Page 33 of Twice as Twisted

“That’s a good question,” Duke says, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “You know, I don’t think Baron’s ever been on a date, so I’m not sure what he’d choose.”

“Never?” I ask incredulously, since I’ve already heard rumors about the twins and their many conquests. And though I didn’t want to share my inexperience with Duke, it makes me feel a little better, a little closer to Baron, to know we have this in common.

“We’ve hung out with plenty of girls,” he says with a shrug. “But a date like this? I don’t think so. If we’re alone with a girl, we’re usually just fucking her.”

“Justfucking her?” I ask skeptically. “You make it sound like that’s less serious than sitting in a restaurant.”

“I don’t know about serious,” he says, picking out a plain black t-shirt dress that reaches my knees. “But less intimate.”

“How’s that less intimate?”

“You have to talk at a restaurant. Look into someone’s eyes. Get to know them.”

“You don’t get to know girls by sleeping with them?”

He hands me the dress. “A little, I guess. You know what they feel like. You don’t even have to know who a girl is when you bang her from the back, though. She could be anyone.”

“You’ve done that?” I ask, my eyes widening. “You didn’t even know who you were with?”

He shrugs. “Sometimes I want to forget. That’s what doggy style is for.”

For some reason, his answer irritates me. Some part of me wanted a different answer, and I’m bothered that he didn’t give it, even though I’m not sure what I wanted him to say or why I even care.

“If only it were that easy for everyone,” I mutter. “There’s plenty of things I’d like to forget.”

“Like what?” he asks, cocking his head.

“Nothing,” I say, taking the dress. “I’ll go put this on.”

“Just do it here,” he says when I start for the ensuite. “It’ll be quicker.”

“I’m not changing in front of you.”

“I already saw you,” he points out.

“Becauseyoudid that,” I say. “I’m not going to get undressed in front of you when I’m about to go out with your brother.”

“Baron won’t care.”

I give him a look. “Until I hear that from him, I’m going to change in the bathroom.”

I can hear his laughter through the door while I change. I can’t decide if I’m irritated by it or if it makes me feel good.

When I step out wearing the simple dress, he’s lounging on my bed again, Boots in his lap now. I wonder if my comforter will smell like him when I climb in later, and whether I’ll like that or have to change my duvet so I can sleep. I wonder how many other girls have gone to sleep with his scent clinging to their sheets. With more than his scent on more than their sheets.

“I think I’ve got it,” I say. “You can go.”

“Hey,” he says, sitting up, his face suddenly earnest. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I say. “It’s just, Baron’s my date. Not you.”

“And you think he doesn’t know I’m here?” he asks. “You don’t want him to catch us together? Because he knows. It was his idea.”

“Why?” I demand. “So he could see if I’d sleep with you before my date with him?”

“Don’t be like that,” he says, cracking a smile. “We’re twins. He wouldn’t date someone who didn’t have my approval.”

“What about my approval?”