Playing for Keeps(41)

 

The warmth of her delicate hand is shattering my self-control. I know this should feel weird and wrong, but it doesn’t. Not at all. I hate that it doesn’t. I need to put a stop to this, but apparently I suck at saying no to her.

 

I dare a glance down at Becca, and she’s looking at me in wonder. “Oh, it’s, um . . .” She lets out a nervous chuckle, her hand still gingerly wrapped around me. “It’s getting harder.”

 

I release a slow exhale, pressing the heel of my palm to my forehead. “Yeah, there’s a woman touching it, in case you didn’t notice.”

 

“Oh, right.” She drops me immediately and holds up both hands, her palms facing me. “Sorry. I’m done now.”

 

I tug up my shorts and tuck my now fully erect dick behind the waistband. Just fucking fantastic.

 

I pull back the sheet on my bed and gesture for her to climb in. When she does, I pull the blankets up over her, tucking her in securely like my mom used to do to me when I was little.

 

“Get some sleep.” I turn off the lamp beside my bed, leaving only a small sliver of light peeking in under the door from the hallway.

 

As I make my way to the door, she yawns and then whispers, “Thanks, Owen. You’re the best. That didn’t even freak me out, so I think you definitely helped me.”

 

My heart squeezes again, and I nod in her direction. “Good night, angel.”

 

Outside in the hall, I close the door to my bedroom and lean up against it. My head falls back with a thud, and I close my eyes.

 

Fucking hell.

 

I can’t believe that just happened. I can’t believe I let that happen. I can’t believe how fucking good her hand felt. Fuck.

 

Voices come from Justin’s bedroom, and I realize that he and Elise are talking. The door is open, so I stop as I walk past, leaning against the door frame to peer in at them.

 

“Hey,” I say softly.

 

Elise looks at me and apparently reads something in my expression. “What’s wrong? Is Becca okay?”

 

Define okay? I rake one hand through my hair and blow out a sigh. “Can I talk to you?”

 

“Sure,” my younger sister says, her voice a little uneasy like she already knows something’s wrong. She’s too damn perceptive for her own good.

 

She follows me out into the hall but I keep going, heading toward the media room, which thankfully is now empty. I doubt Becca would want anyone to overhear this conversation, and I intend to make sure we have privacy. We enter, and I take a seat on the couch while Elise remains standing.

 

I search for the right words to say as she looks down at me expectantly.

 

So, Becca just touched my dick . . .

 

Yeah, that’s not going to work.

 

“What happened? You’re freaking me out,” Elise snaps.

 

Stalling, I lick my lips, still in complete shock about what just happened in my room. God, I can still feel the warmth of Becca’s hand if I close my eyes.

 

“If you touched her, Owen, so help me God . . .” Elise plants one hand firmly on her hip.

 

“I didn’t touch her,” I croak out, shaking my head.

 

“Then what happened?”

 

“She wanted to . . .” I swallow. Nope. Can’t say that either. “She touched me—but just for a second.” Well, ten to be exact.

 

Elise lets out a noise of angry surprise. “What the hell? Why would you let her do that?”

 

“I know. Fuck. I shouldn’t have. But she said something about not wanting to be afraid anymore, and that she trusts me.”

 

Elise frowns and then sighs. “Oh, Becca.”

 

“It’ll be okay. Hopefully, she won’t remember any of this tomorrow.”

 

At least, that’s what I’m banking on.