Hard Tackle (A Stepbrother Warriors Novel) by Celia Loren Read Free Book Online Page A

surprised by the buzz of extra sensation that spreads
from all the newly exposed skin. I splash some water down there, wondering
briefly how I know if I smell good, and turn off the water.
    In the bathroom mirror, I examine
my body as I dry off. I worriedly run my hand over my stomach for a moment, and
then shrug. Jack's already seen almost all of me already, so it's not like
there will be much of a surprise. As I head into the bedroom, I wish for a
moment I had some nicer clothes to put on, but again, he's already expressed
definite interest, so it's not like I have to impress him or anything, right?
    I pull on my underwear and some old
cotton pajamas, then cover up with a long-sleeved denim shirt. I turn off the
lights in my room and close the door after me as I head into the hall. I think
my mom and Ray are asleep, but I want to make it look like I am too, in case
anyone comes to check on me. I walk down the hallway, passing the foyer and
stopping at the stairs up to the third floor, where Jack's bedroom is. I rarely
go up to the third floor of the house, considering it to be Jack's territory,
and I've never even been inside his bedroom, though I did glance inside it
during my first tour of the mansion.
    I place my right foot on the first
step and slowly ascend. The interior decorating choices on this floor are
lighter, more airy, lending it a feeling of existing in the clouds even though
the hallway is on the leeward side, without views of the ocean. I pass a casual
sitting room and stop in front of the next door, Jack's bedroom.
    My palms begin to sweat and my
heartbeat jumps in my chest. What seemed so possible and even reasonable in my
bedroom now seems frightening in this dark hallway. I look down and study my
toes, wiggling them against the cold marble. I'm not committing to anything
by just knocking , I remind myself. I can always back out.
    I raise my hand and softly knock. I
wait, but can't hear anything from the other side of the door. Maybe he's
asleep. Maybe he didn't mean tonight. I hesitate, then raise my hand to knock
one more time. The door swings open and I yank my arm down.
    "Um, hi. I hope I didn't wake
you up," I stammer, my mouth suddenly dry as I look up into Jack's face,
his body silhouetted against the soft light from somewhere in the room behind
him.
    "Nope," he says, and
pushes the door open, keeping his hand on it as he gestures me inside with the
other. Our height difference is such that I don't even have to duck as I pass
through into his bedroom. I glance around, fidgeting with the hem of my
button-down. It's more of a suite than a bedroom, and it makes my room look
tiny.
    I hear the door shut and turn
around. Jack's walking toward me with an expression on his face that makes my
knees weak. I take an instinctive step back and hold up my hand.
    "Wait. Some business
first."
    "Business?" he asks,
looking amused.
    "Business," I repeat.
"Condoms. Always."
    "Agreed," he replies
gamely.
    "We can both sleep with other
people, but we have to use protection then, too."
    "Agreed," he says again,
though he begins to walk toward me. I lose my train of thought as he takes the
bottom of his white t-shirt and whips it off over his head, tossing it onto a
beige armchair as he passes it.
    "And one last…one last
thing…" I trail off as he wraps his arms around me and picks me up off my
feet. Our eyes are suddenly level as I feel my feet dangle in the air. My
breasts pillow against his pecs and I can feel our hearts beating against each
other's.
    "It can wait," he
murmurs, his lips millimeters from mine. I don't have time to breathe before
his mouth is on mine. I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his
waist as my entire body responds to his touch. My lips open as his tongue
presses against mine, his hands spreading across my back and then reaching up
into my hair. I feel him begin to walk and then he gently lays me back against
his bed. He's still on top of me, but making sure not to put all his