Page 18

18

HARRISON

Arya stares at me. “Twins?” She looks back at my phone where Asher is standing against the railing of the Santa Monica Pier with his arm around the shoulders of a woman I don’t know. Her name is Camilla.

“Yep. Identical. He’s older by half an hour or something.” I shrug.

“That’s... who it was.” She closes her eyes. “You weren’t lying.”

“I don’t lie, Arya.”

She falls back into the chair, eyes still closed. “I’m so sorry.”

Maybe I should be mad, but I actually find this kind of funny. I get why she thought it was me. It’s happened before. “When we were teenagers, someone told my girlfriend she thought I was cheating on her. There was a big drama until everyone figured out it was Asher. One time I was going down an escalator in a mall and I saw Asher on another escalator and I started waving at him and yelling. I was waving at myself in a mirror.”

She chokes out a laugh.

“We used to fuck up our hockey coaches all the time. It was hilarious.”

She’s smiling but her eyes are still closed.

“Arya. Look at me.”

She opens her eyes and bites her lip in a cute and sexy way. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I get it. I’m not seeing anyone else. I don’t want to see anyone else. I don’t know how you could even think that.”

She looks like she’s in pain. “It’s me. I’m messed up.”

“We’re all a little messed up. But it’s not crazy that you thought Asher was me. It’s happened a lot.”

She rolls her head from side to side against the back of the chair. “I shouldn’t have... I should have trusted you... I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to trust anyone.”

I don’t know what happened in her “bad relationship.” Maybe someday she’ll tell me. Obviously she’s been hurt, and I fucking hate that.

I want her to trust me. I want that more than anyfuckingthing.

Pulling in a deep breath, I spy the pink rock on the coffee table. I pick it up and curve both hands around it. “Did this help?”

She gives me a reluctant smile. “Of course.”

“Good.”

“You should be angry,” she murmurs. “I didn’t trust you.”

“Yeah. It does bug me that you didn’t. If you’d gone up to Asher and talked to him, you’d have found out the truth.”

“Oh God! I couldn’t have done that! I was mortified. I just wanted to get out of there.”

“Yeah. I guess I understand that. And I’m sorry I never mentioned I have a twin. And you’ve never met him. But you’ll meet him tomorrow.” I set the quartz on the table.

Dad’s birthday party is tomorrow, and I convinced her to come.

“You still want me to come to the party?” She eyes me doubtfully.

“Just to prove I’m not lying.” I stick my tongue in my cheek.

She scrunches her face up.

“I’m teasing! Yes, I want you to come.”

“I think you’d be better off without me.”

“That’s just crazy.” I hold her gaze. “Okay? Are we okay?”

Her eyes get shiny and her lips push out, but she nods. “I am, if you are.”

“I am.” I rise up on my knees, slide a hand behind her neck and pull her down so I can kiss her. Her lips are soft and sweet, but she’s trembling. After a few soft kisses, I pick her up, switch us around so I’m sitting in the chair and she’s on my lap and we’re kissing again, deeper and hotter.

I didn’t know what the hell was going on when she sent me that ridiculous text about a misunderstanding. My mind went nuts thinking up crazy scenarios. I drove like a wild man to get here and find out what was going on. I’m so fucking relieved that the problem was something so easy to solve.

“Where do you want to go for dinner?” I ask, my lips against her jaw.

“I don’t know.” Her head falls back and I kiss my way down to her throat.

“Where’s Taj?”

“Out.” She sighs.

I want her so goddamn bad. My dick is hurting. “How hungry are you?”

Her lips curve. “Starving.” She meets my eyes. “For you.”

“Thank fuck. Me too. I promise you food after.” I stand, hands beneath her ass. “Where’s your bedroom?”

She directs me down the short hall to the room on the right. I kick the door closed behind us in case Taj comes home and set about taking off her clothes while kissing her. “I like this shirt,” I say, tugging it up over her head. “Sassy.”

She laughs softly and her fingers move at the button of my jeans.

I want her naked, but I also want to explore, dragging my hands over her shoulders and down her arms, up her sides. I cup her breasts through her bra, a barely-there pink number, then stroke up over her collarbones, neck, and cup her face as I kiss her again.

She reaches behind her and unfastens her bra, letting it fall down her arms, and I lift my head to pull it off, studying her sweet curves, her nipples puckered into gorgeous rosy buds. I brush my palms over them, back and forth, and she sucks in a sharp breath. With my fingertips, I tease them more, watching them flush an even deeper pink, a flush that spreads up over her chest and neck and into her face. “Like that?”

“Mmm. Love it.”

She has my jeans undone now and they drop to the floor. Hers take more work to get off. “Much as I love your ass in these tight jeans,” I mutter, “they’re kind of hard to get off.”

She huffs out a laugh and drops to the side of her bed. “I know.”

I peel them off, leaving her in pink lace panties. I’m about to reach for her to hoist her farther onto the bed, but she curls her fingers into the elastic waistband of my boxer briefs, and tugs them down, freeing my straining, aching cock.

“There,” she murmurs, curling her soft fingers around my shaft, right at her face level.

My body goes electric. She teases her fingers over my groin, my thighs, dragging them through the pubic hair at the base of my cock, all the while studying my cock. It pulses in her hand, eager for more, for any scrap of attention she wants to give it. I grit my teeth in anticipation, my body tensing. She kisses the tip, then, and my dick jerks in her hand. She smiles and her little tongue comes out to lick all around the head, then swirl over the top.

“Christ.” I slide my fingers into her hair, gently, holding her head as she licks everywhere, getting me wet, then opens her mouth and takes me. A groan rumbles in my chest.

Her wet lips slide up and down my shaft, her fingers curled at the base, and when her other hand caresses my balls, the top of my head nearly blows off as my body surges with pleasure.

“Okay,” I rasp. “Enough. I want to fuck you. Want to come inside you.”

She eases back with a sultry smile, her lips swollen and shiny. I step out of the briefs tangled at my ankles and reach for her, flipping her onto her belly. The pink thong panties don’t cover much. I palm her ass cheeks and squeeze them gently before dragging the thong down her legs and tossing it aside. Lifting her hips, I take in the view. Sweet Jesus, it’s heaven, pink and perfect, plump and juicy. I caress her cheeks again, then drag my hand between her plump outer lips.

“Fuck, so wet,” I marvel, sliding my fingers back and forth.

Face pressed to the bed, she mumbles something I don’t understand.

“Need a condom, babe, be right back.” I nearly fall off the bed, trying to get to my jeans. As soon as I’m suited up, I kneel behind her again. I glide the head of my cock around her wetness to make it easier to slide into her. Watching my cock enter her pussy is the hottest thing ever. So are her moans and soft wordless cries as I fill her, penetrating her slowly. Deeply. I pulse in her tight channel once I’m fully in, holding back the instinct to pound into her until she’s screaming and I’m shouting. My skin buzzes, heat pumping through my veins.

Carefully, I slide in and out, then I pick up the pace. She pushes up onto her hands, arms straight, tossing a sexy glance at me over her shoulder. I fuck her harder, my hands gripping her waist. I slide a hand up her back to her shoulder and pull her up higher, then hold both her arms behind her as I drive into her. Her breath is coming in fast pants and soft cries. “Yes... yes...”

Her long hair flows down her back. I hook my arm through both of hers to clasp her shoulder again, sliding it around to her throat, so gently and carefully. She lets out a little sob that encourages me.

My cock tunnels in and out of her, her body jolting with each impact.

“So tight,” I growl in her ear. “So wet for me.”

“Yes. God yes. Fuck me...”

I release her arms and her throat, cup one breast and reach around to the front of her to find her clit. I nuzzle her ear, her hair, whispering, “I love...” I stop. “I love fucking you. Love that pussy squeezing me. Are you close? ’Cause I wanna make you come so hard.” I circle wet fingers over her clit.

A stream of do-me-harder sounds falls from her lips as she covers my hand with hers, on her knees in front of me, my cock filling her again, and again. Sensation pours through me, racing up my spine, tightening my balls. I squeeze her tit, pinch her nipple, suck on the skin on the side of her neck, my fingers still working. She presses on them to adjust them just a bit, then tenses against me, her spine arching. “Oh God... .”

“There... that’s it, gorgeous girl, come all over my fingers and my cock... oh yeah.”

She’s squeezing me and it’s like lightning bolts to my balls.

“Oh Christ.” Excitement pounds through me, robbing every thought, taking over everything. I need her. Christ, I need her.

She falls forward, on her elbows, head to the bed, and I pound into her as my release roars over me. Tingles grow at the base of my spine, pleasure corkscrews inside me. My balls tighten even more, white hot electricity burning from them up my cock and exploding. Sensation swamps me in huge, suffocating waves. I shout my release, then slump over her, my breathing harsh and ragged, my heart racing.

* * *

“I really don’t know about this.”

I smile at Arya when I’m back at her place the next day to pick her up. “It’ll be fine. It’s not that big of a deal.”

Her face tells me she remains unconvinced.

“You know Everly and Bellsy. I mean, Wyatt.”

“I never know who you’re talking about.” She grins. “You hockey players and your nicknames.”

I shrug.

“Your mom’s name is Chelsea, right?”

“Yes.”

She nods. “I just don’t want to forget. And your brothers are Noah and Asher.”

“Yup.”

“Do I look okay?”

She looks amazing. She’s wearing a casual dress, flowered cotton, that leaves her shoulders and legs bare. Her hair is down in long, sexy waves that make me want to run my hands through it. “You look gorgeous. Perfect. Do you have your swimsuit?”

“Yes.” She grimaces and holds up a tote bag.

“Great. Mom and Dad have a nice pool. We might want to jump in.”

She swallows. “Okay.”

I move closer and set my hands on her smooth shoulders. “Don’t be nervous.” I brush my lips over her cheek. “It’s just a fun afternoon to celebrate Dad turning seventy-three.”

I feel her relax under my hands and I find her mouth with mine. Kissing her will distract her from her nerves. Her lips soften and open for me and I pull her flush against me, enjoying the feel of her soft curves as I taste her.

“Okay,” she says breathlessly, long moments later. “We should go.”

I smile down into her eyes, giving her one last reassuring look.

Then I pat her ass when she moves to the door in front of me.

She flashes a mock reproving look over her shoulder. “Hey.”

“Couldn’t resist. You have such a sweet little ass.”

She pauses to lock the door, looking up at me from beneath her eyelashes. “Well, okay, then.”

I laugh and sling my arm around her shoulders to walk out to the street.

I’m trying to reassure her that this will all go well, but truthfully, I’m not a hundred percent sure of that. When my family gets together, things tend to go screwy. Today’s party will be smaller, though, so I hope that means uneventful.

It’s not far to Mom and Dad’s place. Apparently, we’re the last to arrive. I let us in the front door, but I hear voices out back, so we make our way through the great room and kitchen, and out onto the patio.

“This is the house you grew up in?” Arya asks with a whisper.

“Yeah.”

“It’s lovely.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty nice, I guess.”

Mom must have heard us coming, as she’s just about to enter the house as we step out. “You’re here!” She hugs me, but her attention immediately goes to Arya. “Hi! You must be Arya.”

“Yes.” Arya smiles and extends a hand. “So nice to meet you.”

“Yes, yes, likewise!” Mom studies her, smiling.

Arya hands over the bottle of wine she brought. “For you.”

“Oh, thank you!” Mom beams at her.

I wave at Everly and Wyatt. “You two already know her. Arya, this is Noah, my youngest brother.”

Noah politely stands from the lounger he’s stretched out on to shake her hand. “Hi. I’ve been hearing so much about you.”

Arya bites her lip. “Uh-oh.”

He grins.

“And this is Asher, who’s going to vouch for me for yesterday.”

Asher stands too, grinning hugely. He holds out a hand to Arya. “I gather we almost met yesterday.”

Arya’s cheeks go cherry red. “Almost!”

“What’s going on?” Mom asks.

“Tell you in a minute. Happy birthday, Dad.” I clap my hand on his shoulder and squeeze. “Arya, this is my dad, Bob Wynn. Dad, Arya.”

Dad also stands, eyeing Arya. “Another blonde?”

I close my eyes, heat washing through me. “Yes, Dad, she’s blond.”

Arya shoots me a playful glance as she shakes Dad’s hand. “Harrison likes blondes?”

“Seems like,” Dad mutters.

“Arya’s a yoga instructor,” I say.

“That’s right.” Arya smiles. “I’ve been doing yoga classes with your hockey team.”

Dad nods. “I’ve never tried yoga. But when I bend down in the morning to put my pants on, it hurts, so I don’t think I’d like it.”

I choke and Arya grins. “If you did yoga, it wouldn’t hurt to put on your pants.”

Dad snorts, but he’s still smiling.

Everyone else chuckles too, exchanging glances. Dad seems to be having a good day.

“Happy birthday, Mr. Wynn,” Arya says. “Thanks for having me here today.”

“What can I get you to drink?” Mom asks us. “We have beer and wine, and pitchers of margaritas. Or iced tea or juice if you prefer.”

“A margarita sounds great,” Arya says.

“I’ll have a beer,” I say. “But I’ll get it.”

There’s a fridge outside on the patio as part of the outdoor kitchen, and I grab a beer from it while mom pours Arya a margarita.

“So, what happened yesterday?” Everly asks. “Come sit here, Arya.” She pats the arm of the chair next to her.

Arya bites her lip as she sits. “Let me first say that Harrison failed to tell me that Asher is his twin. You two do look exactly alike.”

“Nah.” I shake my head. “I’m way better looking than he is.”

Asher flicks me a middle finger. “Our hair is different,” he says.

Arya looks between us and nods. “Yes, now I can see that.”

“I can’t believe he didn’t tell you that!” Everly says. “Oh, wait, I guess I could have mentioned it too.” She shrugs. “I didn’t even think of it.”

Arya continues. “Anyway, I saw Asher at the pier yesterday, um, with a girl.”

The family starts laughing.

“Oooh, who is she, Ash?” Everly asks.

He shrugs. “Her name’s Camilla. First time we went out.”

“I gather they were looking quite friendly.” Everly catches Arya’s eye with a sympathetic smile.

“Oh yeah.” Arya grimaces. “Well, Harrison figured out what happened after he kept telling me he hadn’t been at the pier over and over and I kept saying ‘but I saw you!’ ”

Mom hands Arya her drink. “You’re not the first girl that’s happened to, if it makes you feel any better.”

“So I heard.” Arya shakes her head, her cheeks red again, but her eyes are dancing.

Whew.

“How about the time Asher broke up with a girl for you?” Everly smirks at me. “What was her name?”

“Never mind.”

Arya snort-laughs. “Oh my God. Really?”

“Harrison didn’t want to do it,” Everly says. “He didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”

Arya shoots me a warm glance.

“I let her down gently,” Ash adds with a grin.

“I hope you’re using condoms.”

We all fall silent and turn to stare at Dad.

“What?” He glares back at us. “You all better use condoms.”

“I thought you wanted grandchildren,” Everly says, lips twitching.

“Just from you.” He points at her. “But Wyatt better marry you first.”

We’re all biting our lips now, trying not to laugh.

“You’re so old-fashioned, Dad,” Everly says, pushing his buttons. “You don’t need to be married to have a baby.”

He grunts. “I’m not old-fashioned. I’m practical. You better get a pre-nup signed too.”

“Oh my God.” Everly closes her eyes. “You did not just say that.”

“Imagine if Dad didn’t like you, Bellsy,” I joke to him.

Bellsy shakes his head good-naturedly. He’s known Dad for a while, playing for the team, but getting to know him better now he’s dating Everly. It’s a little awkward, dating the daughter of the team owner, but like I said, Dad actually likes him, so it’s been going okay.

Dad never did have much of a filter, but now he just blurts out whatever he’s thinking.

“How about you open your presents, honey,” Mom says to Dad.

“I like presents.”

“Don’t we all,” I agree.

Buying Dad a gift is a challenge. He has everything he wants. “My present is still in the car,” I say. “I’ll get it last.”

We watch Dad happily open gifts from Ash, Noah, Everly, and Wyatt. Then we go look at what Mom bought him—a new potting bench, which has already been built and installed at the side of the house.

While they’re admiring that, I hike out front and get my gift from the vehicle.

“I couldn’t really wrap it,” I explain to the others, as I set it on the potting bench. It’s a clay pot with a plant in it.

“Wow,” Dad says, fingering the unusual flower. “What is this?”

“It’s a bat flower.” The black blossom does look oddly like a bat. “It’s a tropical flower. It’ll get quite tall, which is why it’s in that big pot.” It’s French pottery I thought would look nice with the patio stones. “There are care instructions on the tag.”

“It’s the ugliest flower I’ve ever seen.” Dad grins at me. “Thank you.”

I laugh. I can tell he likes it.

“Where do you want to put it? It needs filtered shade.” I heft the big pot again.

Mom leads the way back to the patio. “Over here would be perfect. The trees give some shade on this side.”

I set it down where she indicates.

Mom refills drinks and sets out bowls of snacks. “If anyone wants to swim, go ahead. The water’s nice and warm.”

“Want to hit the pool?” I ask Arya.

“I don’t know.” She flicks her gaze around. “I don’t want to be the only one.”

I dig into a bowl of Chex Mix, carefully avoiding the pretzels. “Okay, we’ll wait a bit.”

Arya picks up the pretzels I just rejected, then the cheese crackers, and munches them.

I stare at her.

“What?” she asks, about to pop another pretzel in her mouth.

“Don’t you like the Chex?”

She blinks. “Um, no. They’re cereal. Not snack food.”

I break out into a huge grin. “You are fucking perfect.”

“What?” Her eyebrows pull together.

“I love the Chex. And the little breadsticks. Hate pretzels, and the cheese crackers are meh. Therefore, we are the perfect Chex Mix combination.”

She looks down at the bowl, then back up at me.

Oh shit. Did I screw up again?

Then she laughs. “I guess you’re right. But how can you possibly hate pretzels?”

I shrug. “They’re dry.” I point at Ash. “When we buy Chex Mix, there’s always pretzels and cheese crackers left that nobody wants. We like the same things.”

“Well, save them for me.”

I smile at her, warmth flooding my chest.

“Are you talking about me?” Ash says.

“Yeah.” I gesture at the snack bowl. “Arya likes the pretzels and cheese crackers.”

Ash laughs. “How does she feel about hard-boiled eggs?”

Arya wrinkles her nose. “I like them... ?”

“Do you like the white better, or the yolk?” I ask.

“I like the whole thing.”

“Ugh. Damn.”

She laughs. “Why?”

“Ash and I love the egg white, not so much the yolk. When we were kids, we’d give all the yolks to Noah. He loved them.”

“Still do,” he says. “You guys are weird.”

Arya is looking more and more relaxed, laughing at our stories and jokes. “Okay,”

She says to me, “Here’s one for you: do you like to eat the half-popped kernels left in the bottom of a bowl of popcorn?”

“What?” I gape at her. “Who would do that?”

She points at herself. “This girl.”

I start laughing. “Well, okay, then! More support for my position.”

“Uh... what position is that?”

I lean in closer to her ear and whisper, “Any position you want, baby.”

She gives a strangled little laugh and pushes at my shoulder.

My siblings are watching with amusement. Luckily, my parents are standing over at the counter where the grill is, getting food ready for dinner.

“I’m ready for a swim,” Noah announces. He pulls off his T-shirt, runs over to the deep end of the pool, and does a somersault into the water. In his shorts.

What a guy.