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Iwatch her walk away, keeping my eyes on her ass for longer than I should. The back door slams shut, and I bring my hands to my face.
What the fuck am I doing? That girl is the definition of forbidden fruit, and yet I indulged in the nectar.
One night. It should have been enough, yet I can’t get those damn sounds she made out of my head. I want to make her sing them for me again. To tangle my fingers through her hair while she wraps herself around my body, moving so perfectly against me.
It doesn’t change anything. She means nothing.
Still…fuck.
After a quick shower, I pull my sweats up my legs. Clearing off a path of steam, I stare at myself in the mirror above the sink. Last night wasn’t a one-time mistake. I’ve tasted her lips on two different occasions now. Held her while she slept at least a dozen times more—if only to keep her dark dreams away.
It’s like she’s everywhere. Even her scent lingers on my skin.
Aaannnd I’m thinking of Sumner again. Why is she invading my mind like this? I can’t fucking stand her. She is here for one reason. I had a plan. The longer she’s here, the more it feels like it’s falling apart.
Forever shameful of my life decisions, I step into the kitchen, pouring myself a large cup of coffee.
Heavy patters strike against the roof of the house, thrumming in and out of unison like a broken choir. I sip on my drink, watching the dark clouds roll overhead.
Stormy days were once something I looked forward to. They meant blanket forts and stories with Dad. It didn’t matter what he had planned. If it rained, we were together.
Now, the shitty weather means nothing. It’s cold, miserable, and wet.
The sound of a door closing pulls my attention from the past. Sumner steps out of the guest house, wearing jean shorts and a light T-shirt.
I watch her observing the sky like what’s happening out there is something worth getting a better view of.
She moves from the cover of the awning, stepping into the downpour. Her head falls back, and she spreads her arms out to the side, basking in nature’s shower.
Vix likes the rain.
It doesn’t take long before the water has her entirely soaked. Her shirt clings against her, forming to her body. My eyes fall over her curves. Curves I’m not supposed to notice. A girl I’m not supposed to want.
She’s so frustrating. She’s too resilient. She’s…not wearing a bra.
Damnit.
Is the purpose of this whole display to drive me crazy? Her payback for all the horrible things I’ve done to her?
My ears catch footsteps approaching, making their way onto and across my front porch. It isn’t until the doorbell chimes that I break away from the distraction beyond the window.
Slamming the remainder of my drink back, I adjust the hard-on I wasn’t planning on having today and find Ashen waiting for me at the entrance. He tries to come in, but I block him, not needing him to see the show Sumner’s putting on in the backyard.
“Hey, man, great timing. Let’s go eat,” I suggest, throwing on a hoodie. I need to clear my mind from the disaster out back, and I’m starving anyway.
Ashen smiles, narrowing his eyes. “You’re hiding something.” He pushes past me, making a beeline for my room. There’s nothing for him to find in there. Everything of Sumner’s is gone, which apart from her, was only the small pair of panties she inconveniently remembered to take with her when she left.
I follow behind, letting him snoop for whatever it is he thinks may be there. Ashen may know me well enough to know I was trying to keep him out of the house, but he’d never know why. Even if she did leave something, he would assume it belonged to Siena or some other chick. No one, including myself prior to last night, would ever believe I slept with the girl living in my father’s guest house. The same girl responsible for his untimely departure from this world.
Of course, no one else knows she’s the reason he’s no longer here.
Finding nothing, my adopted brother turns to me. “Why didn’t you want me to come in?”
“I wasn’t trying to keep you out,” I lie. “Like I said, I want to eat.”
He shrugs, satisfied enough with my answer to drop it, and we make our way back through the hallway. Instead of turning to the front door, Ashen stops, facing the glass window leading to the backyard. Sumner still stands in the downpour, her back to us as she stares in the direction of the forest.
“Think we should invite her?” he asks too casually.
