I flushed scarlet. “Twenty-two.”
Andrew nodded. “Then it’s about time for you to start learning what it’s like to be on your own. I don’t know why Dad and Carissa treat you like you’re still a kid, but you can’t keep letting them. You have to act like an adult and demand the respect you deserve.”
I slunk low in my feet, feeling awkward. I knew that Andrew wasn’t trying to make me feel bad, but I couldn’t help the sense that I was in trouble again – except it felt worse than it did with my parents, because it was Andrew.
“I don’t know how you do it,” I said slowly. “I mean, you broke away at an early age.”
Andrew shrugged. “I’ve always been like that, but I knew Dad wouldn’t listen to me unless I took steps to earn his respect. And he doesn’t respect me now, but he does know that I’m my own man.”
I frowned. “He thinks you’re gay,” I said slowly. “He’s upset about it.”
Andrew snickered. “I think you know for yourself that I’m not,” he said archly. “Or have you not been paying attention for the past twelve hours?”
I bit my lip as the image of Andrew between my legs flashed to the front of my mind. Inside my jeans, my pussy started twitching and gushing arousal. It was impossible to be with Andrew and not be turned on – he elicited the same kind of reaction inside me every single time.
“But seriously, Kristin,” Andrew said. “You’re welcome to stay here for as long as you want.”
I shook my head. “What about school?”
Andrew shrugged. “In case you didn’t know, Boston is ho
me to a lot of great universities,” he said. “And the job market here is pretty good. You could always finish up at a local school and then find a job.”
I stared at him. Being with Andrew was one constant surprise after another. I’d never expected someone as deviant and sexual as him to have such a good grasp of local knowledge.
But I was starting to discover that there were a lot of things I didn’t yet understand.
After brunch, Andrew handed me a credit card. “Why don’t you go shopping,” he offered. “Get yourself some new clothes.”
I stared blankly. “By myself?” I looked around – the streets of Boston suddenly looked intimidating and busy. “What if I get mugged? Or kidnapped?”
Andrew laughed. “Sorry,” he said, seeing my expression. “It’s just, this is a really safe part of the city. You don’t have to worry about anything bad happening…just don’t do anything dumb,” he said. He rolled his eyes. “Wow, the parents really did a number on you, didn’t they?”
I frowned. I wasn’t sure if he was making fun of me or not, but something about the way he’d talked to me didn’t exactly feel good.
Andrew leaned down and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pulling me close. He tilted my face up for a kiss and I melted as his warm lips pressed against mine. When his tongue slipped into my mouth, I moaned softly and wriggled my body against his.
Andrew nipped at my lower lip. “You’re great, Kristin,” he said softly. “You know that, right?”
I blushed. I was sure he was putting me on, but part of me didn’t care. Getting compliments like that from the sexiest man I’d ever met still made me feel good.
In the end, I called Megan and asked if she wanted to come shopping with me. When she met me at a department store an hour later, she squealed and threw her arms around my neck.
“Oh my god,” Megan cried. “Girl, look at you!” She spun me in a circle. “You’re glowing! What happened, did things work out with your mom?”
Laughing, I blushed and shook my head. “Not exactly,” I admitted. “But um…I slept with someone. For the first time,” I added quickly.
Megan smirked. “Finally,” she said. “At least we can cross that off the list for you.” She raised her eyebrows. “Who?”
My cheeks burned redder than Hell. “Um…just someone,” I said carefully, not wanting to admit that my stepbrother Andrew and his roommate Victor were the sexy men who had popped my cherry.
“Kristin, come on,” Megan wheedled as we walked into the lobby of the department store. I had to pause for a moment and crane my neck upwards to look at all of the gorgeous decorations.
“I know, you’re my best friend,” I said carefully. “I just…um…it was Andrew,” I said quickly.
“Your stepbrother?” Megan’s jaw dropped and she burst out laughing. “Girl, he is hot! But that’s weird!”
I frowned. “That’s why I didn’t want to tell you,” I said, walking over to a display of women’s clothing. “Do you like this?” I asked, pointing to a bejeweled cardigan on display.