Score - A Stepbrother Romance (39 page)

I
storm
out of the house with murder on my mind. I'm fuming with anger, but somewhere along the way to my unknown destination, I feel hot tears falling down my cheeks.

I wipe furiously at the wetness, angry with myself for succumbing to his sick little game. I don't know who my stepbrother thinks he is, but he will not be getting as close as he did today, ever again.

As I walk, I think grudgingly about my new stepmother. I have no trouble believing she's actually perfectly all right, but it fucking hurts so bad to sit at the kitchen table that used to be ours, like she took my mother's place.

The memories of my parents' divorce are still too fresh in my mind. As opposed to all those horror stories you hear, my parents didn't spend my childhood fighting. It was strange – they suddenly got very quiet around one another, and you could cut the tension in the air with a knife.

I guess I saw it coming before they sat me down at the very kitchen table I just had breakfast at, telling me they were going to get a divorce. And that's probably the reason it's so painful being in that house – I still remember it as a family place, before things went to shit. It's plain weird seeing a different woman in my mother's chair, along with a guy who should not be
anyone's
stepbrother, because he's walking forbidden fruit.

I sigh heavily, coming to a stop. I look around, now realizing how far I've actually managed to walk. I started going uphill at some point, and I'm at a sightseeing spot – or rather, the make-out spot, as we used to call it. Too bad I never got to try it out.

Immediately, Jax's face flashes in my mind, and I shake my head to get rid of the unwanted thought. I should
not
be thinking of him in that way - or any other, for that matter. I've already decided to keep my distance from him and his mother. I don't need the drama.

"Rubi?" a voice cuts through my thoughts, and I turn around towards the source. There's a pretty, willowy blonde standing a few feet away, and she looks like she's just seen a ghost. "Rubi Lynn?" she repeats, the surprise evident in her voice.

It takes me a moment to realize I actually know this girl.

"Susie?" I ask, my eyes wide open with shock.

"Fuck, no," she laughs, and the snorting sound she makes tells me it is her indeed. "It's Susannah now, and if you call me Susie, I'll be forced to slap you."

She comes over to me, and we hug each other tightly.

"Fuck, Rubi, it's been years," she exclaims, getting a good look at me. I love the approval in her eyes, as pathetic as it is.

Susie used to be the popular kid around here. We spent a lot of time together as kids, back when we lived at the beach house, but when mom and I moved, we completely lost touch. Judging by her long legs and wild curly blonde hair – plus her silly laugh, of course –she hasn't changed a bit.

"You haven't changed a bit." I repeat my previous thought out loud, waking up from my reverie with a wide smile, my eyes traveling down her body. "Except your boobs are huge." My eyes widen as I take in the hugest pair of tits I've seen on a nineteen-year-old.

"You like?" Susie asks with a pout, squeezing them and wiggling in my face, making me smile. She grins smugly as she leans over to explain. "
Courtesy of my eighteenth birthday
."

I shake my head, but I can't help the smile that makes its way onto my face. Susie grabs my hand and drags me over to a bunch of other modelesque girls who make me feel like an ugly duckling.

There's a quick round of introductions, and I'm met with appraising looks and sweet words.

This never would have happened had we stayed in this town.

The move to Cali gave me a chance to completely reinvent myself. When I was a kid, I was shy and such an introvert. Most kids become even more closed up when their parents’ divorce, but I went the other way.

Mom often says I'm angsty and too grown-up for my own good. But she doesn't know the half of it.

I may put on a good act, but on the inside, I'm the same bookish, naive Rubi I was when I was a kid. Eternal Daddy's girl, goody-goody-two-shoes. Some things never change.

But gossiping with these girls as we occupy a bench in the nearby park makes me feel like I
belong
. I might've spilled the beans to Susie had we been alone, but in this case, I keep my mouth shut.

Besides, I bet she'd look at me differently if she found out I was a virgin.

I'm
eighteen
, for fuck's sake! I have the mouth of a filthy sailor, as mother likes to point out, and the attitude of a four year old who likes to throw temper tantrums.

And I own a mirror, so even though I'm not a very confident person, I know there are some things about me people would deem attractive. I'm a natural redhead, complete with a sprinkling of freckles over my nose, but with skin that is surprisingly easy to tan. Mom says I have the body of a wasp – curvy boobs and hips, but tiny waist.

I know I should be confident, because there's no reason for me to shy away from guys. But somehow, I've gotten the reputation of being an ice princess, and no one even dares to approach me. I liked it at first, the fact that they almost feared me. But as the years went on and all my girlfriends got boyfriends and cried over them, I felt like I was excluded.

No one ever made an effort to get to me. I guess they just saw me as something they could never have, even though I was practically starving for a kiss at that point – apart from some clumsy groping and kissing that happened at parties, I guess I'm still inexperienced.

I've gotten pretty good at pleasing myself though. As the thought enters my mind, I blush again and try to focus on what's going on in the real world.

Looking at the girls around me with their tiny bodies makes me feel huge. I try not to let it show, though, so I put my thoughts in order and actually begin contributing to the conversation.

We're chatting about the usual stuff – guys, makeup, clothes. Then, a brunette runs over to us, catching her breath, her eyes burning up with excitement.

"Oh, Gabbi," Susie says sarcastically. "You saw something? Trouble at the old mill? Bark if it's true!"

I can't help the smile that makes its way onto my face, but Gabbi just rolls her eyes, catching her breath. "Fine, I won't tell you," she says, offended.

Susie jumps off the bench and walks over to her. "Go on now," she prompts her, interest starting a spark in her eyes. I'm intrigued, too.

"Well," Gabbi begins, thrilled with the fact all attention is on her. "Guess who I just saw down on the beach." She looks at us expectantly, but I have nothing to offer – I haven't been in the beach house for years.

"Usual suspects?" one of the other girls shrugs.

"Indeed, but with a new addition," Gabbi waggles her eyebrows. "There was this insanely hot guy there, you wouldn't believe ... Tall, dark and handsome, the whole package."

The girls start milling around me, and she definitely has their interest. I'd be lying if I said I didn't care, as well. I wouldn't mind a little summer romance myself.

"Tell us more," one of the girls demands.

"He's new around here, but he's friends with Adrian," Gabbi begins. "I saw him with the usual guys, I guess they know each other or are just hanging out. But seriously, he's the hottest out of all of them. He looked at me- ..." She looks away dreamily. "He winked at me.
And
he smirked. I almost died!"

"Did you get a name?" Susie asks impatiently, and Gabbi grins.

"I did!" she says, puffing out her chest. "Jackson."

Oh fuck no.

"Jackson?" I repeat, finally getting my voice back and speaking up. "As in, Jackson Manning? Calls himself Jax?"

Gabbi furrows hers brows, then nods, and her whole face lights up like someone just plugged in the lights on a Christmas tree. "You know him or something?"

"Oh my God, Rubi," Susie comes over to me, the interest in Gabbi gone. "Can you set me up?"

"Yeah, sure," I say sarcastically. "Hope you enjoy fucking my stepbrother."

Before any of them can react, I run off to the sound of my name being called behind me. But I don't give a crap right now, because I came here to escape my stupid family, not be reminded about it.

And I most definitely don't need to know how hot my new friends think my stepbrother is. Mostly because it makes me jealous as fuck.

I'm also still fuming about what happened back at the house. That prick thinks he can do whatever the hell he likes, and he doesn't give a crap about my opinion. Well, I'm not about to be some bad boy's doormat, even though he's treating me like a tasty dessert he cannot wait to sink his teeth into.

I grit my teeth as I walk, trying to ignore the memory of being in the pool with him, his hardness pressed against my pussy, the way it made me feel. I try
really
hard.

But then my phone beeps with a text, and I look down to see who it is. None of my friends have shown an interest in my trip – and I would know, since I've checked my phone a billion times since I arrived at the beach house. But a quick look at the incoming text tells me it's an unknown number.

Furrowing my brows, I swipe to see what this is all about.

Still wet? J

I stare at the unknown number, my eyes widening. And a moment later, I'm pretty sure who sent the text, managing to taunt and tease me even when we aren't in the same room. Choosing not to reply, I stuff my phone back in my pocket and continue walking, but it keeps buzzing so I look at it again, a heavy sigh on my lips.

I meant from the pool, you pervert. ;)

I'm going to assume the worst if you don't answer.

You know, I could help you with that.

Gritting my teeth, I furiously type a reply and hit send before I can change my mind about the whole thing getting out of hand.

You could never make me wet, you prick.

Why don't you try and see, darlin’? You don't have to do all the hard work yourself, you know.

I blush, and the redness of my cheeks makes me so angry. I hate my skin sometimes, and being unable to hide my true emotions drives me crazy.

OK.

Once again, I'm replying faster than my mind can change, my fingers typing deftly 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 insanely fast as I send the reply, already regretting what I did seconds after it happens. But then I'm also glancing at my screen furiously, 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 proudly 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 beaming brightly, 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, shrugging carelessly. "Why not?" I say softly, 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.

S
he 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 damn pleased with myself. Her teddy bear is smiling innocently at me, sitting on top of the pink vibrator, and it's too funny for 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, which can be reached from the Lynns’ backyard.

There's a lot more people here today, and despite the fact that my mind is still on Rubi, I don't deny myself the pleasure of checking out the bikini-clad girls on the beach while they giggle and blush at the sight of me.

I spot some people I met in the morning, and a guy calls my name, waving me over.

"Back so soon?" a guy called Adrian asks me with a grin, and I shrug.

"Had enough of playing happy family," I admit, throwing my towel on the sand. "Mind if I hang out with you guys? 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 is observing us quite 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 hello 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 hands. "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 asks lazily.

"Not sure," I admit. "She was living with her mom back in Cali. Her name is Rubi."

"Rubi?" 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. Rubi 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 is my little stepsister.

I groan out loud at the same moment she spots me, rolling her eyes in response. So I have no idea why she saunters straight towards me the next moment.

"Hello,
brother
," she says viciously, crossing her arms in front of her body, which pushes her tits together and makes my cock stir. Fuck
me
. I'm pretty sure I know which spot everyone's eyes are glued on now. "Stalk much?"

"Yes, and I'm so far ahead of you I actually got here before you," I tell her nicely, smirking at her pretty face. "Why don't you and your little friends go play with your toys? I think I saw
two
in your room before?"

Her face blushes a bright red color, and we both know the teddy bear isn't the only thing I'm thinking about. She switches her weight from one foot to another, glaring at me.

"Yeah? Then you can get lost somewhere else," she mouths at me. "I know how much you hate playing."

"Oh, I'm good right here," I say carelessly. "Why don't you move? You're blocking my
sun
."

"I'm about to block something else," she retorts, her head motioning to the gaggle of girls who are still staring at me. "How about I tell them what a prick you are?"

"Works for me," I grin at her. "You know girls like bad boys."

She looks furious again, but apparently, she's not done yet. "I asked you to move," she says angrily, crossing her arms in front of her body defensively and glaring at me like she expects me to move somewhere else on the beach.

I've pretty much had it with her antics. I get up from the towel and walk over to her. She looks stubborn for a moment, and it's driving me crazy, but I'm not going to take some kid's shit.

So before she can react, I grab her tiny waist and toss her over my shoulder to the whooping of my new friends. Rubi shrieks in horror, and I try to ignore my throbbing cock as I walk to the other side of the beach.

My rough skin against her soft complexion... I'm afraid I'll lose it, touching her like that. Her silky hair falls like a curtain over my chest, and her tits are pressed up against me. My hand starts wandering up towards her ass, but I make myself stop just under her cheeks. She stirs under me, stilling for a moment, like she expects me to go on.

I deposit her on the dumpy side of the beach, near the showers and the cabinets for getting changed, amidst some trash. "Isn't this better?" I ask her. "You wanted to get as far away from me as possible, if I recall correctly?"

She glares at me furiously, and I can tell she has a little speech prepared for me already, but I'm not finished yet. I grab her hand and pull her dangerously close, until I'm breathing right down her neck, my exhales hot on her tanned skin.

"You can mess with your Dad, you can play your little games with my mother," I tell Rubi. "But think twice before you try to work me."

She gives me an evil look and rips her hands out of my embrace. "Fuck you," she spits out, and starts heading back to her spot on the beach.

"Oh, I know you want to," I say to her back. "Too bad I won't fulfill your filthy little daydream. I'm sure you'll have fun with your new toy, though."

She looks over her shoulder and her face is blushed that pretty shade of strawberry, her eyes furious. I need to stop myself from pulling her back, right into my arms, and crushing my mouth against hers.

"Dude!" Adrian calls at me when I come back to the shore a moment after Rubi. His eyes are glowing, and he's laughing his head off. "That was epic."

"Glad you were entertained," I mumble as he slaps me on the back.

"But seriously," he goes on. "Who is that chick?"

I look at him with confusion. "My stepsister," I explain. "I told you about her – Rubi?"

Adrian's eyes widen. "Dude, that is
not
Rubi."

Both of us look at the group of girls a few feet away, who are all gathered around little sis. And I wish I hadn't looked, because Rubi's white dress is plastered to her skin. She's wearing a thong under it. No bra.

Holy...

"That's your sister?" Adrian asks, his mouth gaping so wide open I want to smack him upside down for looking at Rubi like that. "Fuck, dude, I'm sorry. Must be hell."

He licks his lips and the desire to punch him grows bigger. "Mind if I—"

"I do," I say matter-of-factly and look him right in the eye.

Adrian's a big guy.

But I'm bigger.

"You touch her, you're fucked," I tell him, following up with a pleasant smile. "Got it?"

He stares me down for a moment, but then starts laughing, raising his arms in the air. I decide I like him on the spot. "Got it, dude. Shit, don't lose it, okay?" he says, placating.

But then his eyes start sparkling with mischief, and I know there's something else on his mind.

"Yes?" I ask, already worried.

"I might not be allowed," he says, "but what about you?"

I look at him like he's a moron. "I'm her
brother
."

"Nope," he says, laughing. "That's the best part. You're not related. You met what, today?" My silence answers for me.

"Perfect!" Adrian claps his hands together. "You won't let me have her. She's hot as holy hell."

We both take a moment to stare at Rubi. Unfortunately, she's all wrapped up in a towel now.

"Don't you want her?" Adrian asks me incredulously.

And I
really
want to say no. Except that would make me a fucking liar, and I don't like lying. "Hm," I grunt, and he looks triumphant.

"Do you think you can get her?" There's a challenge in Adrian's voice and I give him a hard look.

"I can get her," I reply, trying to stay calm.

"Wanna prove it?" he waggles his eyebrows at me.

"Don't need to."

"What if I throw in a prize?"

My eyebrows shoot up. "What's the prize?"

"A hundred," he haggles, and I laugh, shaking my head.

He thinks it through for a moment, looking at Rubi one more time. "Ah, whatever. You couldn't do it anyway."

"You willing to bet on that?" The words come out of my mouth before I can stop them, and Adrian looks at me with a new interest sparking in his eyes.

We've walked up to the beach parking lot now, and Adrian leans against a very nice Lexus. "That yours?" I ask him, motioning towards the white beast with my head.

He follows my motion and slowly nods.
Shit, that's a nice car.

"Not the Lexus, man," Adrian groans. "I got it from my folks. I am not betting a car."

"If I don't get her, you can."

I'm just blurting shit I don't mean at this point. But I have the ultimate prize in mind – a brand new car. Plus, Rubi ... If I win, I get both.

And I don't lose.

Adrian stares me down, then a smile slowly forms on his lips. "Why not?" he asks, the mischievous look back in his eyes. "Let's do it."

We shake hands and stare at each other, the bet sinking in as reality, not just some fleeting thought.

"Well, shit," Adrian laughs nervously as the realization dawns on him.

"Yeah," I repeat, my eyes wandering to the beach, landing on Rubi's wet mane of hair. And I picture that filthy mouth wrapped around my cock, her eyes glued to mine. "Fuck," I say softly.

This might just be the best deal I've ever made.