Page 22 of Puck My Stepbrother (Pucked and Possessed #2)

LEVI

“ I need to talk to you about something,” I said.

Quinn’s eyes widened and he looked ready to dart down the hall, but I blocked his path before he could make a move.

Normally, great sex left me feeling revved up even a day or two later.

But that kitchen romp had taken things to the next level.

I swore the adrenaline pumping through my veins would take a week to wear off.

But I had more on my mind than the next good, hard fuck.

“I really can’t talk right now,” Quinn said. “I’m busy.”

“But you’ll make time for me.”

That wasn’t a question. Quinn knew the drill.

He froze. By now, he had to know that I didn’t mean he could make time for me later. I expected him to make time right this minute.

“What do you want from me?” he asked.

“I think you know.”

“People are home right now.” He whispered to make sure no one downstairs heard him.

“I’m not talking about sex!”

My words thundered through the upstairs hall. I guarantee you someone downstairs caught at least a hint of that. I honestly didn’t care. Only Quinn mattered to me.

My stepbrother-to-be put a finger over his lips and went, “Shh! Would you shut up?”

“No way, bro. It’s no big deal. Like I told you, I’m not talking about sex. That’s not the most important thing on Earth, you know.”

Quinn rolled his eyes a little, like I’d made him out to be the sex maniac. Our kitchen tryst had taught me that my old victim enjoyed and craved sex every bit as much as I did—maybe even more.

“Okay, fine,” he said. “What do you want to talk to me about?”

I rubbed my hands together and said, “So I know you’re going to think this is crazy, but I’m going for it anyway. We need to do it.”

“Do what, Levi?”

“Take the next step.”

Quinn eyed me with a blend of curiosity and suspicion, like he still didn’t know what I was talking about. No way would I let him discourage me.

“We need to become a couple,” I said. “Like, a real one.”

His eyebrows arched and his mouth dropped open a little.

He wore this look of horror, like I’d suggested we jump off a bridge.

That, or an image of nuclear warfare had flashed through his mind.

Definitely not the look I’d hoped for, to say the least. I’m not saying I’d expected him to jump at the chance, but I hadn’t expected this .

But I wouldn’t be deterred. Quinn knew what he wanted, even if he didn’t realize it.

Finally, he shook his head and said, “No, Levi. We can’t do that. It just won’t work.”

You’d think that would’ve crushed my spirits completely, but it didn’t. Like I said, you’ve just got to be persistent with guys like him.

“Give me one good reason,” I said.

“To start with, we’re just too different.”

“Haven’t you heard that opposites attract?”

“Not this opposite, Levi. Besides, I don’t really believe that bullshit saying. Opposites attract divorce. If I’m going to be with anyone for any reason, it’s going to be for something long-term. I want to get married. I need something real.”

“Fine by me. Just let me finish college first.”

“I’m not joking, Levi. I want something that’ll last. If I wind up with my polar opposite, a marriage wouldn’t work out. I can’t put myself through something like that.”

“Don’t you think you’re putting the cart before the horse? It’s like you’re trying to map out your whole life right this second. We’re young. We’ve got a lot of time to worry about that shit.”

“I haven’t planned anything, and it’s not shit. I just know what I want, and I can’t allow any roadblocks.”

“But am I really a roadblock? Like I said, we both want each other, but maybe you want me more.”

Quinn drew a breath deep enough to puff his chest out. Yeah, I must’ve been driving him nuts, but I totally didn’t mind.

“We’re stepbrothers,” he said.

“No, we’re not.”

“Whaddaya mean, no, we’re not ?”

“We’re not stepbrothers yet .”

He rolled his eyes, unwilling to hide his disdain.

“Now you’re playing semantics,” he said.

“We’re going to be stepbrothers very soon.

We can’t do anything to stop that. And it’s not like we can hide that fact from people if we became a real couple.

Being together means going public about who we are.

You know—no hiding, no bullshit. We’d make our relationship known to the world. Would you really go for that?”

“Of course I would.”

To be honest, I’d thought about doing it, but only to a point. So far, we’d kept our business quiet, and I had no reason to think it wouldn’t stay that way. But if he’d meant to intimidate me with the idea of going public, he could think again.

“Come on, Levi, you know that’s not true.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“For one thing, it’s all about sex with you. Maybe I’m a great roll in the hay, but that can get stale. Don’t real relationships need to be about more than that? Besides, you don’t go public with something so shallow. I’m looking for something more substantial.”

I chuckled at him.

“What’s so funny?”

“You, Quinn. You say you want more than sex, but I didn’t see you complaining in the kitchen. Matter of fact, you might as well have thrown yourself at me.”

“I didn’t throw myself at you, Levi. I?—”

I crossed my arms, unwilling to wait for the rest of his bullshit response.

“Come on, you wanted me as badly as I wanted you,” I said. “Quit denying it.”

Quinn huffed, his eyes shifting around for the nearest escape hatch.

“Listen,” I said, “there’s really no reason we can’t do this. It’s meant to be, and you know it. Would it kill you to take a chance and go slow?”

“It would, Levi. For one thing, I need to be with someone who’s comfortable enough with who they are to be open with the whole world.”

“I was open with my dad.”

“No, you weren’t. You hid it from him. Then he caught you and threw you out of the house.”

“But I never denied who I am to myself. I’m not ashamed. I just don’t use labels.”

“That’s not the same thing, Levi.”

“Look,” I said, “I know when something’s right. I trust my gut, and my gut’s telling me we belong together.”

“No, Levi. You listen to your dick, and your dick’s telling you to jump up my ass again.”

“Jeez, you should try open mic night at a comedy club.”

“I’m going to be with Jeff.”

Okay, I’ll admit that one sounded like a lightning strike—it sure as hell felt like one. I’m smart enough to know a you-can’t-change-my-mind tone when I hear one.

“You don’t really mean that,” I said.

“Yes, I do. I know things have gotten…heated between us. It’s been my own fault for giving into those temptations.”

“Those deep, insatiable desires, you mean?”

“Whatever, Levi. That doesn’t change anything.”

“But you sounded like you really wanted to be with me.”

“And I’m sorry for leading you on. Really. I just think that Jeff is the right guy for me. He’s all the things I’ve ever wanted in a guy.”

“You’re not using your gut.”

“No, Levi, I’m using my brain. It’s a far better body part for decision-making than the one we were both using in the kitchen.”

I’ll admit my responses to him had almost dried up. Even still, I couldn’t quit. That attitude would never fly on the ice.

“Look, I already told you Jeff has everything I want in a guy. Yeah, I get it, you’re hot and you’ve got a great body, but I can’t fall for looks alone. And I’m not changing my mind.”

And he blew past me. I actually let my guard down. But I saw from his face that he didn’t really believe what he was saying. Not completely.

I still didn’t doubt myself. But I knew Jeff posed a greater challenge than I’d first thought.