Page 2 of Along Came Summer

Oh, I’m naked.

Oh, sweet Jeezus. This… this is not happening. I’m standing butt-effing-naked before my little brother'ssixteen-year-oldbest friend.

The girl I’ve known since she was five.

I watch, utterly stunned as Mira's eyes slowly sweep down my torso to my…appendage,baring allin itsmorning glory.

It takes a moment for my hungover and groggy brain to acknowledge Mira standing in my room, gawking at my erection that refuses to stand down despite my current state of mortification.

I’m not a man that embarrasses easily. I'm comfortable in my skin, but in the current circumstances, I can feel the blood pooling in my cheeks. Mira’s face is reddening like an over-ripened tomato.

A part of me admires how cute she looks when embarrassed, and the other is downright pissed at her lack of respect for privacy.

God, the awkward silence between us sucks the air out of the room. And, I’m really surprised she’s still standing there. I would have expected her to be scampering off half way down the corridor by now.

“Oh… uhm… s-shit. I’m sorry.” As Mira stumbles over her words and spins facing away from me, my brain suddenly kick starts again, and I reach for the black shorts hanging on the back of my chair and pull them on. “Aunt Nora—uh, y-your mum asked me to c-come up here and wake you. I thought you were sleeping. I didn’t think—”

“To knock?” I finish for her, scowling at the back of her head as I pull my shorts over my hips. “Last I checked, it was still common courtesy to knock and wait to be invited in before you burst into someone's bedroom, Mira.”

“You're right. I absolutely should have knocked. I'm so sorry. It’s just… uhm, a force of habit. I’m so used to walking into Devin's room without knocking… it slipped my mind, I’m sorry.”

Gathering my hair up into a bun at the top of my head, I allow my eyes to wander down the length of her, admiring how her light blue jeans accentuate the shape of her rounded bum.

Fuck she's mind-bogglingly gorgeous.

My brother is such a muppet. I will never understand how Devin can stand to have a girl like Mira around him every day for eleven years and not make a move. It’s not that he’s got no interest in her. I know he’s been harbouring feelings for Mira long before he hit puberty, but the moron is too chicken shit to make a move.

If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't waste one goddamn second to have a taste of those pretty, full, pink lips. Or enfold myself around that petite body and burrow my nose into the crook of her elegant neck so I can fill my lungs with that succulent berry-scented body mist she uses.

Oh, don't judge me. It smells divine.

Every time Mira walks past me, my mouth waters simply because it reminds me of a sweet cherry pie, and I get this uncontrollable urge to lick her.

And yes, I may have developed a very small, innocuous crush on her which came out of the fucking blue. I've spent months denying my attraction for her. I tell myself it's just sexual because I’ve not had any for a while and she’s pleasant to look at. I’m waiting for it to pass, but these feelings aren’t budging. If anything, they’re becoming stronger. I’m finding myself more drawn to her. It doesn't help matters that she's always around here. If anything, it makes it impossible for me to avoid her when I come home and she’s sitting on the kitchen counter eating ice cream or joining us for dinner and Thursday night movie marathons.

Mira and I flirt innocently, but there is a line, and I'm careful not to cross it. My brother Devin would have had a thing or two to fret about if she were just two years older. Three years doesn't sound like a huge age difference, but something about being attracted to a sixteen-year-old when you’re nineteen seems… immoral.

“Slipped your mind…” I drawl, inching toward Mira, her shoulders bunch up to her reddened ears and her hands fist by her sides. I wish I could see her face. I know she’s flushing every shade of red known to mankind right now. “Or did you just burst in here hoping to get an eyeful? Is Devin just not doing it for you anymore, Evans?” Mira's head whips around, her eyes flit up, and she peers up at me over her shoulder. Golden eyes all wide and slighted when they meet and hold my gaze.

I was right. Her cheeks are aflame. “What, no!” she sputters profusely. “I didn't think you'd be…” she trails off, her eyes dropping to my crotch to elucidate her point when the words fail to form. I observe her closely, and the fleeting look of relief when she notices I’m wearing shorts and my dick is placed back in the safe confines of my shorts.

It’s awful of me, I know. I’m enjoying watching her squirm. Tucking my finger under her chin, I tilt her head up, forcing her gaze to mine again. “Don't you know it’s rude to stare? If you want another peek, baby girl, all you need to do is ask me nicely.” I drawl, marvelling at how her eyes flash and lips part when I lean in a little closer. “I might even let you touch it.”

What the hell are you doing, Levi? Remember the line? You're dangerously close to stepping over it, man. Back the fuck off.

Her mouth looks so inviting I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted—actually, no—burninginside to lean in and have a taste to see if she tastes as good as I’ve been fantasising. God help me; I’m close to closing that door and pressing her into it when Mira timidly licks her lips, and her gaze volleys between my eyes and my lips, further intensifying the aching urge to kiss her.

You’re staring at my mouth. You’re wondering what I taste like.There's a moment that passes between us when I feel the heat radiating off her body, and the sweet scent of her perfume surrounding me makes me lightheaded. I picture her splayed out on my bed, back arched, fingers fisting my hair while I lick down her tanned torso, inching toward her—

“Tinks! Let's go!” Devin's voice booming through the hallway abruptly pulls me out of my crude thoughts.

“Saved by the boyfriend,” I utter with a teasing smirk, and Mira blinks, shaking her head. “You better go. Don't want to keep him waiting,Tinks.”

“For the millionth time, Devin isn’t my boyfriend. He’s my best friend, that’s it. Why do you refuse to believe Devin and I arejust friends?” Mira huffs, crossing her arms over her chest and pinning me with an exasperated glare.

I love the look of annoyance radiating in her eyes. They're shimmering like a melted pot of the finest gold. Transitorily captivating me, pulling every bit of my attention, and fading everything around me.

“Oh, well, let’s see. Perhaps it’s because you spend every waking moment together?” I reply with a shrug and inch toward her. “You spend hours on end behind closed doors ‘studying’,” I add, making air quotes with my fingers, and she scowls up at me. “You spend more nights in his bed than you do your own. Devin can’t seem to go a second without touching you. Shall I go on?” Mira blinks up at me, her jaw slackening.

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