When I finish, I turn to Pete and he watches me with something hot and sweaty in his eyes.
“Well, what’d you think?” I ask and he raises his thin brows.
“I pretty much think you suck.”
Goosebumps flood my arms as I struggle to not let humiliation take root. “Excuse me?”
“Yeah...I mean, you’re not that good at this, are you.” He shrugs. “I’m just being honest.”
“You can’t talk like that to me,” I protest and he lets out a laugh.
“What are you gonna do about it?”
Tell my stepbrother to kill you. I flinch at the thought and my cheeks heat. Goodness. Dacre’s brutality is giving me second hand cockiness. Taking a breath, I’m about to rise and ask Pete to leave when he grabs my hand.
“Don’t worry, snowflake. The master’s here to show you how it’s done.”
Yanking my hand back, I grit, “Don’t touch me. My stepbrother won’t like it and he’s not someone you want to piss off.”
Pete tenses. “I thought you lived on your own.”
“You thought wrong,” I firmly reply. “My stepbrother’s a big guy and he’s super protective over me.”
A grin crosses Pete’s face. “He’s not here now.” He increases his chewing and his eyes linger around my cleavage. “I had a girl like you once. Hot as hell but a cold bitch on the inside.” Pete lets out a whistle. “A wildcat between the sheets, though. Did anything I wanted.”
Creep.
“I think we’re done for the day, Pete, “ I say and rise when he stops me and his eyes flare with desperation.
“Fuck, alright, I lied,” he groans. “I’ve never had a girl like you.” His eyes widen in awe. “Never seen anything like you. You look like a porn star and a kindergarten teacher mixed into one.”
“Eww Pete,” I mutter, crossing my arms. “I really think you should go.”
That desperation on his face increases. “I’ll pay you. I’ll pay you however much you want if you just let me fuck...kiss you.”
Swallowing, I ignore the dip in my stomach. “Kiss me?” I say with a grimace. I want to refuse but I can’t handle everyone finding out about my journal. “It’ll cost you 200.000 dollars,” I breathe and Pete spits.
For a moment it seems like he’s about to say no but then he growls. “Fine. But then you’ll be kissing me out in that pool wearing a teeny weeny bikini.”
My skin crawls but I think I can sacrifice my dignity. It’ll just be a little kiss.
And then I’ll have the money and my secret thoughts about Dacre will be mine to keep.
****
The breeze up on the rooftop gives me shivers and I hold onto my robe like it’s an armor.
I can’t believe I’m doing this. It’s making my stomach turn but I’ll just close my eyes and pretend it’s my stepbrother which I have a ton of experience with. Glancing at Pete, I hold down a frustrated whimper.
He’s sitting by the edge of the pool on his hunches, his hand swirling the water. I think this is him trying to be seductive and I recoil when he wiggles his brows at me.
“Get in,” he orders. “The water’s warm enough.” When I hesitate, he adds, “Drop the towel.”
“This better not be a trick,” I warn and he chuckles.
“You’ll get the money cash. Cross my heart. Now hop in, snowflake.”
Sighing, I let the robe fall and I’ve never felt more exposed in my life. This is so unlike me. I play tennis on the weekends and I’ve seen girls flash their boobs to the professional male players in the locker room across the hall but I’ve never done anything remotely like that.