Chapter 5

Bronwen

What he is really asking me is why don't I have any self-respect. I ask myself this each time I let Noah touch me. Yeah, I feel shame each time that Noah kisses me. He treats me like shit all of the time and worst of all, he has a girlfriend that he is cheating on. A girlfriend that I am helping him to cheat on. I am like a high school version of a homewrecker.

“When I was thirteen, I asked him if he would be my first kiss. He flat-out rejected me. I know that he probably thought he was being gentle about it or maybe he knew he wasn't, I don't know but it was kind of harsh. He made a comment about how I would be 'pretty enough' if only I lost some weight. Then when I was fourteen, Alec gave me his shirt when I spilled something down the front of mine, which was white and transparent. Anyways, Noah made a remark about there being no way in hell that Alec's shirt would fit me. Over the years, it has been little comments like that.. they have chipped away at my self-confidence little by little. I have had a crush on him since I was eleven. Every time he made a remark like that, it would destroy me a little piece at a time. I hated my body just a bit more each passing day until I look at myself and feel only disgust. I see my own self-worth through his eyes. It's affected by how he sees me and I can't change that. I wish I could but I have no idea where to start.”

“Then why would you-”

I put a finger to his lips to stop the words. My own bold behavior shocks me and I immediately pull my finger back. “When he kisses me, it is almost like I feel a certain level of validation? Maybe that is not the right word. I'm not sure if I can explain it well enough for it to make any sense. I guess I just thought, I must not be so disgusting anymore if he is willing to kiss me. Or maybe I have gotten prettier since he is finally paying attention to me. I know it sounds crazy, but I can't explain it. When he touches me, I feel more confident. It erases all the mean things that he has said to me.” I say to Andras. I sound so dumb that even I can hear it. He must think I sound so pathetic. The poor dumb girl lusting after a guy who doesn't even like her just so that she can feel pretty for a few minutes.

“I think I understand. I want to rip his head from his shoulders for treating you so shitty and I don't fully agree with the logic, but I do get it.” Andras says to me. lifting his hand to cup my face.

I look at this gorgeous guy, more beautiful than anyone I have ever seen before and I ache for him. He called me gorgeous. No guy has ever done that. The fact that it comes from someone as physically perfect as him, makes me tingle. I sit up, moving back to look at him, one of his hands falling from my hip to rest on my thighs. He said it a few minutes ago but I just now processed it. Gorgeous. This Greek God of a man said that about me. I am literally on cloud nine right now!

“What's that look for?” Andras asks, his hand dropping away from my cheek.

“I- um, nothing. Just thoughts.” I say.

“Care to share?” He asks, watching me with such an intent look in his eyes that it feels like he is somehow staring into my soul.

“Not in the least,” I tell him, with a soft smile. He shifts his body and I look down at the floor, feeling as if I am falling, so I grab at him without thought. One hand goes to grip behind his neck and the other hand goes to his chest. His hand on my upper thigh grips me tightly, anchoring my legs in place as surely as the hand on my hip does.

“I've got you. You aren't going anywhere.” He tells me and my head snaps back to look at him.

“I thought-”

I don't know what I was going to say at that moment. Probably something embarrassing, judging by the spell that his presence has weaved around me. Thankfully, I never got the chance, because my door pushed open just then without so much as a knock.

“Bron, Alec wants you to-” Noah stops when he sees me in Andras's arms. Looking at our positions I can see why it would give the wrong impression. “What the hell is this?” Noah glares at us. “What's going on here?”

“I do not believe that is any of your business,” Andras says, standing up from the bed with me cradled in his muscular arms. I wrap my arms around his neck to hold on, looking at him in shock. 

How? I mean, he's got muscles and all, he's no string bean, but I weigh a ton. How is he lifting me so easily? “You are so strong,” I say in awe, then blush at how fucking stupid I sound.

“Not really. You barely weigh more than a sack of flour.” Noah scoffs and I feel the anger radiate from Andras, but he never takes his eyes from me. “Anyone who thinks that you are anything other than perfect is a damn fool.”

I smile at him, grateful for his words, even though I know they are only for Noah's benefit, after everything I told him. He doesn't actually believe what he is saying, so I don't need to get caught up in it. I turn to Noah, “Tell Alec we will be down in a minute.”

“We can walk down together,” Noah says, giving me what he probably thinks is a stern look. It makes me want to dig my heels in and not move an inch, just to spite him. I am still super pissed at him over the remark he made about me being jealous of Maci. 

“Actually, we weren't finished when you came in, so if you could leave us alone, that would be really considerate of you,” Andras tells Noah, clearly dismissing him. Noah opens his mouth to argue but Andras just turns his back on him.

I want to say something but I can't for the life of me remember what we were talking about before Noah intruded on us. The only thing I can think of is how beautiful Andras's face is. Noah stomps from the room like a petulant child and I can't help but roll my eyes at his idiotic behavior. Sometimes I wonder what it is that I actually see in him.

“I really hate that guy,” Andras says.

“We should probably go down to the living room now,” I say, even though I really don't want to. I want to stay in this moment with him forever. That causes me to suddenly realize that I am still in his arms.

Oh my God, his poor back! He is probably in so much pain right now. I hope he didn't pull a muscle or give himself a hernia. I would feel horrible if he hurt himself holding me. “This is probably killing you. Put me down before you seriously hurt yourself.” I drop my arms from around his neck, expecting him to sit me on my feet.

“Give it a minute more.” He says, his arms staying in place.

“But-” I protest, “I don't want to hurt you. I weigh so much.”

“Honey, you weigh nothing.” He takes advantage of my arms not being around his neck anymore, suddenly tossing me up into the air. I fear I might hit the ceiling, I am so far out of his arms. I let out a shriek, but within seconds I am back cradled softly in his arms as if I never left them.

“How the hell did you do that?” I ask him, eyes wide.

“I have told you already, you aren't heavy,” Andras says just as Alec, Morana and Noah burst into the room.

“What's going on? I heard screaming!” Alec demands, glaring.

“We were playing around,” I tell my brother with a grin. I look between him and Andras, who Alec is glaring at intently. Andras merely smirks in return. “Have the two of you been introduced yet?”

“No.” They both say in unison, staring each other down.

“Andras, my brother Alec. Alec, my- this is Andras.” I stumble over how to refer to him. Dumb, since I am the one who wanted to make the introduction. “Morana's brother,” I add.

Neither guys say anything to each other, just giving nods. I huff. “This is when you say 'nice to meet you' or something to that effect,” I tell the two idiots.

“Well, I would shake his hand, but since it is currently plastered to your ass, I think I am going to pass,” Alec growls at me.

I never even noticed, but now that he has mentioned it, I am aware that one of his hands is gripping my ass cheek to keep me from falling through his arms. “You can put me down now,” I say quietly to Andras.

After a moment, he moves his hands slightly, letting me slowly slide down his body. When I look at him curiously, I see that he is in a staring contest with Noah, whose face is red. Noah looks away with a look of pure anger and I turn to see the victorious tilt of Andras's mouth. Cocky bastard.

I glare at my brother, my eyes conveying a very definite message. Say something and say it nicely, or else. He rolls his eyes. “Nice car.” He practically grunts.

“Thanks.” Andras grunts back.

“Well, that was riveting,” I say sarcastically. “How about we take this little testosterone battle somewhere other than my room. The walls are starting to close in.” I say, moving to shove Alec from the room. Morana follows him. Noah watches me. I make a shooing motion to him, but he waits by the door. I grab Andras by the hand, pulling him with me out of the room. “Come on.”

I walk down the narrow staircase sandwiched between Andras and Noah. Each step I bump into one of them since they are both standing so unreasonably close. By the time I reach the bottom, I am frazzled with tension.

“We should be heading home,” Morana tells Andras, as soon as we step into the living room.

He just gives a nod. She says goodbye to Alec, then comes over to hug me. “Hey babe, I am sorry that I didn't get to hang out with you much his afternoon. Your brother is kind of cool though. And super sexy.”

“Gross,” I whisper back to her.

She pulls away but surprises me when she reaches into my pocket and pulls out my phone. What is up with this family and the touching? They literally have no shame in their game. I smile to myself, watching as she types in her number.

“There. Text me.” She gives me a grin. “Be ready at seven in the morning. We will pick you up for school.”

“You don't have to-” I begin to protest.

“Just be ready.”

I am surprised at the command, considering that it came from Andras and not Morana. Morana shoots me a wink, waves at Noah and Alec before she pulls her brother from the room. He says nothing in way of a goodbye, simply following her from the room. A second later I hear the slam of the door, then the roar of his car starting.

“That dude is strange, but he sure has got a hot sister,” Alec remarks, flopping onto the couch.

“She was kinda cute. In a weird way.” Noah comments.

“She is beautiful.” I glare at Noah. He is such a pompous dick when it comes to judging women on their appearance. I turn to glare at Alec. “She is also my friend and she is awesome. She has a great personality, so do not mess with her unless you mean it.” I turn to stomp away before I turn back halfway up the staircase. “And he is not fucking strange!”

I stomp up the stairs, leaving the two guys in my wake surprised by my uncharacteristic outburst.