Page 22

Cody

I woke up in Rafael’s warm embrace and didn’t move a muscle. Rafael would wake up soon, and there was no telling how he would react to what happened. He’d most likely pull away, and it made my eyes burn just thinking about it. I wanted to wake up like this every morning, with Rafael forming a cocoon of affection around me.

I was in trouble. I knew it. Last night wasn’t just sex for me. When I felt Rafael inside me, it was like a piece of something I never knew I was missing fell into place. The fullness wasn’t isolated to the area where our bodies joined. That feeling washed over me entirely. The tether between Rafael and me tightened with each thrust of his hips, and I couldn’t ignore the yearning of my heart as I fell into those incredible, blue eyes of his.

For the first time, I witnessed Rafael unguarded. He cast aside his scowling mask and looked at me like I was important. He was careful with me and made sure it felt as good for me as it did for him. His touch felt like a caress, not a battle for dominance. It wasn’t the tug of war we usually succumbed to when our sexual desires took over; this was intimate, and I could see in Rafael’s eyes that he knew it too. Even when we got kinky, it was a partnership. It was for both of us, not just him.

I closed my eyes and allowed myself a few more minutes of blissful rest nestled in Rafael’s arms. His breathing warmed my neck, and I could feel his heart beating against my back. The rhythm of it whisked me away to a fantasy where Rafael was mine.

Maybe he was mine? I mean, he did chase me down when I left with Ross.

Jesus Christ, that was romantic as fuck. Funny as hell given that I was pretty sure I spotted a Bratz sticker on the frame of the bike he stole, but romantic nonetheless.

Rafael’s body started moving, releasing a long and dramatic yawn, resembling the Lion from The Wizard of Oz .

He groaned as he squeezed me against him and murmured, “Fuck.”

I trailed my finger along his muscular forearms, still wrapped around my torso. “Morning,” I responded.

He raised himself onto one arm and surveyed my naked body. “How are you feeling?”

I knew it was small, but my heart fluttered that he even asked. “I’m okay. A little sore, but I’ll be fine.”

“Well, I did just pound you with a nine-inch cock.”

I rolled my eyes. “More like eight.” I couldn’t resist. He deserved a little playful mockery. There he was bragging about his cock size to the boy whose virginity he just took. Talk about low-hanging fruit. Pun intended.

Rafael looked quite offended by that remark. “Oh yeah? You’re the expert on cocks now?”

“I’m just saying, it felt like eight and a half. Not a whole nine.”

“I’ll show you a whole nine.” He started slapping my hip and taking little bites where my neck met my shoulder when a phone started buzzing. I took a look, and Asher’s name was on my screen. “Oh, it’s Asher. I should probably take this, considering I’m their ride.” I snagged the phone from Rafael’s nightstand. “Hey, Asher.”

“Dude, where the fuck are you? Your car is still here, but I can’t find you. This place looks like a warzone. Are you somewhere upstairs?”

I looked over at Rafael, who had a wicked smile. “No, I left, but we’ll be right there.”

Fuck. I shouldn’t have said we. “I mean, I’ll be right there. I’ll be there in a second. Alone. I’m alone right now.”

Rafael was dying. His body convulsed as he tried to muffle his laughter.

There was a noticeable pause on Asher’s end before he finally said, “Did you get some, Cody?”

Fuck.

“No! No, I-I- you know I hate parties,” I stuttered out like a goof.

“Hmm. We can’t find Rafael either. Did he leave with you?”

“Yes. I mean no! I mean, he got sick.” Rafael looked highly amused with a raised brow and a smirk for the ages. “I mean, I got sick. He took me home. I mean, he called an Uber. I was sick, so I couldn’t drive…”

Rafael rescued the phone from my shaking hand and said, “We’ll be there in twenty, Asher. I need coffee first.”

Rafael hung up the phone. “Wanna shower together again?” he asked.

***

The Uber smelled like wintergreen chewing gum mixed with antifreeze. Rafael’s clothes blended in with the black upholstery. He had a little stubble on his chin, and his eyes looked brighter than normal. I wondered if it was because he didn’t drink that much last night. He looked a little more alive than he usually did in the morning.

I fidgeted on the seat, trying to find a comfortable position. I was the tiniest bit sore, but way better than I expected.

Rafael must have noticed because he asked, “Butt sore?”

“Not sore…more like tender.”

He smiled. “Makes sense. I took your butt-virginity last night and all.”

“You took all of my virginity,” I blurted out. I hadn’t even meant to say it. It completely slipped out.

Rafael slowly turned his gaze toward me. “I did what?”

“It’s not a big deal,” I rushed out.

“Not a big deal? Cody, please tell me I didn’t take your virginity. Are you fucking kidding me?”

His voice was louder than it should have been. He was nearly yelling. So what if he took my virginity? It’s just the V-card. Who cares? “Rafael, why are you being weird about this?”

“Because, your fucking stepbrother shouldn’t have taken your virginity,” he whispered. “ I shouldn’t have taken your virginity. It should have been someone who cares about you—”

He stopped abruptly. Rafael shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Yeah? How’d you mean it?” I could hear the tremble in my voice, and I hated it. I felt so exposed. So vulnerable.

“Cody…” He took a deep breath and continued, “I meant it should have been with someone you can actually be with. We can’t be together, Cody.”

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. I schooled my features, keeping perfectly still so that the burning in my eyes didn’t turn into tears.

“Why?” I asked.

He glanced at the driver, then whispered, “Because you are my stepbrother. That’s fucking weird, dude. Don’t you think this is weird?”

This? You mean this thing THAT YOU FUCKING STARTED?

“You think being with me is weird?” I asked.

“Fuck! No, I didn’t say that!”

“I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what you just said.”

Despite my fractured heart, I didn’t get emotional. I controlled everything inside of me and assumed an air of neutrality. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of an emotional outburst. He already took my virginity. He wouldn’t take my dignity.

“Cody, listen to what you’re saying. I cannot be with you. Being with you implies that we are dating or something—you’re Jill’s son. I am Hank’s son. We cannot be together. Period.”

My gaze found the window. I didn’t want to look at him anymore. “You didn’t seem to have any qualms messing around with me before. You’ve pursued me the whole time.”

“I didn’t pursue you, I was fucking with you.” He gasped when he said it.

Done. Completely done.

“Got it.”

“Cody, no. Don’t do this. Sure, yeah, I was fucking with you before, but last night—”

“Shut up, Rafael.” The car slowed to a stop in front of Rowan’s house. I turned to face Rafael, and it felt like the moment in the action flick when the protagonist says one last thing before they toss a match and the building in the background explodes. My eyes met his and I said, “We’re at Rowan’s and we wouldn’t want the guys to know you boned your stepbrother last night. So don’t be weird in front of them, okay? Be cool.”

That’s when I got out of the car.