“No, I’ve got both my teenagers here to check in.”
“Maybe you should come with them,” the other counselor offers, and I see them elbow each other excitedly.
Bri glances up at me again, and I can see her fighting a laugh. Meanwhile I’m turning the same shade as her tank top and ready to crack some skulls.
“I’m not sure my husband would want to be without me for that long.” She’s being polite when all I want to do is knock these little shits to the ground.
“I don’t see a husband anywhere around here,” the one on the left says, and Bri has to cover her mouth with her hand to keep from busting into giggles.
“Turn around.” My voice is low and menacing as both of the counselors stiffen and slowly turn to face me at the same time.
The one on the right looks at my chest, then his eyes slowly move up, up, up, until he sees my face. He swallows so loud I can hear it, and it’s all I can do not to smack him on his head and send him home to his mommy.
“Are you two in charge?” I ask, and the one on the left shakes his head quickly. He raises his hand and points to a woman with a clipboard next to the bus. “Then why don’t you two get the hell away from my wife and help the guys load the luggage.”
“Yes, sir,” they both say and nearly sprint away from me. It’s the smartest thing they’ve done all day.
“You didn’t have to scare them,” Bri says as she tugs on the bottom of my shirt.
I’m not looking at her because I’m still glaring at those boys' backs.
“Hi, checking in?” the older woman with the clipboard asks us, and thankfully Bri is still sane enough to answer her and give her all the information.
“Who’s in charge of those boys over there?” I raise my chin in their direction but neither of them is brave enough to look my way.
“Wilder.” Bri nudges me, and I swear I think she’s still smirking.
“They’re our counselors in training, so they’re just a step up from our older campers,” Clipboard Lady says. “If you want me to, I can make them walk back to the camp.” Bri and I turn to her in shock and see she’s smirking. “Don’t worry, I’ve got my eye on them, but I think after your order a moment ago, they’ll be too afraid to breathe in your wife's direction.” She pats me on the arm and looks between us. “We’ll see you on Sunday.” With that, she walks over to another set of parents and checks in with them.
“Come on, let's go say goodbye to the kids,” Bri teases as she grabs my hand.
“I wasn’t jealous,” I defend, and Bri nods indulgently.
“Sure thing, big guy.” When she winks, I pull her to me and growl in her ear.
“As soon as we get back home, I’ll show you who the big guy is.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” she whispers back and then licks her lips.
Damn her, my wife is always two steps ahead. Which is fine with me because that means I get to spend my life looking at her ass.
* * *
THE END!
Kissing Her
BY ALEXA RILEY
Bee Armstrong is used to being the ugly duckling in her family. Her sister is the one who gets all the love and affection, including from her parents. She’s learned to deal with being alone, so when a strange man can’t keep his eyes off her, she’s not prepared for what she feels.
Ragnar Black isn’t a decent man. He makes his money illegally and does whatever it takes to get what he wants. One night he’s walking home after a job and sees a girl so beautiful he can’t believe his eyes. He should walk away and not look back, but she calls to him like nothing ever has before.
Warning: Will Ragnar do every dirty thing in the book to his sweet, innocent Bee? Come on, this is us, and we wouldn’t let you down! Find out just how far he’s willing to go to make her his. Spoiler: it’s all the way!
To the ugly duckling waiting for her feathers to change…
You are perfect just as you are.
Chapter 1
BEE
I reach for the glue gun, but my sister Melina grabs it before I can. I pick up the glue stick instead because it will work all the same. When I glance over at her, she has a smug look on her face. I smile because I don’t care. If I fought Melina on everything, it would be all I do. She can have the dang thing. It’s her bridal shower after all. I already burned my finger on it three times and my scrapbook looks terrible and there’s no saving it. It’s a freaking mess, while Melina’s is perfect. This isn’t shocking because everything she does is always perfect. It’s the story of her life. It’s the life everyone at this bridal shower should want—or so I’m told. It’s the life my mom and dad keep insisting is right for me.
This is my first time getting to go to one of these things. You aren’t allowed until you’re eighteen because things might be talking about, things adults think I shouldn’t know, but I know. I might be sheltered, but they can't hide everything. As much as my parents tried, I still heard stuff and saw it on the internet.
For me, I found most of my dirty information in the books I checked out at the library, probably before I really should have known about stuff like that. If my parents knew they’d never have let me go back. They think it’s sweet I spend so much time there, but the reality of it is that I use it to escape. It’s the only way I can ever get away from my family It’s the one place they never question if that’s where I say I’m going.
“You can take the car, Bee. Brandon is picking me up.” I look up from my scrapbook that has way too much lace on it and stare at my sister. Mom and Dad are gone for the weekend. They’re off on some nature retreat with a bunch of people from the church. They’ve been doing that a lot lately and it’s nice to have the house mostly to myself. “And keep your trap shut about it.”
She narrows her bright blue eyes at me and I nod. Everyone always comments on how pretty her eyes are, but I’ve always thought they’re cold as ice. I love my sister, but she’s mean as the devil and vindictive. The ice matches the inside of her and that’s just the way it is.
I don’t know why she’s warning me. I’ve never told on her before, so I don’t know why she thinks I would start now. My only complaint is that she’s going out with Brandon. The guy is a jerk—a jerk who’s going to be my brother-in-law soon and then I’ll never escape him. As mean as my sister can be, I still don’t want her with him. I always reasoned she handled how strict and overbearing my parents are with us with anger and gave her a pass.
“I won’t,” I say and she smirks.
I’ll never understand why she’s always mean to me though. She’s the favorite, prettier, and always gets what she wants. I don’t get why she’s not happy and always trying to take a jab at me. It’s like she’s trying to win some tug of war game I’m not playing.
“Brandon and I need some time alone,” she whispers under her breath for only me to hear.