Step Brother (13 page)

That contributed to my foul mood.

Reed had dutifully texted me every day, but the details he sent were nearly nonexistent. Apparently, his father had money, and he and Reed were getting along famously. Reed was enchanted with his little brother, and it was like he’d just settled into his new little family without a hitch. Reed kept promising that he’d meet me in Tahoe as planned, but I was starting to have visions of me stuck in a snowstorm with only my father and Tina for company. I hoped the liquor cabinet was well stocked, at the very least.

Hardly able to believe the weeks had passed so quickly, I packed my suitcase for Tahoe. I’d blown way more money than I should have on the most gorgeous lingerie I’d ever owned, and the thought of Reed’s face when he saw me in it made it all worthwhile. Dad and Tina had decided to drive, taking some extra time to enjoy their vacation, and they’d left a few days before. Glad they’d taken the skis, I zipped my suitcase, full to bursting with Christmas presents, snow gear, and trashy underwear.

“So you know you can call me if you need someone to talk you off a ledge, right?” I said to Garrett as he drove me to the airport.

“Yes, honey. You’ve told me that three times already.”

“And you are not going to let your brother or your parents get under your skin, right?”

“Nope. I’m going to be the perfect heterosexual son and brother.”

“You know, Garrett, you act like that’s something that’s out of your control. It’s your choice to lie to your family, you know.”

He dropped his joking tone. “I know. I feel guilty about it, but if I lost the business, I’d never forgive myself. I think I’ll have the note paid off in a couple of years, quicker if I really work at it. As soon as my debt’s paid, I’ll tell them, and if they never want to see me again, that’s their loss.”

“I still think you’re not giving them enough credit. At the end of the day, your parents love you.”

“They love who they think I am, Tatum.” He waved his hand. “We’ve been through all this before. Change of subject. So Reed’s meeting you at the airport in Tahoe?”

“That’s what he says. I’m half afraid he’s not going to make it for some reason.”

“How could he just up and leave his business for so long? Isn’t he gonna have a bunch of people pissed at him for canceling their appointments?”

“You’d think, but apparently Marla can run that place in her sleep, and Reed’s work is so popular that people will still wait for him, even if they’re pissed about the cancellation.”

“Goddamn, it must be nice to have people knocking down your door, begging you to sell them something.”

“Yeah, it’s hard to wrap your head around it, but he’s really talented.”

“So I hear, so I hear. And by the way, when you get back, you’re going to have to sleep at his house, rather than him crashing with you. I need my beauty sleep, and the two of you made way too much noise for that.”

“Oh, shut up, Garrett, you’re full of shit.”

Garrett’s voice was a high-pitched imitation of me. “Oh, Reed, oh, Reed. You’re so big. Do it to me, baby.”

“Shut up. I do not sound like that, not even a little.”

“Whatever. You know I’m just kidding. Reed’s welcome anytime.”

“I’m hoping, after I get my car sorted out, that I’ll be looking for a house in the spring.”

“I’m so proud of you, girl. You landed that job out of a hundred other lawyers.”

“I’m proud of myself. Feels good, too.”

“Well, here we are,” he said, pulling up to the curb. “You have everything?” he asked as he pulled my suitcase out of the trunk.

“Think so. Thanks for the ride.”

“Anytime, honey. Have a merry Christmas, and say hi to your dad and Reed for me.”

“Will do.”

I kissed him on the cheek, checked my bag, and settled in the waiting area as far from the noisy slot machines as I could manage. I checked my phone again, even though I knew Reed would be in the air—if he really was going to make it, that is. His flight was scheduled to land about half an hour before mine, and the plan was for us to share a ride to the house. All I could think about was seeing him, touching him. But I was so worried that he wasn’t going to show.

The flight was uneventful, and as soon as the wheels touched down, I had my phone in hand, waiting for it to find a signal and catch up to the messages I hoped would be waiting.

The first message was from Tina.
House is gorgeous. Can’t wait to see you both.

And the second was from Reed.
Are you wearing underwear?

My heart was racing as I walked down the jetway to the terminal, and as soon as I saw him, I picked up the pace. In no time, I was in his arms, and it occurred to me that it was probably a good thing my dad and Tina weren’t there to witness our reunion. I’d have some explaining to do if they had been.

“Oh my God, it’s so good to see you,” I said, arms around his neck. “It feels like it’s been forever.”

“You’re even more gorgeous than I remembered,” Reed said, bending to kiss me. “So do you?”

“Do I what?”

“Have underwear on?”

I laughed and took his hand as we headed toward baggage claim. “I guess you’re going to have to find out.”

“You can bet your perfect ass I will.”

He’d already gotten his bag, so we waited for mine.

“So, I’ve been dying to hear about your father. It was torture to know you had so much going on and not to be able to talk to you.”

“I’ve been dying to tell you, and I can’t wait to hear about your new job. Is it going well?”

“It is, but you go first. Tell me about your father.”

There was something funny about his expression as he thought about how to begin. “He’s a really cool guy. We hung out a lot—his wife’s estate is amazing. It used to be more of a country house, but the city’s grown so much, it’s a surprise to step outside the building and see people and cars everywhere. It feels like you should be walking out into a desolate moor.”

I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was something he wasn’t telling me. “Okay, so the house is cool. I want to hear what he’s like.”

Reed snaked an arm around me and pulled me toward him. The heat from his touch was electrifying, and I completely forgot about anything except how good it felt to be with him.

“I missed you, Tatum.” He kissed me, longer than he had at the gate, and it was like all of the people in the airport had vanished.

I didn’t care about anything but Reed right then. “I missed you too. I can’t believe how long you were gone. It felt like forever. I was afraid you were never coming home—were going to spend the rest of your life in Spain with topless women.”

He laughed. “I never mentioned the topless women.”

“But there were topless women.”

“Yes, there were,” he said, sliding his hand down to squeeze my ass. “And none of them could hold a candle to you, Tatum. It really was all about spending time with Gordon and his family.”

“Gordon?” I said, pointing out my suitcase as it made its way around the carousel. “So he has a name. Tell me what he’s like.”

Reed pulled my suitcase off the belt, stacked his on top, and we headed for the rental car counter. “He’s really cool. Laid back, smart, funny. He’s really charismatic.”

I was surprised to hear him saying such positive things about a man who’d never wanted anything to do with his son. “Did you talk about why he never tried to contact you?”

“We did. It was a complicated situation, and he really regrets it now.”

We got to the Enterprise counter and while Reed handled the paperwork, I thought about what he’d said and how odd his attitude seemed to be. Something was going on, and I was determined to find out what it was. It seemed to me that feeling bad twenty-something years later for having basically abandoned a kid didn’t exactly make you a good person, and I couldn’t figure out why Reed seemed to have completely let Gordon off the hook.

I figured I had an entire week to sort out the truth, though. I looked out the window at the snow falling—something we didn’t see in the desert. “Did you rent us a sports car?” I asked.

“Hardly,” Reed answered, glaring at the guy across the counter. “I reserved a four-wheel drive, and apparently they’re fresh out.”

“I’m sorry, sir, but there’s really nothing I can do,” the young man behind the counter said, not a trace of real emotion in his corporate-trained voice.

“No problem, kid,” Reed said, standing up straighter and stretching his arms out to his sides, somehow taking up the space of a man twice his size. “I’m sure all the folks in line behind us are patient. I’ll just wait until something opens up.”

I hid a smile, intrigued by Reed’s handling of the situation. He could have ranted and raved, but he didn’t. He was simply going to insist on getting what he wanted. I wanted to fuck him right then and there. I winked at Reed, as he spread his hands flat on the counter and settled in. “I’m in no hurry, sugar. I’m sure they’ll find us a four-wheel drive soon enough.”

The young man eyed us both, looked behind us at the rapidly growing line, and vanished into an office behind the counter. He returned moments later carrying a set of keys. “As it turns out, you’re in luck. A vehicle was just returned that meets your needs. Typically we’d charge significantly more for an Escalade, but we’ll honor the rate you were quoted.”

“That would be lovely.”

The words sounded silly coming out of Reed’s mouth, and I smothered a laugh.

Outside, Reed put the suitcases in the back of the SUV, closed it, and pulled me to him. “Tatum, I can hardly stand it. If it weren’t broad daylight, I’d make love to you right here.”

“Not to mention that it’s like twenty degrees,” I pointed out, pressing my hips up against his. I could feel his erection, and I reached down to rub it through his jeans. “I hope Dad’s taking Tina out for dinner or something tonight. I want you all to myself.”

Reed groaned, and I could feel his cock getting harder.

“You know what I’d like to do?” I asked, tracing his length with my fingertip.

“What?”

“I’d like to put your cock in my mouth. I’d like to make you come in my mouth before you fuck me.”

“God, Tatum, I’m never going to make it to the house if you don’t stop talking like that.” Reed looked around, but there didn’t seem to be anyone heading toward the rental cars next to ours. “Get in the car,” he said, in a tone of voice that brooked no refusal.

We climbed in the front seats, and I was glad to see the windows were tinted pretty dark. I reached over and unzip his jeans, but he’d beaten me to it.

“Unbutton your shirt,” Reed said, slowly stroking his long, hard cock.

I did what he asked, and he reached out and slid his hands inside my shirt, skimming his fingers over my breasts and squeezing my nipple hard, so hard I gasped and felt a rush of arousal.

“Put your mouth on my cock, Tatum,” Reed commanded.

Being told what to do should have bothered me, but it was a turn-on. Knowing that Reed wanted me as much as I did him made me willing to whatever he asked. I leaned over and licked the head, slowly lowering my mouth over him. He was too large to handle entirely, but I forced him as deep down my throat as I could. While I moved up and down on him, he squeezed my nipple, thrusting his hips up to get his cock deeper. I could feel him getting close to coming, and I couldn’t stand it any longer. I absolutely had to feel him inside me.

I looked quickly around, didn’t see anyone, and hiked up my skirt. If we’d been in a vehicle any smaller, it wouldn’t have worked, but I crawled over the console and straddled him, taking his cock deep inside my dripping wet pussy. I rode him, grinding my clit against him and feeling him push deeper and deeper inside me. He pulled my breasts out of my bra and sucked on my nipples while I fucked him, riding faster and faster until I could tell he was going to lose control.

“Come for me,” he said, pulling my hips down, pushing his up and taking me over the edge. I shivered and cried out as I felt my muscles tighten and flood me with euphoria.

“Suck my cock,” he said when I’d finished. “I’m gonna come in your mouth. I want you to swallow my come.”

I was so turned on, I was sure I could have had a second orgasm, but I knew Reed didn’t have a condom on, and I didn’t want to take any chances. I moved onto the console and bent to take him in my mouth again. He was wet from my pussy, and he slid deep into my mouth, the head of his cock making me gag just a little. I used my hand at the base of his cock, and he reached orgasm in seconds, filling my mouth and making me want him again.

I swallowed as I sat up, and he looked at me, my clothes all a mess, tits hanging out.

“Guess that answers the question,” he said, reaching out to tuck me back into my bra.

“Question?”

“You are most definitely not wearing underwear.”

Tatum pulled up the directions on her phone, and I got us on the road. The car smelled like sex, but I didn’t really care. I just knew I wanted more of the woman sitting in the passenger seat. I’d been so busy with my father and the traveling we’d done that I hadn’t realized just how much I’d missed Tatum until I saw her at the airport. She was simply intoxicating.

I was worried, though, about how she’d react to the truth about my father. Even though he lived in London for part of the year, he still toured with the band and was crazy popular with the press. I had to tell her, but I just wasn’t sure how to do it.

“Soooo…” I drawled, once we were heading in the right direction. “Are we gonna tell our parents, or are we gonna sneak around?”

“Wow, I hadn’t even thought about coming right out and telling them. I was just going to wait until they’d gone to bed and slip in and join you. What do you think?”

“I think they’ll be surprised, that’s for sure. I think it may worry your dad, if he is going to run for office, and I think my mother may be a little jealous. She’s so excited about fixing our relationship that she may not want to think about the fact that I’m really here to see you, rather than her.”

“Hm. I figured we’d just keep it under wraps until after the holidays.”

I had to confess, the fact that Tatum wanted to keep our relationship a secret bothered me a little. I didn’t say anything.