Page 71 of The Tangle of Awful

“You came back and I had to hide. You know your bedroom is serial-killer clean. I mean, what conclusions was I supposed to draw from that?”

Chuckling, I grab the lid and move it to the bed. She leans forward, peering inside. Nothing exciting like murder weapons or tokens from my supposed kills.

“Oh,” she breathes, picking up a movie ticket.

“We didn’t see that movie,” I remind her. “We snuck into that gory R-rated one. You were terrified the whole time. I was pretty sure you were going to piss your pants.”

She shoves at my shoulder, a grin finally tugging at her lips. “You were the one who yelled in the theater.”

“I don’t like jump scares,” I grumble. “It startled me.”

We sit, looking through pictures, laughing and reminiscing. This was all before. Before she revealed her true nature and broke my heart.

“I used to think you were so cool,” Aubrey admits, holding up one of the first pictures of us together. It was the first summer after our parents married. “Then I learned you were just a big dork.”

The picture makes my chest ache. We’re sitting on Pops’ boat, both wearing sunglasses and matching grins. Back then, I was just a skinny twerp and she hadn’t turned into this curvaceous woman with tattoos and sexy tits. We were happy—thrilled to no longer be only children.

“Why the sudden change, Spencer?” she asks, dropping a picture into the box and pinning me with a penetrative stare. “What did I do that made you so angry? Was it the kiss? I thought you wanted it too.”

Ignoring her, I toss the pictures back into the box and replace the lid. She sighs heavily as I carry it back to its rightful place in the closet. When I return, she’s back to regarding me with a sad, broken expression.

She can’t be this good.

She really is confused.

“Spencer,” she murmurs. “Why?”

I tug off my T-shirt and then pull off my jeans, placing them neatly in the hamper before approaching in nothing but my boxers. Her eyes remain locked on mine, though I can tell she aches to check me out.

“I don’t want to talk about it, Aubrey. It doesn’t matter.”

She lies back, a small smile forming.

“What?” I demand, sprawling out beside her and resting on my elbow.

“You called me Aubrey.”

I shake my head and bark out a laugh. “Don’t get used to it, leech.”

She sticks out her tongue and I’m reminded of when we were younger. How playful we used to be. How I lived for her smiles and teasing. Dipping down, I capture her mouth in a sweet kiss. Her whole body seems to melt and it encourages me. My tongue teases hers and I want to swallow the sweet moan that escapes her. We kiss for several moments, losing ourselves to the moment and living in a pre-messy past where it was good. Always so good.

Sliding my hand beneath her tank top, I’m pleased to find her breast naked and bra-less. Her tit feels perfect in my palm. I squeeze it and then thumb her nipple that’s hardened like a small stone. The urge to taste her nipple is maddening. I sit up and pull away her shirt before finding her mouth again with mine. When I can no longer wait, I pull away from our kiss and trail my tongue in teasing kisses down her neck and to her chest. I let my tongue run a lazy circle around her nipple.

“Oh,” she says, gasping. “That feels good.”

I suck the nub into my mouth, nibbling until she’s squirming. Her fingers thread into my hair, tugging and guiding me just the way she likes it. Eventually, she’s had enough of that nipple and pushes me to the other one. I give this nipple just as much attention.

My hand travels over her taut stomach to the waistband of her cotton shorts. Her hand leaves my hair to clutch my wrist.

“We can’t,” she whispers.

“Sure we can.” I bore my gaze into hers. “I’m taking your shorts off, Aubrey.”

Again, she melts like butter at hearing her name. Her hips lift, giving me silent permission. I pull the shorts and underwear away, eager to see her fully naked. Of course she’s hot as fuck. My dick is granite as I appreciate her perfect form.

“I can’t have sex with you, Spencer. I can’t.”

I arch a brow at her as I press a thumb against her clit. Her legs part and she bites down on her bottom lip. Circle after circle, I tease her right into an orgasm. The whimpers coming from her are a siren calling me to the rocky shore. I need to be right there with her.

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