Revealed: A Hype PR and Eye Candy Bookstore Anthology, Page 2

  I step back with each step he takes toward me until I’m pinned to the door. He smiles when he sees I have nowhere to go. My heart races and fear kicks in. This man is not Cannon. Cannon was kind, gentle. He told me I was beautiful. Made me feel special. This man stalking me has me afraid I’ll never leave this room.

  He stops a foot in front of me. Close enough I can read the script inked onto his ribcage. The demon souled man provides a hiding place. It’s from Jekyll & Hyde. I can’t remember if it’s the book or the movie, but it’s ratcheted my fear up several notches. His eyes follow mine and he smiles.

  “Like that saying?”

  I don’t respond.

  “I got it to remind me of Cannon. Of the monster he is. Every day it reminds me of what people are capable of. What people I love can blind me to.”

  “Cannon is a good man,” I shout. “Much better than you.”

  He laughs. So hard his body shakes. “Oh, Starr, you are naïve.”

  “How do you know my name?” My words tremble leaving my lips. I know he can see my fear now. I need to get out of here, but how do I fight off a man who is almost a foot taller than me and nearly double my weight?

  “Did you know Cannon used to jerk off to your picture?”

  My mind goes blank as I stare into the face so identical to Cannon’s. The one saying such hateful things.

  “He…Cannon loved my sister.”

  He runs his fingers along his jaw and I wonder what he’s thinking. How he knows about Ebony and me.

  “Ah, Ebony. The girl he used to get close to her little sister. Too bad his plan was ruined.”

  Fire starts in my toes and burns straight through my body. How dare he create such lies?

  “You horrible, deceitful, jealous pig. You couldn’t fill Cannon’s shoes if—”

  “He saw you watching them. Knew you fingered yourself that night. How many times did you get off thinking of your sister’s boyfriend? Maybe you deserve what he had planned for you.”

  Slap! I didn’t mean to. Didn’t intend to, but his words struck the center of my guilt. Why would Cannon tell him this?

  He rubs his face before he says another word. They’re no gentler than before. “He worked you. I bet he told you, you were beautiful. Boys your age were too immature to see what you were worth. He made you feel like no one else saw you but him.”

  I can’t speak. How does he know? That’s exactly how Cannon made me feel. A tear drips from my eye and this stranger who looks so familiar to me, but isn’t, wipes it away.

  “I’m sorry.” He sighs and his shoulders sag. “It’s not your fault. Cannon is sick. He preys on young girls. He preyed on you.”

  I lean against the wall, all my fight gone. How can this be? Even after I realized Cannon wasn’t my forever after, he was still the guy I compared them all to. Now I find out he’s a monster. He may have tried to hurt me. I can’t process this.

  “Why don’t you sit down and have some breakfast? I can explain things to you. I’m Rebel by the way.”

  “What’s with the names in your family?”

  “My dad wanted his sons to have names that sounded strong. Said he never wanted anyone to mess with his boys.”

  For the first time since seeing him, I chuckle.

  Chapter Four

  Rebel walked me back to my resort. I couldn’t get his words out of my head. Cannon raped their sister Jennifer—Jennie, and Rebel caught him. He would have killed Cannon if his sister hadn’t stopped him. Their parents were more upset with Rebel for hurting his brother than Cannon for what he’d done. They thought it was simple teenage curiosity. But, Rebel was so angry they were afraid he would hurt him again. They sent Cannon to live with their aunt and uncle to keep the peace.

  They never got Jennie help

  The story made me sick.

  It was worse when Rebel told me how Cannon tormented him the entire time he lived in Arizona. He sent him pictures of me with crude messages and how he was pleasuring himself. He told him in detail the ways he planned to destroy me. Rebel went to his parents for help, but they didn’t believe it was Cannon because the bastard had gotten a burner phone and the messages came from Jerry. It was his twisted way of telling Rebel he was Tom, like in the Tom & Jerry cartoon, and he would never catch the clever mouse. It was their favorite show to watch as children. Their parents believed it was someone from school harassing Rebel. They refused to do a thing no matter how much he screamed that Cannon was going to hurt another girl.

  They never believed he hurt anyone in the first place.

  Rebel was a teenager, alone in the knowledge that his brother was a monster. If his parents didn’t believe him, he didn’t know who would. He tried reasoning with Cannon, explaining that my parents wouldn’t treat him like he’d done no wrong. They would crucify him. Cannon would reply with pictures of me sleeping, laughing, showering, and his hand on his dick. I don’t know how he got those pictures with no one in my family ever catching him.

  I struggled to keep down the breakfast he made me.

  I kept thinking how I used to have a crush on Cannon. I betrayed my sister’s trust. All the while he was betraying her heart. He never really loved her. How the hell am I going to tell her all of this? Should I? Is it worth destroying her all over again?

  My conflicting feelings kept me locked in my room all day after Rebel left me at my door yesterday. He thanked me for listening and not judging him before gently placing a kiss on my cheek. I couldn’t believe he thought I’d be upset with him, but he felt he should have done more, never allowed Cannon to move to Arizona in the first place. I don’t know how he thought he could have stopped his parents from making that decision. He was only seventeen.

  Lacey, Kellie, and Christine tried getting me to go out, but I told them I was suffering a major hangover. They asked if I finally got my teenage wish and fucked Cannon. I almost threw up thinking about it. Briefly, I explained who Rebel was, leaving out all the horrible details. They were as shocked as I was that Cannon had a twin. That shock wore off quick and they joked that I could have fucked Rebel and gotten over my Cannon obsession without the guilt. I just shook my head and walked off to the shower.

  I must have looked like shit when I emerged from the shower because the girls stopped pestering me about leaving the room. Lacey put a few bottles of water near my bed, Kellie left me ibuprofen and crackers, and Christine laid the room service menu on my pillow. Each of them gave me a hug, but didn’t squeeze too tight, saying they’d text in a few hours to check on me. I assured them I’d text them when I woke up and to go have fun.

  I really just wanted them to leave so I could be alone.

  When the door finally closed behind them, I wasted no time climbing in bed, curling into a ball, and letting loose the tears that had been threatening to fall since I first laid eyes on Rebel. The man who looks like Cannon. It’s still hard to understand they’re brothers. That Cannon has a whole family he lied about. The more I think of his lies, the harder I cry. My stomach hurts. My heart hurts. Hell, even my mind hurts.

  I’m not sure when my tears stopped and sleep took over, but images of Cannon tormented me. He had long, razor sharp nails and he tore through my delicate skin with them as he laughed at me. I screamed for Ebony and Rebel to save me, but no one came. Cannon abused me over and over as he cut through my body with those nails, his face morphed into something I don’t recognize. I woke, covered in sweat with screams tearing from my throat.

  It’s crazy that in a matter of hours a man I once dreamed of loving turned into a monster. Now, I find myself trusting his brother, even though I don’t know him. It’s just that the pain in his eyes was so deep—so real. It made me question everything. Everything Cannon ever did. Everything he ever said.

  It brought up a conversation that made me realize I never knew Cannon at all.

  “I never did get to meet your aunt and uncle. No one in my family did.” I shouldn’t be bringing this up, but I find I’m curious about Rebel, abou
t Cannon’s whole family.

  He looks as me in confusion. “Why not? Uncle Henry and Aunt Ann Marie would have loved to have your family over.”

  Now, I’m confused. I think it’s best to tell him the whole truth of what Cannon told us.

  “I don’t know you, but you’ve shown a tendency to get angry easily—”

  “Starr?” he questions impatiently. His green eyes grow dark and I find myself wanting to reach out and touch his face. I’m such a stupid girl.

  “Ok, ok…Cannon told us his parents died in a car accident and he was sent to live with his father’s much older brother and wife. He never said it, but it was implied that his parents were quite old when they had him. He said it was hard on his relatives to raise him, so he couldn’t have guests. They didn’t even go to his graduation, but he told us they were very proud.”

  I rush the words out because I know they were all lies. Cannon’s parents are obviously not dead and he has an entire family we knew nothing about.

  Rebel stands with his breakfast dishes in his hands. He walks to the sink and I think things are alright until he slams them down, the plate smashing. He doesn’t say anything at first, but his back heaves up and down. I wonder if I can leave without him noticing.

  “Don’t you see, Starr? It was all so he could stay close to you.”

  “Me?” I ask him, his back still to me.

  He begins to pace, making his way to the table where I’m sitting and stops in front of me. Rebel bends so he’s at my eye level. “Cannon went to live with our mother’s younger sister and her husband. They were in their late twenties.”

  “He lied,” I whisper. Of course he lied. He had about everything, but having Rebel stare at me so closely, slapping me in the face with reality, hurts more than I can bear.

  “He probably never even told them about graduation, or he gave them the wrong date. He couldn’t take the chance your family would find out the truth. It was all a game and you were the pawn. He needed you to feel sorry for him for what he lost and be proud of his accomplishments. He needed YOU to see the persona he created for you.”

  I’m silent, lost in Rebel’s gaze as I try to process what he’s saying.

  “Why me? Ebony was beautiful. I was…not. I was gawky. Not developed.”

  Rebel jams his hands through his hair, pain lancing his eyes.

  “You were perfect. Untouched. Someone he could mold. You looked at him as a god.”

  “That’s sick.”

  “That’s Cannon.”

  The sound of a text buzzing jars me from the memory. I grab my phone and stare at it confounded when I see who it’s from.

  Rebel: How r u

  How did u get my #

  Rebel: Programmed it while u were passed out

  I don’t know why, but this makes me ridiculously happy. A smile stretches my face so wide my cheeks start to ache, but he doesn’t need to know that.

  Crazy people do things like that

  Rebel: Maybe I was hoping 2 c u again

  I literally giggle like a teenage girl and spin, almost dropping my phone. What the hell is wrong with me? I should be done with this family but Rebel’s honesty about the tragedy in his life draws me to him. He could have told me to fuck off. Avoided me. Treated me like what I am…a painful reminder of his past. But here he is, asking to see me again. It couldn’t hurt to say yes.

  Plus, he’s sexy as fuck.

  Hanging at the pool in the morning

  My phone is silent a minute and I wonder if he’s decided against hanging out with me. My giddiness from a second ago turns sour.

  Rebel: Hmm. You wet? I’m in.

  Tomorrow can’t get here fast enough.

  Chapter Five

  Normally I hide under the umbrella while my friends have all the fun in the pool. They have guys hanging all over them and I look bored as I read a book. Not today. Rebel’s text about me wet had me grabbing my teeniest bikini, slathering on sunblock, and jumping in the water. I don’t care how many times I need to reapply, I will make sure I’m wet for Rebel.

  Hopefully I won’t look like a fucking lobster by then.

  The ladies have been riding my ass all morning, trying to figure out what created this change in me. I told them I’m embracing vacation. I may want to embrace a hot, black haired Adonis, but saying that will lead to more dick comments than I care to hear.

  “Wet looks good on you.”

  A shiver runs down my spine as I hear his voice behind me. Turning, I swear my fucking ovaries explode. It’s not possible for a man to look hotter every time you see him. Black swim trunks, wet hair, bare chest, water dripping down his face and torso.

  “You would look better.”

  Holy shit. Did I just say that? That’s something Kellie would say.

  He laughs and walks the couple of steps through the water to me. “I didn’t think you had it in you, Princess.” He kisses my cheek and I feel like I’m being touched for the first time.

  “Apparently she needs you in her.”

  And now I want to die.

  “It can be arranged,” he replies with a smirk.

  “You’ve met my friends, right?” I ask, wanting to box punch Christine for her latest comment. If I’m not red from a sunburn, I sure as hell am from embarrassment.

  Before anyone else can say anything that may make me never speak to Rebel again, a pretty, petite blonde walks over and says hi to him. I stiffen and pout. Jealousy isn’t a good look on you, McNamara. Shaking my head, I try to lose the attitude. Rebel is not mine to get jealous over.

  “Starr, this is Jennie.”

  “Oh.” Then it dawns on me that Jennie is his sister. The one Cannon… “Oh,” I repeat stupidly.

  “Jesus, Rebel, you told her.” She doesn’t look happy.

  “Sorry. She almost was you. Felt like I should.”

  Jennie shrugs. “The guys told me to find you. Last minute wedding stuff.”

  “Hey, Jennie. Is it too late for me to bring a date?”

  She shakes her head and they smile at each other. I can’t get over how blonde she is to his darkness. It shouldn’t be weird. Ebony and I are the same way.

  Rebel’s hands come around my waist, lifting me to the edge of the pool as he maneuvers himself between my legs. If I wasn’t wet before, I would be soaked now. “Whaddya say, Princess? Want to make me a lucky guy tonight?”

  The girls laugh behind me and his sister waits for him, so instead of cracking a joke I nod. I thought he was gorgeous before, but when he smiles, I melt into a puddle.

  “Pick you up in six hours.” This time there’s no kiss to my cheek. He leans in and places his lips to mine. It’s not the peck of a date you’re unsure about, but he doesn’t press for more either. It’s perfect.

  Then he gets out of the pool and starts to walk off with Jennie.

  “Wait!” He and Jennie both look at me. “What do I wear? Is it inside? Outside? Casual? Formal? You can’t just ask a girl to a wedding and not give her an idea of what to wear. Should I match you?”

  He walks back to me and bends down. “I bet you’d look stunning in a potato sack, Princess. It’s Cabo. It’s warm everywhere. Wear whatever makes you feel beautiful. I’m sure I’ll agree.” He kisses me again and leaves.

  Two hands push me from behind, knocking me in the pool. I come up sputtering as Kellie laughs at me. “Get out of the pool, bitch. We have work to do,” she commands between giggles.

  “Why’d you push me in then?”

  “To wipe that annoying ass grin off your face.”

  Then it starts. Kellie has a plan and no one better get in her way. She’s going dress, shoe, and accessory shopping. Lacey and Christine are to take me to the spa for a facial, hair treatment, mani and pedi, and Kellie adds, “Don’t forget the massage. That girl’s so tense she looks like someone shoved a dick up her ass for the first time with no lube.”

  We split up with plans to meet back in the room in four and a half hours. Kellie said she needs s
ome time to work her spell on me. That means hair and make-up. She may be bossy, but no one has ever made me look more radiant than that girl.

  Two hours into our spa time, Hurricane Kellie flies through the doors with bags hanging off her arms. She always buys way more than necessary.

  “Girl, wait till you see how hot you’re going to look. Rebel is going to rip this dress off you.”

  I look around at the staff to see who’s listening.

  “Oh, who gives a fuck if they hear? You think they haven’t heard worse? Bitch, please.”

  She walks over to the polishes and grabs the color she likes, tells me to enjoy my massage, and heads over to show the others what she bought. I want to see, but I won’t spoil her surprise, so I disappear into the massage room. It’s weird getting completely naked and lying on a bed, waiting for a stranger to rub you down, but I can’t leave. The girls will kick my ass.

  “Are you ready to relax?”

  I start to lift my head, knowing that voice.

  “Uh-uh. Lie down and keep your eyes closed, Princess.”

  I place my face back in the ring and try to figure out how Rebel got in the room. His large, oiled up hands start kneading my shoulders. A small moan escapes. He works his way down my arms, to my fingers. After he massages them, he places a kiss to each one. My breathing starts to increase.

  He works back up my arms, over my shoulders to my back. I hadn’t realized how tense I was. Every movement of his fingers brings relief and want. I need to feel him touch me somewhere else. He has no idea how I’m burning up for him.

  “Where are you most tense, Princess? How can I help you relax?”

  I can’t answer the way I want. I’m not like my friends.

  “My legs,” I say through trembling lips.

  I think I hear him chuckle, but he pulls the blanket away from my left leg, exposing part of my ass. His fingers dig into my calf and caress up my leg to my inner thigh. He’s so close to where I want him. To where a pool of wetness awaits him.