Page 383 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

“My turn,” I say.

“But—” Her eyes widen, and I know she has a hundred questions, but that’s not the game we’re playing.

“What’s the worst thing...” I pull her even closer and drop my mouth to her ear. “…you’ve everwantedto do?”

Her arm muscle tenses in my hand, so I squeeze her a little tighter. She draws back just enough to look into my eyes.

It’s laughable, but for some reason, I think I already know what she’s going to say.

But the longer she gazes up at me, the clearer my suspicion becomes. A pump of blood hardens my cock, and I pull her even closer until our bodies brush against each other as we bob in the water.

“Harper.”

She swallows, blinks rapidly. But her eyes stay fixed on me like she can’t look away. Which is perfect because I don’t want her to. I love the way it feels when our eyes lock, the intensity of that intangible connection.

I duck my head, and she shivers violently like my breath on her wet skin is too much for her to bear.

Christ, I’ve never wanted to kiss anyone this badly in my entire fucking life. I already have a semi, and that’s merely from thethoughtthat she might, on some level, want me.

Fuck the fact that she’s my stepsister. I couldn’t care less. I’ve been watching this pretty little thing dance around me for weeks. Saw her getting off in the shower. Now I have her less than an inch from me—from my hardening cock—and I can’t stop looking at her mouth.

She tilts her head back, her eyes shuttering, long lashes shadowing her blue eyes as she gazes up at me.

“I can’t tell you,” she whispers. “You’ll think...you’ll think I’m a freak.” There’s something about the way she says it, a special emphasis onfreakthat sends another hard pump of blood to my dick.

“We’re all freaks, Harper. You know my secret...” I tuck a section of wet hair behind her ear, gaining another violent shudder from her. “Now tell me yours.”

Her lips part. Our bodies brush, and this time she doesn’t move away. I slide a hand up her back, kicking slowly with my feet to keep my head above water, still supporting her with myother hand. Her eyelids quiver like she wants to shut them, and she leans in, asking—fuckingbegging—for a kiss.

A raindrop splashes on my brow. I ignore it, closing the distance between us. Her breath is hot on my lips, and I feel mine washing over hers.

When my mouth touches hers, she lets out a hot, tequila-scented sigh. I move forward, my hand on the back of her neck, intent on crushing her against me?—

A bolt of lightning splits the sky. Harper screams, her body going rigid against mine. The strike was so close that there’s barely any time between the flash of light and the thunder.

She pushes away from me, eyes wide, mouth trembling. “We should get inside.”

My dick couldn’t agree more.

But by the time we’ve gotten out of the pool, fetched towels, and dried off, whatever energy surrounded us in the water is gone. Harper keeps her distance, and I feel weird about trying to get close to her again.

“I should…” Harper cuts off, throwing me a helpless look.

“Yeah, no, me too.”

Although our bedrooms are right next door to each other, we head for opposite ends of the house. I go to see if Rosie’s still watching her movie, trying to force down the guilt that blossoms up.

She’s going to be gutted she can’t swim this afternoon…even more so when she realizes that I went without her. So I detour and head for my bedroom instead. I don’t see Harper on the way—either she’s already in her room, the door closed, or she’s in a different part of the house.

Which makes it easier for me to ignore the fact that I’d just been ready to fuck my stepsister.

Chapter 8

Harper

Oh my God, what just happened? I don’t remember coming up the stairs but I must have because I’m standing in my bedroom with my head reeling. I pull on warm clothes—leggings and a long, floppy sweater that can almost work as a mini skirt, and sit at the dresser to dry my hair.

But the image of Jude’s sculpted lips and intense black eyes keep filling my mind.

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