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I knew he saw me. He always caught me looking. While my brother was the center, I was like Pluto. On the outskirts, observing, taking it all in, and listening to everything. When my brother threw a rager when my parents were out of town, I would sit on the stairs and watch it all unfold. And, without fail, at some point in the night, Ricky would come and find me.
Or if the guys had passed out in the game room after a night of doing God knows what, he always woke up before everyone. I was an early riser too. He’d make us cereal and regale me with tails of all the shenanigans they had gotten into the night before.
We grew up in a small town and the six of them didn’t run with the popular crowd, they were the popular crowd. Everyone wanted a piece of them.
I was poplar by association.
Ricky’s steps moved swiftly up the stairs. I crawled out of my closet and into my second hiding space. The white four-poster bed sat at an angle down the center of the room. I snaked under the bed and into the small space behind the solid oak headboard. A place where no one would find me unless they knew where to look.
The door squeaked as he pushed it open and closed it behind him.
“Ciara.” The way he sang my name brought tears to my eyes. “Little Tree, come out from behind there.”
His deep-set brown eyes peered over the headboard.
I guess he knew where to look.
“Go away.” The softness of my voice surprised me. It was barely a whisper, but he heard me. “I’m not going.”
“Not acceptable, Ciara Nicole Irby.”
Oh shit, not my full name.
I scrambled to my feet and placed my hands on my hips for emphasis. I glared at him. He chuckled and crossed his arms over his chest.
God, I missed his hands.
“If you don’t come out here, I’m coming in there to get you.” I caught the gleam in his eyes.
I held my ground, mimicked his stance.
He wasn’t having it. Ricky pulled off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves.
I held in a moan as those tanned forearms came into view. The man had more muscle on him then I remembered, but the same commanding presence. He gripped the side of the headboard with both hands.
“What are you doing?” I placed my hands on top of the wood.
“I’m coming in to get you.” He pulled and the bed slid easily to the side, giving him access to my hiding spot. He stepped into my space. He consumed every empty space. Not just with his body, but his aura, if you believe in such things. He was too much, but I wanted all of him.
“Get dressed.” He pointed to my closet. “You’re going!”
“No, I’m not.” I sounded like a petulant child.
“Yes, you are.” Ricky stepped closer.
“No, I’m not.”
He pushed at his rolled-up sleeves. I swallowed and my eyes grew wide. I didn’t even have a chance to make a move before he picked me up and hoisted me over his shoulder. I kicked my feet, which resulted in me banging one against the wall.
“Ouch.”
“Be still or you’re going to hurt yourself.” He squeezed my thigh and walked me to the center of my room and set me back on my feet. “Stay put.” He pointed in my face and walked into my closet. He searched through the rack of clothes until he found what he was looking for. He returned with two black dresses and a pair of black heels.
“Which one?” Funny. Now he was giving me a choice.
I looked at the one in his right hand but didn’t speak. He couldn’t make me put it on. He removed the dress from the hanger and slung it over his shoulder. He stepped forward and gripped the ties of my robe. Before I knew what was happening, the robe had slid off my shoulders and down to the floor.
He paused for a second. He’d never seen me like this before. In a bra and panties. Not overtly sexy, but the glare in his eyes made my insides buzz.
