Page 27 of A Wreck, You Make Me (Bad Boys of Bardstown #3)

Just like the fact that when he’s in my room, he never touches me.

Not once. I know because I’d feel it. Even though I try to wait for him to climb in but can’t because I pass out the second my head hits the pillow, I know if he did touch me, I’d wake right back up.

First because my body wouldn’t let me sleep through it; I’ve been crazy about this man since I was twelve and my body wouldn’t betray me like that.

Second, he wouldn’t want me sleeping either.

He’d want me all squirmy and reluctant and fucking turned on out of my mind.

Because I know he likes to scare me. I know he likes to push me to the razor’s edge of desire. His desire.

So he could touch me, but he doesn’t. Instead, he leaves his signs behind for me to find: creases on the throw pillow of my armchair telling me he sat there; my favorite heels that I usually just leave by the side of the bed, arranged neatly by my closet even though I know he has a love-hate relationship with them because I’ve run away from him in them; my little outfits that I leave in a heap in a hurry to go to sleep are in the laundry hamper.

It's so strangely crazy and… adorable that I had to ask him about it one day.

Jupiter

You know, you should really stop following me home. It’s starting to look like stalking.

My Toxic Stepbrother

I am stalking you.

To make sure no one messes with you in your shitty neighborhood.

Jupiter

My neighborhood is fine.

My Toxic Stepbrother

Your neighborhood is a felony waiting to happen.

Jupiter

Oh, you mean like sneaking into someone’s room when they’re asleep?

Side note – I can clean up after myself.

My Toxic Stepbrother

Told you. You want me to stay out, you make sure to lock your window. I even got you the AC.

Side note – I know you can.

Jupiter

Thank you for the AC. Snow loves it. And me too.

So then why do you do it?

My Toxic Stepbrother

You work sixteen hours a day. You don’t have time to get around to it. Whatever time you do have, you should probably spend it sleeping.

Jupiter

Are you saying you do it to help me?

My Toxic Stepbrother

I’m saying I’m already there. And your laundry hamper is six feet away.

Jupiter

Did you clean up after your siblings, growing up?

Because that’s what makes the most sense, doesn’t it?

The reason why he does these little things for me.

The reason why his brain would even go there.

For all intents and purposes, he’s this badass athlete who seems like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

You wouldn’t expect him to do stuff like that.

Like you wouldn’t expect him to do all the other things that he so obviously has done—still does—for his siblings.

My Toxic Stepbrother

What is it about you and me growing up?

Jupiter

Tell me or you’ll find my window closed tonight.

My Toxic Stepbrother

No, I won’t. Because you want me sneaking in just as much.

But not exactly. Stellan had those chores covered. Although sometimes, when I’d get back from practice and he’d be too tired after herding Ledge or Callie, I’d get some of it. Trash, stains, toys. Stuff he couldn’t get to. It’s not a big deal.

But I think it is. I think if someone did these little things for me, my life would become so much easier without me noticing.

My life is already becoming easier. With the AC and his cleaning up in the middle of the night.

And the fact that I sleep so much easier knowing he’s watching over me.

I’ve never been able to do that before. Not in my home and not in this apartment.

In any case, cleaning up after me is not the only thing he does. He steals stuff too. The bottle of my shampoo missing from my ensuite bathroom; my favorite perfume gone. The morning I find my perfume missing, I text him, huffing.

Jupiter

Did you seriously steal my perfume?

My Toxic Stepbrother

How else am I supposed to smell you?

Jupiter

Um, you AREN’T supposed to smell me, you creepy asshole!!!

My Toxic Stepbrother

How else am I supposed to wait three days?

Jupiter

Well, you’re going to be waiting until the end of time because I’m NOT having sex with you!!!!!!

My Toxic Stepbrother

Yeah, you are.

I’ll be inside that pussy, fucking it, banging it, tearing it the fuck up before the week ends and you know it. And you’re also going to stop being fucking stupid and let me help you with your bills.

Jupiter

No, I’ll keep being stupid and die poor and starving just to prove you wrong!!!!!

Times like these make me think I should just tell him the truth.

I should tell him that I saw him first. Oh and he also has a half sister, Snow.

And I never ever told them about any of it, even though I befriended their whole family and wormed my way into their lives, because I didn’t want to bother them.

I should probably also tell him, since he wants to help me with money, that my mom has been calling me incessantly.

I know she wants money—her abundant texts and voicemails have been clear enough—but I’ve been ignoring her calls.

I also know it may come back to bite me in the ass, because if I don’t pick up she may show up at the apartment and stress Snow out, which is the last thing my sister needs.

I should tell him all of that so he’ll stop the torture. Stop this craziness, this madness. Stop making me fall deeper and deeper into him.