You’re Mine by Penny Brooks
Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Harper

“Easton.” I nudge his bare shoulder, silently marveling at the muscle Ifeel there. He's firm -hard all over. If I had more time, I'd spend itexploring his naked body with my mouth. My tongue. My hands andmy fingers.

But we don't have the time. My parents should be home from work anyminute while we're still in my bed.

Naked.

"Wha?" he asks, his voice muffled against the pillow.

Within minutes of us having sex, he collapsed next to me and fellasleep. Like...who does that?

Easton, I guess. Any other time I would've found it adorable, but Iwanted to talk more about Blake and what Easton and my brotherdiscovered in his car. I wanted to stare at those photos some more andreally look at them. I also wanted to ask him about that look he andRyan shared earlier, when they didn't say anything.

What's their plan? And how can I convince him he can't just go beatBlake up over this?

They're friends. They need to work it out.

There's also that tiny, niggling feeling in the back of my mind that tellsme Blake didn't do this at all.

Aisha did.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to convince Easton that she’s evil enough tocome for me. Why does he always protect her? Or write her off? It's soannoying.

Why won't he believe me?

Shoving my worry aside, I focus on waking Easton up and getting himout of my bed.

“My parents are going to be home soon,” I whisper, then let myselfspeak louder. “You should go.”

He sits up, running a hand through his hair, his biceps bulging,completely distracting me. “Kicking me out?”

The lazy grin on his face is a heart stopper. But I refuse to be swayed byit.

Dipping over the side of the bed, I reach for his shirt and toss it at him,smacking him in the face. “Yep.”

His smile fades, the shirt falling in his lap. “Damn. Ruthless, babe.”

I smile sweetly at him before I lean in and drop a kiss on his lips. “Not inthe mood to get caught naked in bed with my boyfriend, babe.”

“True, true.” He nods, pulling his T-shirt on before he reaches for therest of his clothes.

He gets dressed in a hurry, as do I, until we're both fully clothed and I'mraking my fingers through my messy hair while he checks his phone, afrown on his face.

"What's wrong?”

He glances up, smiling faintly. “Ah, nothing.”

Uh huh. I don't believe him. He's keeping secrets from me, and I don'tlike it.

At all.

We head out of my room and down the stairs, and I notice how quietthe house is. Where's Ryan and Sadie? Did they actually leave?

Sadie must hate me. I just ditched her for Easton, after complaining toher that Easton ditched me for Ryan.

Sometimes, I'm a shit friend. I'll call her later and apologize. I need toget my head out of my ass and be a better friend to her. She's been sogood to me, always rushing to my defense.

But she’s also keeping her own secrets...

Pausing at the front door, Easton turns toward me, his expression soft,his hair still sex rumpled. He's absolutely adorable and he's watchingme with dopey eyes, like he's high

or something.

Not on drugs. More like he's high on me.

“We need to do that more often.” He kisses me, his lips soft. Lingering.“I like making you beg.”

My cheeks go hot and I press my fingers against his lips. “Shush. Wecan't talk about that now.”

“Your parents aren't home yet.” I drop my fingers and he deliversanother scorching kiss. “Stop worrying.”

“Easton, you should go.” I clear my throat and reach around him, hipchecking him so I can open the door without him in the way. “We'll talklater?”

He frowns, looking me up and down, as if he doesn't know what to dowith me. “Sure. I'll text you after dinner.”

“Sounds good.” I don't like the confused way he's staring at me so Igive him another kiss to soften my sudden harshness. “Bye.”

“Hey.” He grabs my shoulders, his expression serious as he studies me.“You do realize Blake did that to your garage door, right? It wasn'tAisha.”

Inod, my smile serene. “You're right. I know you are.”

The relief on his face is obvious. “Right. Yeah. Okay, babe. See youlater.”

“See you tomorrow.” I open the door wider, watching as he heads forhis car, noticing that Ryan's car is here...

But Sadie’s is gone.

I'm pretty sure they're together. The house is way too quiet.

Once Easton is gone, I go back up to my room, passing by Ryan'spartially open bedroom door. I push it open wider to replace the roomempty, just as I suspected.

Hmm. My best friend is definitely hooking up with my brother, yetthey're both not talking.

At all.

So frustrating.

I curl up in bed, pulling the covers over me and contemplate everythingthat's happened today, yet coming back to the same thing every time.The confrontation with Aisha. How mean she was, how utterly vile. Thatgirl doesn't know when to quit, and I'm proud of the way I stood up toher, even though I couldn't stop shaking.

She never backed down either. That's why it's so easy to imagine hergetting off on writing the word whore on our garage door. Trying toscare me and infuriate my brother.

That bitch deserves to suffer for what she’s put me through. What she’sput all of us through

Blake though? I just don't see it. Nope, I can't. He's one of Ryan'sabsolute best friends Why would he target me?

It makes no sense.

Maybe he had the spray paint for another reason. People use blackspray paint all the time, right? Just because they have some in the cardoesn't make them a vandalizer or whatever.

I need to get to the bottom of this-and I don't want to do it with Eastoneither. He's not listening to me. He's positive it's Blake. Ryan feels thesame way. They're both so freaking frustrating. The more I think aboutit...

The madder I become.