Step-Lover

  Honey. Swoon.

  “I’m tired.” I pout.

  He grins down at me. “I’m sure I can make it worth your while.”

  “Oh, I just bet you can.”

  “Come on, I got your favorite cupcakes.”

  “Chocolate with caramel frosting?” I just about squeal.

  He rolls his eyes. “Fuckin’ women.”

  I follow him out to the car, not touching him even though I really, really want to. He opens the door for me and I slide in. The moment he gets in, I reach over and grab his shirt, pulling him towards me until our lips touch. He groans and kisses me deep, with a fuck-load of tongue, then he leans back in his chair, panting and pitching a fine tent in his jeans.

  “Any chance you wanna suck my dick while I’m driving?”

  “So vulgar.” I grin.

  He winks at me. “It’s the way you like it.”

  This is true.

  He pulls away and we drive towards the garage. “So, are you always the romantic type?”

  He grunts. “Getting cupcakes is hardly romantic.”

  “Sure it is,” I protest. “I think cupcakes are the epitome of romance.”

  “Course you do, honey.”

  I grin and lean back in the chair, putting my feet up on the dash. My pencil skirt rides up and Blade’s eyes flick to my legs. “Put your legs down. You’ll make me hard.”

  “Harder,” I point out.

  “Seriously, I can’t drive while your legs are up there and your fuckin’ skirt is riding up.”

  “Then look away,” I breathe, sliding my skirt down lower until my panties are bared.

  “Fuck me,” he grunts.

  “Pay attention to the road, Blade. We wouldn’t want to have a crash.”

  I slip my fingers beneath my panties and gasp at the warmth there. Just seeing him causes my body to react like this. I moan as I slide my fingertips over my clit, and I relish in the feeling of it swelling beneath my motion. Blade growls and uses one hand to adjust his cock, which looks painfully hard.

  “Someone is goin’ to see you, Tulip,” he rasps. “Stop that.”

  “Make me,” I breathe, tilting my head back and rubbing harder.

  “Fuck it.”

  The car turns a few times, horns honk and then Blade skids to a stop. Before I even have the chance to open my eyes he leans over me and unbuckles my seatbelt. My eyes snap open and I barely stutter out a confused gasp before he lifts me and pulls me onto his lap. We’re in an alley, and lord only knows how long it’s going to be before someone comes down here.

  He slaps my hands away and replaces my fingers with his. He rubs my clit, over and over, then he dips his fingers into my pussy. I gasp and hold onto his shoulders, groaning as he finger fucks me. Then he pulls his fingers out and shoves them into my mouth with a wicked grin. My cheeks burn as I suck myself off him. He reaches between us, and he shifts, undoing his jeans.

  Then he pulls them down just enough for his cock to spring free. He shoves my panties aside and slowly sinks me down over his thick, hard length. I gasp and clutch his shoulders, letting my head fall back. He fills me to the hilt and then takes control of my hips, using them to rock backwards and forward, up and down, until we’re both panting and gasping each other’s names.

  I come first, because I built myself up to it. A whimper escapes me and my entire body jerks. Blade captures my hair and tugs it softly as he uses his hips to drive up into me harder and faster, then with a guttural groan, he’s coming. Our noises of pleasure fill the tiny car space before slowly dying down into breathy pants. I slide off his lap and adjust myself before slipping back into my seat. Blade fixes himself up and drops his head back into the seat.

  “Fuck me, you’ll be the death of me.”

  “Grandpa,” I mutter.

  He flashes me a wolfish grin before pulling back out onto the road and taking us to the garage.

  I decide in that moment, that car sex is on my top five list of Best Places to Fuck.

  ~*~*~*~

  When we arrive at the garage, I see Peyton standing just outside the large rollers doors. She’s wearing a yellow summer dress and has shades pulled down over her eyes. When she sees Blade’s car pull in, her head tilts towards us. Great. Just great. We both get out, and I hope to god it isn’t obvious that we’ve been having sex. Blade mumbles a few curses as we walk closer.

  “Ah, hey Blade, Aria . . .” Peyton begins.

  “What’re you doin’ here, Pey?” Blade snaps.

  “I just wanted to talk to you,” she pleads.

  My chest tightens but I say nothing. Blade turns to me. “Can you go inside, give me ten?”

  Ouch.

  “Sure. Nice to see you, Peyton.”

  “You too, Ari.”

  I disappear inside and rush into the office. I unlock it and close the door softly behind me. My heart aches with a pathetic jealousy that I shouldn’t have. He chose me, so why the hell am I so worried about her being out there? I sit for ten minutes, but Blade doesn’t come back in. I get out of my chair and carefully walk out towards the garage. I stop when I hear them talking.

  I peer around to see them standing beside a car. He’s leaning against it with his arms crossed and she’s standing about a meter in front of him, arms flopping to the side. “Please, Blade, let me explain.”

  “Don’t want to hear your fuckin’ lies, Pey.”

  She drops her head. “He drugged me.”

  Oh, she did not.

  “Say what?”

  “He drugged me. We went to lunch, as friends I swear. Midway through I started to feel funny, off even. It got worse and worse until I could hardly walk. He took me home, and I honestly don’t remember much after that.”

  Is she lying? Or is she telling the truth? If she’s lying, then she’s a dog, but somehow, I think she’s telling the truth and that’s bad. It’s bad because Blade will then have to question himself, and everything we’re doing here. I feel sick, but I don’t move. I just watch.

  “How do I know you’re not lyin’ to me?”

  She shuffles about through her purse and pulls out a piece of paper, handing it to him. “I went to the doctor a few days ago, made them take my bloods, because I want to know what he gave me. If you read it, you can see that there were still levels of the drug in my system.”

  Blade stares down at the paper and back up towards Peyton.

  “Shit, Pey.”

  Oh no.

  She bursts into tears. “I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t talk to me. I’m so sorry, Blade. I had to make a statement to the police yesterday because it’s classed as, well . . .” She swallows. “Rape.”

  Oh my god. Poor Peyton.

  Even I’m not that heartless. It must have been horrible for her. Not having control of her own body like that.

  “Shit,” Blade growls. “Who is this fucker?”

  Peyton is crying harder now. “I work with him. We were friends, I didn’t think . . .”

  “Tell me his name, Pey.”

  “Blade, please, the police are dealing with it and—”

  “Tell me his fuckin’ name!” Blade barks.

  She nods. “It’s Brian. Brian Peters.”

  “Where is he now?”

  She shrugs. “I don’t . . . I don’t know.”

  “Where does he live?”

  “Blade . . .”

  He leans in close, grabbing her shoulder. “He raped you; he’s going to pay for raping you. Now tell me where the hell he lives.”

  She rattles off an address, but then quickly reaches out and grabs his arms. “Please, before you go, just know how sorry I am. I . . . it’s been hell without you, Blade. I’m so sorry.”

  Jesus. No.

  His face goes soft and he looks down at her. “Don’t be sorry.” He pulls her into his arms. “Never be sorry.”

  My knees go wobbly. He’s stroking her hair. She’s clinging to him. They look perfect together. Blade pulls back and presses a kiss to her foreh
ead, and as he’s doing this, his eyes find mine. He pulls back and narrows his gaze, but I can’t move. I can’t even speak. Part of me, the biggest part, wants to rush over and hold Peyton. The other part, the tiny insecure part, wonders if this is it for Blade and me?

  Peyton turns and looks over to me, and I pull myself together.

  “I’m sorry, Peyton,” I whisper. “I overheard.”

  She gives me a wobbly smile and the bigger part of my heart wins out. I walk over and place a hand on her shoulder. “Would you like to stay with me for a while?”

  She nods. “I’d like that.”

  “Good idea,” Blade says, leaning down and grabbing some keys. “I’ll be back soon.”

  “Blade,” I say carefully. “Think about what you’re doing.”

  He shoots me an angry look. “He raped my girl,” he spits. “He isn’t getting away with it.”

  I flinch.

  He notices.

  “Peyton, give me a second with Aria.”

  Peyton nods, and he flashes her a smile before she rushes into the office. When we hear the door close, he turns to me. “He raped her, Aria.”

  “I know that, and he deserves to pay for it,” I say, looking away.

  He studies me. “You really don’t care if I go and beat the shit out of him. You care because I was wrong, and Peyton didn’t do bad by me. You care because you’re afraid I’ll leave you and go back to her now that I know.”

  I flinch again.

  He shakes his head and points to the door. “That girl in there got raped, and she was my girl when it happened. She is suffering far more than you right now, so put your fuckin’ selfish shit aside and get over it.”

  I jerk and tears burn under my eyelids. “I never said . . .”

  “You wanted to,” he mutters.

  With that, he turns and storms out.

  Great. Back to square one.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  “Do you want a drink?” I ask Peyton, closing the office door behind me.

  She shakes her head, staring at the desk. Jesus, I have to put my hurt aside right now, because she needs me to be strong for her. I drag a chair over and sit down beside her. “Are you okay?”

  She shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s strange. I know what happened to me, everyone has told me, it’s been confirmed, but . . . I don’t remember it, Aria.”

  “That can’t be nice,” I say softly.

  She shakes her head. “It’s not. My mom says it’s a blessing, because remembering would cause so much damage, but not remembering is seeming to do more.”

  “Either way, what happened to you is going to take time to get over. You need to give yourself that time and let people help you.”

  She looks to me and blinks her pretty eyes. “He thought I cheated on him,” she squeaks.

  “I know.”

  “I know I’m not the smartest girl, or even the best, but I would never . . .”

  God, I actually think I might like this girl.

  “I know,” I say again.

  “He hasn’t spoken to me. The horrible thing was, when I came around the next day, he wasn’t there, and I didn’t even know why. Then I rang him and he exploded at me, called me all these names and told me he never wanted to see me again.”

  “He didn’t know, honey,” I soothe.

  “No, and I’m not mad at him for saying those things. If it were me, I would have done the same. I’m just so miserable without him. I love him, Aria.”

  Oh god.

  That makes two of us.

  “And I’m sure,” I manage, “that he loves you, too.”

  She nods and takes a tissue, wiping her nose.

  “Do you think he’s going to hurt Brian?”

  I cover her hand with mine. “I hope so.”

  She smiles weakly. “I kind of do, too.”

  ~*~*~*~

  It’s been three hours.

  Blade finally returns, his fists bloody, his face a mask of anger. Whatever happened, it riled him up. He looks at the two of us sitting at the desk, and I quickly stand. This isn’t the time or the place for me to let my feelings show. He needs to be able to make a choice, or at the very least, support this girl who is hurting. I smile down at Peyton. “It was nice chatting with you. Feel better soon.”

  “Thank you, Aria,” she says softly. “You’re amazing.”

  I force another smile and try to step past Blade when I reach the door. “Where are you going?”

  “Home,” I say. “Please move.”

  He steps aside and I walk out into the garage. When I get outside, he catches up to me and grabs my arm. “Aria . . .”

  I turn and face him. “You’re right. That girl, she needs you more than I do. I need to go, Blade.”

  “What I said to you was uncalled for. I was angry.”

  “Yeah,” I whisper looking at the floor. “Well, I’m used to it.”

  With that I pull my arm out of his grip and turn, walking down the street. I call a cab and it picks me up a few blocks down. By the time I get home, my heart is aching. I want to go back and be with Blade, but I know I can’t. He needs to make up his mind about what he’s going to do, and I’m not going to be in his way while he does that.

  When I get to the house, Ripley is sitting out the front on the step. I frown and pay the cab driver, then I get out and hurry up to him. “Hey dude,” I say. “What’s wrong?”

  He looks up at me, and while he looks fine, I can see in his eyes that he’s pained. “It’s just been a shit day, you know? Do you want to grab a drink with me?”

  I’d never say no, even though I want to go inside and soak in the bath. I can’t because Ripley has come to me, and there’s a reason for that.

  “Sure.”

  He stands and we both walk off down the street. There’s a café a few blocks down so we stop, grab a seat outside, and order a couple of burgers and milkshakes. I stare over at Ripley as we wait, wondering why he wants me here. He obviously has something he wants to say, but is finding it hard to express that. I just give him time, waiting painterly until he’s ready.

  “I’m seeing someone,” he says finally.

  I look up at him. “That’s great.”

  He shakes his head, meeting my eyes. “No, it’s not. He and I . . . we thought it was fine but today a group of guys from our old school found out. They are going to announce it to the entire world, and I don’t know how to handle that.”

  “Don’t you think it’s time for you to admit to what it is you’re keeping inside? Do you really think anyone will be upset at you for that?”

  He sighs, running his hands through his hair. “Fuck, I don’t know. That’s the problem. I want to be loud and proud, I want to be with Matty, I want things to just be normal but I’m fuckin’ scared, Aria.”

  “Of what, honey?”

  He gives me a look that breaks my heart. “Of losing everyone I love.”

  Oh jeez. I reach over and grab his hand. “Listen to me, your dad and brothers, they freaking adore you. Do you really think they won’t love you when they find out?”

  He looks away. “Brody and Blade, they’re so masculine, so manly, they make dad so proud . . .”

  My heart is ripping to pieces. “And so do you.”

  He shakes his head. “I’m different. Dad and I never bonded over fishing or fast cars. I’m the outcast. What if they don’t want to accept me when they realize just how different I am?”

  “If they don’t accept you, then they aren’t being true to you. If they love you like I know they do, they will deal. They might not like it, but they will deal. You don’t deserve to live like this, Lee. You deserve to be happy and if Matty makes you happy then you need to hold your head high and say fuck the rest of the world.”

  He smiles, but before he can answer a voice rings out through the crowd.

  “Oh look, he likes girls now.”

  Ripley tenses and lets go of my hand, turning in his seat. There are a group of about five guys c
oming towards us. Ripley gets out of his chair quick as lightning and storms towards them, fists clenched. He’s more like this family than he realizes. I quickly get out of my chair and rush over, too.

  “What? You decided the fucking dick wasn’t good enough so now you’re back to pussy? And well done, Ripley,” one guy sneers. “She’s a fuckin’ sweet pussy. Even for a fag.”

  Ripley swings, hitting him in the jaw.

  Then all hell breaks loose. All five guys take hold of Ripley and start pounding into him, over and over again, into his face, into his stomach. People rush over, but none of them have the guts to jump in. I do. I launch myself towards Ripley, screaming at them to stop. My step-brother’s eyes flick to me and he yells out, “Run, Aria.”

  Like hell.

  No one touches my brother like that.

  I send a fist into one of the guy’s faces, causing him to stumble backwards. “Stupid fuckin’ bitch!” he bellows.

  I don’t give him the chance to lunge at me. I bring my knee up and hit him so hard in the balls he goes flying backwards and falls to the ground. I spin and try to fight my way to Ripley, managing a couple of punches. Ripley is on the ground now, and God, there’s so much blood. Some of the onlookers have finally jumped in and a few guys are pulling these bullies back. There are still two on him, and he isn’t moving.

  “Get off him, you motherfuckers!” I yell, throwing myself onto one of the guy’s backs.

  I grab a fistful of his hair and I pull so hard he screams bloody murder. I tug and tug, digging my fingernails into his scalp until he’s clawing at me to try and get me off. He can’t. There is a group of people around Ripley now, so I go to jump off when the man starts charging backwards. It takes me a split second to realize he’s about to slam me into a tree.

  Before I can get off, the tree comes crashing into the back of my head. Pain radiates through my skull and my entire body goes limp as I slip off the man and land with a thump on the ground. Then everything goes black.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Blaring light is what wakes me. It’s burning into my eyes as if someone is shining a torch directly into them. I blink a few times, but my vision is hazy. There’s a pounding in my head that is constant yet quite dull, and I can hear the beeping sounds of what would seem like machines surrounding me. I blink more rapidly, and slowly my vision begins to clear and I realize I’m in the hospital.