BriarEdge Academy: Winter Break Read online

  “I love you,” said Kip suddenly. He sounded appalled, and he looked the same a moment later. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that yet.”

  She smiled and slid closer, still feeling boneless from all the pleasure. “It’s the perfect time. I love you too, Kip. I mean, my mind was already in love with you, but now my body is as well.”

  He blinked. “I feel the same. I’ve loved your mind for months.” He put a hand on her hip. “Speaking of your body, are you hurting?”

  She evaluated for a moment, noticing a slight ache between her thighs. “A little, but I’m okay. It was amazing and totally worth any pain.”

  “I’ll try to take it easy on you tomorrow.”

  She laughed as she cuddled closer. “Don’t be silly. Being together is what we’re here for, isn’t it? It’s not like getting a cavity filled. I don’t mind if I walk a little funny when I head back to Portland.”

  Kip laughed. “How did I get so lucky as to meet you?”

  “Perhaps it was just an accident, or maybe it was fate, but I feel the same way.” She closed her eyes and rested against him, deciding she would take a shower later. Right now, she felt too content and sleepy to move.

  Chapter Four

  Dalton

  Having her gone, knowing she was in Boston with Kip the last few days, had been torture. She’d arrived home earlier in the day, but she’d been busy doing things with Hannah, so he hadn’t really had a chance to see her. Deciding it was late enough, Dalton slid out of bed and left his room seconds later to cross the hallway.

  When he reached hers, he found the door unlocked, and it was practically an invitation for him to join her. At least, he hoped that was the intent behind the unlocked door.

  He slipped inside quietly, locking the door behind him, and walked across the room to where she slept. He stared at her for a moment, thinking there was something a little different about her. It settled heavily in the pit of his stomach what it might be, and he forced himself to accept the bitter truth that she’d likely become lovers with Kip.

  He still clung to a slight hope that he was wrong as he slid into bed with her. She had fallen asleep mostly on the right side, as though expecting him to join her. He laid down on the left, and she moaned in her sleep before turning toward him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close against him.

  Her breathing was deep and regular for a few minutes, but then it started to become more regular, and she moved enough away to lift her head a few seconds after that. “I thought you might join me.” Her voice was thick with sleep.

  “Couldn’t stay away.” He put his hand her buttock, squeezing gently. “You were gone far too long.”

  She murmured something in that sleep-filled tone and snuggled closer.

  “How was Boston?” He was proud of himself for how level his tone was, reflecting interest rather than the full emotions he was feeling, including insecurity, anger, and possessiveness.

  She scooted away a bit to lift her head again. Her lids were still heavy, and she was clearly half-asleep, but she didn’t tell him just to rest. She had a dreamy smile on her lips. “It was amazing. It’s a great city.”

  “I like it a lot,” said Dalton. He’d been there a few times over the years, since it was practically in their backyard, being New England. “How is Kip?” His tone was a little stiffer now.

  She stiffened for a moment before relaxing. “Great.” She sounded a little wary.

  “I hate to ask, but I need to know. Did you sleep with him?”

  She didn’t hesitate to answer. “Yes, I did.” There was no self-consciousness in her voice, and she clearly didn’t have any mixed emotions about the choice.

  Dalton swallowed hard, struggling to overcome the surge of anger and jealousy that filled him. He’d expected it to happen while she was alone with Kip, but part of him had clung to the hope that she would change her mind, deciding it was too soon. Or decide she wanted Dalton to be her first. He’d known that wasn’t likely, but hearing confirmation hurt him.

  “Are you all right?”

  Her tone was so gentle, but it was her words that had ripped asunder his insides. He cleared his throat, struggling not to sound how he felt. “Not quite.”

  Her body tightened against his, and she eased back slightly so she could look up into his eyes. Dalton knew he would couldn’t hide everything he was feeling, and he hated how she frowned. “Is there something I can do?”

  For a moment, he wanted to tell her she could have sex with him just as she had with Kip, to bring a sense of parity, but he swallowed the words. He had no right to demand sex with her just because she’d taken Kip as her lover. He didn’t want to become lovers with her under those circumstances, where she felt like she was coerced into it, and he was doing it as some territorial mark of ownership to obliterate Kip’s mark on her.

  Swallowing, he sounded almost normal when he said, “No. I’ll be fine. I just need a little time to adjust. Why don’t you go back to sleep?”

  She bit her lower lip, looking indecisive. “I thought you’d want something more than sleep.”

  It was so hard to resist that invitation, but since he wasn’t entirely certain what motivated it, he just shook his head. “I’m tired, and so are you. Let’s just rest for now.”

  With a small sigh, she relaxed against him. She pressed a kiss to his chest, and her words were barely audible when she said, “Thanks for understanding and handling it well, Dalton.”

  He grunted, not really able to answer. Instead, he just clung to her and tried to blot out the thoughts in his mind. He was certain he’d have his turn with her soon enough, and he didn’t want to be thinking about Kip’s hands on her or risk asking her to compare the two of them. It was better to wait until he could focus just on her and forget Kip had come first.

  Chapter Five

  Lex

  He was bursting with excitement as he drove up the long driveway to the Westerlys’ home. His dad had let him have his Christmas gift a few days early, so he was in a sporty MINI Cooper, which gave him more freedom, and would also make it easier to go out with Candace while he was visiting.

  She was standing there waiting for him on the marble steps, so he parked the car as quickly as he could and got out, not even turning off the engine yet. She came to meet him, and he hugged her before kissing her. “I missed you,” he said softly.

  She looked up at him with gentle eyes, appearing vulnerable and definitely not holding back. “I missed you too. I love you, Lex.”

  His heart skipped a beat, and he pulled her closer to kiss her once more. “I love you too. I wanted to say it earlier, but I wasn’t sure you were ready to hear it.”

  She laughed. “I was thinking the same thing, so I didn’t say it. But after not seeing you for several days, I just couldn’t hold it in any longer.”

  He wanted to kiss her again, but he remembered her family was likely watching, so he forced himself to take a step back and leaned down to turn off the car and retrieve the keys. Then he walked around to the trunk, one hand holding hers, and used his other one to maneuver it open and grab his suitcase. He closed it with a click before turning to look at her home. It was perhaps a little bigger than his family’s, but the Sperrys had a sprawling estate in upstate New York, certainly with more grounds.

  He didn’t give it another thought as they walked up the stairs and into the house. She squeezed his fingers as she whispered, “My mom wants to meet you first thing.”

  He nodded, bracing himself. He followed Candace down the hall as she led him by one hand. They turned the corner, and then they entered a small sitting room.

  He was stunned by how much Candace looked like her mom, and when Hannah stood up to come meet him, her visible baby bump made him think about Candace having one just like it in the future. That was years away, but he couldn’t imagine anyone else as the mother of his children.

  Hannah nodded at him. “You must be Lex. Or is this one Jonas?” she asked with a hint of
reproof directed toward Candace.

  Lex winced. “I’m Alexander Sperry, but most people call me Lex, Mrs. Westerly.” He held out his hand, trying to appear confident.

  After a brief second of hesitation, Hannah took his hand and shook it. “It’s nice to meet you. Candace, why don’t you show your guess to his room?”

  Lex wasn’t surprised to find out they wouldn’t be sharing a room, but he was disappointed. “Thank you, and thanks for hosting me for a couple of days, Mrs. Westerly.”

  “I hope you enjoy your stay here. We’ll see you again later, Alexander.”

  “I’d prefer if you call me Lex, ma’am.”

  There was a slight softening in Hannah’s brittle shall, and she gave him what looked like a genuine smile. “Only if you promise to never call me ma’am again, Lex.”

  He laughed. “It’s a deal.”

  She seemed a little warmer as she nodded at them before returning to her chair. Some kind of yarn project sat beside her, and she picked it up and returned it to her lap. He didn’t know what the technique with two long sticks was called, but it seemed to take all her attention. He was glad to have it not focused squarely on him.

  Candace, still holding his hand, led him up the stairs and paused, standing in front of a pale blue door. “This is your room for the duration.” She opened the door and stepped back so he could enter first. After Lex passed her, she said, “Mine is way down the hall. Mom’s definitely going to do her best to keep us from alone time.” Candace closed the door behind her.

  He turned and wagged his brows at her. “We’re alone now,” he said with an exaggerated leer.

  She rolled her eyes, but she giggled. “Yeah, because surely she wouldn’t notice if we’re here alone for that long.”

  Lex was about to press the point when the door opened without someone knocking. A stern-looking man, who could only be Ashton Westerly, stood there. “Door open while you’re in here, kiddo,” he said to Candace. Then he looked at Lex. He sounded perfectly polite, but his eyes were glaring daggers. “Welcome to my home, young man. If you behave inappropriately with my daughter, I’ll send you back to your family in pieces.” With a nod, he carried on down the hall.

  Lex blinked. “Was he joking?”

  Candace shrugged. “I think so.” She scowled. “He called me his daughter.”

  “That’s nice, isn’t it? I mean, you want him to be like your dad, don’t you?”

  Candace shuddered slightly. “Not really. I mean, maybe someday? But it’s kind of too soon for that for me, and then there’s…” She trailed off, looking uncertain.

  “There’s what?” He prompted, his stomach churning with acid since he was sure he knew what she was going to say.

  “Dalton,” she whispered softly. “Getting closer to Ashton just makes that more awkward.”

  After setting his luggage on the bed, he went to Candace and put his arms around her, pulling her closer. “I’m sure they’ll adjust if they find out.”

  She nodded against him. “Maybe I’ll never need to tell them if things crash and burn with him.” She didn’t sound like that was too possible though.

  He wished for that with all his might, but he knew how unhappy she would be if things didn’t work out with Dalton, so he couldn’t bring himself to completely hope Dalton broke her heart, even if it would remove him their relationship. Instead, he just hugged her again. “I think everything will be okay. If not, at least it’s only a few more months until you can be done with school and do what you want.”

  She nodded once more before stepping back, though she kept her arm around his waist. “What do you want to do?”

  Since his first choice was far too risky with the door open, and they had several hours before the concert started, he said, “Why don’t you show me around?”

  Showing him around consisted of a tour of the house, followed by driving the MINI Cooper. They parked in a lot near a pond and a playground, and he quickly discovered the drawback to the tiny car his father had given him. There was absolutely no way they could lie down or really cuddle much.

  They could kiss, but it was awkward, requiring them to turn to face each other. It put a strain on his neck and back and probably did the same for her. After a few minutes, frustration overwhelmed him, and he flopped back in his seat. “I swear, my dad must’ve known the limitations of this car when he gave it to me.”

  Candace leaned back as well, but she seemed a lot more amused. She giggled. “He probably did. I think parents spend way too much of their time trying to figure out how to cockblock us.”

  “Clam jam for you,” said Lex with a laugh.

  She blinked and then blushed, but she was still laughing a moment later, and it bled through her words. “Oh my god, I can’t believe you said that. How did you come up with that?”

  He grinned. “I can’t take credit. I saw it on Instagram.”

  She laughed, reaching for his hand. Holding hands was one of the few things that wasn’t too hard to do in the car, so he clung to hers as they sat there for a few minutes talking.

  It was starting to get cold, so they turned on the engine again and cranked the heater as he backed out of the spot and headed across the park to the exit.

  They just drove for a while before stopping for an early dinner. Then it was time to head back to her place to get ready for the concert, so they parted ways in the hallway outside his room.

  The concert was amazing, but Lex found himself watching Candace’s expression more than looking at the stage. He loved to see the emotions playing across her face, and she was clearly moved in various ways by the music. Usually, the songs had the same effect on him, but tonight, he was more focused on her than the group.

  He spent a lot of the concert holding her hand, but they sometimes danced in place by their seats, or she swayed sensuously to the slower beats. He put his arms around her after he stepped behind her, holding her snug against him with her back cradled to his chest. They stayed like that for the rest of the concert, swaying together lightly, his hands on her stomach, and hers clasped over his.

  When the last song ended, they sat in their seats for a few minutes to allow the crowd to thin, to make it easier to exit the venue. “Are you hungry?”

  She nodded. “The burger we had earlier seems like years ago.”

  “Do you have a curfew?”

  “Midnight,” she said with a grimace.

  He looked at his watch. “We still have about an hour, so we should be able to get something to eat.” There weren’t as many people around now, and it seemed like they could move through the crowds quicker, so he took her hand and stood up from the seats they had dropped into at the end of the performance, leading her from the auditorium and through the crush of people.

  The place was still crowded, but it was definitely better than it would’ve been if they’d tried to leave ten minutes ago. By the time they emerged from the concert hall, they had forty-three minutes left to eat.

  Fortunately, there were several choices, and they were all open late to accommodate spectators from the nearby auditorium. They chose a Thai place that served their food to them in paper boxes with chopsticks. After eating, while discussing the concert, it was time to return to her house.

  Lex was planning how he might sneak down the hallway to slip into her room later that night, practicing the scenario in his mind as they pulled up to her house, got out of his car, and walked inside quietly. He was convinced it could work, and he was about to suggest the idea to her when the light flicked on to their left. Lex groaned softly when he saw Ashton sitting in an armchair. He looked at both of them, and he was an intimidating sight, much as Lex hated to admit it

  Still wearing a severe frown, he asked, “How was the concert?” His tone indicated he didn’t really care, and his gaze remained focused mostly on Lex.

  “It was great,” said Candace, sounding sincere.

  “Yeah, great,” echoed Lex before swallowing.

  “I’m glad you had a
good time. You should both go to your rooms now, so I can turn on the sensors on the second floor.”

  Lex stiffened, and Candace did the same. “What’re you talking about, Ashton?”

  He gave her what might pass for a polite grin, but it looked like pure evil to Lex, as his frustration mounted. “It’s a security feature. If anyone walks down the hall, or leaves their room for any reason, the sensors will go off. That will immediately wake up everyone in the house, and we’ll be able to investigate. We want to make sure everyone’s safe, don’t we?” He gave Lex a cold smile, but it was more genuine when he looked at Candace. “To make sure you’re safe.”

  Lex was frustrated, but he couldn’t even be angry that Ashton was keeping him from visiting Candace. He clearly had good intentions and was trying to protect his stepdaughter. That still stymied Lex’s efforts though, and he found himself in bed, alone, thirty minutes later with pulsing, painful balls, and staring at the ceiling without really seeing it as he tried to relax enough to fall asleep. Alone. With Candace only feet away. It was going to be a long night.

  Chapter Six

  Candace

  It was wonderful to have Lex visiting, but it was impossible to get any privacy. Her mom or Ashton always seemed to be watching them, and it was frustrating. They’d been looking forward to this time, sure they’d have a chance to be alone and spend hours getting familiar with each other’s bodies instead of stolen moments in the darkroom. That seemed less and less likely as the hours ticked past, bringing them closer to when he was due to leave.

  At dinner, Dalton surprised her by suggesting a movie night. “We could pop some popcorn and hang out in the movie room,” he said casually. “What kind of movies do you like, Lex?”

  Lex seemed a little surprised. Dalton had spoken to him occasionally during the visit, but it was obvious things were still a little tense between them. That was what made it so surprising that Dalton had made the overture. “I like just about anything.”