Series: Peach State Stepbros Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
As he pulls away, his hand sliding down to my chin before he releases, he says, “Since you told me all that, I guess I can tell you what I was thinking while you were on your little date tonight.”
“Yes?” It couldn’t be as weird as what I shared.
“The Peachtree Springs Winter Festival is going on right now, and I was thinking we could go next week. Together.”
“Together?”
“Yeah.”
“Like a date?”
“Yes. How fair is it that someone else gets to take my naughty boy out and I don’t? I want that with you too.”
“Who are you and what have you done with my stepbrother?” I ask playfully.
“Fine. You don’t want to go on a date? No date.”
The sneaky smirk that slides across his face assures me he’s only teasing, but I’m quick to counter with, “No takebacks!”
As is Atlas’s way, he always manages to surprise me, but I need to be sure. “So you’re cool with your friends figuring out you’re hooking up with your stepbro?”
“I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks about it. Brenner and Taylor might’ve even figured it out by now. Plus, don’t you think the guys at Alpha Theta Mu have caught on by now too?”
“Actually, there’s a rumor you’re selling me pot, so people keep hitting me up for some.”
“I thought they said Alpha Theta Mu was full of the brightest, but I guess that’s all PR.”
“Whatever. You’re the one who asked me on our first date.”
“First date? I treated you real good on our first date at Mickey D’s.”
I glare at him. “That wasn’t a real date…as we said then.”
“According to you.”
“That doesn’t count.”
He makes a stern expression. “Come on, T. We have to find a way to agree on things…for Sarah Jessica-Nadine.”
His comment catches me so off guard that I fall back on the bed, laughing my ass off.
Am I really going on a date with Atlas McCallister?
26
Atlas
I’ve never held a guy’s hand before—well, no shit, I’ve never held a guy’s hand since I’ve never been with one other than Troy, but what I mean is, I’ve never held anyone’s hand. In my head that says we’re official, that we’re a couple. That the person you’re with is more than a friend and more than a lay. But as we’re heading toward the entrance of the Winter Festival, I find myself wanting to hold Troy’s. To just grab ahold of him, to slip my fingers between his, hold him tight so everyone knows he’s mine.
And that I’m his, which is fucking crazy that I even want that, to belong to someone, but I do. Being with Troy makes me feel loved, makes me feel important. Even the way he wants my name on him, while that might scare some people off, it makes me want to hold him tighter. I’ve never felt as wanted as I do when I’m with Troy.
“Are you going to win me a stuffed animal?” Troy asks playfully. “Or a goldfish? Don’t they always have goldfish as prizes for some of the games? PETA can’t be cool with that, but a fish isn’t a bad idea. You know, we’ll have some practice before Sarah Jessica-Nadine.”
“Definitely not. Goldfish always die, which means you’ll never trust me with our baby.”
Do it. Just fucking do it. Reach out and take his hand.
It’s incredibly annoying that I’m talking to myself about this, that I’m nervous about it. The man wants to tattoo my name on his body, wants his permanently on mine, and I’m freaking out about holding his hand?
It’s just strange. I’ve never been insecure when it comes to sex, and in some ways, I’m not with Troy either, but the fact that this is more than sex makes my wires get frayed and my thoughts short-circuit.
“I’ll always trust you with everything, A,” he says, his words working their way past the last of my defenses and nerves.
“Aww. Aren’t you sweet? I have my boy on lockdown,” I tease, then reach for his hand and interlace our fingers just like I’d seen in my head. He fits just right in my hold, like maybe this is exactly where he’s supposed to be, only there is no maybe about it. Troy is exactly where he is supposed to be.
His footsteps slow down, and he looks at our hands.
“Is this okay?” Annoying fear claws at me that he’s not going to want it, want me, or maybe he thought he wouldn’t care if people know about us, but now he’s having second thoughts.
When Troy looks up at me, though, a knockout smile on his face that almost makes me stumble, I know we’re good.
“It’s better than okay. This is what I never thought I’d have but what I’ve always wanted.”
I feel his smile land in my chest. “Well, shit. I’m gonna have to do things like this more often. Are you going to reward me with your ass when we get back home?”