Page 50 of Puck My Stepbrother

“So you obviously wouldn’t care if he knew you were sitting on the couch with me, getting a little too comfortable?”

“Fuck no. Matter of fact, I’d rub it right in his face.”

He sounded only half-serious as he spoke. I curled up closer to him, nestling myself right between his legs. I pressed against his crotch and felt his dick, but didn’t detect a hard-on. That seemed like a first, but it relieved me. That meant he could have a conversation not controlled by his cock. And I could enjoy simply snuggling up with him, no strings attached.

“You’ve wanted me for a long time,” he said. “You still haven’t really admitted that, but I know it’s true. Why are you denying it?”

“I don’t know, but I guess I can’t deny it forever.”

“Maybe it doesn’t matter. Your eyes gave you away the whole time.”

“Even in school?”

“Maybe not in school, but you’ve showed it every minute you’ve been living in this house with me.”

Levi had told the truth, and I knew it.

“Okay,” I said. “I guess there’s no use in arguing.”

“So I was right, huh?”

“Don’t let it go to your head, bub.”

“If you’re willing to admit it now…why are you making this so difficult?”

“Am I really making thingsthatdifficult?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Quinn. You’re the one playing hard to get even though I’ve practically given myself to you giftwrapped.”

“Why not actually giftwrap yourself?”

“Because it’s hard to be naked and giftwrapped at the same time.”

I snuggled my head against his powerful chest. He hooked an arm around me and rested his massive hand on my chest, and I cradled it. I heard his heartbeat and his steady breathing. I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather be…and then thoughts of Jeff invaded my mind. A voice inside my head told me I shouldn’t be here and urged me to move, but I ignored it.

“I felt worthless as a kid because of you,” I said.

That one comment outweighed all my other attempts at defiance with Levi.

“You did?” he asked.

“Damn right I did. You have no idea what kind of impact your behavior can have on other people.”

At first, Levi said nothing. That didn’t surprise me. He was Levi Dunn. Besides, why go there when the conversation had otherwise gone smoothly for him? Then he said something totally out of character.

“You’re one hundred percent right, Quinn.”

I honestly thought hell had frozen over.

“You’re serious?” I asked.

“Of course I am. Look, I never wanted to hurt you. I knew what I felt for you a long time ago, and it was hard enough having those feelings at all. Having them for another guy made it even worse. Plus, I thought I couldn’t really have you.”

“Come on, you’re too cocky to think that.”

“That was the only time in my life I thought I couldn’t get something—or someone—I wanted.”

“But you don’t know how much hell you put me through.”