Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Vale

I’m in the driver’s side of a car, the seat reclined all the way back so I can’t be seen from the road. I watch Lula exit the house across the street carrying a pillow and sleeping bag, a backpack slung over one shoulder. A low, animal growl leaves my mouth at the sight of my delicious stepsister, her soft skin glowing in the morning light. It takes every ounce of self-control not to throw open the door of this car—which I broke into with ease—and storm across the street to demand to know why she locked me out last night.

Yeah right. If I do that, I’ll end up buried in her pussy in broad daylight.

Right there on the sidewalk. However I can get it. Get her.

Aware that I’m sucking in ratting breaths, I drag a hand down my face and order myself to rein in the hunger. The obsession that has grown into something uncontrollable literally overnight. I returned to my bedroom last night after the movie and forced myself to take some time and get my possessiveness under control. After damn near fucking her on the couch, I was almost unhinged with purpose.

I’m not leaving this house without her. Not going to Coronado unless she’s at my side.

I’m going to be what she needs at all times. Going to take care of her. I wanted to hold her down last night and demand promises. I wanted inside of her so I can start working on getting her pregnant and locked down before someone steals her from me.

What man worth a damn wouldn’t try?

She’s a fucking light in the darkness, so sweet and compassionate and understanding. She’s got an adorable sense of humor. She’s astute. Smart. Knows what she wants out of her future. And Christ, that body. My dick is standing straight up already just watching those titties shake inside her tank top. The palms of my hands itch like crazy to grip those wide hips, hold her steady while I rock deep, my stomach slapping up against the perfection of her ass. Goddamn, I’m going to make myself come thinking about being inside of her for the first time. Going to get my sperm so deep, it’ll take a week for a single drop to escape.

A car pulls up at the curb near Lula and I reach for the gun at my hip, adrenaline firing on all cylinders, making every hair on my body stand up. I relax slightly when my stepsister smiles and waves at whoever is in the vehicle. They park and get out. Robotically, I register their facial features like I was trained, noting that one of them is blonde, tall, fair-skinned while the other has dark hair in a bun, a sepia complexion and two eyebrow piercings. That’s all it takes.

Two seconds with my eyes off Lula and I’m starved for the sight of her.

The friends are forgotten as I zero in on her, watching with rapt attention as she loads her things into the back of her friend’s car, chatting happily about how great the weather is for camping. Once she’s finished putting her things in the trunk, she glances back at the house. Hesitates. It’s wishful thinking that she’s hoping to see me before leaving, right? Obviously I scared the living hell out of her last night. I went way too far too soon. For godsakes, she only met me in person for the first time yesterday and there I was, humping her like a beast and explaining that I’ll be her Daddy going forward. No wonder she locked the doors.

I need to be more artful. More patient with her. She’s a virgin. Inexperienced.

If she knew how high this inferno inside me has already built, she would probably never come home from camping. She’d take her chances among the bears.

I’m not taking any chances with her surrounded by wildlife, however. As soon as Lula gets into the backseat and her friend pulls away, I follow. I keep an inconspicuous distance for hours, even allowing other cars to get between us, reasoning that I know the name of the campsite and I won’t lose her. I know exactly where Lula is going to be—and I plan on knowing her location at all times in the future.

Yeah, there’s no way to douse this fire she’s lit in me. I’m going to have her, damn the consequences. She’s mine. She’s fucking mine and no one is going to take her away from me.

I covet this responsibility to follow her on the camping trip and keep her safe. The privilege of being her man, her protector, is like air in my lungs. I’m not sure how we’re going to deal with my parents, the military brass or the press, but whatever their reaction, being with Lula is worth it. By a damn sight. Bring it on. I’ve never needed anyone or anything so much in my life.

Mine she’s mine she’s mine.

After a long stretch of driving up a winding, mountain road, the car carrying my stepsister pulls off into a parking lot. I drive past just to be safe and circle back, driving into the lot behind them a few minutes later. Parking at the opposite end and watching them unload supplies from the trunk, wishing I could carry Lula’s load. God, I would give anything to be the one going camping with her. The wilderness is a perfect setting for the animalistic things I want to do to her.

Eventually they start hiking down a path in the direction of the apparent campsite—and I follow, keeping to the trees, moving without a sound. Inhaling her incense scent from the air and dragging it into my lungs greedily. I’m still hard as a rock in my jeans. So stiff it’s painful. But I refuse to stop long enough to jack myself off. I’ve come on Lula’s perfect skin. Now anything else will be inferior and I’ll be hard again in seconds. There’s no point.

They stop ahead and begin pitching their tent, organizing chairs around a stone ring. They’ve picked a nice spot with a bubbling stream not too far away and a dense canopy of trees that give them ample shade—and allow me to easily remain unseen. I perform a silent perimeter check of the area to make sure there are no recent animal tracks or venomous creatures that might sink their teeth into my Lula. Once I’m satisfied that she’s safe, I rest a forearm on the trunk of a redwood and listen to their conversation.

“I’m seriously considering quitting this whole dating business,” says the blonde one. The back of her nylon chair is embroidered with the name Jess, so the other girl must be Santana. “The guy I went out with the other night was a disaster. Word to the wise, if he’s asking for anal after one date, run for the freaking hills.”

“No. He didn’t,” Santana groans, leaning forward. “Did you do it, though?”

There’s a long pause, then Jess says. “Yeah, it might have slipped in.”

The three girls erupt into laughter, but I can see my stepsister is shifting uncomfortably in her seat, playing with the beads on her bracelet. If I was within reaching distance, I would have already pulled her into my lap. “How did it feel? Weird or good?”

“Oh, definitely weird,” Jess laughs. “It’s kind of like…satisfying, I guess? Guys are so turned on by it, they only last like, two seconds.”

“It’s kind of flattering,” Santana pipes in, sipping from a mug.

“Why do they like it so much?” asks Lula.

Jess shrugs. “It’s just tighter.” She gives Lula a sly look. “Although you’re still hanging on to your virginity, so you’re probably tight no matter what.”

“Lucky me,” Lula responds with a smile. “Is that, like…really important to a guy?”

“Depends on the size of his you know what,” Santana answers, nodding sagely.

Any other time, I would probably be pretty amused by this conversation. It’s obvious that teenage boys are just as clueless as they always were—not that Lula will ever have to worry about that. It’s also obvious that these girls have a lot of affection for my stepsister. She’s obviously innocent as hell, but they don’t seem to be judging her halting questions.

“Why are you asking, Lula?” Jess asks, leaning over the elbow Lula. “You never ask us about sex. Do you have someone specific in mind?”

Lula picks up her own mug and takes a hasty sip. “What? No. I’m…no.”

Santana perks up. “That wasn’t very convincing.”

“Yeah,” Jess agrees. “You’ve got your stepbrother staying with you now after all.”

Lula’s cheeks turn pink. “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean…” Jess draws out. “Did he introduce you to a hot Navy SEAL friend or something?”

“Oh,” breathes my stepsister, understanding dawning. “No, he…he didn’t. Introduce me to anyone.”

Goddamn right I didn’t.

If that ever happens, check on hell, because it’s frozen the fuck over.

“It’s only Vale staying at the house. No friends. Nothing l-like that.” She’s back to fidgeting and it’s like I can read her mind. She’s thinking of my finger pumping into her cunt, my tongue sweeping the sweet cavern of her mouth—and God, now I’m not just hard, I’m dripping. “I’m only asking about sex, because…well, if there’s ever an opportunity, I want to be prepared.”

“I’m not buying it!” Jess says, jabbing a finger toward the sky. “Come clean, girl. Who are you thinking of blowing?”

“Nobody!” Lula insists. A pause ensues. Then, “But if I was…what would you consider the proper technique?”

Santana and Jessa throw up their hands in victory. “Knew it!” crows Santana. “Hey, listen carefully. You need to worry less about your blow job technique and more about his cunnilingus skills.”

Lula nods, wide eyed. But her head slowly starts to shake. “Yeah, I don’t know about that. I don’t think I would like it.”

Jess chokes on her drink. “What? Why do you think that?”

“I think I would just be self-conscious, you know?” She laughs, as if trying to make light of the statement. “My mother is always saying men don’t like…the extra weight. On a girl.”

I almost blow my cover right then and there.

Almost march down and demand Lula get on her back, so I can devour her like it’s a pie-eating contest and she’s strawberry-rhubarb. How can this girl not realize she’s a smoke show? She’s insecure about her weight? I’ve never had a type, but as soon as I saw Lula, my type became her. Exactly what she is. If that’s heavier than whatever people deem normal, then this is how I want her to stay. My favorite things about her body are its softness and resilience and mouthwatering curves. My fingers are fucking miserable without touching her.

“Lula,” Jess says hesitantly. “If I man doesn’t think you’re sexy, he’s an idiot.”

“And dead wrong.” Santana adds.

“Thanks, guys,” Lula says, splitting a smile between her friends.

It’s slightly stiff, though, as if she’s not totally convinced.

Her friends seem to notice she’s uncomfortable talking about her body, trading a look with each other, before Jess says, “Let’s break out the s’mores and talk about blow jobs.”

Subject changed, they start rooting through supplies for marshmallows and chocolate.

But my mind is stuck in one place.

That pussy.

Burning her self-consciousness to the ground.

As soon as she gets home, I’m going to put my tongue to work.

That’s what I should have done last night, instead of grinding on her ass cheeks. I was just in such a frenzy at the time, I wasn’t thinking straight. Next time, I’m going to spread those legs apart and lick until she realizes she’s a goddamn bombshell.

For the next hour, I groan into my fist, watching her lick melted marshmallow from her fingers. I swore I wasn’t going to beat off, but she makes it nearly impossible just by being Lula. By being mine. Her sweet laughter drifts up through the trees and starts my heart thundering in my chest. I’m full of her, head to toe. Consumed.

So when she excuses herself to go wash off at the stream, of course I follow.

Keeping to the shadows. Licking my lips. Starving for the taste of her.

Will I make it through today and tonight without coming out of hiding to touch her?

I know I should. This level of obsession could terrify Lula. Put her out of my reach.

I’m stalking her—there’s no other word for it.

But when she strips out of her clothes, my will rapidly begins to deteriorate…