Page 49 of The Wrong Brother

She’s not looking at me with pity or judgment. Catherine is simply listening and staying connected to me with her touch. She tilts her head, eyeing me with a little sadness.

“No one knows?”

“No one. I try not to outright lie. It’s been fairly easy. No one notices much. I don’t have to try very hard to remain under the radar. It’s embarrassing but it’s not that uncommon in Hawai‘i. I don’t want to leave; I want to stay here; it’s home. But I also can’t. I can afford food and my cell phone and everything else, easily, and put money into savings, because I’m homeless.”

She kisses me softly, doing her own effective version of Kiss Therapy.Kiss FriendsI think, a little sadly.

“Stay with me,” she whispers, holding me close. “I can be home if you’ll let me.”

30

catherine

We’ve reached a new level of domesticity that is so perfect, I want to cry happy tears. I fall asleep cuddled up with Rafferty every night and wake up in his arms every morning. I do my early morning spin class, come back to shower, and get ready for work while he sleeps. I make coffee and leave him a mug and a note. I work, he works, I come home to the hottest roommate/house-boyfriend in existence. He cleans and cooks and his mere presence makes every day better. At night we argue over what to watch or read to each other. I’ve never felt this content.

Rafferty has left his easel set up in the corner and sometimes I get to sit in my comfy chair and watch him paint. He gets so absorbed in what he’s doing he doesn’t even notice I’m there. I’ve even been able to work on my embroidery without spoiling the surprise because he gets so engrossed in what he’s doing. I love being able to curl up there, watching him work. He gets this cute little line between his eyebrows when he’s concentrating. He’s in a whole different world, seeing and feeling things within his mind and translating all of it through color and brushstrokes.

The suitcase is still being used to store his clean laundry, but I think we’ll get there eventually. He has been leaving albums in the living room after we listen to them instead of squirreling them away at Mina’s. Actually, she brought over a small storage crate full of vinyl the other day. She said something about them being his albums that he kept forgetting at her apartment. It seemed like she was asking without asking if there was more to it than that, but it’s not my place to say—I’m not going to break Rafferty’s trust.

Sunday morning, early, we go out to Makaha Beach, in Waianae. We both surf and then I take a break, watching Rafferty out on the water. I know he’d protest that his skills are not anywhere near a competitive level but he looks like he belongs out there to me. Once we’re both tired out, we get breakfast and go home to shower off the salt and sand. I don’t feel bad spending the day lounging around the condo in minimal clothing after spending hours surfing. My muscles are nice and loose and the air conditioning feels good on my sun-warmed skin. I’m filling a glass with ice water when I hear Griffin’s voice. He and Raff are on a video chat.

“You’ll never guess who I just talked to?”

“I’m sure you’re right, Griff. Just tell me.” The words could be construed as curt but Rafferty has a relaxed smile on his face.

“Ka‘eo Maheloha.”

“Ah, no way! What’s the buggah up to?”

“He and Mina are doing this head-shaving fundraiser for a local girl. She’s from K’s old neighborhood and has leukemia.”

“That sucks. Is K going to shave off all of his hair?”

“Yeah, man! He’s donating it to Wigs for Kids and getting pledges to shave it. Also, he’s married now.”

“K? That’s crazy! I didn’t think he was the marrying type.”

“Me either—I figured he’d be chasing the next fun thing forever. His wife is this badass naval officer. He’s a legit photographer now and he and his wife have a huge following on Instagram. He said to tell you hey and that we need to get together to surf soon.”

“That’d be awesome. Catherine and I were out on Makaha this morning. Nice waves and not too crowded for a weekend. I think I might still have Ka’eo’s number saved, I’ll have to shoot him a text.”

“Do it, I know he’d like to hear from you. I think Mina is ready for lunch. Laters, brah!”

I drop down onto the couch, stretching my legs out across Rafferty’s lap. He drops his phone and rubs my foot for a moment before he grabs a paperback from the coffee table and hands it to me.

“It’s your turn. Pick up where we left off and read to me, my queen.”

I prop a pillow behind me and recline back, pulling open the rom-com we’ve been reading aloud to each other, alternating chapters. I’m only a couple of paragraphs in when I feel Rafferty’s hands running up my bare legs. I tip the book down to peek at him as he slides off the couch, kneeling on the floor. He eyes the book pointedly and I resume reading, stumbling over a couple of words as he pulls my legs apart. His beard is tickling the sensitive skin of my inner thigh as he leaves a trail of wet kisses moving upward.

“What happens next, Cat?” he murmurs, lips still touching my skin. I gulp noisily, eyes searching for where I lost focus. Picking the narrative back up is easy compared to the difficulty of trying to continue reading aloud when he slides my panties to the side and kisses me wetly. I’m struggling to focus on these fictional characters’ witty banter. Rafferty’s tongue is sliding between my lips as he hums with obvious pleasure. “This won’t do at all.” He pulls my panties down, making me giggle as he has to lift my legs over his head and maneuver them closer together to achieve his goal. The giggle quickly turns into a moan when he tips my legs open wide and licks slowly.

My voice falters as he teases my clit with the tip of his tongue. He flutters across it delicately before sucking and I drop the book. I’m being devoured. My right hand grips the couch cushion so hard my fingers ache while my left is in his hair. Every time my back arches up, off of the pillow underneath me, Rafferty holds my thighs harder and licks deeper. I’m lifting my hips and grinding into him shamelessly. He pauses, green eyes looking up at me while I whimper with need.

“It’s so fucking good, Cat. Take what you need. Don’t be shy about it.”

I bite my lip and bring both of my heels to his back, using him to leverage my pussy into him. His answering groan sends tiny pulses of pleasure through me, only hinting at what’s to come. I brace my arms on the arm of the couch, over my head, something primal taking over. My legs are trembling, my breath is coming in short pants, and Rafferty is eating me with hedonistic abandon. So much heat is swelling within me that I feel like I might burn up from the inside out. The wave of pleasure is so intense I want to pull away, suddenly afraid of how much I’m feeling, but Rafferty holds me in place, tongue relentless until my entire body is seizing up. Every muscle tightens, my whole body frozen for an instant before everything explodes as I scream out. I’m limp, riding wave upon wave of sensation, while Rafferty continues to lap and kiss. When I’m finally able to move, I grasp at his hair, pulling until he focuses on me.

“Fuck me, Raff. Please?” He starts to lift over me and I push him with a foot on his shoulder. “Sit.”

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