Until now.
Something fractures inside me the longer I hold her.
“I wanted to surprise everyone. It’s why I rented this shitty car instead of having Rodri or Ann pick me up.” She smiles and squeezes me tighter, and my cock responds accordingly. If she notices, she doesn’t give anything away.
“Come on. It’s getting dark. Let’s get you home.”
Pushing away from me, she shakes her head. “I can’t go home right now. I’m too shaken up, and the last thing I want or need is my mom or Ann down my throat.”
“Leah, your brother is expecting me. I can’t not show up.”
I’m a son of a bitch because, despite everything, my eyes are focused on her ass as she walks back toward the wreck and bends under the hood again. The hem of those goddamn shorts slides up just enough to indulge my eyes with the swell of her cheeks. Leah tosses a look over her shoulder and bites her lip. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s doing it purposely to fuck with me.
“I don’t want to keep you. A friend of mine is just about an hour away. Let me use your phone, and I’ll wait for her. You go ahead—”
“The hell I will.”
Leah’s head snaps up, her eyes narrowing as she watches me. “Mikhail, I’ll be fine,” she says, returning to my side and patting the gun at her waist.
My gaze falls to the sliver of smooth skin peeking out from the top of her shorts. I’m so entranced I don’t realize she’s only inches from me now.
“Your phone. Mikhail?”
“You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I’m going to leave you here.”
“What?” Vulnerability and confusion flicker over her expression, but she quickly squares her shoulders. “What’s your problem?” she asks, poking my chest.
“You’re Rod’s little sister. I’m not going to just leave you out here while I go back to your place like nothing.”
Leah crosses her arms and purses her lips. “Mikhail, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not a kid anymore. I can handle myself just fine.” I noticed.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, against my better judgment.
When she smiles, it perturbs me to think that I’m willing to do anything to keep it on her face.
I pull into a parking spot two spaces from the nearest streetlamp, which gives us just the right amount of light versus privacy. Leah unwraps her burger and takes a bite, nodding and voicing her approval through a low moan. To my horror, everything she does elicits a response from below the belt.
“Your sister hires a renowned chef to prepare a buffet of delicious food, yet you insist on eating a greasy burger in a parking lot.”
She laughs. “Ann is always looking for an excuse to eat good food and throw a party. It’s certainly not the last one, so let me enjoy my fucking burger, okay?”
A smile crawls across my mouth, and I lean against the seat, trying to shake whatever the hell this feeling is taking up space inside my chest. There’s no denying my attraction to my best friend’s little sister.
“You’re not eating?” she asks.
“Nah. I’m not hungry.”
Leah touches a hand on my wrist. “I’m sorry I dragged you out here, Mikhail. We can head back as soon as I’m done.”
“I’m not in a hurry,” I reply, silencing the vibration in my pocket. Rodrigo’s missed calls are stacking up. He’s probably wondering where the fuck I am. I don’t want to lie to him, nor do I want to tell him I’m with Leah. I’m enjoying this...whatever this is.
Enjoying her company in a way I never have before.
“How are your brothers and Nikolai? Haven’t heard about them in a while.” “Everyone’s good. Doing their own thing. You know how that goes. And Dad is doing better.” She nods, understanding alight in her eyes.
The Castellanos have never tried to conceal who they are, not even from Leah. Being so close to Rodrigo, she was always in the mix as far as I can remember. We taught her how to shoot, throw punches, properly use a Kukri knife, and parallel park.
The important things.
But there’s nothing left of that girl. She’s someone else.
“And you, Mikhail? How have you been?”
“Good.”
She chuckles. “Such a vague answer. Always a man of few words.” It’s my turn to laugh.
“I am good, though. Business is business. Bought a new place. A couple of cars. Low-profile shit.”
Leah leans over the center console. “And do you have someone waiting for you...at that new place of yours?”
Mindlessly, I lift my thumb to her lip and swipe at a breadcrumb. We lock eyes, and she slowly glides her fleshy mouth back and forth against my skin.
Fuck.
“No, I don’t,” I say, my voice low as I drop my hand.
