Step-Lover (10 page)

“What’s going on with you two?” Mel whispers in my ear.

I lean in close. “It’s a long story, but let’s just say we’ve come to the agreement that we need to stop whatever is going on and leave it alone.”

“How does that make you feel?” She frowns.

I shrug. “I’m okay.”

She studies me, then smiles and says, “You need to get laid then!”

I splutter on my drink and glare at her. “Seriously?”

“Yeah, seriously. Do you think he isn’t taking that uppity skank to his bed tonight? You have to move on; you’re young, and Bryce is more than keen.”

She has a point, and that point hurts. Blade won’t hesitate being with Peyton tonight, I know it.

“I’ll see what happens.”

She wraps her arm around my shoulders. “That’s my girl.”

~*~*~*~

It’s midnight, and we’ve all been drinking. I haven’t had a great deal, purely because I can’t stomach it after today. I am having a blast, though. Melanie and I have spent the night mingling. I’ve even shared a kiss with Bryce. It was nice—it wasn’t hot, but it passed the test. Things were going great, right until I ended up in his room.

I don’t really know how he managed to get me here. We were kissing, laughing, and he wanted to show me something. Now we’re kissing on his bed, hot and heavy, only my mind is really not in it. Bryce doesn’t do slow, and his hands are wandering over my breasts and up my skirt. His fingers graze my sex, and I want it to feel good, but it doesn’t. Melanie was wrong; I can’t move on this quickly. I’m not ready and I don’t want to be someone’s one-night stand, even if he’s a nice guy.

“God, you’re so wet.”

I curl my upper lip. He must be mad. I’m as dry as a desert river. Poor Bryce.

“Bryce,” I say, pushing his chest softly. “I don’t think . . .”

He pulls back and glares at me. “Don’t do that, Aria.”

“Do what?” I mutter.

“Pull back after you let me come in here and do this.”

I shuffle out of his grip and stand. “Look, I’m sorry, but I’m not really up for it. You’re a great guy, but I can’t.”

He stares at me, then mutters, “Waste of fuckin’ time, just like my buddies said.”

Um, prick alert.
“Well, thanks for confirming that I just made the right choice. Night, Bryce.”

I turn and rush out of his room. I straighten my dress as I hurry down the hall, but come to a halt when I catch a glimpse of a couple in the room at the end. The door is open and they’re sitting on the edge of the bed, kissing. Heavy. My heart feels as if it’s been ripped from my chest as I watch Blade’s lips move over Peyton’s. Oh God. I think I’m going to vomit.

He must sense me because he pulls back and looks towards the door. He flinches when he sees me. I can’t do this. I thought I could, but I can’t. I turn and run through the living area and out of the house. I stumble down the front steps just as tears prick my eyelids and stream down my face. Melanie calls out for me, then Brody, but I ignore them and just run into the darkness.

“Aria, wait!”

Blade. He followed me.

I keep running.

“Fuck it, just wait.”

He catches up to me and takes my arm, spinning me around. I shove at his chest, over and over, then I cry hysterically. “Did you fuck her? Did you? Did you make her feel how you made me feel? Did you?”

He jerks and takes my shoulders, shaking me gently. “Does it matter?”

“Yes!” I scream.

“Jesus, Aria, I told you this was done.”

“So you rub it in my face,” I whimper, shoving his chest pointlessly again. “How can you just forget it that easily? You’re so . . . cold.”

He lets me go and steps back. “Because that’s what I fucking do.”

I look up at him, blinking through my tears. “So that’s it? You’re fucking her and you’re going to do the same to her as you did to me.”

“Yeah.”

I gasp for air and press a hand to my chest. “I have to go. I can’t . . . I can’t do this.”

I turn and rush towards the trees.

“Like you weren’t just doing the same thing!” he yells after me.

I stop and turn stiffly. “I thought about it, but I couldn’t go through with it. I have a heart, unlike you.”

Then I disappear into the darkness.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

NOW

I don’t even change—I just kick my shoes off and slide into my bed. I pull the covers over my head and I cry myself into a restless sleep. I’m woken what seems like only minutes later to the sound of my window being pushed open. I can’t see a damned thing, and my body freezes in fear as I hold my breath, wondering what the hell is happening.

I hear the thumping of feet, and I sit up quickly, crying out, “Who the hell is there?”

“It’s me.”

Blade?
I blink a few times, rubbing my eyes. I must be hearing things. “Blade?”

“Yeah.”

“W-w-what?”

The floorboards creak as he strides over to my bed. Boots thump on the floor, then the sounds of rustling clothes before the bed dips. Suddenly his presence is over me, his face right in front of mine. I don’t understand.

“What are you doing here?”

“I can’t do it.”

“Do what?”

“Pretend anymore.”

I swallow.

“I fuckin’ want you, Aria.”

Oh boy.

“So fuck it.”

Then he leans forward and crushes his lips over mine. I gasp into his mouth, but it doesn’t last long. Soon I’m clinging to him, letting him lay me back down. One of his arms is tucked behind my head, and the other is cupping my face. He kisses me long and deep, taking my breath away. When he pulls back, I’m panting and so damned wet. “I didn’t fuck her,” he murmurs.

Oh.

Thank God.

“But I’m going to fuck you.”

Yes, please.

He tugs my dress. “Get this off.”

He moves off me and I slide my clothes off, not even hesitating. When I’m naked, he pushes me back down onto the bed. “Hands above your head, and put a pillow over your mouth. I’m about to make you scream.”

I pull my pillow over my mouth with a pounding heart. Then I slide my hands over my head. He moves down my body, gently sucking on my nipples as he goes. I close my eyes and whimper softly, not wanting to wake our parents. He draws my nipple in, flicking it with his tongue, and then he slides down my body, pressing kisses to my skin as he moves.

When he reaches my legs, he gently spreads them. He leans down and runs his stubble over my thigh. I squirm but his hands firmly hold me in place as he taunts and teases me. I want to scream at him to just give me more, but he holds me there until I’m arching up, desperately trying to push my pussy into his face. With a low chuckle, he leans down and runs his tongue from my entrance right up to my clit.

I jerk and cry out, and he slaps my thigh lightly. “No screaming.”

Sure, because that’ll be a damned effortless task.

He wraps his lips around my clit and sucks it into his mouth. I moan as softly as I can, but all I want to do is clutch his head and force his mouth harder between my legs. He takes his time devouring me, flicking my clit with his tongue and occasionally biting it between his teeth and rolling it about. Yes, oh yes.

“More,” I whisper.

He sucks harder and I gasp, arching up. Oh, God, it’s coming. I’m coming. I release my hands and press the pillow hard over my face as I cry out. My body shakes and he sucks until every tremble has left my body and I’m floppy on the bed. He moves up the bed and removes the pillow from my face. “You scream when I’m fucking you, do it into my chest. Better yet, bite me, baby.”

Oh boy.

I nod and he leans down, plunging his tongue into my open, waiting mouth. I gasp and suck it before kissing him long and deep, loving the taste of me on his lips. He pulls back and I can feel his cock prodding my sex. “You on the pill?”

I nod.

“You clean?”

I nod again.

“Fuckin’ sweet.”

I take a moment to run my hands over his shoulders and down his back. His muscles tense and flex as I glide my fingers over his smooth skin. Without warning, he pushes his cock just slightly inside me. I stiffen for a second, then let my legs fall wider as he sheaths himself with a guttural groan. “You feel as fuckin’ good as you did back then.”

“Yes,” I whisper. “Fuck me hard.”

“Bad girl.”

He reaches down and takes my hip, and damn have I missed the feeling of him filling me, stretching me in the most beautiful way. I close my eyes and clutch him as he begins to rock his hips. He fucks me slow at first, working in and out, in and out, until I’m muffling my cries on his chest. When we’re both close he starts fucking harder.

His hips drive his cock into my aching flesh and his balls slap my ass, rather loudly, as he picks up his pace. I can’t stop my scream, so I clamp my teeth down on his flesh. He growls loudly and mutters something about ‘fucking hot’ before he fucks me so damned hard I draw blood on his skin. I come, and I can’t hold back the scream. Blade’s hand clamps over my mouth and he lets out a long, low hiss as he finds his own release.

He drops down over me, pressing his forehead to mine. “Fuck, did you draw blood?”

I scrunch up my nose, even though he can’t really see it. “Yes, sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, it was hot. You got . . . hotter.”

I flush in the darkness. “And you got . . . rougher.”

He pushes up on his arms. “That a bad thing?”

“Heck no.”

He chuckles and pulls out of me, rolling to his back. When our breathing has calmed down, he says, “I’m sorry for the hurt I caused.”

“It’s okay,” I whisper, yawning.

“You’re sleepy and I should get out of here just in case your mom or my dad decides to check on you.”

He has a point, but I really don’t want him to go. “It sucks you have to go.”

He’s silent for a long, long moment. Then he rolls and kisses me softly, the softest he’s ever kissed me. “You have no idea.”

He presses another kiss to my forehead and gets out of the bed. He dresses and then leans back over me. “Night, Tulip.”

“Night Blade.”

He kisses my lips again and I’m so content, I can’t help but smile.

When he reaches the door, he says softly, “I really am sorry, Tulip. For being the kind of man I was and not being able to give you what you honest to god deserve. I hope one day you’ll forgive me.”

I already have.

~*~*~*~

I wake for the first time in eleven years without a nightmare. I’ve never felt more refreshed. I yawn and stretch, and I can’t wipe the silly smile off my face. Last night started horribly, but it turned out amazing. Blade made me feel so damned good. I shove out of bed, loving how the sheets still smell of him. I don’t bother to wash up. I quickly get dressed and rush out for breakfast.

I just want to see him again.

Last night was amazing, and I think it may have changed everything for us.

When I get into the dining area, I see everyone standing in the kitchen chatting to each other. Ripley is missing and so is Blade. They must still be sleeping. “Morning,” I call, walking over and hugging Mom. I squeeze Jack’s shoulder and head to the coffee pot. I pour a mug and look up to see Melanie watching me with an unreadable expression on her face.

“What?” I ask.

She looks to my mom and Jack, but they seem oblivious to whatever she’s trying to tell them. Mom smiles at me. “How was last night?”

I beam. “Not bad at all. Are Ripley and Blade still sleeping?”

“Ripley is. Blade has gone, unfortunately.”

My entire body turns to ice.

“What?” I manage to say without letting dread fill my tone.

“He said he had to get back to California. His old boss needed him.”

No.

No.

No.

“S-s-so he isn’t going to live near us?”

Jack frowns. “No. Well, not for a while. He has to help out until his boss finds someone else. His new boss is holding a spot for him here, if he ever wants it, but it could be a while.”

No.

Oh god, I’m going to be sick.

“Are you okay, love?” Mom says.

“Ah, yeah, I just had too much to drink last night,” I say, forcing a smile.

Everything inside my body, all the joy, all the happiness I felt only minutes ago has been sucked back into oblivion. Melanie comes to me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. “Come on, let’s go get some fresh air.”

She leads me to the door and I flash the fakest smile I’ve ever given and follow her out. As soon as we’re away from the house, tears explode from my eyes and I drop to my knees. “He did it again.”

“Oh honey, I thought you said it was all over.”

“He came to me last night,” I cry, pressing my hands to my face. “He . . . fucked me.”

She curses. “Jesus, that piece of shit.”

“He . . . he was so nice to me. He made out like we were going to give it a go, and . . .”

I stop talking and lift my head. God, how could I be so stupid? He said right before he left how sorry he was and that he hoped I’d forgive him. He was saying goodbye and I was too oblivious to catch it. Melanie kneels down beside me and wraps her arms around me. “We’re going to get through this, you’ll see.”

I say nothing.

There’s nothing left to say.

He did it again. Blade broke me a second time.

Then he left me alone.

There is no forgiveness left inside my battered heart.