I blush, and the redness of my cheeks makes me so angry. I hate my skin sometimes. Being unable to hide my true emotions drives me crazy. Once again, I'm replying faster than my mind can change, my fingers typing on the touch screen. My ears are burning up, but for once, I want to go through with something.
My room, tonight after midnight. You game?
My heart is pounding fast as I send the reply, already regretting what I did. But then I'm also glancing at my screen, expecting him to agree any moment now.
My phone pings with a reply.
I have another obligation, but I'm sure you can take care of it yourself, little sister :)
…followed by a photo of my bed, Mr. Fuzz sitting atop the largest vibrator I've seen in my entire life. I stare at it in horror, my eyes widening at the thought of him in my room.
He put a fucking vibrator on my bed. What the hell, what the hell, what the hell?
My heart and head are both pounding when a voice interrupts my thoughts. I pocket my phone and look over my shoulder with the guiltiest expression.
"Hey, loser!"
It's Susie, who has caught up to me after I vanished from the make-out spot. She's got a bright grin on her face, and I keep thinking about the dirty photo on my phone, my cheeks reddening.
Susie seems oblivious though, grinning at me. "We're going to the beach now. You wanna come?"
I ponder her question for a little while, but then I let my face break into a smile, giving a careless shrug as I answer. "Why not?" I say, and Susie calls her friends, who come get us with a beat-up truck.
The beach it is. Anything to get my mind off my goddamned stepbrother.
Chapter four
DOM
She doesn't answer my last text message, which makes me grin more. I look at the display I've left on her bed, feeling pretty pleased with myself. Her teddy bear's smile is innocent. But he's sitting on top of a huge pink vibrator, which is too hilarious to put into words.
But I have other things on my mind, too.
I decide to hit up the beach. I'm not about to waste time in this town by sitting in my room all day, that's for sure.
I put on some swimming shorts and a pair of mirrored aviator sunglasses, skipping the shirt. I just grab a towel and head down to the hot sands.
There's a lot more people here now. My mind is still on Cassidy, but I don't deny myself the pleasure of checking out the bikini-clad girls on the beach. Several of them giggle and blush when I give them a onceover.
I spot some people I met in the morning, and a guy calls my name, waving me over.
"Back so soon?" Adrian asks me with a grin, and I shrug.
"Had enough of playing happy family," I admit, throwing my towel on the sand. "I thought I'd give you the pleasure of my company instead. Promise to behave."
Adrian comes a little closer, nudging me in the ribs with his elbow. "Hey, I'm not complaining." He motions towards a group of girls who are observing us closely, their eyes glued to my tattooed biceps.
I laugh at his words, shaking my head as I check out the crowd. There's definitely a huge number of young people here, and I'm guessing this is the part of the beach they claimed for themselves. Great for me – anything to get my mind off a certain redhead.
Adrian and I sit down on the sand, and I say hi to some other guys who are playing cards. A few girls are with them as well, and they ogle me, but I ignore their looks. I'm not about to break the bro code with some guys I just met this morning.
"Hey, so where are you staying?" Adrian asks me, taking a swig out of his beer can. "Up at the hotel, or are you renting?"
He offers me a cold can from the cooler, and I nod in approval, taking it out of his hand. "Nah, not really," I shake my head, popping the drink open. "My stepdad owns a property here. Renovated it with Mom this year, and now I'm supposed to make friends with my new little stepsister."
"Anyone we might know?" Adrian wonders.
"Not sure," I admit. "She was living with her mom back in Cali. Her name is Cassidy."
"Cassidy?" Adrian repeats, looking at me with a wide grin. "Hell yeah, I remember her. Little bookworm, that red hair. She was such a nerd."
I furrow my brows. I don't like him speaking about her like that, and I'm not sure where he gets his information. Cassidy does not strike me as a bookworm. Maybe a sexy librarian.
I'm about to speak up, but Adrian's attention seems to have shifted. He's ogling a group of giggling girls who just arrived at the beach. And wouldn't you know it, right in the middle of the bunch is my little stepsister.