Devil May Care: Boxed Set (129 page)

“For what?”

“For school tomorrow. The last day of winter break was today. I’m pretty sure your mom filled out all of yours forms, so you should be good to go, but do you need pens and a school bag and all of that?”

I smirked. I’d bet anything she was a straight A student. “I don’t need pens.”

“You already have some? Good.” She smiled wide. She looked so much like her mother. Couldn’t see a hint of Walter in her features. Which was a good thing.

I snorted. “I didn’t say that.”

She frowned again. “I can give you some—”

“I don’t need any.” I waved her concern away.

“Why not?” Her frown deepened.

“Not planning on taking any notes.” I shrugged. My handwriting wasn’t legible anyhow. Even I couldn’t read it sometimes.

“No wonder Dad thinks I should tutor you,” she murmured, glancing away.

I winced. Of course he mentioned that to her already. “Whatever.”

“Don’t you care about your grades?” She sounded scandalized.

Hon, if that was enough to scandalize you, that’s a shame. And, boy, could I really open your eyes if I wanted to.

But I wouldn’t. Couldn’t. Shouldn’t. Not with her. Not with April, my step-sister.

“Not really. Don’t give a crap about my grades.” I yawned, hoping she would get the hint.

“Why not?” She crossed her arms, side-eyeing me. For whatever reason, she was aggravated with me. Why? Because I didn’t like my bed? Because I didn’t share her love for school? Because I wasn’t opening up to her?

“Let me guess,” I said. “You never get anything less than perfect grades. You’re straight-laced, and you never do anything wrong—”

“You don’t have to insult me,” she said stiffly, shifting away from me slightly.

“I’m not.” Interesting that she took what her father would deem positives as slights. Or maybe she was just reacting to my tone. “I’m just making an observation. Am I wrong?”

She stood. “I was just trying to see if you needed help getting ready for school. You said you don’t so…” April bit her lower lip then turned and walked away.

Her retreating backside was mesmerizing. She was wearing a skirt that hugged her ass, and her hips were swaying. Was she playing me? Did she always walk like that, or was she trying to be sexy? Not trying. Succeeding.

In case she decided to come back and yell at me, I upped and left, made a beeline for my room, and got into the too-comfortable bed. I was still unhappy about being here, about Walter, about Jacqueline, about the whole sister wives thing, about school, the rules, chores…all of it. Living here for five months was going to be torture.

But April kept invaded my thoughts. She’d looked so cute when she got angry with me. I bet she made all the guys at school wild about her, what with the good girl vibe she had going on. She’d be the kind of girl to obey orders. If a guy told her to kiss him, she would. If a guy told her to suck him, she just might do that too. From the way Walter was raising her, she listened to males.

And if I told her to suck me, would she? I could just imagine her biting her lips, her big eyes opening wide, her shaking her head. A little prompting, and maybe she’d lick those lips, wink, and nod her pretty little head. She’d open her mouth and…

My hand was down my pants. My cock was so hard. It would be so easy, all too easy, to masturbate to this fantasy, to give into my desire for her. But I didn’t know what to think about her. Sure, she was hot, but she was fine living in this household. She didn’t know anything different, so polygamy was natural to her. I was torn between liking her and not liking her. Who wanted a girl who would talk down to you? No girl was hot enough to make insults worth putting up with.

Although maybe I was being too hard on her. I hadn’t been in a good mood all day, and I wasn’t giving Jacqueline and Walter the grief I wanted to. April deserved better than being my punching bag. If I gave her a chance, would she be my first friend here?

At least she was a step-sister. It made having this boner for her not quite so awkward. Still, I didn’t masturbate to the fantasy of her perfect lips wrapping around my cock.

But I did dream of her sucking me hard and long until I came into her mouth.

And when I woke up, I realized I’d come in my sleep. A wet dream. Because of April.

Crazy.

April

Before school started, I gathered all of the papers from Wesley’s mom for him. On top was his schedule. We had a lot of classes together. Good. Maybe I could help to settle him in some. He had a tough life, I could tell, and maybe he needed a friend.

None of my other guy friends were nearly as hot as he was though.

Where did that thought come from?

***

All morning long, I kept an eye out for Wesley. All morning long, I didn’t see him. He didn’t go to one class. I’d driven us to school in the morning, and I could’ve sworn he followed me inside the building, but he was obviously skipping. Why did I feel so disappointed? It was stupid of me. It was his life, his choice. If he didn’t want to prioritize his schooling, that was on him. I couldn’t make his choices for him. His life and his future too. Why would he throw it all away? I didn’t know him well enough to even hazard a guess.

The bell rang, and I made my way out of the class to the hallway. My throat was so dry I decided to get a quick drink from the water fountain. It tasted so cool and refreshing.

And someone bumped into my backside, lingering a little too long against me for it to be an accident.

I straightened and turned around. Wesley stood there, smiling widely.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, his hand on my shoulder, rubbing it. He was way too close to me, and there was a tightness in my belly that was very pleasant. Wesley winked, and the pleasing feeling shot down to between my legs.

Oh no. He was turning me on. I mean, yeah, he was hot, and feeling his body against mine had been amazing, but this could not be happening. How could this be happening? Not here. Not now. Not ever.

Even worse, some of the other students were looking our way. Did they know he was my new step-brother? Adam wasn’t around, was he? My long-time crush who had finally just learned I was alive.

Panicking, I shoved Wesley away and stomped all the way to my next class, not once looking back. How could he do that to me? Show up out of the blue and press himself against me like that? I was mortified that we’d been seen, horrified Adam would find out, upset that Wesley affected me like he had. Who did he think he was? And just why had he done that in the first place?

This class, history, we had together, and Wesley actually showed up. I shot him a glower. He had started toward the empty seat beside me but then changed directions and sat on the other side of the room. Good. I didn’t want to help him anymore. Forget tutoring. Forget helping him adjust to our house. He could settle himself in by himself. Or not. I didn’t care either way.

Throughout the class, I kept glancing over even though I didn’t want to. Only one time did our gazes meet, and he gave me a smile. Not like the one in the hallway. That one had screamed sex appeal. This one was friendlier. Maybe even apologetic. Maybe he was sorry for going so far. Yes. A mistake. He knew it, and he was ashamed. That I could accept. That I could forgive.

Next class was math. Again, we had it together. He walked in behind me, a respectable distance away. “Can I…” he started then trailed off.

“If you behave yourself,” I whispered as I took my seat.

“I can do that.” He slid into the seat next to me.

There were a few minutes before class started, and Wesley had already started up a conversation with the guy in front of him, one of the most popular kids in the entire high school. They were laughing and joking around. A few other kids joined in their conversation. Wesley was popular already.

That didn’t surprise me. From what I could overhear, when he wanted to be, Wesley could be charming. And personable. And witty. And he definitely had good looks. He had two things going for him—mysterious new guy and that bad boy vibe that drew all girls’ attentions.

At lunch, he, thankfully, didn’t sit with my friends and me, but that didn’t mean my friends didn’t notice him, unfortunately.

“The new guy is so hot,” Tawna gushed, her hand holding up her chin. “Anyone know his name?”

“Wesley,” I mumbled. I took another bite of my sandwich. I really didn’t want to talk about him, with my friends or anyone else.

“Wesley? Oh, I can just picture myself whispering his name in his ear.” Laura was practically swooning. She fell in love with a new guy every week, and each time, she was certain he was the one, that they were destined to be together. We all humored her each and every time and were there for her when her heart would break when they were over.

But in this case, I wouldn’t think it that funny.

“Wesley?” Misty frowned at me. “Isn’t that the name of your step-brother?”

I nodded, making a point out of not looking Wes’s way. He was sitting with a bunch of the cool kids. One day, and he was already a part of the in-crowd. I wondered if that always happened to him, if he was this popular at all the other schools he’d gone to. “Yeah. That’s him.”

My step-brother. My hot step-brother. The one I couldn’t stop thinking about.

“You live with him?” Blue eyes wide, Tawna jerked her thumb in Wesley’s direction.

“Stop!” I yanked her hand down. If Wesley saw and realized we were talking about him, he’d never let me live down. I really didn’t want to have to deal with that, to have to interact with him more than was necessary. He put me on edge…in a good way and in a not-so-good way.

“What’s he like?” Misty asked eagerly.

“The things I would do to that boy.” Tawna shook her head. “Wouldn’t be R-rated, that’s for sure. X all the way.”

“Oh, come on!” My cheeks felt like they were on fire. They had to be so red. Way past time to change the subject. “Let’s talk about—”

“We would go out for a picnic lunch,” Laura said, tilting her head to the side. Her strawberry blond hair half-fell out of her loose braid. “We’d feed each other berries and then nibble on each other’s fingers.” She sighed dreamily.

“That’s so PG-13. Maybe even just PG.” Tawna shook her head again, her short dirty blond hair flying everywhere. “I would rip off his clothes and lick every inch of his body.”

My cheeks were even hotter, and my stomach twisted into knots. That feeling from earlier, when Wesley had pressed against me, returned. I crossed my legs. It didn’t help to scratch the itch forming between my legs.

I should not be thinking such things about my step-brother! It was wrong, so wrong.

But I couldn’t stop myself.

“Food play would be fun!” Tawna continued. “Licking whipped cream would be so much better than licking sweat.”

“Don’t forget strawberries,” Laura cut in.

“You and your berries,” Misty teased.

“She has a point,” Tawna said. “Strawberries can be sexy.”

Food play? I never thought of that before, and now I couldn’t stop. It would probably be a little messy, which would mean a shower…a shower for two…I could wash Wesley’s chest and his legs and in between…

What was happening to me? I liked Adam! And, sure, I daydreamed about Adam before, but nothing like this, nothing so explicit. I was kind of lacking in the sexual department. I never had a boyfriend. I had never even been kissed.

That’s why Wesley being so close to me affected me so much. It wasn’t him. It was just being that close to a guy, any guy. Not him.

Throughout the rest of lunch, my friends continued to talk about what they would like to do to Wesley sexually. I didn’t chime in. I felt so conflicted and uncomfortable.

And I didn’t stop imagining different scenarios of myself with Wesley either. More in the shower. In a bed. In a barn—that was from Misti. She was big into horses and riding. I didn’t know if sex on horseback would be nearly as fulfilling in real life, but in my mind, oh, yeah.

Laura was a little tamer, with her idea of a perfect date, and I had to admit, a picnic with Wesley did sound kind of nice, although I didn’t think he was the kind of guy to go for something even remotely romantic. Not that he was a caveman, but he was a bad boy. He didn’t just act the part. I knew about some of his past escapades from eavesdropping on conversations between his mom and my dad.
See? I’m not as much of a goody two shoes as you think.
My dad hadn’t been sure having Wesley around would be a good thing, that he’d be a bad example for P and P. His mom wanted to be there for him, to try to help turn his life around before he graduated high school, convinced we could better him.

Who knew who was right? My guess—Dad. Wesley was already making me think dirty things. As much as I wanted him to turn his life around, just like his mom did, I didn’t know if that would happen. He’d started his first day of school by skipping several classes. Didn’t speak volumes for wanting to start over fresh.

He’s more likely to drag me down to his level.

But if his level had whipped cream and showers for two…I was in trouble. So much trouble.

***

At the end of the school day, I was surprised to see Wesley already waiting for me by my car. It wasn’t technically mine, not yet at least. My dad had bought it, and I was paying him half of every paycheck until it was fully mine. The other half I was saving up for college.

“Ready to go?” I asked as I unlocked the car, opened the door, and put my school bag into the back.

“I’m always ready for anything,” he teased.

“Right.” I rolled my eyes as I slid behind the wheel. “Buckle up.”

“Yes, drill sergeant.”

I waited for him to buckle. He didn’t. “I’m serious.”

“All right, all right. Don’t get your panties in a twist.” He smirked, looking devilish.

“I am not going to discuss my panties with you.” I winced. I shouldn’t have even engaged that topic.

His blue eyes widened, and his grin turned even sexier. “What if I told you—”

“Don’t,” I pleaded.

“What?” he asked. Wow, did he have the innocent act down. “I’m curious. I thought I saw some of yours friends looking my way during lunch. What were you all talking about?”

“It’s none of your business!” I balked.

“None of my business? If you were talking about me, that kinda is my business, don’t you think?”

“Who said we were talking about you?” I asked coolly. My hand didn’t shake as I shoved the key into the ignition and started the car, but inside, I was more than a little unnerved. I so didn’t want to have this conversation.

“So you weren’t talking about my charms and good looks?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him lean back, hands behind his head. He looked like he could be a model, posing for a magazine cover. Why did he have to be my step-brother? If he weren’t, these feelings of lust he was stirring up inside of me wouldn’t feel so wrong. Because they were wrong. Sinful.

Delicious.

“You aren’t charming,” I mumbled, hoping my cheeks weren’t read. I had an easy face to read, so I stared straight ahead, hoping he wouldn’t realize what I was thinking.

“Ah, but you aren’t denying my good looks.”

I could hear his grin in his voice. Still wasn’t ready to look at him yet, but I could picture it. He had a slow grin that worked from one corner of his mouth to the other. It was lazy. And sexy. It suited him. Some guys thought that being cocky was sexy, but he didn’t have to try to be sexy. He just
was
.

“I’ll take it.”

Fuming, I pressed down a little harder than I intended on the gas, and we jumped forward out of the spot and out of the school’s parking lot.