Can't Touch This (Can't Touch This #1)

I wanted him.

And the awesome afternoon of joking, hanging, and generally just relaxing as a foursome had shown me just how special family could be when they were welcoming and non-judgemental.

The sun hung lazily in the sky and my phone said it was half past four; I’d never felt so carefree, happily tipsy, or content to have the love of my life and my best friend together.

Even Polly looked better.

She laughed and gave as good as she got with Rupert, and I caught the sparkle in her eye whenever she looked at him.

Polly had always been the strong one of our duo. Her mother had died in a car accident when she was fifteen and her dad had passed away three years ago thanks to prostate cancer. She truly was alone, but it didn’t break her. If anything, it added steel to steel until she barely bent in a tornado and carried so damn much on her shoulders.

It was too much to hope that she’d find a friend and romantic interest in Rupert but watching her interact with him made me wonder…what if?

“I have to admit, you’re better than the rest,” Rupert said, toasting his beer in my direction. “My little brother has full permission to keep you.”

“Keep me?” I blinked.

“Yep. He said he wasn’t letting you go. I see why now.”

Ryder groaned behind me, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’ve done so well up till now, Rupe. You behaved during lunch. You were good as gold during the drinking games. But now you decide to throw me under the proverbial bus?”

I’d been sitting on Ryder’s lap for the past hour, canoodling and being that annoyingly touchy-feely couple that sickens everyone in a two-kilometre radius.

“Hey, just saying how it is. You had terrible taste when you were younger. This one is much better.”

Polly giggled, tipsy and carefree. “Hear that, Vessie? You’ve earned the stamp of approval. You could put it in your passport and say you permanently live in the state of Ryder.”

It was my turn to groan. “You guys suck.”

Rupert turned serious, shifting on his chair to sit on the edge with his beer bottle dangling between his fingers. “No, I’ll tell you what sucked. Seeing my best mate and brother be made a laughingstock in high school. That sucked. Seeing him shunned when he had nothing but love to give ate me up inside.”

His gaze slipped to Ryder’s behind me. “I wished I’d punched that witch for you, seeing as you never stood up for yourself. Do you know the rumours still circulate? Kids are so fucking cruel.”

“Meh.” He shrugged. “I know the truth.”

“Yeah, but it made you give up on happiness because you lost the ability to trust.” Rupe shook his head, genuinely pissed for him. “Seeing you withdraw killed me. So…” He smiled at me, his gaze protective and kind. “Seeing how happy he is with you, Ves? I’m grateful. He deserves to be carefree again and not have to watch what he says or does.”

“Can we stop bringing up the exes now?” Ryder rolled his eyes. “Or telling the world how pathetic I was when I was younger.”

“Hey, we all have the dating horror stories. I have my fair share, too.” Rupert’s lips melted into such a sincere smile, he gave me heart-hiccups. “All I’m saying is, you’ve done well.” His gaze landed on me again. “Thank you for putting up with him. He’s a really good guy and I’m glad you put a collar on him and made him yours.”

“Goddammit.” Ryder growled with mock anger. “Don’t mention the collar again—especially not with town folk listening.”

“Why not?” Rupe took a swig.

“Because everyone thinks Vesper is his cousin and they’re having incestual naughtiness.” Polly ran her hands through her hair. “It’s all over the place. And apparently Ryder is, how do I say this nicely?” She giggled. “Not playing with a full deck and apparently gets naked inappropriately.”

“Can’t deny that.” Rupert barked with laugher. “The cousin part is new however. Well, Ves, if you are by some chance related to us, nice to meet you. If not, then welcome to the family.”

I lowered my gaze, slightly overwhelmed by the welcome. “Thank you, Rupert.”

Ryder threw back the rest of his beer, scowling at his brother. His fingers brushed aside my hair and placed a distracted kiss on the back of my neck.

The moment his lips touched my skin, I squirmed on his lap.

“Shit, that feels good when you do that,” he murmured in my ear just for me. “Your ass on my cock makes me so close to coming. I’ve been fighting the urge all day.”

My thighs squeezed together as a sudden throbbing started in my clit. Ryder shifted beneath me as the tip of his tongue replaced his lips.