Santa's Pet (22 page)

He groans and comes apart, no longer gentle as his tongue wraps around mine and he rubs his hardness between my legs. My fingers are busy with his buttons, and he rips the flannel shirt I borrowed, popping the buttons. I hadn’t had time to put on a bra, and when he lifts his lips from mine, his entire face gleams at the sight of my heaving chest.

I raise my arms for him to remove the shirt and tank top, and nod to give him consent. The second his hot lips touch my nipples, I sigh and arch as a hot bolt of electric pleasure shoots to my clit. This, here, Ben, me, is everything I’ve always wanted. A man who loves and cherishes me.

The way he rolls his tongue and kisses me, sucking and caressing me shows me he’s forgiven and accepts me. My breathing comes faster as excitement sizzles all over my body.

His mouth travels lower as he puts both hands on my breasts, cupping and fondling. He licks and blows on my belly button, sending chilly hot goosebumps over my shoulders, and teases my hip bones, nipping and licking.

Suddenly, I want the sweatpants off. The temperature’s burning and I’m ready. I writhe and wiggle, and he obliges by sliding the waistband down.

He sucks in a wet breath through his teeth at the sight of my bare skin. No panties. So, sue me for being hopeful.

His long tongue dips to my sensitive nub, so engorged I almost come. No one has ever gone down on me before Ben. No one has taken the time. I moan and sigh, unable to stop the passion from shooting through my body. It’s so intense I’m caught by surprise when I explode. He prolongs the sensations by removing the tip of his tongue and moving me with his juicy lips.

I scream and pant with ecstasy, and before I’m falling from the height, he’s inserted a finger.

“You’re so wet and tight,” he mumbles, stroking me where it feels so good. “Are you okay?”

“Mo-ore than okay. B-Ben, make l-love to me.” I reach for him and bring him up, tugging his face to mine.

“Do you trust me?” He whispers in my mouth, giving me a taste of my slippery juices.

“I trust you. I’m sure.” I kiss him desperately, my hands and fingers clenched to his neck, stroking his head, and my legs wrapped around his waist. “Take everything off. Skin to skin.”

He rears up onto his knees and strips. The shirt flies off, and he lowers his jeans along with his boxers. My eyes pop when his long and loaded cock is freed. He kicks off his pants and reaches into the pocket.

I can’t wait a second longer to touch him. I sit up and hold him around his waist, rubbing myself against him, breasts to his hairy chest, and belly to his giant erection. My twitchy hand glides to his cock and closes around it as I stroke the velvety skin. Licking my lips, I bend down to kiss him.

But he moves away from me and presses me back onto the mattress. I hear a rip of plastic and know he’s sheathing himself. And the next thing I know, he’s pressed against my opening.

He’s breathing heavily, propped above me, his dark brown eyes staring at me intently, looking for an answer.

“Yes, yes, I love—” With a deep groan, his lips crash over mine, cutting my words of love and he shoves the head in, but I’m so tight, he immediately pulls back, although his tongue is still in my mouth, stroking and comforting me.

I jerk my hips, wanting him.
Please, please, please don’t stop now.
I grab his hips and urge him to try again. He teases me, though, circling the tip around where I want him to go. The sensations are so beautiful that I almost weep.

“Please, Ben. Please …” I beg, my voice aching with something so deep I can’t name it.

He eases in again, stretching me and the pressure feels so sweet, laced with a twinge of pain that arouses me like mad. I raise my hips and meet him part way, and he’s in, all the way.

I open my eyes and he’s looking at me, his eyes relaxed and half-closed, full of pleasure. He moans and strokes my hair with his fingers, as he starts moving. A tiny smile dots his lips as the incredible sensation builds, pumping pleasure inside me and spreading it to my four limbs. Our eyes remain locked in the wonderment of making love—being in love.

I never want this moment to end. Ever. But the passion is too hot and I can’t stop the momentum of the giant rumbling building up where we’re joined. The rush of thunder overspills and I lose all control as I’m overtaken by an incredible surge of pleasure.

“Ben, oh, Ben. I love you, love you.” I pant and moan, thumping my head on the mattress as my climax crests, flinging me to the stars and back.

Ben’s entire body tightens, and he pumps his release hard, groaning and exhaling. He hangs over me a split second before collapsing at my side, wet with sweat.

It’s only after the entire glow in my body subsides, that I realize he hadn’t said a word or called my name. Maybe he’s nervous about his first time. Maybe he’s just not the expressive type. Strong and silent, I have to trust his actions speak louder than words.

~ Ben ~

Ben couldn’t calm his heart. No way. Brittney was everything he’d imagined and more—hot, sweet, sexy, and so responsive to him. But it was more than her body and the way she moved. It was the way he trusted her completely that poured her into his heart, flooding every corner and making him putty in her hands.

She loved him. Said it herself at that sweet moment when nothing could go wrong. But a niggling thought scratched at the back of his mind. What if she’d said that to Nash too? Had she also loved him only to be crushed when he walked away the next morning?

Stop thinking about him. She didn’t know you back then. You never paid her any attention. You were too into football to notice her.

But as much as he tried, it was the only thing he could focus on. What a way to ruin the afterglow of his first time ever—which was a rush of wonderful and more than anything he’d dreamt off. Mother was right to hold off for the right woman—the perfect one. He’d held her to his heart and poured out his soul to her. She had to be the right one. He’d accepted her, no matter what, because she was his—or was she?

Idly, he stroked her dewy skin and held her close. She felt so good and warm. He’d made love to her, a first for him, and maybe, just maybe it’d been for her too, except for that thorn in the heart, Nash.

Ugh. Stop thinking about him.

Pleasure and equal amounts of pain tore through every fiber of his body. She’d ripped his heart to pieces by telling him about Nash—not only had she had sex with Nash, but she’d loved him and pined over him.

Could he truly accept that his bad-boy brother had been between her legs? That it had been more than a casual hookup? That he’d truly walked away for good?

Not if he’s out there demanding to see her, or running benefit concerts for her.

If he knew anything about his brother, it was that he did nothing except when it benefited himself. The guy had to be in love with Brittney. How could anyone not be if they really knew her?

Ben wrapped his arms around her and cradled Brittney—his treasure. From the looks of it, he’d worn her out.

Her eyes were closed and her face flushed. She breathed deeply, and a sweet smile twinkled over her gorgeous face. She appeared totally and completely loved—secure and assured.

Spikes of fear hip-hopped inside his heart. Could he truly keep this up? Keep her secure and assured? Wipe away all memories of Nash and his charming-ass ways? Ben’s muscles tightened enough that Brittney stirred in his arms.

“Mmmm …” Brittney yawned, stretching. She rolled over onto her side and rested her head on his chest. “I was surprised you went ahead, but it was great. Guys don’t have cherries, so what should I say I plucked?”

“My banana?” He tried to keep the turmoil from his voice.

“Oh, wonderful. I peeled your banana. That’s a new one.” The glow on her face was at once wonderful and cute. Bet that was the first time she’d done that.

“Sounds better than foreskin.” Immediately, the taste in his mouth soured. She surely hadn’t been Nash’s first one.

“Ewww, yes.” She rolled on her back and put her hands on her forehead, chuckling. “So, does this mean we’re together now?”

Ben’s shoulders and back prickled with spikes of sweat. Because this was what she wanted—a relationship, someone to love. He should be the lucky one, except had she said this to Nash? Wished it of him?

“We’re as together as you want.” He resorted to a male’s vague whatever-you-want phrase. Usually, women were so into themselves and what they wanted, they’d interpret it any way they wanted, giving him time to make his getaway.

Except he didn’t want to get away from her, or did he?

Ben tightened his muscles and shrugged from her embrace. He had to be the tough one here. Face reality. He’d waited all his life for her, only she hadn’t waited for him.

“What’s wrong?” Brittney wasn’t fooled. Her blue eyes blinked, going from dazed and dilated to clear and pointed. “Something’s bothering you. Maybe we moved too fast.”

“No, nothing’s wrong. It was great. You were great.”

She twisted her eyebrows. “‘Great’ sounds like a kiss off.”

“It’s not.” Ben’s stomach churned, fighting his pounding heart. “We’re together now. Did you mean it? What you said?”

She bit her lip and one side of her mouth quivered while the other side curved up as she nodded. “I do. I hope it doesn’t scare you away, but Ben, you’re really special to me.”

How could she be so perfect and yet so dangerous?

Ben felt his insides melting in both a good and bad way. What he dreamed of was within reach, in the palm of his hand. He leaned toward her and kissed her cheek, not wanting to let go.

“You’re special to me too,” he said, his voice choked.

“I better be. I’m your first one.”

“Yep, but I better be your last one, too. No more banana peeling for you, young lady.” He forced a lighthearted chuckle. After all, it wasn’t Brittney’s fault he couldn’t get over the fact that she’d slept with his brother.

He’d have to deal with it on his own.

“So, what now?” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his lips. “Do we want to explore this thing we have going on some more? I was hoping we could spend more time together, now that we’re really together.” She filled his heart with adoration, her face beaming—still flushed from the orgasms he’d given her.

“Sure, but we have to get rid of your sister. She’s outside waiting for us. Let me peek through the window and see if she’s still there.” Ugh. This was going to be hard, even for him, to skirt around that other person who was out there, too.

“I can text her and tell her to leave. I left my phone in the kitchen. Let me get it.” Wisely, she refrained from mentioning his brother.

Ben turned around and tied a knot in the used condom, depositing it in a wastebasket. He pulled on his jeans and crouched to the dormer window where the roof slanted. Easing the curtains aside, he said, “Her car’s still there, but I don’t see them.”

“Oh, crap.” Brittney slapped the mattress for her clothes. “I hear her calling my name. She’s inside the house.”

Ben grabbed his shirt and perked his ears.

“Ben, Brittney,” Nash called from below. “Where’d you two go?”

“Brittney!” Lacy screamed and Big Blizzard screeched, “Nee, neee!”

Ben’s hands and legs scrambled as he hurriedly dressed himself. Beside him, Brittney pulled on her clothes, pausing to examine her busted buttons. Fortunately she had a tank top underneath the shirt she’d borrowed, but she wasn’t wearing a bra. No way in hell he’d let Nash ogle her bounties.

He threw his shirt at her. “Cover yourself up.”

“You can’t go down there without a shirt. Lacy will think.”

“Let her think.”
Let Nash think.
“Button yourself all the way up.”

“Can you get rid of them?” Her fingers scrambled over the buttons, shaking, as she buttoned the oversized shirt.

“Gladly.” He finger-combed his hair. If Nash knew what was good for him, he’d leave quietly. “I’ll take care of them. Stay here.”

Ben clambered down the ladder, pulled the hatch-door shut and bolted it.

~ Brittney ~

“Ben, Ben,” I call after him. Damn him. He’s shut the hatch door. Why can’t I pull it open?

He pointedly spoke as if Lacy’s the only one out there. It’s like his brother doesn’t exist. He’s bothered by what Nash and I did, and he’s not hiding it well at all.

I pound on the door. “Open up. Ben. Let me speak to them.”

I have to warn Nash. He has no idea what just happened between me and Ben. It’s not like Nash has a hold on me or anything. We’re nothing more than friends, and yes, it happened that one time, when my sister and all my sexy cousins made me feel like one big loser nerd.

It was about a year ago. Nash was the only one who’d understood, and who’d cared to listen to me. My dating life was a big fat zero, and I was tricked by Dex Steele, a hacker who supposedly had a crush on me. I trusted him to secure my network and work on encryption modules with me.

Instead, all Dex wanted was to set me up to take the fall while he poked holes in our networks. He acted like a friend, even kissed me a few times—right before he kidnapped me and forced me into playing along with him and his evil sister in an effort to blackmail Lacy’s then boyfriend, Brandon Cole, into signing away his house. I felt like a piece of shit after that. Even though Lacy and Brandon forgave me and I didn’t get in trouble with the law, it should have taught me not to trust anyone.

I was so beaten down and upset with myself, I withdrew from the family, even over the Christmas holiday.

Nash was the only one I could trust. He came through town to do a New Year’s Eve concert at the Cow Palace. He stayed with me in the days leading up to it, and while everyone in my family was congratulating Lacy on her Christmas day engagement to Brandon, Nash took me ice skating at Union Square. We walked hand in hand through the City and played tourist, taking the street car and shopping. Whenever we were recognized, people asked him for autographs and women threw envious glances my way. Even though I knew he was only a friend, just being with him had made me hope for a little more. That was almost a year ago.

Down below, I hear shouting—booming voices interspersed with Lacy’s sharp screeches. Sounds like she’s trying to calm them down, but knowing the Powers boys, they’re anything but calm. I keep pounding on the hatch door, but with all the noise below, no one hears me. Treat is baying like a backup singer at a hound dog concert, and Big Blizzard must be flying around and screaming at the top of his bird lungs.

There’s only one thing to do. I try the windows. Fortunately, they’re not locked, and I would be coming out on the second floor. There’s a tree not far from the window. If I can somehow jump from the window ledge to the tree branch, I can make it.

I ease the window open and stare at the steeply sloped roof. That’s the problem with dormer windows. They’re possible only because they stick out of a steeply sloped roof. I’m going to need something to hold onto.

I sure hope the trick with bedsheets works. Luckily, I got a badge for camping skills in Girl Scouts and that included basic knot tying. I secure the sheet to a loop of the old-fashioned steam radiator. It’s made of cast iron and bolted to the wall and floor. It had better hold, or I’m in deep doo doo.

Dizziness hits me when I step onto the roof, holding onto the sheets. The tree branches are farther than I thought and not very thick, and the slate on the roof is more slippery than I thought.

“Wwoooahhhhroo!” Treat howls from below.

How’d he get out?

He barks and wags his tail. Great. Now I have an audience in my big fail. I creep closer to the tree, but am now at the end of the sheet.

“Woof! Woof.” Treat barks and points his nose at me as if he treed a squirrel.

“Here goes nothing.” I let go of the sheet and take a running leap.

“Ow, ow, ow, ow.” I fall onto the top branches of the tree and they crack all around me, scratching me.

Grabbing wildly, I manage to get one that doesn’t break, although it’s bending dangerously. Thankfully the tree has lost its leaves so it’s easy to see where the main branches are.

I wiggle my feet around until I find a crotch where two main branches split. One foot after the other, I feel my way down. Too late, I realize the tree’s higher than I thought. Who planted rosebushes beneath it?

The shouting becomes louder as the humans stomp off the porch.

“What did you do to my sister?” Lacy says. “You better tell or I’m calling the police.”

“Exactly,” Nash says. “She can’t have disappeared. What’d you do? Hide her in the basement?”

There’s a basement in this house too? Most houses in California don’t have one since the ground doesn’t freeze here. But then, Grandpa Powers built this one a long time ago and maybe he had a basement put in.

“I didn’t do anything to her you wouldn’t do.” Ben sneers at his brother, glowering with all his muscles pumped.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Nash pushes him. “You slept with her? Is that what you did? She’s not one of your sluts, asshole.”

Pow. Ben’s fist is fast as it slams into Nash’s jaw. Nash staggers and puts up his fists. He swings but Ben blocks his punch and lands another one, sending Nash sprawling to the ground.

“Ben. Stop it,” I yell and lose my balance. “Ahhhh!”

I tumble, bouncing off branches and getting scratched. Desperately, I grab and flail trying to slow my fall. I roll onto the last branch, but my momentum is too fast to stop me.

This is going to hurt.

I shut my eyes and clench my fists and land on something hard, but cushioned. Ben catches me and we both fall to the ground.

“You okay?” he says, as he gets up and pulls me to my feet.

“What are you doing fighting?” I jerk from his grasp and rush to Nash, who’s lying on the ground, out cold. “Is he going to be okay?”

Ben stands by glumly, but doesn’t move to help his brother.

I crouch down and examine Nash. He’s still warm, and I think he’s breathing. Has a pulse. “Dammit, Ben. What if you hurt him? You could have killed him.”

“He’s fine.” Ben grunts and walks toward the house.

Lacy’s at my side. “What happened to you? Why were you on the roof?”

“Nash. Nash.” I shake his head. “Wake up. Lacy, we might have to call an ambulance. What if he has brain damage?”

Splash. I’m partially hit by a bucketful of water that lands on Nash. He sputters and rolls his head around, trying to open his eyes.

Ben stands over Nash and grabs him by both armpits. “He’s okay. Haven’t you ever seen a barroom brawl? I didn’t hit him as hard as I could have.”

“No, Ben.” I wipe the water from my hands. “You shouldn’t be fighting at all.”

“He called you a slut.” Ben juts out his lower lip.

“Did not,” Nash grumbles as Ben lets him go.

“He didn’t,” I agree. “He said I’m not like one of them.”

“So, you’re taking his side?” A vein throbs on Ben’s forehead.

“I’m not taking anyone’s side. Now, both of you, go in and get cleaned up. I can’t believe you’re fighting.”

Lacy hooks her arm around me and smirks. “Me either. And fighting over you, too. Amazing.”

I glare at her, hating that she’s enjoying the spectacle. “Why does that surprise you so much?”

She looks me up and down. I know she doesn’t see anything because I’m wearing a baggy oversized shirt and sweatpants. There’s no makeup on my face and my hair is a mess.

“My baby sister’s growing up.” She tosses her head and pats my back. “I knew the sexy elf outfit would work.”

~ Ben ~

“Both of you, sit.” Brittney ordered Ben and Nash onto the sofa side by side. Her face was a deep red and if someone were to draw a cartoon of her, she’d have steam coming out of her ears.

Ben rubbed his knuckles and hunched over with his elbows on his knees. The way she glared at him made him feel like a third-grader sent to the principal’s office.

Beside him, Nash groaned and held his stomach, clearly a ploy to get sympathy from the soft-hearted Brittney.

Lacy sat on the rocking chair next to the fireplace with Big Blizzard perched on her shoulder while Treat the Traitor rested his head on Nash’s feet.

“Can you two explain why you’re fighting?” Brittney stood over them. “Whatever happened to using words.”

“I was using words,” Nash said. “But Ben attacked me.”

“You were insulting Brittney,” Ben grumbled.

“You were making insinuating remarks. You have a problem with me and Brittney?” Nash raised his hackles and jutted himself forward, knowing he was safe from being punched.

“You have nothing with her, nothing.”

“You mean she didn’t tell you?” A smirk stretched Nash’s thin lips.

“Look, you two.” Brittney stomped her feet. “I told Ben everything. The truth. And I expect you two to not discuss this any further. What I did or didn’t do is private.”

“So why’d you tell him about us?” Nash drilled her with a laser glare.

“I had to clear the air. What happened was over long ago. My future’s with Ben.” Brittney came to Ben’s side and laid a hand on his shoulder.

Nash turned toward Ben and raised an eyebrow. He waved his hand between Brittney and himself. “And you’re okay with all this?”

“As she explained. It’s over and done with. Forgotten.” Ben clenched his jaw and held his brother’s insolent gaze.

“I wouldn’t be too sure,” Nash said, turning to Brittney. “Ben’s moody. I don’t think he’s okay with it at all. I know my brother. Look at the way he attacked me just now.”

“It’s not something to brush under the rug,” Lacy agreed from the rocking chair. “But if Ben says he’s done with it, then we should all drop it.”

She darted a signaled glance at her sister.

Ben’s hackles rose as Brittney blushed and retreated. What did Lacy know? Had they done it more than once? Or maybe they had been friends with benefits and Nash was expecting benefits in exchange for his benefit concert.

“I agree,” Brittney says. “Nash, you and I agreed we should pretend it never happened, so let’s all drop it. You guys are making a bigger deal than it is. Let’s clean up around here and go home. Ben and I have to go pick up Grandpa Powers tomorrow morning.”

“Sounds good.” Lacy stood so quickly the rocker almost toppled back. “Let’s everyone shake and make up. You two are brothers and you shouldn’t fight. Brittney and I never do.”

“I’m game to forget and forgive,” Nash said, putting on a congenial smile. “What do you say, bro?”

Why was it that Nash always made him look bad?

“Sure, forget. Sounds good to me.” Ben wiped his palms on his jeans and stood. “I’ve got to call Grandpa and see what’s up, then take Treat for a walk.”

“We should get going,” Lacy said. “Now that we found you, Ben, and dumped Treat and Big Blizzard on you, we can go.”

“Whoa, wait. I’ll take care of Treat,” Ben said. “But I know nothing about this bird. Nash, why don’t you take him back to Grandpa’s? You might ask his employee what kind of food a bird like that eats, or maybe she can take care of him until Grandpa gets out of the hospital tomorrow.”

“Actually, I’m not staying at Grandpa’s,” Nash said. “It’s too far from the city where I have a few gigs this week.”

“I think you should go and check in with your grandfather,” Brittney said. She wrung her hands and something about the way she jumped into a conversation that didn’t belong to her alerted Ben.

He turned his attention to Nash, wondering what was being silently communicated.

“Sure. Right,” Nash said. “I’ll get my stuff out of your way and catch up with you in a bit.”

“Get your stuff out of the way? What stuff?” Ben narrowed his eyes.

“My guitar and luggage.” Nash grinned, entirely too self-satisfied. “Don’t worry, I’ll clear out of her apartment and let you two lovebirds have at it.”

Thud. Ben’s heart slammed to the floor. Nash was staying at Brittney’s place? Had he planned this trip for a repeat performance in her bed?

“It’s not what this looks like,” Brittney said. “I was going to stay at my parents’ house at the tree farm. I won’t be in his way at all.”

Lacy hooked her arm around Nash. “Come on, buddy. Let’s get going.”

For once, Nash skeedaddled as fast as his legs could carry him. He grabbed his cowboy hat from the coffee table and plopped it on his head. But he just couldn’t help turning and leering at Brittney on his way out the door.

As soon as the door thumped, Brittney said, “We have to talk.”