You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

 Chapter 1

Harper

“Nope. No way. Uh uh. This shows waaaay too much skin.” I stare at my reflection in the mirror, glaring at the offending scraps of material I’m currently wearing. The triangle bikini top barely contains my breasts, and when I turn to check out my backside, the bottom half of my butt cheeks are hanging out.

“You look hot,” my best friend Sadie says, her dark eyes sparkling as she clutches her hands together in glee. “Let’s go to the pool!”

Shaking my head, I face her, taking her in. She‘s wearing a two piece that barely covers her, but she’s not as curvy as I am. I envy her smallish boobs and willowy figure. She can get away with anything, including not wearing a bra. If ! didn’t wear a bra?

Tits everywhere.

“I know that look.” Sadie points at my face, where I can feel the scowl already forming. “You’re coming outside with me. No chickening out allowed.”

“I can’t.” I’m already whining, and this isn’t good, especially when I promised Sadie I would actually be social tonight.

We’re hosting a party. Our parents are out of town for the weekend and my twin brother Ryan thought it would be the perfect opportunity to throw an alcohol-soaked bash. He pretty much invited everyone from school to attend.

It doesn’t matter to Ryan that we don’t live in the best neighborhood in town. Or that our old, two-story house is kind of shabby. We have a pool and access to Dad’s liquor stash. To him and his friends, that’s cause for a celebration.

“You can and you will, Sadie says firmly as she grabs hold of my arm and steers me toward my closed bedroom door. I try to resist, but

she’s stronger than she looks. “It’ll be fun. I promise. All the boys will be looking at you.”

She practically croons that last statement, as if it’s supposed to entice me. Guess what?

It doesn’t

Having the boys look at me is a problem. Their attention makes me uneasy. Uncomfortable. Ryan may be my twin, but we are the complete opposites in almost every single way. He’s popular at our private school while I’m not. He attracts all the girls, while guys barely look in my direction. He’s really attractive. I’m really…

Average.

natural gold highlights that become brighter in the sun. It’s my best

thoughts are so

go?” Sadie chirps, pulling me out of

blink at her, surprised to see we‘re standing directly in front of my bedroom

shoulders slump

yet. “I hear Easton is already out

up. “Did

don’t think so.” Sadie smiles brightly and opens my bedroom door. “Come

hall. Down the stairs. Into the kitchen, which is packed with all sorts of people I vaguely recognize

Frustrating

are even more people. Music is playing loudly

Christmas last year. It’s small but powerful, and the heavy base seems to throb in time with my heartbeat. There are so many people in our small pool, I’m not sure how they all fit. Others are crowded around the sides, dipping their feet in the water or sitting in one of the chairs that surrounds the small glass topped table

his court. He’s the most popular boy in our class-in the entire school. He’s gorgeous and

Cluster 1

sits there in a pair of dark blue swim trunks and nothing else, clutching a

Sadie whispers as

sharp cheekbones, it’s all hard lines with those cold, glacier blue eyes, offset

An utterly kissable mouth.

me as I stare at it. His

which is shaped in the perfect cupid’s bow. Those lips are pink and

my gaze away from the perfection that is his mouth and glare at my best friend. “He’s

“But I’m sure once he sees you in that bikini, he’ll be dying to get his hands on

Easton putting those big, rough hands on my body

snorts. “Liar. You’re his best friend’s

never talks to me.” In his world, I’m no one. He’s only interested in blondes, while I have dark hair. Popular girls who demand attention

likes to read. The one who cringes when she’s called on in class, even though she always knows the answer. The nerd. The one

in love