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?”

want to tell you,

girlfriend code and all.”

and pull her into my room. “Spill

breath. “Right after you left, Ryan told me he caught Easton with

I try to keep my face from

and Easton wouldn’t

“Why wouldn’t he?”

“He probably thinks I’ll tell

2

now.” She shrugs.

that’s why he wouldn’t tell Sadie. But, for now, I’m keeping our make out a secret from

say, “Ugh, I’m bummed he was with

Ryan can’t stand that his friends are giving you attention. A

to me. “Put

to return to the backyard. “I’ll meet

“Are you sure?”

I nod

long,” she says and let’s herself

and climb on top of my bed, tossing

foot of my mattress, this

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 filling their

that he looks

still feels like his hands are on it, those fingers wrapping around my

skin tingles

the breathlessness, I know it‘s

how his grasp had slid across my stomach and up my chest,

that are

right now.

I can feel him.

Taste him.

Smell him.

And it’s not enough.

I want more.

sinks into a pillow, and

my back. I don’t know this sensation. It’s not something that’s ever

there’s a fire between my legs, a need

I listen to it.