“Come here.” His voice is unusually gentle as Gavin takes my hand and pulls me toward him, around the table. I don’t know why I let him. He’s my asshole stepbrother, but right now I just want comfort, and he’s offering it. Drawing me right into his lap, he wraps his arms around me and holds me close. No teasing. No bullying. Just holding.
“I’m still mad at you, you know,” I tell him between sniffles. Wait a minute. I look up at him through itchy, watery eyes. “Why were you even there? Why’d you beat him up?”
Gavin laughs, and I can feel the rumble in his chest. “I know Paul. I know what kind of shit he’s up to. I just didn’t know he was your Paul until the other night.” He wrinkles his nose. “You have shitty taste in guys, babe.”
That’s totally what I want to hear. I push off him. “Thanks for reminding me. You’re so right.”
“You little brat,” he laughs. Instead of letting me go, he pulls me closer. I try to get away, but he’s too strong.
I drop back into his lap with grunt. “Let me up, you bully.”
He only laughs at me. “Guilty as charged. I could punch guys in the face for you all night long. Just line them up for me.”
I don’t even know if that’s sweet or just disturbing. “You’re a psycho.”
“I do what’s necessary. I only meant to tell him to back off. He’s the one who jumped me when I asked about you. No idea what he was thinking.” He arches an eyebrow. “Must’ve been the fucking coke.”
Jesus. “You didn’t consider something crazy, like calling the cops? Or telling me? Rather than beating the shit out of him? Sorry, that’s psycho reasoning.”
“Told ya, he threw the first punch. I was just gonna warn him.” He shrugs. “And tell him not to bother showing up, of course.”
“Of course.” Part of me really enjoys sitting here in his lap, much as I hate to admit it. He’s nice and warm, his strong arms wrapped protectively around me. On the other hand, he’s Gavin. “Are you going to let me up?”
“Nah.”
“Excuse me?” I look at him incredulously, daring him to repeat that.
“Nope. For once we aren’t arguing, and I like you right here. Your sexy little body rubbing against me, your sexy round ass grinding against my cock.” Even as he says it, I feel his bulge swelling under me. “The fact that I can look right down your shirt.”
Pulling the top of my shirt close to my body, I struggle against him. “Let. Me. Go!”
Surprisingly, he lets me up. “Fine. But you’re missing out.”
“I’m sure you can find someone to take care of you. That’s what guys do, isn’t it?” I glare at him. “You know, fuck around.”
“We aren’t all Paul, babe.” For a second his face softens. “Look, I’m sorry if something I said pissed you off, but I’m not sorry for fucking up Paul, and I’m not sorry he isn’t the one here right now.”
That was a sideways sort of non-apology, but it was more than I’d expected, and given the situation, I’d take it. “Yeah, well. I’m sorry if maybe I might have overreacted. You might not be quite as vile as I implied.”
“Oh, Sis, I knew you cared. Just save some of that love for dinner tonight. ‘Cause we’re gonna have to be all romantic and lovey dovey and shit. Unless you want to get put on land at the nearest port for sneaking aboard.”
He shrugs, like he couldn’t care less what happens. Which he probably doesn’t, because he could charter a jet to go home and leave me to hitchhike if he wanted. But he wouldn’t. I want to hate him, but I can’t, not anymore. ‘Like’ might be too strong a word, but... tingles.
I sigh. “Yeah, I’ll be there. I’ll even pretend to not be repulsed by you.”
“Aww, I can’t wait.” Leaning back with his hands behind his head, he smiles broadly at me. “I expect a lot of making out, babe.”
“I’m sure you do,” I say sweetly. “But you know, with my chastity vows and all, we’re going to have to keep things decent until we’re actually married.” I blink at him innocently. “I’d hate to go back on my vows now that we’re so close.”
He actually laughs out loud. “We’ll see, babe. We’ll see.”
I turn to leave, then stop again. “Thanks.”
Sitting up, he give me a confused look. “For what?”
“For kicking Paul’s ass. You’re a Neanderthal, but nobody’s ever done something like that for me, so... thanks.” I shrug. “You’re almost acting like a real big brother, or something.”