be on the opposing team.”
Lorelei gave a cheeky grin and shrugged. “I won’t take it easy on you if you are, babe.”
“Fantastic! You’ll fit right in, Lorelei.” My dad gently smacked my chest with the back of his hand and jerked his head toward the door. “I’ll help you with the bags while your lovely girlfriend relaxes and has a drink.”
“That’ll be great.” I reluctantly released her shoulders, glaring daggers at a smirking Jeremy. He’d better stay away from her. “Which room is Lore staying in?”
My dad scoffed. “In your room, of course.”
I froze mid-step and glanced at Lorelei who couldn’t hide the momentary flash of panic in her eyes. “But Gigi and Grandpa don’t normally like—”
My dad’s chuckle had my pulse rising. “I think Gigi’s trying to make sure her youngest grandson is married with a brood of kids before she kicks the bucket.”
All the moisture fled from my mouth as the realization hit me like a sledgehammer. How the hell would I get through two nights stuck in the same room, the same bed as Lorelei without giving in to temptation?