I was shutting down my laptop when I heard the lock turn on the apartment door. I looked up to see Drew enter, his backpack already sliding off his arm.
He let it drop near the door before heading over to the couch and plopping himself down next to me. His body seemed heavier than usual, and I guessed he was probably just as worn out as I was.
“I’m glad you’re home,” I said, already snuggling against him. I moved my hand to his chest and began tracing imaginary designs over his pecs and down the center of his stomach.
He let his head drop back against the top of the couch, and he closed his eyes gently. “I’m glad I’m home too.” He moved his fingertips over the exposed skin of my arm as I continued to rub his torso lightly.
Both of us had goose bumps now, and I couldn’t take my eyes off Drew’s lap, where a bulge was forming inside his jeans. How long would it be before I got to touch it? Or even better…
I’d imagined plenty of times what that would feel like alone in my room with the door shut. I’d imagined my fingers were his, and I’d brought myself over the top with such intensity, I knew the real thing would be nothing short of amazing.
I’m not sure when my inhibitions left me, but before I could stop myself, I was kissing his neck, feeling his abs tense at my touch as I moved my hand toward that magical area, and when I reached it, I grazed my hand over it lightly.
He flexed his hips up and stifled a groan.
I loved seeing him like this, all vulnerable and needy. And I was just as turned on.
When he moved his fingers to the waistband of my thin cotton joggers and tugged them down enough to let his fingertips flutter over the sensitive skin just above the edge of my thong, I wanted to beg him for more. I needed him to rid me of the emptiness.
We roamed our hands over each other’s bodies enough to thoroughly turn each other on but not nearly enough to push us over the edge. It was some sort of sexual game that I simultaneously loved and hated.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I moved to straddle him, letting my weight settle directly on his lap where he was straining against his pants.
As I moved over him, he worked his hands over my hips to create a rhythm that worked for both of us, I knew this would get me there. I’d want more eventually, but for right now, this was enough.
Wrapped up in this new sensation between us, neither of us said anything. We were all heavy breaths and low moans.
I nestled my head into the crook of his neck as I felt myself climb steadily toward what I hoped would be the most satisfying orgasm I’d had in a long time.
But I didn’t quite get there before Drew held me in place. I tried to squirm, feeling the female version of blue balls start to creep up on me.
“I gotta tell you something,” he said.
It sounded serious, but so was my need, which felt more urgent than whatever Drew was going to talk about.
“Can we talk after we finish?” I hadn’t been that forward with a guy before, but Drew was different. Living together had forced us to get closer than we would have otherwise. The emotional connection was there. We were only missing the physical. And God, was I missing it.
“I’m not sure you’ll want anything to do with me after I tell you this.”
The seriousness of his voice had me climbing off him and settling in on the couch for whatever it was he had to tell me.
Drew sat up taller, rubbing his hands over his thighs nervously before finally looking at me.
“Just come out with it,” I said.
A few more seconds passed, and I wondered what it was that was such a big deal he had to tell me at such an inconvenient time but also couldn’t bear to reveal it. I honestly couldn’t come up with anything.
“I told Carter.”
“Told Carter what?”
“About us,” he answered quickly.
Did he mean what I thought he meant? His expression said yes, but I prayed he must’ve meant something else because why the hell would Drew tell anyone that we aren’t siblings? That meant he wasn’t who he said he was either. It was detrimental to both of our goals.
“What about us exactly?”
“That we have a thing going on.” He gestured between us. “Whatever this is. And that you’re not my sister. I’m not Brody Mason. Everything.”
He looked like he was physically afraid of what I might do to him after he said it. His expression made me more conscious of my own, because while there was absolutely some anger in every bone of my body right now, the predominant emotion I felt was disappointment. At what, I wasn’t exactly certain.
Sure, I was disappointed that our secret was out, and if Carter leaked it to anyone, it would jeopardize any chance I’d have at becoming president, but Drew’s big mouth also meant it wouldn’t be long before his college boy gig was up.
Brody would have to come back to the States—my parents would hire an international hitman if he didn’t—and they’d probably force me to move back home and attend a college I could easily commute to. And that was how Drew’s and my journey would end—crash and burn it would be.
Maybe that was the crux of my emotion. I knew this thing with Drew had a shelf life, but I didn’t think it would expire before we’d even gotten a chance to taste it.
“I’m sorry, Soph,” he said quietly. “He seemed sure that it was us kissing that night.”
“But he didn’t know it was us. The only other person who knew for sure was Taylor.”
“I know I fucked up, but I felt bad lying to him. Carter’s been a good friend, and I started to feel guilty—”
“Do you feel better now?” We both knew what his answer was going to be, so I didn’t wait for him to respond. “Ugh, this is so messed up.” Rubbing my hands over my face, I tried to think of the best possible outcome. I’d already considered the worst.
But maybe Carter wouldn’t tell anyone. I didn’t think he would share what he learned intentionally with anyone, but it was Carter, for Christ’s sake. He wasn’t exactly the most cautious person I’d ever met. And this was college. He’d get drunk and tell one person he trusted or slip up and tell a roomful of people without thinking.
And now I was back to thinking the worst.
“There’s no way Carter can keep this secret. He’s going to tell someone. It’s just a matter of when.”
I hoped it would at least be after the auction when I’d had a chance to prove my ability as sorority president and Drew had an opportunity to finish out the semester.
“I don’t know. He swore he wouldn’t. I trust him.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust him. But it’s Carter,” I said, as if that were an explanation in and of itself. It really should’ve been. “He’s so impulsive. There’s no telling what he’ll do.”
Shaking his head, Drew barked out a sharp laugh. “You’re right about that. I definitely didn’t expect him to kiss me in front of the library earlier.”
What the… “I’m sorry?” I said, my attention shifting from one subject to a much more interesting one. “Carter kissed you? Like kissed you kissed you?”
Drew nodded slowly, like the memory of it caused him some sort of lasting trauma. “If we’re being technical, I actually kissed him.”