Chapter 3 That night after dinner, we all sat out on the porch, just looking out to the sun set behind the lake. It was still warm, and I already knew I would be having trouble sleeping. I liked the summer heat, but I hated nights where I could barely sleep. Last night had been fine. The basement was always cooler, but with summer just starting, I knew even down there the air would keep getting thicker. I was sitting on the porch swing, with my legs curled under me, and a big, cozy pillow behind me. The others were scattered around on the couches, all leaned back and relaxed, holding a beer or soda in their hands. Dash walked out with an iced tea, and he handed it to me before curling up next to me on the swing. It fit two people, and we often shared it. "Thank you," I said, smiling at him. "Didn't you get yourself something?" "Nah, I'm not thirsty." I took a sip and rested the can on my thigh, holding it with my left hand. Dash took my right hand, placing it on his lap, playing with my fingers. There was silence for a while, and when I looked around, I noticed that they were all looking at me. "What?" I asked, raising a brow. "You tell us," Tripp said, looking at me from across the porch. "I don't have anything to say." "But something to explain," Rhys said. I was confused. "What do you mean?" I looked over at Dad and Odin, then up at Dash. "Help me out here." He shrugged and squeezed my hand. "I have no idea what the hell they're talking about." "We're talking about how you acted today at the shop," Odin said, and I turned my attention to him. "How did I behave?" I was genuinely confused. "I thought you guys didn't care as long as I keep the customers coming." "Yeah, as long as you don't act like a total whore," Rhys muttered, which earned him a slap at the back of his head from Tripp. "Don't fucking call her that," he hissed before his eyes met mine again. "But he's right. You went too far today." I furrowed my brows. "So you all saw me bend down and pick up the fifty bucks?" "Sure did," Ashby said, looking a bit too amused. "Did you like it?" I asked. There was silence. They did like it. Damn... "Bliss." Dad shook his head and rubbed his beard. "We just ask you to be safer. You don't know these men, and I don't want any of them to see you out somewhere and think they have the right to get close." I understood his concern, and until now, I didn't really think about the consequences of my actions. I bit my lower lip and looked around, carefully taking in each of their expressions. "Okay, I'm sorry." "You don't have to apologize, kid," Odin said. "We just want to make sure you understand our view of it." "I do," I replied, smiling tightly. "I promise, I do." Odin and Dad nodded, and Rhys was over this conversation already. He let out a heavy sigh. "Now that we got that out of the way...what are we gonna do about the barn?" I didn't care about the barn. It was old and rundown and useless. Dad once had the idea of tearing it down and rebuilding it. To turn it into a guest house or something. Not that we'd need one. We never had people over. While the others discussed their ideas, I turned my full attention to Dash who had no intention of talking about the barn either. He smiled at me and placed my hand on his chest. "I liked what you did today. You were in total control, and that idiot fell for it. You're a badass." He kept his voice low so the others wouldn't hear. I pursed my lips and dropped my gaze to my hand. Curling my fingers around his shirt, I pulled him a little closer. "The others don't think so. They're annoyed with me." "They're not annoyed. You heard them. They just want you to be careful." "And you?" I looked up again, taking in his dark blue eyes. "Do you want me to be careful?" He furrowed his brows. "Of course, I want you to be careful. But..." He stopped, then a small grin tugged at his lips. "I don't mind watching you flirt like that. It's hot. Makes work more fun." I laughed and ran my hand into his hair at the back of his head, pulling at it slightly. "And you're not jealous?" "Jealous?" He sounded offended, but his expression was the opposite. He leaned in closer, his forehead touching mine. "You know you shouldn't even think something like that." "Why not?" I knew why not. It was wrong. It crossed a line. But it felt...nice. Different. Exciting. Dash cupped my face with his right hand, his thumb caressing my cheek. He kept his eyes on mine. "Because we're family. I can't be jealous of other guys flirting with you." "Yes, you can." "I can't, Lissy." He sighed but let out a laugh after. He lowered his voice even more. "All right, maybe I am a little jealous. But I don't feel good about it. It's not right." I stared at him for a moment, slowly realizing what he just confessed. I couldn't hide a grin. "I like that," I whispered. "You shouldn't." "But I do. It's...exciting." He studied me closely and shook his head when he concluded that it wasn't right. "No, no, it's not, Bliss." "You're denying it now, but I know you find it exciting too. Don't lie to me, Dash." He shook his head at my statement and clicked his tongue. "You don't know what I'm really feeling. Stop trying to mess with my head." "I'm not messing with your head." I frowned again. "You're being weird." "I'm not." "Sure are!" "Hey!" Odin's voice cut through our argument like a knife. "Stop fighting over there." We both sat up to look at him. "We're not fighting, Dad." "We actually are," I muttered, pushing myself off the swing. "And I'm tired of it. So I'm going to bed." "Way to go, Dash," Ashby said amused. "I didn't do anything!" Dash got up too and followed me into the house. "Bliss, wait." "Leave me alone." "No, we'll talk this out now." He grabbed my wrist and stopped me from walking up the stairs. I turned around and glared at him, trying to pull away my hand. "Let go." "No. Let's talk." "I don't want to talk." "But I do." He looked serious. "I hate when we miscommunicate." "There was no miscommunication," I argued. "All right, fine. But you're upset, and I don't want you to be upset." I finally got my hand free, and I crossed my arms over my chest. I didn't say another word. I truly was upset, and not for a normal reason. I didn't like that he denied being jealous. It was sick of me to think my cousin liked me that way. And maybe I was upset with myself for feeling that way. Dash stepped closer and put both his hands on my hips, then leaned in to rest his forehead against mine. "Let me make it up to you. Please." I furrowed my brows. "How?" "Come to my room. Let's watch a movie and just hang out." That sounded perfect. Too perfect. "After all of this?" I asked, reminding him of why the situation between us had gotten a bit strange. "Yeah. Come on...we've done this before." We had. Sleepovers were normal for us. "Fine." "Yeah?" He smirked. "Let's go." I let him guide me upstairs where all our rooms were. His was down the hall next to Ashby's. We entered his room, and I stopped in the middle of it, taking it all in. Dash had always been the tidiest one, but this time, there were clothes scattered all over the floor. "What happened?" "Oh, I couldn't find a specific shirt," he explained nonchalantly. "I'll tidy up tomorrow. What do you wanna watch?" He started to undress to his boxers while I already got comfortable on his bed. "Doesn't matter." "Oh, come on, Lissy. You choose a movie. Any movie." I thought about it for a while, then shrugged. "Passengers?" He agreed and got into bed with me. I had no choice than to cuddle up to him because he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his body. I was trapped, but I didn't argue. I wanted to be here, even if I was upset. The movie was interesting enough to keep our attention on the screen, but when the bedroom door opened, we both turned our heads to see Ashby come in. "Hi," I said, smiling gently at the sight of him. Like Dash, he was incredibly handsome. Both tall with brown hair and blue eyes, tan skin, and the funniest sense of humor. They got it all from Odin. There was no doubt about it. He studied us, taking in the position we were in with narrowed eyes. "You all right now?" he asked. "Yup." My smile tightened. "We're not arguing anymore." "We never were arguing," Dash corrected. "Sure were. And I was upset, too." "But you're not anymore." I looked at Dash and shook my head. "No, not really." Ashby shook his head and muttered something under his breath before closing the door behind him. He was staying, apparently. "What are you doing?" Dash then asked, frowning at his older brother. Ashby shrugged and stepped closer. "Just making sure you're not killing each other. Or making out." "Why would you think that?" I asked, feeling a strange sensation between my legs. Oh God...I liked the thought of making out with Dash. And the idea of Ashby knowing. Or even catching us. My cheeks turned bright red, which wasn't a sight to miss on my pale skin. Ashby noticed, but he didn't mention it. "Looked like you were making out before you started arguing. Looked pretty close in that swing, and it's not the first time." He came closer and sat down on the side of the bed, next to me. "We were just talking," Dash stated, his arms tightening around me like he hated what he said. "Can you leave?" "No. I like being here. Actually, I'll join you." He got back up and took off his shirt and pants and got back on the bed wearing only his boxers. "Stop looking at me like I said something insane." Dash muttered a curse, ignoring Ashby. I couldn't stay quiet though. I wanted to defend Dash, even though I hated what I said next. "Dash never kissed me." "But he wants to." "We're cousins." He raised a brow at me. "So? Doesn't mean he can't kiss you." "Jesus, Ash, shut the fuck up." Dash moved away to cross his arms over his chest. "You're fucked up." "Why? Because I say what's on your mind?" Ashby challenged, smirking at Dash. "It's so damn obvious, man. And, to be honest, I don't judge you. Lissy's a beautiful girl." Ashby's arm came around my shoulders, and he looked at me with amusement flashing in his eyes. "And if I'm not mistaken...Lissy here also isn't so opposed to it either." "I don't want to kiss him." "Sure you don't." He winked at me, then looked over at Dash. "Again...I wouldn't judge." "You're sick," Dash muttered. "You do it then." "Me?" Ashby laughed, looking at me again. "If Lissy lets me." My mouth went dry and my lips parted. "I..." My heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel it throbbing in my damn throat. "Don't be shy now. It's just a kiss. Won't be your first, right?" It wouldn't be my first, no. But I wasn't sure if he was being serious. He looked way too cocky. Too...amused. "Are you messing with me?" I asked. "Fuck, no. Just wanna prove something to Dash." "Prove what?" he asked. "That cousins can kiss without consequences." I kept looking at Ashby, unsure if I should believe him or not. Clearly, I was desperate to kiss him. It was way too exciting not to do it. But then...what if he was fucking with me? If I kissed him and he told Dad about it, I would be the one getting in trouble. Because I have been the one flirting shamelessly with customers, so why wouldn't I do it with my cousin? God, this could go very wrong. "So?" Ashby urged, raising a brow at me. "Gonna give me a kiss or not?" I swallowed hard, unsure how to answer. "Just a kiss..." "Yeah. Unless you want my tongue in your mouth." Dash was quiet now. He just watched us, waiting for me to decide. He looked curious, too, and maybe he wanted to see how far I'd go, before it would be his turn. I looked at Ashby again while biting my cheek. No way I was going to pass on this. Hell, and even if he would trick me, I still got a kiss out of it, and I could remember it as my dirty little secret. "Okay." The tiniest hint of surprise flashed through his eyes while Dash tensed next to me. "You sure?" Ashby asked, taking his arm away from around me to turn more toward me. "Yes, I'm sure." He smirked, then licked his lips as he moved closer, with one hand reaching up to cup the back of my head, and the other cupping my cheek. His eyes fell to my lips, then moved up to mine as he said, "You'll like it. I'm a good kisser." That was a promise I'd hold against him if he was lying. I also didn't doubt that he was a good kisser. I knew he was because of all the girls constantly talking about it back in school. And it wasn't just his name that got thrown around. Dash, Tripp, and especially Rhys. They all had girlfriends all through high school. Multiple. I had my fair share of boys and kisses, but never have I had sex. I came close two or three times, but I chickened out. Most wouldn't believe that, but it's true. "Stop shaking," Ashby whispered, his face coming even closer. Taking a deep breath and trying to calm my nerves, I looked at his mouth before it took mine. His lips moved slowly, soft but controlled. His fingers curled into my hair, and he pulled me closer, deepening the kiss. Dash wasn't moving, but I could feel his eyes on us. He was watching, taking this in as carefully as possible to remember it too. I couldn't imagine him being okay with this without feeling some sort of jealousy, and the longer the kiss went on, the more I hoped for him to ask me to kiss him too once Ashby left. I was ready to pull back, thinking the kiss had gone on for long enough, but Ashby wouldn't let me. He tilted his head to the side while keeping me in place, and with his tongue, he slid along the seam of my mouth until I granted him access. My lips parted, and his tongue slid inside to curl around mine. It tasted strange at first. Not because he had bad breath or anything. Simply because the fact that he was my cousin made it taste weird. But it tasted better than any other kiss. "Damn," Dash said under his breath. He didn't stop us, and Ashby took it a step further. His grip on my head tightened, and he pushed me back against the bed's headboard so I had no way of escaping. Not that I wanted to, anyway. I moaned into the kiss and gripped his shoulders, keeping him right there, and never breaking the kiss. When he sucked my tongue into his mouth, a whole new sensation came over me. Whatever he was doing was working. "I think that's enough," Dash suddenly said. But Ashby didn't stop kissing me. Not for another couple of seconds. He pushed his tongue into my mouth, held it there as he played with mine, then he finally pulled back to give me the chance to breathe. I looked at him, my eyelids heavy, and my heart now practically beating outside of my chest. Ashby grinned at me and wiped the pad of his thumb along my bottom lip. "Goddamn." That was all he said before leaning back and pulling the blanket over his legs. I couldn't move just yet. I needed to process what just happened. And what just happened was the most exciting thing I had ever done. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!