Chapter Twenty-Three:

I’m a lot of things, but a snitch isn’t one of them. With that being said, I don’t want my relationship to fall apart, because I couldn’t be honest with Brian. I don’t believe in doing something half-assed. If you’re going to do something, do it the right way. Otherwise, what’s the point? You know? I can’t be the only one.

But, here I am, facing my boyfriend, and the words are caught in my throat. I don’t want to tell him here. And I certainly don’t want to tell him in front of his friends. It’s not like Matt really did anything that horrible. He just basically said that he wasn’t going to leave our relationship alone. All I have to do is tell Brian what he said. It’s what he’ll do with that information that’s the problem. That’s what has me worried.

“Can we go somewhere and talk? It’s kind of important?” I finally asked him. Brian looked at me and nodded.

“Sure thing, Ace.” He told me. He grabbed his school bag and led me to his car. “Is there anything in particular that you want to talk about?” He asked me.

“I… I don’t want to talk about it here.” I told him. He nodded. We drove to the beach. He parked a little ways away from everything. I grabbed an old blanket out of his trunk and we settled down by some secluded boulders.

“You’re starting to make me worry.” He confessed. I bit my lip.

“You’re not going to like what I tell you.”

“Just tell me, Ace.” He requested, gently. I nodded.

“It’s about Matt. I told him that you and I are together and I asked him to respect that. He basically said that he wouldn’t do that. I just… I didn’t want to hide anything from you. You know?” I told him, quickly. Brian sighed, but he didn’t look angry. “I’m sorry.”

“Ace, don’t apologize. What he’s doing isn’t your fault. Okay? Matt he… he just isn’t used to getting what, or who he wants. He’s never had any trouble with the ladies. I don’t think he’s honestly ever been turned down. I mean, this is what you want, right? Us?” He asked. I nodded.

“You’re the man for me. We just… fit. You know? I can’t remember the last time I felt that.” I told him.

“Say it again.” He asked me.

“Say what?” I asked him, creeping closer.

“Say that ‘I’m the man for you.’”

“You’re the man for me.” I whispered, straddling him. He smiled.

“Have you felt this with anyone else?” He asked me. I thought about it.

“Kind of… I felt a connection with Oliver, but it’s different that this is. It was like… he was my long lost brother, or something. With you, it’s like you’re my other half. You make me feel comfortable… safe… strong… pretty… You make me feel alive, Bri.” I said, quietly. He cupped my face.

“I have never met anyone like you, Lydia. You’re amazing.” His breath danced across my face. I rubbed my forehead against his. This feels so intimate. We’re so close. His hands slid underneath the skirt of my dress and rested on my thighs. He caressed my hips and kissed me.

“It takes one to know one.” I grinned.

“The things you do to me…” He groaned. I raised my eyebrows. Instead of answering me, he took my hand and placed it over his growing arousal.

“Is that what I do to you?” I asked him, coyly.

“It’s something you do to me very well.”

“I’m not the only one.” I breathed in his ear. He groaned, again and held me tighter. I rocked my hips against his and gasped. He worked a finger into my fishnets and pulled my panties to the side. He started stroking my clit. I buried my face in his neck and moaned.

“Is this okay?” He asked me. I nodded. “You’re so wet for me.” He whispered, his voice husky.

“Fuck, Brian.” I breathed. He moved his finger faster and I squeezed my eyes closed. I bucked against his hand. It’s been so long since I’ve let a man touch me the way he’s touching me now.

“Come for me, Ace.” He rasped. And I did. I dug my fingers into his shoulders as wave after wave of ecstasy swallowed me whole. “Do you even know how much you turn me on?” He whispered. I shook my head, still riding out my high. He gave me one last, lazy flick, causing my hips to jolt. He chuckled. I fixed my clothes, still panting. I fiddled with the button on his jeans, before yanking down the fly. “You don’t have to do that, Lydia.”

“I know I can’t give you… that, but let me do this for you.” I asked him. He looked at me for a second before agreeing. He nodded and I pulled his manhood out of his pants. I stroked his length and his hissed. “What are you thinking about?”

“God, Ace…” He breathed. “All of the things I want to do with you.” He gasped. He watched me through half-lidded eyes. I squeezed him and cupped his balls.

“Like?” I prodded.

“Like… you riding me. I can only imagine how good you feel inside.” He explained. I started giving his neck open-mouthed kisses and sucking on his neck. Before long, he began thrusting himself into my hands. Brian pulled my face back to his and started kissing me, greedily. He gripped my ass as he came on my palm. “You know… I wouldn’t complain if you wanted to make a habit out of that, Ace.” He whispered. I smirked.

“Good to know, Handsome.”

---

We parked outside the Baker residence. I saw my mother’s car in the driveway. I groaned and cursed my life, internally. I know that she told me that she would be here, but I was secretly hoping she would just fling herself off of a cliff somewhere. Well, not so secretly.

“Let’s get this fucking over with.” I grumbled. Brian laughed and opened my door for me.

“You’re so sexy when you’re pissed off.” He told me, as he leaned down to kiss me. I smiled against his lips.

“If you keep doing that, I’m not going to be.” I warned him. He chuckled and walked with me inside. My mother and Doug were waiting for us.

“Hi, baby!” My mother exclaimed. She pulled me into a tight hug. I pulled away from her and gave her a slight head nod.

“Hello mother,” I greeted her. She smiled so hard that it looked like her face could break.

“I missed you.” She told me, rubbing my cheek with her thumb.

“I’m sure you did.” I retorted. I don’t have the stomach to lie to her, right now. Doug just looked amused by our exchange.

“After speaking with Dougie, you should know that your father isn’t coming to town. He wasn’t happy when I told him that he couldn’t see you, so I’m going to have to think of some way that I can lessen the blow.” She sang. I balked at her. She’s fucking serious. Seriously? Didn’t she and Doug just have a conversation about how smart he is and how he isn’t an idiot like she’s convinced he is. Motherfucking hell.

“Yeah, have fun with that. You can do that all by yourself. I never want to see that bastard again.” I told her.

“Lydia! He’s your father.”

“He’s an abusive twat, mother.” I countered. She’s not smiling anymore. “Are you staying here tonight?” I asked her. She shook her head.

“No, I thought it would be nice to sleep in my own bed tonight.”

“Okay, then I’ll be here. I have a room here.” I explained.

“Isn’t that generous of Dougie?” She asked me.

“He’s a good man, mom. If Dad was half the man he is... this would be a different story.”

“Sweetheart, your mum has had a long day traveling. I’m sure she’s tired. Why don’t you two go look through the take-out menus? I’d like a word with Brian.” Doug suggested. I looked up at him and nodded. He gave me a quick hug. “Choose your battles wisely, love.” He whispered. I nodded against his chest, before taking my mother to the kitchen.

“You two seem cozy.” Lynn voiced. I nodded.

“Isn’t that what you wanted? You told me to make an effort. That’s what I’m doing.” I told her.

“I wasn’t talking about Dougie. I was talking about Brian.” She gestured to my boyfriend in the other room. I took a moment to appreciate how well he filled out his jeans.

“We are. We’re together.”

“Until he finds someone better,” she commented. I shook my head.

“He wouldn’t do that.”

“Wouldn’t he? He isn’t hurting in the looks department. It’s hard to believe that he’s only eighteen. He looks so much older. Doesn’t he? But he really doesn’t need to be older, eighteen is legal.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“He has standards. Trust me – you’re not his type.” I seethed as I threw the menus on the table. Even this is a new low for her.

“Baby, you get your looks from somewhere. And trust me; you certainly don’t look like your father.”

“He doesn’t get hard for whores.” I told her. I don’t understand why she has to try and steal everything good that I have. She has everything! What could she possibly gain from this?!

“Then why is he with you, Sweetheart?” She asked me through tight teeth.

“I hope you rot in hell some day.” I spat.

“Baby, I wouldn’t rot anywhere. Hell would tremble before me.” She hissed.

“Not even Lucifer would want a bitch like you.” I growled.

“I will find a way for your dad to see you. What Doug doesn’t know, won’t hurt him. And you won’t tell him. Don’t even think that Derek is staying gone.” She revealed.

“You’re fucking demented. The second I’m eighteen, I’m gone. You thrive on my pain. I’m not twisted one, here!” I screeched.

“Keep your tone down, girl.” She told me. I glared at her. “I told you what was going to happen. I don’t need to ask your permission. You’re the child. It’s not the other way around.”

“You’ve never had a maternal bone in your polluted body.”

“I didn’t claim to.”

---

Doug’s POV

I can hear the women arguing in the kitchen. I doubt that Lynn will actually stop her devious ways just because I tell her to. I’m not daft, but a man has to try. Eventually, Lynn will stop being beneficial and I’ll lose a lover and gain a daughter. That much isn’t a question.

“Brian, what are you intentions toward Lydia?” I asked him.

“You’re not seriously having this conversation with me, are you?” He asked in disbelief.

“I am. I’ve always wanted to say that, but I’ve never had a daughter.” I grinned. “Answer the question.”

“I want to show Lydia a kinder side of the world. I want to be with her. I want a chance to share at least this part of my life with her. She’s amazing.”

“We agree on that much.” I smiled. We both turned our heads towards the kitchen as the females raised their voices. We can hear them clearly now. Lynn must get off on torturing her daughter. I’ve never know a parent to do as she does. Brian stiffened and clenched his fists. Lynn is hinting about shagging him to get him away from her.

After a few more minutes of listening in, I had had enough. I nodded at Brian and gestured towards the kitchen. He nodded and followed me in.

---

Lydia’s POV

Doug and Brian walked into the kitchen and we both shut up. Mother plastered her shit-eating grin on her face before plastering herself to Doug’s side.

“Sweetheart, did you decide on anything?” He asked me. I shook my head.

“Whatever Mom wants is fine.”

“And what’ll it be, Mum?” He asked her. She smiled, coyly. She plucked the menu on top of the pile off of the table and handed it to him. It looks like we’re having Greek tonight.

---

I threw my econ binder on the floor when I finished my homework. Brian clambered next to me.
“You okay, Ace?” He asked me. I shrugged.

“She fucking gets under my skin.” I revealed. He nodded.

“We heard you guys talking.” He whispered. “For the record, I’d never touch her. And you’re not a whore.”

“Aren’t I?” I asked. “I’ve slept with Derek. I’ve hooked up with guys that I barely knew. I don’t even know most of their faces. I was so out of it for the longest time, Brian. That’s a whore. I am a whore.” I whimpered. He held me against his chest.

“That’s shit and we both know it. Derek molested you. You didn’t invite him into your bed. We both know you didn’t. Everyone has shit they’re not proud of. You’re no exception.”

“It sounds so different coming from your mouth.”

“Since Derek and everything, when you’ve had sex, was it just sex?” Brian asked me.
“What do you mean?” I asked him.

“Did you fuck or did you make love?” He rephrased. What he was asking dawned on me. I thought about it. I guess I’ve never really given it much thought before.

“Fucked,” I answered. He held my hand, gently in his.

“When we have sex, it’s not just going to be sex. I’m going to make love to you.” He whispered. I smiled and leaned into him.

“How do you always say exactly the right thing?”

“It’s a gift. I’m awesome.”

“And there it goes… straight to your ego.”

Notes

Thank you for all of your comments!! Much love to you all. I'm exhausted and work was awful and draining. I really wanted to make sure I got this up today! Hope you all have an excellent week! Stay awesome.

-Katie