Game Changer, page 27
Because, deep down, I know Kyle’s not going to like my chasing after his sister. It’s just that, in the midst of all of these wedding festivities, he has too much going on to try and stop me. But I’m walking a tightrope. Yeah, Kyle always complains that Sasha drives him up a wall, but I know how overprotective he is of her. In his eyes, no one is good enough for his sister. Not even me.
"Excuse me, Brooks. Kyle is waving me over. I better go see what he wants before he blows a gasket." She shakes her head, giving me a lopsided grin.
I shift her bag on my shoulder, determined to wait it out and help her take her luggage to her room. Hell, I’ve waited this long—a few more minutes won’t make any difference. We have four whole days to spend together in Jamaica, and I intend to make the most of each and every one of them.
BONUS Chapter Two
Sasha
"Brooks, Brooks, Brooks," I tease him in a singsong voice, sunning myself on the cliff face.
"Sasha, Sasha, Sasha." His lips curl up, and I know he’s amused even though I can’t see his gorgeous baby blues through his dark sunglasses.
"C’mon. You’re a baseball player. Don’t you have some kind of nickname?" I heckle him, watching his dimples appear.
"Just Brooksey," he responds, knowing that it’s sure to get a rise out of me.
"That is so lame," I groan, pretending to be annoyed.
He just laughs all the harder. "Well, what do you suggest?"
Sexy? Hot stuff? The man of my dreams? Too bad I can’t say any of those out loud. "I don’t know. Don’t you have a middle name?"
He sits up from where he was reclining on his towel, his six-pack abs on full display for my viewing enjoyment. "Sanderson," he whispers, quickly ducking his head.
"You’ve got to be kidding me," I moan, goading him even more.
"Nope. It’s my mama’s maiden name," he explains with a shrug.
"Brooks Sanderson Davison? A little repetitive, don’t you think?" I needle him mercilessly. "It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue."
"It’s more about tradition than what sounds good." He takes off his shades, not taking his eyes off me. "It’s an Oklahoma thang."
That twang is turning me on big time. I cross my ankles on top of the rock, wondering if he can tell that I’m trying to hide how much my body is responding to him. I’ve never experienced it to such an extent right in front of a guy before. It’s hard carrying on a conversation like nothing’s happening when, below my waist, I’m on fire. I grip the jagged surface of the cliff as he stretches his arms above his head and yawns, his muscles rippling. Nothing can compare to an athlete’s body—nothing. He’s like a statue of a Greek god come to life.
I try to gather my wits about me. I have to stop thinking about brushing my lips over the hard planes of his chest, which are glistening with sweat under the hot Jamaican sun. God, it’s so hard to concentrate on anything but him.
"Sanderson, Sanderson, Sanderson," I ramble on, liking the way it sounds.
"Here we go again." Brooks smiles at me like I’m trying to be cute when he unknowingly has me in a lust-filled haze that I’m desperately trying to pull myself out of.
"S…Sandy." The name just slips out when he squirts some sunscreen onto his palm and starts rubbing it into his biceps.
"Like the beach?" He kicks some sand over my feet.
"More like the dog," I reply, kicking it back at him.
"From Annie? Oh man. Just don’t burst into some version of ‘It’s a Hard-Knock Life,’ or I’m leaving." He pretends to get up, his swim trunks riding delectably low on his waist.
"I like it. It fits you perfectly." I bend my legs, resting my chin on top of my knees as I can’t help but look at him.
"You think a girl’s name fits me perfectly? Thanks a lot." This time, he does stand, handing me the bottle of sunscreen. "Would you mind doing my back?"
Holy crap! Not at all, Sandy… Not at all. But I bite my lip and keep my thoughts to myself. I don’t want to show him how eager I am to touch him.
"Yeah, sure," I respond nonchalantly as I rise up on my tiptoes to reach the broad expanse of his shoulders.
He’s such a big guy—strong in such a masculine way. I feel so small standing next to him. When I make the first pass across his back, he flinches ever so slightly. I draw my hand away, unsure if I should continue. He takes a deep breath before shifting his feet and pressing his flesh back against my open palm. He sighs when I start rubbing the lotion methodically into his skin, making sure it all soaks in. He’s slippery and smooth as the coconut fragrance fills my head, making me add more pressure with my fingers.
"Ah, that feels so good," he moans, relaxing into my touch.
I could stay here all day and do this, but I’m too afraid I’ll wrap myself around him until he gives me everything I want from him. I’m mortified when I look down and see my nipples pressing against the flimsy material of my bathing suit. His swim trunks are baggy, so even if he turns around, I won’t be able to tell if he’s enjoying this just as much as I am. If he’s not, I’ll be so humiliated. I can’t let him see me like this, how my body’s betraying how much I want him.
"Last one in is a rotten egg!" I scream in his ear, giving him a hasty shove and jumping off the cliff before he can stop me.
We were hemming and hawing for over an hour, not knowing if we had the guts to take the plunge. But I don’t even hesitate as I free-fall to the ocean below, screaming all the way down. I should’ve kissed him. I should’ve pulled him down on top of me and let him know what I wanted. But I didn’t. Instead, I took the easy way out—jumping twenty feet into the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea.
I hit the surface with a deafening crash, the force of the water stinging my skin. I drop like a dead weight, wishing I could stay down here all day. However, he already had me breathless before I pulled this ridiculous stunt, so I reluctantly kick my feet until my head pops up.
"Sasha! Are you crazy?" Brooks yells down to me from above. "What in the world did you do that for? I thought we were gonna jump together?"
"Next time," I promise, pushing my wet hair out of my face. What can I say? I got hot—too hot.
He shakes his head before backing up and taking a running start and joining me with a giant splash. When he resurfaces, he’s floating right next to me, beaming in triumph.
"I did it," he laughs like he can’t believe it.
"You did it," I confirm, treading water next to him.
"Well, you inspired me," he says, a serious inflection entering his voice, his mouth inches from mine.
I can’t deny myself. The need to touch him is too strong. I hold on to his arm, bobbing amid the waves. He smiles, taking my free hand and wrapping it around his neck, bringing me in closer to his body. He kicks for the two of us as I hold on to him. Yeah, I’m in way too deep. I have been for a long time now. I’m with the guy I’ve had a crush on since I was fourteen. I still can’t believe this is actually happening—that we’re here together, half naked in each other’s arms.
"C’mon. Let me help you back to shore," Brooks says in that low, sexy tone I can’t get enough of. "We can do it again—together this time."
He turns his head and starts paddling toward the beach, pulling me with him. I so thought he was going to kiss me then, but he didn’t. I slouch against his chest, his one arm slung around my waist, the other strong enough to take us where we need to go.
I feel how hard his heart is beating as he exerts himself, his breath coming out in controlled puffs. It’s only when my backside presses up against him that I’m in no doubt of what state he’s in, baggy swim trunks or not.
I smile to myself, glad that he’s in as much torture as I am.
BONUS Chapter Three
Sasha
Okay, I can’t take much more of this.
Brooks carried me up the aisle when I couldn’t walk in my stupid bridesmaid dress. He held me close when we were slow-dancing during the reception. But so far, his hands have stayed right where they should be, never straying to areas that might get us in trouble.
But I want to be bad—as long as it’s with him.
I take a swig from my third bottle of beer and watch as the moonlight turns his blond hair silver. His jacket is off, and his tie is loosened. He looks so good standing there on the sand in his bare feet. I could stay up all night looking at him. But I want to do so much more than look.
I sidle up to him, hiking up my skirt, the hem already torn and dangling behind me. He’s not as far gone as I am. He’s still in control of himself. I need him to let loose and just be with me. I can tell he wants to, but he’s holding back. This is our last night together, and I want to make it count.
He tosses the baseball he was holding on top of my purse, rolling his sleeves back down. "Okay, you’ve made your point. You’re the best bunter I’ve ever seen, bar none."
I scuff the lines of the makeshift batter’s box I drew with my toe. "Don’t you want to see more?"
"No. You’ve laid down over twenty in a row. I believe you now." He grins at me. Yeah, he knows I’m buzzed. "Why don’t you sit down next to me and relax? It’s a perfect night for star gazin’."
All right. He wants to get cozy. Let’s get cozy. I’m all for snuggling on the beach. I stride over to him, shoving him onto his butt. He laughs at my eagerness, trying to brush the sand off his tuxedo pants, but I’m having none of it as I straddle his waist, lowering myself onto his lap.
"Hello there," he chuckles, gulping when I run my hands up his chest.
"Hello," I respond, grabbing fistfuls of his shirt to pull him closer.
"What’s that?" he asks, trying to slow things down as his fingers trace the path along my collarbone, playing with my pendant.
"Nothing," I mutter, not falling for one of his numerous attempts to waylay me.
He tilts up my chin. "Tell me," he beseeches, his eyes full of the same desire that’s bursting out of my every pore. "I want to know."
"It’s a charm I got after Matt collapsed. I had it engraved with all three of my brothers’ names after they were diagnosed with the same heart defect." I meet his gaze while relaying the significance behind it.
"You’re something special, Sasha Roberts. You know that?" His hand finds its way into my hair, loosening the jeweled clip holding it in place.
I shake my head, letting my curls tumble down my back. I lower my head onto his lap and close my eyes. I gasp when his lips find my outstretched neck, savoring the sensation I’ve been yearning to feel. His kisses are featherlight as he works his way to my jawline. I’m so ready for him that I can’t help but groan at what he’s doing to me.
"I’ve never met anyone like you," he whispers. "You’re unique and beautiful, like one of these seashells. There will never be another Sasha Roberts. Seeing you again has changed me. All I know is from this point forward my heart will forever beat in time with yours."
After listening to him, the need to feel his heartbeat beneath my fingertips is overwhelming. He shifts above me as I start to unbutton his shirt, granting myself access to the perfection that lies beneath. My thumbs graze his nipples, and he groans in response just as his lips meet mine. His breath is warm, and I open my mouth more fully to him, giving our tongues room to explore.
I never thought a kiss could be like this as every cell in my body comes alive. I slide his shirt off his shoulders. He hastily removes it from his wrists before his hands quickly return to my face. I skim my fingernails down his back before pulling him against my heaving breasts. He moans again, guiding himself on top of me, never breaking our kiss. I dig my toes into the sand and move against him.
I feel a cloud drift across the moon through my semi-closed eyelids. The crash of the waves fills my ears, interspersed with our rhythmic panting. Brooks’s hand fondles my breast through the embroidered satin of my dress, and I feel like I’m about to be transported out of my body into a realm of pleasure I’ve only ever dreamed of before. Wow—I never knew anything could feel this good. He’s working on lowering the zipper when an angry cry rends the night sky.
"What the hell is going on here? Get the fuck off my sister!"
I hear Kyle’s voice before I see him. I feel him yank Brooks off of me and shove him away.
I open my eyes and see Kyle’s bright-red face as he takes in the number of beer bottles littering the beach and my bleary-eyed expression.
"Dude, it’s not what you think." Brooks holds up his hands, staggering backward.
"Yeah, she’s drunk. You’re half dressed. What the hell is wrong with you, man? She’s my sister!" Kyle is livid. I’ve never seen him get this mad before. "Did you think she was just going to be some easy lay? Well, think again! C’mon, Sasha. I’m getting you out of here."
Kyle extends his hand, but I don’t take it.
"C’mon!" Kyle growls, losing all patience with me as he grabs ahold of my arm, pulling me to my feet.
"Kyle, don’t," I beg, trying to free my arm.
"I came to check on you when you didn’t come back. Boy, am I glad I did." Kyle runs his hands through his hair as it’s getting strewn about by the ocean breeze. "I can’t believe you would do this to me, man. On my wedding night, no less."
"Ky, I like her, okay?" Brooks protests as Kyle starts dragging me up the beach.
"Yeah, sure you do," Kyle grumbles, and I struggle against his iron grip.
"C’mon, man. Stop!" Brooks grabs him by the shoulder, and Kyle takes a swing at him.
"Don’t you fucking touch me right now," Kyle glowers, and Brooks takes two steps back. "Get the hell away from me, or I swear I’ll beat you to within an inch of your life, so help me God. You crossed a line tonight, one you should never have crossed."
"Ky, please don’t!" I wail, urging him to stop.
"Not another word." Kyle silences me with a look. "Let’s go." He points a finger at Brooks. "We’ll talk about this in the morning. For now, stay the fuck away from her."
Kyle charges up the wooden boardwalk leading to the resort, the train of my dress trailing behind us. I try to turn around and look at Brooks, but Kyle’s hold on my arm is like a vise. I’ll have to find him tomorrow before we leave.
It can’t end like this. It can’t.
BONUS Chapter Four
Brooks
I wait, ready to plead my case.
Kyle texted me ten minutes ago with the message: POOL NOW. But he’s still not here yet. I can’t believe he’d want to leave Casey alone in bed on their first morning as man and wife. He must really intend to ream me out.
I had a feeling he’d flip his lid if he caught me with Sasha, but he knows me better than that. He was out of line with the things he accused me of. Like I’d ever force myself on Sasha, take her against her will. Is he out of his godforsaken mind? I’d never hurt Sasha—never.
I hear the iron gate rattle and see Kyle storming past row upon row of empty lounge chairs. He’s on a mission to put me in my place. There’s no reasoning with him when he gets like this. He thinks I betrayed him and there’s no convincing him otherwise. He sees the world in black and white, good and bad. There is no in between for Kyle. There’s his sister and then there’s me, and as far as he’s concerned, it’d be better if we existed on separate planets. He can’t handle my dating his sister. He never will.
"I’m only going to say this once, so pay attention." He stops in front of the table I’m sitting at, falling just under the shadow of the huge umbrella. "Once we leave here, you’re not to call her, text her, visit her—nothing. You’re to have absolute zero contact with her. Do I make myself clear?"
"Ky, aren’t you even gonna give me a chance to explain?" I protest, shoving the chair away from me and standing to meet him.
"There’s nothing to explain. I know what I saw," he says defiantly, looking over my head at the ocean cresting above the horizon.
"Damn it, Kyle! You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Like I’d ever take advantage of your sister! You’ve known me for how long now?" I huff, throwing out my hands, exasperated by how much he’s overreacting.
"Yeah, and I also know what you did last week in Vegas, hooking up with some random chick. Lately, I’ve been feeling that maybe I don’t know you at all." He glares at me, crossing his arms angrily in front of his chest.
"You’ve gotta be kidding me," I groan, running my hands through my hair. "Dude, nothing happened. I sent her packing."
"Yeah, right. That’s not what you led everybody to believe." Kyle shakes his head, narrowing his eyes.
"I was stupid, all right? I wanted to look like ‘the man’ in front of the guys, so I didn’t bother correcting them. I’m gonna have it tough enough when I join the team for good this year. I didn’t want them up my ass for turning down that girl." I flex my jaw. Kyle is really starting to piss me off. He knows I don’t have much game when it comes to the ladies. He doesn’t have to rub it in.
Kyle’s eyes soften a little. He knows I’m telling the truth, but he’ll never concede the point. Bottom line is, he saw me making out with his sister, an image that’s painfully burned into his retinas. I can understand where he’s coming from. I really can. But he has to cut me some slack. He knows I don’t sleep around. If I was willing to take things that far with his sister, it means I’m serious about her.
"She’s so young, and your life is about to drastically change, probably more than you know." Kyle stares me down. "Just how do you picture this working out? You string her along, have these marathon phone conversations that draw her in deeper. Then the season starts and you’re caught up in the madness, but now when you go to call her, it’s one in the morning or it’s the middle of the day and she’s at school. Little by little, you find that you don’t have time for her anymore, but she’s just as into you as ever. You never see her. You never talk to her. Slowly, whatever you had starts to wither and die. She’s left heartbroken while you move on."
"It wouldn’t be like that," I argue, although not as forcefully as when I started.
