“I’m so sorry.”
Heat rolled through me, pure pleasure tangled with need. “This is fucked.”
“Yeah.”
“You can’t do that again. You can’t yell at me.”
He curled down and bumped his chin to the top of my head. “I know. Tell me what’s going on with you. Do you get that I was scared, too? Scared for you?”
I blinked up at him, and he moved enough that he was gazing right back at me, blue eyes intense. “Why?”
He brushed at the hair on my forehead, and I froze. He’d done that while we were on the sidewalk last night before I left for my apartment. It felt like I’d been transported back in time and had been given another chance to do things differently—do them right. The odd sensation prickled up the hair on the nape of my neck. I leaned harder against him.
“Are you confused about why I was scared?” he asked.
My slow nod had him shaking his head at me.
“Because you’re my cute little brother, and thelasttime I saw you after you were at your apartment and I had no reason to think there would be a problem, you were hurt. I had to take you to the hospital. And last night you were only gone for a few hours, a short time, and you were in trouble. You could have taken me with you.” He dragged in a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Of course you’re still my little brother. You… you kind of told me you weren’t, then? I’m fucking sorry. Are you okay now?”
I nodded. “I can’t take you everywhere.”
His jaw stuck out and he swallowed so hard his Adam’s apple bounced. “No, but I don’t want you to do certain things alone. Grocery store? Mall? Have at it. Fuck, I’ll drop you off and give you my credit card. Walking into a major problem by yourself? Not okay.”
Gratefulness and some lingering fear fought it out in my chest until finally fluttery happiness was all that was left. I nuzzled my cheek against his hard chest. “Are all Big Brothers this pushy?”
“Yes.”
I laughed and my head felt stuffy and weird. My eyes hurt as if sand was trapped under the lids, and I closed them as I leaned my weight against his strength.
Casey rested his big hand on the back of my neck, and I looked up at him. He leaned down and pressed his lips against mine. I raised myself on tiptoe and kissed him back, slanting my mouth and opening for him. His tongue delved between my lips, and I trembled at the way he took over my mouth as he held me tight. The slow, steady rhythm of wet heat between my lips had my stomach hot and my dick hard. He flicked the tip of his tongue over my piercing and I moaned. As he broke the kiss, he gave me a sly grin and took a small step back.
“When you get home you’re going to make yourself comfortable. Take a bath. Put on some pajamas. Watch a movie. Eat something.”
“I’m here. I should go downstairs—”
“I’m telling you right now. As Big Brother. Listen to me.”
I nodded. “But work?”
He narrowed his eyes, and I nodded again.
Casey reached around and gave my ass a squeeze, which didn’t hurt at all and was weirdly nice; however, he didn’t let go. “You’re going to learn to listen to me. Before I get home tonight you’re to write ‘I will take my Casey bear with me if there’s trouble’ five hundred times. In your best handwriting. Cursive.”
“Excuse me, what now?” I grumped.
He slid his hand over my jeans along my ass crack and I held my breath. “You’re going to remember, or else. Number the lines.” The commanding glint in his eyes shot electric tingles through my belly as he leaned his forehead against mine and I got lost in them.
“What if I don’t?”
“There will be a bigger punishment.” He reached around with his other hand and squeezed both of my cheeks. Pulled them apart. I was completely clothed and the sensation of being exposed still rocked me. My dick pushed at the front of my jeans and I could barely keep myself from rubbing against him.
I bit at my lip and flushed warm as I thought about some of the things that might be considered a punishment. I loved it when he was taking care of me and telling me what to do as my Big Brother, even though I also wanted to do precisely whatever the hell I wanted. The conflicting desires were weird, and I couldn’t really decide why I enjoyed it all as much as I did.
“What are you thinking?” he asked and then sucked at my earlobe. I struggled to stand still as pleasure streaked through my insides. “If you’re good the rest of the day, I have a surprise for you.”
“Can I pick the surprise? I know what I want.” I wiggled my fingers between his abs and belt. “Please, Casey bear?”
“That’s not a surprise,” he said, but he grinned and rested his forehead against mine.
