“Oh? That’s all you have to say?”
I giggled.
“You’re nervous,” he stated. “I can tell by your laugh. You have this certain tone to your giggle when you’re nervous.”
I grinned. “How do you know that?”
“I’ve known you for a long time.”
“Since… what? Fourth grade?”
“Yeah, I remember being in sixth grade and finding my baby sister’s friend really cute. I always knew you would grow up to be gorgeous, but I never imagined it would be this insane.”
I laughed. “Where is the shy Landon I have admired from afar? This person, I don’t recognize.”
He grabbed my hand and brought it to his lap, and with his other hand, he grazed my cheek back and forth with his index finger, settling it on my chin.
“I’ve spent the last few years being shy Landon and it hasn’t gotten me anywhere. I really like you, Brooke, and I have liked you for a long time. And since I’m being honest… it’s taking everything in me right now not to kiss you.”
I leaned in until our lips were almost touching. “So kiss me,” I murmured.
I had been kissed before, but kissing Landon was completely different in every aspect of the gesture. He softly grabbed the back of my neck and effortlessly pulled me to him. When our lips touched, it was like fireworks had exploded all around us; our connection was breathing into our veins and making itself home.
His lips were soft and when his tongue beckoned my mouth to open for him, I did, feeling the silkiness of Landon. Only Landon.
He tasted of peppermint and beer, and I fell in love with the taste and feel of him in that moment. There was nothing else like it. We let our lips speak for the years of chemistry and undisclosed emotions. Our kiss became heady and intoxicating; I felt him everywhere, even though he wasn’t touching me. It left me craving more. I wanted more.
I wanted all of him.
“Landon!” Aaron yelled, breaking our trance and spell over one another. I shook my head before looking behind me. “Your sister is drunk as shit and making a scene. You need to get her out of here.”
“Fuck! Come on.” He grabbed my hand, helping me off the ground and we ran until we came face-to-face with the ruckus.
“Fuck you, Derrick! I know you have been cheating on me, you son of a bitch!” Christine roared, pushing him.
“You crazy bitch! Get your hands off me!” Derrick roughly grabbed her wrists and Landon placed himself in between them.
“Don’t. Touch. My. Sister,” he barked in a tone I had never heard before.
Derrick put his hands in the air in a surrendering gesture. “I mean no harm, man, just take her home.”
He nodded and turned, placing her over his shoulder and carrying her.
“Fuck you, Derrick! I hate you! Do you hear me? I hate you!”
“Christine, shhh! Calm down!” I warned, knowing that Landon was about to lose his shit on her.
He threw her in the backseat and she was passed out within seconds of us closing the car doors.
“Unbelievable,” he breathed out, putting the car in reverse and backing out.
“You can’t take her home, Landon. Your parents will freak out and never let her out of the house again.”
“Maybe that’s what she needs, a fucking wake up call. I’m tired of covering for her ass.”
“I know, but you can’t. Just this last time… please… take her to my house. My mom’s out of town, my sisters are at sleepovers, and I’m sure my dad is already passed out, it’s late.”
He sighed, nodding and not looking at me. I knew his frustration had nothing to do with me, but I couldn’t help but feel responsible. He parked his car at the end of my gated driveway and we used the service entrance to carry her up to my bedroom. He laid her face down on my bed and I pulled the covers up, placing a bucket beside her just in case.
“I’m really sorry, Landon.”
He shook his head and grabbed the side of my face. “This isn’t your fault. I’m mostly pissed that she ruined our night.”
I shyly smiled. “I’ll walk you out.”
We walked hand-in-hand toward the stairs when I heard something shatter coming from my parents’ bedroom.
“That’s weird. I didn’t see my dad’s car in the driveway,” I whispered. “I’ll be right back.”
“Hell no, Brooke, I’m coming with you, it could be…” He shook his head, thinking of the possibilities I was sure. “Let’s go.”
I didn’t think it was a burglar or anything, but it made me feel better that he was coming with me. The closer we got, the faster my heart sped. The apprehension quickly took over, causing my palms to grow sweaty and my breathing to shorten. It wasn’t until I heard his voice…
That my whole world came tumbling down.
“Hello,” I answered my phone, about to step into my car to head back to campus.
“Hello, can I please speak to Devon Hill?”
“This is him,” I replied, leaning against the door jam.
“Good evening, Mr. Hill, I am sorry to contact you so late but it’s been difficult for me to find your contact information.”
“No worries, what can I help you with?”
She laughed. “I’m actually your aunt, Cathy.”
“Excuse me?”
She laughed again. “Yeah… I know it sounds pretty crazy, but I am married, or widowed now… to your uncle actually.”
“My uncle?” I replied, taken aback.
“Yeah… your uncle Lucus.”
I nodded. “Oh… my dad’s brother.”
There was silence at the other end for a few seconds.
“Are you still there?” I questioned, looking at my screen to make sure the call wasn’t dropped.
“Yes… sorry. I know you haven’t met me, or anything, but I know your dad passed several years ago… We tried to make it to the funeral, but…it just didn’t work out.”
“Like I said, no worries. But you did say something about widowed? Right?”
“Yes. Your uncle had been struggling with cancer for the last few years and it’s actually one of the reasons we couldn’t make it to the funeral.”
“I understand, we weren’t very close to my dad’s side of the family, anyway. I am sorry for your loss, though.”
She scoffed. “I’m not.”
We were silent again and her reply nearly knocked me on my ass. I immediately assumed that she endured the same curse that the Hill men seemed to deliver. I felt sick to my stomach and had to sit down in the driver’s seat.
I couldn’t turn out like them. God wouldn’t be that cruel.
“Are you still there?” she asked, taking me away from my fears and trepidations.
“Yes…”
“Anyway, I was calling to let you know that I was the executor of your uncle’s will and you are one of the beneficiaries.”
I shook my head. “Listen, excuse my language, but I don’t give a shit about anything related to my father and his family.”
“You may want to reconsider, Devon. May I call you Devon?”
“Of course.”
“Your uncle left you his bar.”
“Bar?”
“Yeah, he owned a bar on South Beach. It actually does extremely well and he’s left it to you.”
I leaned forward, putting my elbows on my knees, and swept the falling hair from my face.
“I don’t understand, Cathy; why he would do that? Are you sure you’re talking to the right person?”
“I’m positive, your uncle talked about your father often and your name was brought up a few times. He wanted to keep the bar in the family and you’re his only nephew.”
“I see.”
“I could meet you at the bar tomorrow morning if you’d like… before you make any rash decisions.”
I wanted nothing to do with my father. I especially didn’t want anything to do with his family that did jack shit for us when he died. My mom could barely get my grandpare
nts to attend the funeral. If it weren’t for him serving as an officer for over thirty years, then our asses would have been out on the street. His pension and life insurance saved us from that fate, but only because it was provided through his job and it was mandatory. He wouldn’t have given a flying fuck about us otherwise.
“Ummm…”
“I know this is a lot to take in, Devon. I may not know you, but it’s safe to presume that we have lived similar lives. And like you, I am relieved that I no longer have to worry about your uncle, and I mean that in every sense of the word. You may want to consider this offer, not only for your future but for your family’s as well.”
I nodded. She was right.
“What time tomorrow morning?”
“Let’s shoot for ten AM?”
“Can you text me the address?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Sounds good. Have a good night.”
I hung up and looked at the screen saver on my phone, it was of my mom and sisters. I knew right then and there that I needed to do what was right…
As much as I didn’t want to.
“Charlotte, you can’t be here,” my Dad said.
I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw them. My dad was holding a woman in his arms and it wasn’t my mother. She didn’t look anything like my mom; the complete opposite to her blond hair, white skin, and blue eyes. They couldn’t see me, but I could see them. The vase of roses from my mother’s garden was scattered on the floor; the vase, shattered in a million pieces, lay around it. The same roses I had spent hours with my mom gardening.
She loved them.
Especially placing them in their bedroom. She said that red roses meant beauty and perfection and that it was a timeless, honored rose that meant, “I love you” with just the color… no words were needed when someone handed you a red rose.
Now they were tainted. Ugly. Disgusting. Vicious. I would hate red roses forever.
“Robert, I miss you,” she moaned into his mouth. He kissed her like he kissed my mom, like I had seen him do a thousand times.
“Your kids miss you. I wanted to see you. When you told me that you would be home alone, I had to come over; I had to be with you. Tell me it’s okay, tell me you love me and are happy to see me,” she panted.
Kids?
“I know, baby, I know. You know I love you and our kids. You know that I would see you more often if I could. I’ll come see you this weekend. I promise,” he stated, embracing her once again.
I wanted to turn away and run directly into my mom’s arms to tell her everything. She needed to know. I couldn’t fathom how she would react. I watched in horror as he passionately kissed a woman I had never seen before. A woman I hated and never met. I couldn’t get my feet to move from the goddamn floor. My whole life, everything I believed in came plummeting down as if it were nothing. As if I were watching a horror movie.
The world didn’t stop moving… the ground didn’t crack open… and time didn’t halt. Everything proceeded just as it always had.
Then why did I feel like I was dying?
I closed my eyes and turned away when he started unbuttoning her shirt. It made me sick to my stomach knowing he was going to have sex with her.
In our home.
I opened my eyes to start walking away, and there before my very own eyes, was Landon, looking exactly in the direction that I had turned from. I had forgotten he was with me.
“Please, get me out of here,” I whispered, trying to hold back the tears that were screaming to be let out.
He grabbed my hand, looking every bit as devastated as I felt and walked me through the house and to his car. I vaguely remember him talking to me; I couldn’t process my thoughts or emotions. It was like I was in shock and couldn’t get my mind to work.
The only thing I could think about were the lies. It wasn’t just one; it was hundreds…
And it all started and ended with…
I love you.
“Brooke, Brooke, baby, can you please say something? You’re starting to scare me,” I heard his voice say, and even though he was right in front of me, it sounded like he was miles and miles away; it echoed at me.
“Make it go away…” I murmured loud enough for him to hear.
“What? What can I do?” he asked, looking around at his bedroom as if the answer was magically going to appear. I had no idea how we even got to his house.
“Just make it all go away…”
“Brooke, how? What do I do?” His voice seemed calm, but his appearance said otherwise.
“Kiss me…”
His eyes widened. “Brooke—”
“Please…” I begged.
His eyebrows lowered and he sighed in defeat. He slowly and cautiously grazed my cheek with his fingertips, and that’s when I realized I had tears streaming down my face.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry you had to see that.”
“No more talking… just be with me… touch me, Landon.”
He licked his lips and leaned in to kiss me. The second his tongue touched mine, it turned into its own moment, its own creation, its own world. Our mouths did a sinful dance of push and pull; he gave me what my mind and body so carelessly craved. His body fell forward and mine backward, my legs spread open and he readily lay in between, placing all his weight on his arms that were displayed to the sides of my face.
He kissed me like he was trying to save me from my own demise, as if he was trying to erase the last hour of my life, and he wanted to take away the hurt and pain that we had both witnessed firsthand. I didn’t know if I wanted to hurt him or love him, I didn’t know if I wanted to cry or laugh, I didn’t know anything anymore.
The only thing I knew to be true was in that moment, in that hour, in that second… I wanted him. I wanted all of him. I wanted his kiss, his touch, his taste, his movements, his love and adoration to be just mine and only mine. I reached the hem of his shirt and he let me, pulling it over and away from his body. The warmth and velvetiness of his skin made my sex clench and my stomach flutter.
He did the same to me and I was left in nothing but my bra and panties. He leaned back and admired my body, his eyes devoured me in ways I couldn’t comprehend or understand. I didn’t know if I was too young or just too wounded, but I knew that I loved having him look at me like that. I never wanted him to stop making me feel like I was the only girl in the world. I had never had that before and suddenly, I didn’t know if I could ever go without it.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Brooke,” he groaned to the side of my neck as he placed soft kisses down to my cleavage and then toward my nipple. He removed my bra in one swift movement and tossed it aside, leaving me much more exposed than before.
His mouth sucked on my nipple and his hand caressed my other breast, leaving me withering beneath him. I could feel his erection on my wet core and he purposely moved his hips, creating a delicious tingling that I felt all over.
He looked up at me with hooded eyes. “I want to taste you, baby; is that okay?”
I moaned in response, sucking in my bottom lip and arching my back for him to do exactly what he was requesting. He pulled down my panties and tossed them aside, but when he leaned forward to inhale my scent, I almost died of embarrassment. But it was quickly followed by an ache he created when he licked all along my slit to the top of my clit.
“Fuck…” he breathed out before taking my bundle of nerves into his mouth and sucking in a forceful yet tender back and forth motion.
I had never felt anything like it before. My breathing became heavy and I could feel my chest rising and lifting. My legs started to shake and I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I had no idea what to do with my hands; I felt like I was going to explode so I placed them in his hair and he grunted in satisfaction. I couldn’t take it anymore; the room started to spin and my breathing faltered.
“Hmm… ah… mmm…” I exhaled.
Th
e next thing I knew, he was kissing me, and I tasted a salty wet substance all over his mouth. It was intoxicating as much as it was arousing.
“You like the way you taste? Because I sure as hell do,” he huskily praised.
I heard a rustling of some sort and opened my eyes to see that he was opening a condom.
“You don’t need that,” I stated, trying to catch my bearings.
“I’ve been tested, I’m clean,” he replied.
“I trust you, and I’m on the pill.”
He half-smiled and pulled down his jeans, taking his boxers with it. I tried to suppress the blushing on my face, but I guess the rumors around school were true. He kissed me again and placed the tip of his fully erect dick at my opening.
“Are you sure?” he whispered in between kissing me.
“More than anything,” I murmured, not breaking our kiss and connection.
And with one swift movement, he was inside me. I bit my cheek, yelping from the inside out. He immediately stopped and I tightly shut my eyes, not wanting to look at him, although I could still feel his penetrating stare on me.
“You’re a virgin?” he inquired shocked and even a little scared.
I nodded, still not opening my eyes.
“Fuck…” he roared and began to remove himself from me.
I instantly opened my eyes and grabbed his shoulders, not wanting him to pull out of me.
“No! Please don’t stop.”
He cocked his head to the side and his body that was once soft and warm, became rigid and hard.
“Brooke, how could you not tell me? I mean, you just said you were on the pill. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I knew you wouldn’t do it. I’m sorry, but I don’t regret anything. I wanted it to be you, please don’t stop, Landon.”
He pulled the hair out of his face. “Jesus… did I… I mean… are you okay… did I hurt you?”
It eased my anxiety that he was concerned for me and it wasn’t his anger that he was expressing.
“I’m fine; come here.” I grabbed the back of his neck, bringing him back to me, and he let me.
He kissed me with uncertainty and I moved my hips, beckoning him to keep going. He still didn’t move and I started to worry, but when I felt his hand move lower and toward my clit, I began to relax. His fingers played my nub like a piano, skillful and effortlessly. Seconds later, he started to move in and out.