She lifted it. I had no idea where she was going with this, then her lips ghosted along the back, her hot breath fogging my skin.
Heat ripped through me. I was only human after all, and being touched all over by a beautiful woman, and your hand practically licked, was something that would affect even the most stoic of souls. And just like that, I was fucking hard again. I had a problem around this girl of popping a stiffy whenever she came close. Hell, soon she might just have to look at me to send my blood rushing to my cock. What was it? Was it her defiance? Her rudeness? How she didn’t give a single fuck what anyone thought? I’d never met anyone like her.
She ran her nose up the back of my hand, breathing me in. She paused for a moment, her fingers tightening. My heart beat faster, like I was running drills. There was no explanation for the sudden nerves as she drew in a nearly inaudible breath.
Then she spoke and ruined it.
“Bellend?” she murmured softly.
What the fuck?
“Bellend?” Marcus repeated, right there. His laughter ricocheted around my head.
“I mean, I don’t know if you’re thinking of who I think you are, but that nickname is perfect?—”
“Brody,” Selena cut in. “Brody Sinclair.”
“Ding-ding-ding! Look at you go. You always could keep up, Selena. Bravo.” Marcus pulled both our blindfolds off at once with a flourish and then floated away to check on the other couples.
I spied Asher playfully punching Beckett in the chest farther up the line. Marcus’ game seemed to have accomplished what it had set out to do, seeing as everyone was talking and there was a general sense of camaraderie.
I met Selena’s narrowed eyes.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” she asked immediately.
“Funny, I was going to ask you the exact same thing.”
She rolled her eyes and went to turn away, but I quickly lashed out and grabbed her right hand.
“I told you the new rules, Selena.”
“You’re not the boss of me, Brody Sinclair. Get that through your head. I don’t care about your money or charm, or popularity. I have nothing you can threaten me with… because I have nothing to lose.”
Then she turned around and walked away.
Oh, little heathen… you’re sorely mistaken.
“Let’s get out of here,” Cal said an hour later.
“Can’t.” I took a swig of my beer and watched the gyrating dance floor.
Selena’s friends had pulled her to the edge. They were dancing, while she swayed against a wall. She was drunk, again. Really drunk.
“Aren’t you taking an undue amount of interest in our new stepsister? Let her party. Who cares?”
“Father cares. She reflects the family, and she has no idea how she’s supposed to act, clearly.” I pointed at her with my beer bottle. “She’s legless again.”
“It’s not your problem. Maybe she wants to be legless.”
“It’s a scandal waiting to happen. Last time it was falling off the pool house roof. What will it be next time? Off a cliff? There are plenty of them around here.”
Cal was quiet for a long moment, studying Selena and the way she stumbled. Her friends were in just as bad a state, but they each had an Ice God looking out for them.
“Wait to take her home, then, if it makes you feel better,” Cal muttered and then clapped me on the shoulder. “She’s not Emily, though, so don’t get twisted up about it.”
“What?” I reared on my brother. Few people had the ability to rile me, but Cal was one.
“She’s not Emily. Controlling Selena, policing her, bullying her into submission won’t bring Emily back, that’s all.”
