You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 7

Harper

Thurry inside my room and slam the door behind me, anger exploding in my chest. My brother makes me positively crazy. To insist I cover myself up, at a pool party no less, is just absurd. But to make those demands in front of Easton, who offered me nothing more than a look of disgust, is infuriating

It’s like he didn’t even see me out there, oblivious to my existence.

Nothing more than Ryan’s twin.

Maybe that’s a good thing, he’ll never figure out who I am. But if I ever want to kiss him again, how do I get him to notice me?

I just want that glacier blue stare locked with mine.

The one that makes my entire body scream

| go over to one of my windows, moving the blind aside to peek into the backyard. Unlike the bathroom, it’s not opaque, so I carefully search, finding Easton in the pool. He’s in the shallow end with Ryan, sharing the vodka with him, girls splashing around them.

His lips are wet, his skin dripping.

He’s so ridiculously handsome.

The light in the pool shows the ripples of muscle across his chest, biceps that flex every time he moves, a grin I just want to lick.

My body won’t stop humming.

I recall the feel of his tongue. The caress of his hands. The way he exhaled so seductively over my skin.

A chill runs through me as I stare at him.

“Harper!” I hear Sadie shout from the other side of my door, pulling my attention away from the window. “Harper, it’s me, open up.”

I drop the shade and rush over, turning the lock, opening the door a crack. “Hey.”

I’m breathless and I know who it’s from.

Concern is etched across her face. “Ryan can be such a dick sometimes. Are you all right?”

“Yeah.” I roll my eyes. “I’m just annoyed.”

Her eyes widen. “I don’t want to make you feel worse, but I have news that’s going to.”

My stomach drops. “What?”

you, but I don’t want to tell you,

girlfriend code and all.”

reached through the opening and pull her

…” She looks down at her flip-flops, taking a breath. “Right after you left, Ryan told me

beating and I try to

and Easton wouldn’t give up her

“Why wouldn’t he?”

“He probably thinks I’ll tell someone … like

2

now.” She shrugs.

because Easton doesn’t know it’s me, that’s why he wouldn’t tell Sadie. But, for now, I’m keeping our

my best acting and say, “Ugh,

“In fact, Ryan can’t stand that his friends are giving you attention. A few more pool

bed and hands it to me. “Put

her, my heart not ready to

“Are you sure?”

I nod

too long,” she says and let’s

her and climb on top of my bed, tossing the dress on my

another window near the foot of my

the pool. I push the blind aside, immediately catching sight of Easton. Nothing has changed since the last time I looked, he’s still with my brother, a slew of girls around them, laughter

that he looks even cuter than

wrapping around my hips, lowering to my butt, circling my cheeks, like he’s going to lift me

tingles with

it‘s not from

won’t stop churning in my brain. How his lips had so expertly meshed with mine, how his grasp had slid across my stomach and up my chest, how

are taking

right now.

I can feel him.

Taste him.

Smell him.

And it’s not enough.

I want more.

sinks into

my foot, staring at Easton while I get comfy on my back. I don’t know this sensation. It’s not something

there’s a fire between my

I listen to it.