Free Tease: A Stepbrother Romance by Veronica Daye Page A

phone and flipped through the pictures Jagger had sent me, then sent him a text.

    Sierra: We’re bring home dinner.
    Jagger: What about your hot date?
    Sierra: I think he wants dancing lessons.
    Jagger: Does this mean you’re not mad at me anymore?
    Sierra: I’m always mad at you. I hate you, remember?
    Jagger: I hate you too.

    ***

    After the three of us ate dinner in the kitchen, I went to the loft to read. Jagger and Simon stayed downstairs in the family room while Jagger gave Simon tips on women. At one point, I heard the song from Jagger’s video come on and I broke into a laughing fit as I imagined what was going on. With any luck, Jagger would help Simon get Issy’s attention.
    At the end of the night, Simon called up to me. I stood at the balcony and waved good-bye to him.
    “Looks like he’s a little more confident now,” I said as Jagger came upstairs.
    “I taught him a few things.”
    He put his hands on either side of me on the railing, locking me in. I looked up, and my breath caught as I gazed into his eyes. His face came close to mine and our lips touched, first delicately, then more demandingly. He bit my bottom lip before his tongue slipped into my mouth, then he pulled away.
    “Did you teach him that?”
    “There are some things you can’t teach.” He kissed my lips then entered the loft and put the TV on.
    He was acting aloof, and I could tell he wasn’t sure what to think. Part of me thought I should just leave him alone and let things be, but I didn’t want to listen to that part.
    “I’m surprised you’re not out with one of your friends,” I said.
    “I didn’t want to go out.” He was silent for a moment as his jaw clenched. “I’ll leave you alone.” He started walking towards the bedrooms.
    “No, wait. You don’t have to leave.”
    “You sure? Because you’re confusing the shit out of me.”
    “I know. I’m sorry.”
    “I understand how you feel about my enlisting. Trust me, all I’ve gotten is grief about it from everyone. But I’m going.”
    “I know, and I’m sorry. You’re going to boot camp in a couple of weeks and all I’ve done is make your time here pretty crappy.”
    “No, not at all. Being here with you, even when you’re hating me, has been great. All these years I thought I knew you, but I didn’t. I’m glad that changed. I know I only have a couple of weeks left before I go away, but there’s nothing more that I want than to spend that time with you.”
    Taking my hand, he led me to the couch. He pushed my hair back over my shoulder then stroked my cheek.
    “Can we forget about all the bad stuff and start over?”
    “It doesn’t change the fact that I’m leaving. You know I don’t want anything serious.”
    “I don’t either,” I lied. “I don’t want to get attached to you knowing that you’re leaving. Especially for the Navy. What if something–“
    “Shh, don’t say that,” he said.
    “Okay then. Let’s make the most of these two weeks and forget about what happens after. Like I said last night, we won’t think about it.”
    He looked away and was quiet before he started shaking his head.
    “No, I know you can’t do that. And I don’t know that I want to.”
    “I can do it if you can,” I said.
    He sat back and pulled me close to him as he stroked my hair. I listened to his heartbeat as I waited for his answer.
    “Okay, so for the rest of the time I’m here, there won’t be any talk about how much time is left or where I’m going. Is there anything else off limits?”
    “Nothing I can think of,” I said.
    “So I can tell you how hard you make me or how badly I want to lick you until you come and that’s alright?”
    My cheeks burned. I kept my face down, not wanting him to see the effect he had on me.
    “Well, if that’s what you want to talk about, I guess I’ll just have to let you.”
    “Maybe later, after our movie,” he said as he pointed to the TV.
    On the screen, Woody Allen was talking about the end