“Why?” Denver growls out.
“Because she’s a bitch?”
I chuckle at that one. “Well, if you two will excuse me, I need to say hello to the birthday girl.” I take a detour because I want to come up behind her and catch her off guard. I have to know what this is between us. I can’t shake my feelings for her, so letting her go is out. What other options do I have?
One thing’s for sure: I can’t keep letting little boys creep on her.
Chapter Four
Jules
I can’t believe he’s here. I haven’t seen him in six and a half months. Anthony’s here, I chant internally while doing my best to control my breathing. Why is he here? I thought I could shake my feelings for him, but now he’s back, and on my birthday of all days.
What’s worse is that Brandon just happens to show up as well. Brandon’s been talking to my stepsister, and now I know that she can’t be trusted. I’m glad I never mentioned Anthony to her because she’d purposely embarrass me today or try to hit on him herself. She moves toward Anthony and my uncle and I want to scream, but Penny intercepts her. I mouth a silent thank you and make my way over to Anthony, but I’m stopped by Brandon.
“You and I need to talk,” he bites out, gripping my elbow a little harder than necessary.
I gently push his hand away to avoid making a scene and whisper, “I’m sorry, Brandon, but I have guests.”
“And a new boyfriend, it seems.” He tilts his head toward Anthony with a scowl. Luckily, Anthony’s talking to Penny’s dad or I’d have a fight on my hands. Anthony’s not a guy to tolerate disrespect.
“What’s it to you if I do or don’t?” I huff, keeping my voice down but my tone strong.
Brandon scoffs and grabs my wrist. “He’s not good enough for you. He’s clearly the trash that your cousin landed in when she got with a biker.” There’s a violent disgust, but he has no room to talk.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Remember—you’re the one who was arrested with a prostitute.” How could he forget that he’s no better than anyone else? Of course—because his father’s a politician and they know there’s always someone to clean up their messes.
“That’s because you’re a fucking prude,” he hisses.
“Don’t blame me for your lack of self-control. We dated for a whole two months and saw each other a handful of times. The fact that you needed to pay for sex makes me glad that I didn’t give it up to you. Now leave. Take your gift and go—I sure as hell don’t want it.”
“At least your sister’s easy,” he retorts, taking the bag back and storming out the front door. Wow. I didn’t expect that, but seeing how they were talking, anything is possible.
I go the opposite direction and avoid everyone, and then that’s when I run into a wall—a warm, sexy wall that catches me. “Did you have a fight with your boyfriend?” he growls, pressing my lower half firmly to him while I tilt my head all the way back to look at him.
“Ugh. What’s with you men? It’s not your business who I date.”
He releases me with a grunt. “Never fucking mind. You’re right. You’re just a kid…too fucking young.”
“Are you serious? You come into my house on my birthday just to insult me?”
“I didn’t mean to insult you, beautiful.” He stares at me from head to toe, growling as he lingers on my bare legs. I’m pretty sure my panties are now ruined. “Let’s go talk.” He leads me upstairs and straight into my bedroom. He closes the door behind us and turns the lock.
“How did you know which room was…”
“Lucky guess,” Anthony cuts me off. He growls, cupping my face. The look of hunger reminds me of the time in the bakery kitchen. His mouth lands on mine, and the world explodes all around me. My heart’s dancing in my chest as he kisses me gently, and I let a moan escape my lips. Then he has me pinned to my bed, one leg wrapped around his waist and one hand in my hair while the other slides up my blouse, cupping my soft breast as his tongue spears past my lips.
Every inch of me feels alive. Nerve endings are firing out of control, but then it’s over.
He pulls his mouth back from mine quickly. “Fuck, I can’t be doing this,” Anthony growls as he lowers his mouth and continues to attack my throat. I’m back under his spell, moaning and grinding against his thick shaft as if he didn’t just say what he did. I want him inside of me, giving me the family I crave.
“We have to stop. We can’t be together—
“You’re right. Get off me,” I snap, shoving him until he stumbles backward. “Please leave.” It hits me right there that he’s only acting on jealousy over a guy I never even kissed on the lips.
“Jules,” he pleads, sitting on the bed next to me.
I shake my head and scoot away from him, hating how easily I fell into his arms only to be hurt again. “Don’t. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I understand one thing. You just mauled me because you thought I had a boyfriend and you got possessive. I get it—we both find each other hot, but that’s it, and don’t try to say otherwise because I haven’t seen you for over half a year.”
He stands up and paces around my room, going back and forth, running his hands through his hair. He stops to open his mouth and no words come out, and then he starts pacing again. He does this three times and by the last time, I’ve had enough.
I stand and walk straight to the door. With my hand on the handle, I say, “If you can’t figure out the words to explain yourself, stop trying. I’m going back to my party, and I hope you see yourself out.” He reaches for me, but I pull myself away and walk out of the room.
I’m not a fool. He doesn’t really want me. My mother and stepfather don’t have a loving relationship; it’s almost a parasitic one, whereas Penny’s parents have a love to last a lifetime, so I’ve seen what the two worlds look like. I won’t settle for anything less than the kind of love they truly share.
I take the stairs in a rush and nearly run into my uncle Denver who’s waiting for me. “Everything okay?” He looks me up and down. I must look completely disheveled, and my eyes are glossy with unshed tears.
“Yes. I’m going to schmooze with my guests. Excuse me.”
“Okay.” He lets me pass, and I walk to the downstairs bathroom off the kitchen. I need a moment to breathe and get away from everyone. Once I’m locked in the bathroom, I press my hands on the edge of the sink and take a deep breath. Rolling my head around to loosen up the tension, I finally look at my reflection in the mirror. My lips are ruddy and puffy from Anthony’s kiss. My entire body feels his touch as if he’d just let go. My breasts are tender, my pussy throbbing and needing relief, but most of all, my heart is cracking. How can so many warring emotions flood through me?
“It’s my party, and I can cry if I want to,” I sing in a hushed voice. Quickly, I let the pain turn to anger. I hope that he’s left because I can’t take looking at him.
A knock at the door catches me by surprise. “One minute,” I call out, turning on the water to pretend I’m actually using the bathroom for more than my pity party.