Chapter 17: From Brother to Boyfriend!

I was completely dumbfounded as I stared up at Julian who stood next to my best friend. Amy looked from me up to Julian again, her starstruck blush still remaining on her cheeks. “Why didn’t you tell me you got yourself a boyfriend while you were on the east-side?? Were you trying to hide him? I mean, I wouldn’t blame you.” She leaned in and whispered to me. “He’s definitely a looker.”

Staring at him now, between his tidy clothes, ashy-blonde hair, and elegant appearance, he literally looked like an angel that was paying hell a visit all just to see a certain female devil. I wouldn’t be surprised if he sprouted feathery white wings any second now with angels singing in the background.

The three men beside me either looked shocked, impressed, or sad.

“Damn, SuSu, already forgetting about us…? Would’ve been nice to know about this.” Mason mumbled, clearly a bit butthurt about not being told about this.

“Well look at you, Su, I can’t remember the last time you got yourself a permanent man! Yet again… have you ever?” Alex placed his hand to his chin in thought as if he was trying to recall if I ever had a boyfriend before.

Meanwhile, Jack stared Julian up and down suspiciously. “You better treat our girl right! Ya hear me?”

Julian stepped forward with one of his charming grins, the charismatic man putting everyone’s words and opinions to rest with just a few words. “My name is Julian August. I know Suki told me to stay home and that she’ll be fine but, a man has to worry about his woman. I heard she has close friends here and she talks about you guys quite often. I was curious to meet you for myself too.” He then gave me an apologetic look, his blue eyes holding kindness within those intense depths. “Sorry, babe.”

BABE? You FUCK.

I bit my tongue so hard that I could taste blood meanwhile the men and Amy seemed to beam at Julian’s words.

Alex crossed his arms while giving me a smile. “You talked about us, huh? I hope it was all good things!”

Mason reached out his hand to Julian and they both gave a strong shake as my friend grinned. “That’s quite the grasp. I like you.”

Jack’s eyes squinted before he gave a shrug. “Eh… I guess you chose a nice guy, SuSu.”

“What did she say about me?” Amy asked in a high-pitched voice. She reminded me of a high school girl with a big crush on the most popular guy in school. Everyone in the gang stared at the man who graced us with his glorious presence.

Shit.

I knew if I corrected the situation, things would turn south real fast. If the boys found out he was lying and he was actually my stepbrother, they may think he’s up to no good and try to jump him. Not to mention the rest of the gang may become aggressive. I wouldn’t doubt that Amy would run off to Mom and warn her about everything going on.

He’s in too deep… fuck me sideways, man.

I do my best to make my forced smile look real but the embarrassed blush on my cheeks that burned my face was definitely not fake. “Oh… yeah… my bad, I was all caught up havin’ fun with ya’ll that I forgot to mention him…”

Alex’s eyes went wide with surprise. “Forget to mention your BOYFRIEND? Ouch, Su… poor bastard.”

Julian just gave an endearing chuckle while wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me into his chest. “It’s alright, babe. I know you’ve really been looking forward to seeing everyone again.” My eye begins to twitch.

I swear to fucking god if he calls me ‘babe’ one more fucking time…

From the beginning, it was past lunch by the time my boys came to pick me up and we terrorized the city for a couple of hours and sold off everything Richie owned that only took half an hour. Another couple of hours passed as me and the gang fooled around with our rewards and partied amongst ourselves. I was living the dream. Until HE had to show up and ruin it all.

I couldn’t help but glare up at Julian every now and again as he chitchatted with my friends so carefreely, so effortlessly. And my dumbass friends ate up his act. Was it an act? It’s hard to tell… if he is acting, he’s a goddamn genius. But what if he is being genuine…? If he is, then that’s the disturbing part. I told Mom that I’d be back by midnight and that’s two hours away.

Fuuuuuuck. This is more torturous than watching a shitty chick flick.

“You wanna drink, bro?” Mason asked as if he was part of the gang.

“Sure, why not?” Julian said nonchalantly.

Jack snorted a laugh as he recalled his reckless driving this morning when he came to pick me up. “Drinkin’ and drivin’ is illegal, that’s why.”

Mason and Alex laughed at Jack who had obviously done it a hundred times and got away with it only because the police basically gave up on controlling the west-side’s crime rate meanwhile Julian still had to drive through the east-side.

And yet, Julian just gave a carefree shrug. “Ah, what they don’t know won’t hurt them.”

Jack laughed again meanwhile Alex smirked. “I see you got yourself a wild one, SuSu.”

“Ha ha… yeahhhh…” I mumbled with a laugh that was clearly fake. Trying to keep up the act that we were dating and not stepsiblings was starting to take a toll on me.

Julian stared at me with that intense look of his every time he watched me. The stare used to give me goosebumps because it turned me on. Now it gives me goosebumps cause it creeps me the fuck out. Especially after what we did last night.

First I wake up in his bedroom and find that stupid collar and leash that literally claimed me as his dog, then someone has the audacity to steal my towel in the shower, THEN that pampered, petty princess decides she wants to threaten me. And now I have to spend the rest of the evening pretending that this fucker is my boyfriend… fuck my life.

As Julian stared at me it was as if he stared right through me because he wrapped his arms around my shoulders again and gave my friends an apologetic smile. “Sorry, guys, but I think she has something she needs to say to me. If you’d excuse us.” He then left while dragging me with him by his big hand on my back. “Come on, babe.”

“Aww, he’s so considerate!” Amy squealed. I was well aware that she was the type of girl into chick flicks and watching me with this gorgeous blonde must be the five-star rated movie for her. I was waiting for her to have a nosebleed at any second now.

Once Julian led me away from the group down a different alley, I immediately shoved him against the brick wall so hard that he coughed up all of the wind out of his lungs. One hand gripped his shirt so tightly that it threatened to rip meanwhile I shoved my other arm beneath his chin, blocking his airway.

“What the FUCK are you doing here?! How did you find me?? And why the FUCK did you think it’s ok for you to mingle with my friends?! Let alone say you’re my boyfriend! Are you out of your motherfucking mind?! What if someone finds out, huh?? Ever think of that, pretty boy?!” I hissed my words under my breath furiously. It was taking all my strength not to deck him in the face like I had done to Richie earlier.

Julian’s expression showed that he was truly hurt by my words and actions. “I’m really sorry, Suki, I just got worried. I’ve heard a lot of things and I was concerned for your wellbeing… I didn’t mean to anger you.”

In pure mania, I burst out laughing and had to quickly bite my tongue before anybody could hear my cackle. My insides were tickled as his words just fanned my flames. “You DIDN’T MEAN to ANGER ME? You fucking dumbass! I’d slit your pathetic fucking throat right here and now if I could!!”

Julian unexpectedly flinched away from my words and turned his head away. The intensity in his blue eyes washed away to the point he once again looked like a kicked, beaten, abused puppy. And I love puppies.

Son of a bitch…

“Julian…” I hesitate with my words. I sucked at both gratitude and apologies. “I… I didn’t mean that. Look, I’m grateful that you were concerned, but you know damn well that I can protect myself.” Julian just gave a silent nod to me in response.

Is this really the man I fucked last night? Who put a collar around my neck and claimed me as his? He was so dominant and now he’s squishier than a stress ball… It’s like I’m talking to two different men.

“Do you want me to take you home? I mean, um… do you want me to go home…?” He mumbled his words while avoiding eye contact with me. It looked as if he was dreading my answer to his second question. And he rightfully should be. And yet, I can feel my merciless self begin to sway as I watch him.

Again. How can someone so hot be so damn cute?! Damn it all…

I can feel a painful twist in my chest and I’m forced to look away from him just to spare any more torture to my disorderly emotions. I heaved a deep sigh that felt like wind coming up from the bottom of my dried-up soul. “...Yeah. It’s late, let’s just go home.” I grumbled grouchily.

The life returned to his eyes briefly despite the fact he was blushing up a storm. His flawless, fair skin that was reddening left me confused until I realized our close our bodies were. The last time our bodies were this close was when we gave in to our desires. I immediately release him and take a big step backward as a harsh blush burnsed on my caramel cheeks next.

“You’re fucking unbelievable! Quit it!” I sassed him, blaming him for the reason my face was flushed now.

“Sorry.” Julian just accepted my accusation without defending himself. Not gonna lie, the fact that he doesn’t put up a fight with me was pretty boring.

“Shut up.” I sassed him again while walking away back to the joint and he walked close behind me. I could still feel his stare on my skin as I walked in front of him. It gave me the heebie jeebies but I didn’t bother confronting him about it this time. I was too worn out. Flopping onto my bouncy bed with that fine, soft comforter sounded all too enticing right now.

As we came back to my friends, the four of them looked excited to see us return. Well, excited to see me return with Julian in tow.

You shits. That hurt my feelings.

Before I could say anything, Julian spoke up in my stead. “Sorry, guys, but we got to get back. We’re both pretty tired and we had a long day. We’ll come to visit again soon though, sound good?”

The four of them immediately looked disappointed.

“Damn. Already? Well, it was nice hangin’ out with you while we could, SuSu. We always have a blast when you’re around.” Mason gave a disappointed smile. “Oh, and nice meeting you too, brother!” He and Julian shook hands again in a strong grip.

Jack however couldn’t resist walking over and giving me a tight hug. “Suukiiiaaa, you always gotta ruin the party by leaving, you know that? You’re what keeps this place entertaining!”

I grinned as I hugged Jack back. He was the only one that would drag my name out like that and he was closest to my age. Out of everyone, he was the one that looked up to me. “Eh, don’t worry, Jackie. I’ll come to see you again soon.” As I gave his back a couple of pats, I caught a glimpse of Julian staring at us. Again, I saw hostility in his eyes but my glimpse only lasted a split second since Jack soon released me.

He then smiled. “You better!”

Alex gave my back a couple of hard pats. “See ya later, SuSu. You too, brotha.” He gave an acknowledging nod to Julian.

Amy then came over and gave my cheek a big kiss to the point it actually squished it. “You barely call or text me! Notice me!”

Once again, Julian spoke in my stead. “Sorry about that. That’s my fault, she’s been pretty occupied with me…” There was a little bit of a hint when he said the word ‘occupied’.

I had completely forgotten that I was still wearing Richie’s black fedora hat until Julian took it off of my head and placed it on his. I failed to realize that was a trap as I turned his way and opened my mouth to protest but he quickly took that split-second chance to give me a deep kiss. My body immediately stiffened up in shock. I should’ve pushed him away and cussed him out but my body refused to move. Everybody’s eyes widened and jaws dropped the same way mine did earlier. Though Amy soon squealed and wiggled her body, she started to blush so hard that I was waiting for her nose to start dripping.

Anddd cue the nosebleed in 3… 2… 1… …Nothing? Damn.

“We’ll be leaving now. It’s been great meeting you all.” Julian then dipped his new hat to them and led me away with his arm still wrapped around my waist. I was still a little dazed and almost fell over in the process. As soon as we were in Julian’s Tesla, I finally snapped out of my trance. Before Julian even started up the car, the silence between us was broken as he hesitantly spoke to me.

“We need to talk.”