The Sweetest Scent Part 1

The Sweetest Scent.

Susan Laine.

I dedicate this to all the fans of the series and especially to one c.o.c.ky brat who never shuts up.

Part One

Chapter 1.

"WHAT the-" the-"

Bro Sumner started at the noise coming from down the hall and pulled away from the most delectable kiss he had ever had the pleasure of partaking in. His cheeks flaming with embarra.s.sment, he turned his head to find his older brother Sebastian standing there with his fiance, Jordan Waters.

"I can explain...," he began, even while knowing he was mumbling too fast for his deaf brother to understand him. Still, getting caught almost literally with his pants down while making out with his girlfriend on the couch did not exactly incline Bro to enunciate clearly.

But he was proven wrong about his a.s.sumption when Sebastian said angrily, "What have I told you about leaving your stuff on the coffee table overnight? I don't want a rodent infestation here. Bro, take your dirty dishes to the kitchen this instant." Then peering over Bro's shoulder, Sebastian added with a smile and a wave, "Hi, Lacey." There was no malice in his words, and Bro sighed in relief.

From the couch, Lacey called out enthusiastically, "Hi, Sebastian," and added a girlish wave to the words. She was scrambling to an upright position, adjusting the hem of her dress to cover her exposed thighs.

Grumbling under his breath, momentarily thankful his brother could not hear him, Bro grabbed the dirty plates and gla.s.ses off the living room coffee table and headed for the kitchen, stomping around like an angry bull to make his point. He was seventeen, but that did not make him a domestic slave for the grown-ups of the household.

As he pa.s.sed his brother and his fiance, though, Jordan cuffed him on the head, mostly just tousling his black hair. "Sebastian may be deaf, but I'm not, so mind your tone, Bro, and watch the swearing. If you can't be bothered to keep the place tidy 'cause you're too busy making out-"

Bro snapped his head back and glared at Jordan, who smiled back congenially. "Okay, okay. Jesus f.u.c.king Christ. You're such a bully."

"Language," Sebastian immediately cut in, his hollow voice so familiar to Bro.

"Oh, please," Bro huffed indignantly. "Like you and Jordan never suck face-"

"Hard to smooch while cursing." Jordan laughed and moved off toward the loft kitchen, where he unceremoniously planted the food bags he had been carrying.

"f.u.c.k you" was Bro's response as he flipped Jordan off.

"Bro!" Sebastian did not approve of his baby brother using foul language, especially in a situation that was utterly Bro's own fault. He had known his family was coming home, but he had been too caught up kissing his girlfriend to remember to clean off the coffee table.

Lacey.

At that moment, Bro realized that amid his fury he had totally s.p.a.ced out on Lacey, and shame heated his cheeks. Turning on his heels in a flash, he glanced at Lacey, who was sitting demurely on the couch, her legs folded under her, as she observed the whole interaction with some amus.e.m.e.nt; that is, if the sparkle in her light-brown eyes was any indication.

G.o.d, he's so freaking beautiful. Yeah, she sure is.

Lacey Adair was Bro's girlfriend-only underneath the feminine clothes, he was a boy, or she was a boy, however you preferred to put it. She was beautiful, more so than anyone Bro had ever known. Her blond hair was cut very short, but it was still soft and wavy, sort of a cross between a boy's and a girl's hairdo. Her pink lip gloss made her full, pouting lips look wet and delicious-although most of it was smeared off now-and she also wore dark-brown eye shadow and eyeliner around her elegantly made-up hazel eyes. In sunlight Lacey's eyes glimmered almost golden sometimes, in Bro's infatuated mind at least.

Like one of those old-fas.h.i.+oned pinup girls, Lacey looked cute posed on the couch, her yellow chiffon summer dress flowing around her pet.i.te, delicate frame, giving her a casual yet stylish look. Bro loved that Lacey was slim but still had meat on her bones. They had done enough lovers' wrestling for Bro to know Lacey was no one's breakable little flower. Her feet were bare, as she had been sitting in Bro's lap before they had been so rudely interrupted.

As usual, simply seeing Lacey made Bro sigh contentedly, dishes forgotten.

"Here, I'll take those." Jordan wasn't bothering to conceal his mirth as he s.n.a.t.c.hed the dirty dishes from Bro's hands and headed back to the kitchen, whispering loudly on his way, "I think something other than dishes needs your undivided attention."

Bro blushed at Jordan's insinuations, but it wasn't like the guy was wrong. With a small, grateful nod, he returned to the couch and sat next to Lacey, whose smile was as bright as the sun.

"Sorry about that," Bro muttered apologetically. He found a few strands of hair gone astray around Lacey's temple, so he brushed them behind her ear, caressing the soft sh.e.l.l of her earlobe along the way. She s.h.i.+vered.

This close to Lacey, Bro always noted her intoxicating scent. Lacey only ever wore women's perfumes, preferring the slightly more floral women's fragrances than those of men's colognes. What at first hinted of lavender and something citrusy, soon morphed into orchid, and finally lingered at a musky undertone that could be both male and female. The duality of Lacey came through clearly in her choice of ambiguous perfumes. In any case, the sweet scent suited her to a tee.

When they had first met and started dating, Bro hadn't been sure whether to call Lacey him or her. Lacey was, after all, a gay boy who, as far as Bro knew, did not want to physically become a woman. Yet with her friends, she identified more as female, and the same was true with Bro, so he went along with whatever she wanted. In bed, however, she took on a male persona with ease, matching with her, um, boy bits.

Lacey chuckled lightly, covering her mouth with her hand. "It's all right. We knew they'd be coming home soon. Jack and Kevin probably won't be far behind."

This was true, Bro thought, sighing longingly. He lived with an extended family of sorts in a huge loft apartment that took up two floors. What had started out as the household of the two Sumner brothers had grown to include the Waters brothers, and also one Thompson thrown into the mix. EMT Jack Waters was Jordan's younger brother, and Kevin Thompson was Jordan's partner at work-in the Financial Crimes and Fraud Unit of the MPDC-and Jack's partner in the relations.h.i.+p department. At times it felt like living in an episode of The Secret Life of the American Teenager The Secret Life of the American Teenager or or Gossip Girl Gossip Girl or or 90210 90210.

Bro sometimes believed their family would continue to grow into infinity if he so much as blinked.

At the moment, though, he had a lovely young thing in front of him.

"I have to get home anyway," Lacey said, her voice carrying a hint of sadness.

"What? Already?" Bro knew he sounded whiny, but he wasn't willing to let Lacey go yet. He longed to wrap his arms around her waist and pull her near enough to feel her heartbeat, to sniff her strawberry shampoo, to taste her neck....

Lacey chuckled, her full lips curved into a smile. "Come on, Bro. You know how my dad gets if I'm too late." Bro could only grunt in acknowledgment of Lacey's father, who was, for all intents and purposes, a drunken, belligerent a.s.shole with no idea who his son was. "And if he tells me I can't see you...."

As Lacey's slender shoulders s.h.i.+vered, Bro wrapped his arms around her, comforting her, running his palms up and down her back. "Yeah, I get it. It's fine. Well, not fine, but I get it, 'cause he's a bit of a p.r.i.c.k and-"

His voice was m.u.f.fled by the brush of Lacey's lips against his own, then silenced entirely when Lacey's tongue slipped into his mouth, curling around his. As Bro tilted his head a bit more, the kiss deepened, and Bro could not have cared less if his whole high school sat as audience to their shared intimacy.

She tasted like cherries, and Bro loved cherries-with whipped cream. Her body, like her spirit, was at once frail and vigorous, yielding and defiant. These contradictions were, to Bro, more fascinating than anything he had ever come across, so when he had the opportunity, he took advantage, tightening his hold on her, tasting her, touching, caressing, kneading. Bro could feel her bones and muscles underneath her skin, knowing full well it was the guy he adored, not the girl. Well, mostly. Lacey was sort of both.

Lacey's lips were perfect for Bro. Her upper lip had a delicious curve, a feminine Cupid's bow he liked to trace with the tip of his tongue, as he did this time. Then there was the fuller lower lip, with its natural pout, created to be licked lightly and suckled softly, and once again, Bro indulged himself with Lacey's delights. He felt himself hardening in his jeans, and denim was not the most giving material, which made him groan into the kiss.

Lacey pulled back, her eyes hooded with l.u.s.t and her lips red, glistening, and swollen from their intense kiss. "Bro, honey, I gotta go. As much as I'd love to stay and keep kissing you...."

Reluctantly, Bro loosened his hard hold, fully aware of the disapproving growl emerging from his throat. "Yeah, I understand. Sorry. I got carried away."

Lacey giggled and mock glared at him. "You're sorry for kissing me? Really? Should I be offended or-"

"I'm not sorry for kissing you," Bro cut in angrily. "I'm sorry 'cause I'm making you late."

Lacey's fingertips traced Bro's jawline tenderly. "I know, silly. You're just so easy to tease."

That comment made Bro snarl louder, and Lacey snickered, hiding her mouth behind her hand again. Bro did not particularly like that gesture because she was so beautiful when she smiled, but old habits.... "Call me when you get home, yeah? Just wanna make sure you-"

"I love it when you worry about me." Lacey's tone had dipped, becoming almost husky, and in those times, the adolescent guy she was came through. Her gaze was directed at Bro's mouth, and she bit her lower lip, as if trying to maintain control. That made Bro practically bounce with glee.

"Hey, Lace, you wanna stay for dinner?" Jordan called, popping into view from the open kitchen.

Shaking her head, Lacey replied, "Sorry, Jordan, I can't. I have to get home. If I haven't done my homework by the time Dad gets home.... I don't wanna get grounded."

Jordan nodded, grinning. "No prob. Next time."

Bro and Lacey rose from the couch simultaneously, and grumbling under his breath, Bro escorted Lacey to the foyer.

"You wanna come over tomorrow?" Bro asked, not bothering to disguise the hopeful tone.

Lacey snickered. "Of course. But later, yeah? You have football practice-"

"s.h.i.+t, I forgot all about that."

"-and I have violin lessons with Mr. Teasdale after school. But after that, maybe?"

Nodding, Bro stared at Lacey, dazed, wanting the speeding moment to slow down and last a little longer. Then he accepted the facts and snapped back to reality.

After helping her into her cream-colored denim coat, Bro opened the bright-red metal door to the loft so Lacey could exit. The stairwell had huge industrial-sized windows on the highest floor, so it was easy to see the dark clouds as well as the striations the raindrops were creating on the gla.s.s.

"Oh no, it's raining," Lacey moaned despairingly, as though she were made of sugar and was likely to melt, which made Bro grin.

"It's okay, babe. I can drive you," Bro said proudly, as he did have a learner's permit. In Was.h.i.+ngton D.C., where they lived, he had gotten the permit when he'd turned sixteen, with his guardian's-Sebastian's-approval.

"Oh no, you won't," Jordan's voice interjected from behind him, and Bro growled in frustration. The man was so annoyingly sneaky, being a cop and all. "You know as well as I that, without adult supervision, you're restricted to driving to school and back."

"But-"

"No buts." Jordan remained adamant, and Bro knew he could not win this fight. Not that it was going to stop him from trying. But Jordan beat him to the punch. "I can drive you, Lacey. It's no imposition, I a.s.sure you."

"But-" Bro tried once more.

"Unless Bro here thinks I'm trying to get you alone, Lace, so I can ravish you in the car." Jordan may have been joking, but the mere thought of another man kissing Lacey made Bro's blood boil as jealous fury coiled inside of him. His hands fisted at his sides as he gave Jordan a murderous glare.

"I'm driving her," Bro said with as much conviction as an angry seventeen-year-old could.

"Bro...." Jordan sighed patiently, giving Bro a rather parental look, which had Bro teeming with fury. "Do I have to use the A-word?"

At that threat, Bro paled. "You wouldn't...," he muttered, glancing at Lacey from under his brow, a silent warning to Jordan not to cross any lines drawn in the sand.

Lacey's expression was both sympathetic and amused. It wasn't that she didn't know Bro's A-word, but like everyone else-except for a few misguided teachers who soon learned the error of their ways-she never used it. His parents had been cruel to name him... Ambrosius. Even if it was a family name.

Jordan nodded in satisfaction. "Come on, Lace. Let's get you home. At least with me, we won't be stopping at every light or intersection to make out."

"You'd better not, or I'll-" Bro started, but Lacey's body pressing tight against him stopped the flow of words and thoughts as she kissed him goodnight. Her velvety smooth cheeks were cool, but her lips were warm and soft, and Bro's knees nearly buckled with desire. He had been ever so patient up till now, not once acting too hastily and wantonly to avoid making her feel like he was pus.h.i.+ng her too far too soon. But the underlying need for Lacey, for her scent, her taste, her everything, was always there.

It was Jordan's light chuckle that saved Bro from making an embarra.s.sing scene, wanting Lacey so much it hurt. Offering a wordless thank-you to his brother's fiance, Bro let go of his girlfriend with the utmost reluctance.

"Lacey, I...." The words of affection were there, hanging on the tip of his tongue, so close to bursting through his safeguards. Bro felt his mouth twitch open and closed as he almost said the words.

As Lacey blinked, her long golden lashes fluttered like veils in the wind, and Bro had a feeling they were both standing at the edge of the same precipice. Confessions of love, so close. Without speaking, though, and with a quick buss on his cheek, Lacey was out the door and down the stairs, a grinning and winking Jordan following close behind.

Bro flipped him off just before he disappeared around the stairwell corner.

Sighing sadly, Bro hurried to the other window, where he could see the front of the building. He watched longingly as Jordan held the pa.s.senger's side door of his monstrous SUV open for Lacey, like a gentleman, and then rounded the car in a rush as the rain started to pour. Biting his lower lip hard, Bro told himself he would not go all girly and start blubbering. Still, his gaze did not veer away until he could no longer see the car's taillights.

A gentle hand landed on his shoulder, and Bro knew without looking that Sebastian stood next to him, staring into the dark of the night where his man had also gone.

"You'll see Lacey tomorrow," Sebastian said encouragingly, his unusual hollow voice reaching Bro effortlessly. Although it was not like him to feel so emotional, Bro leaned back against his brother briefly for comfort, and that was enough to ground him and settle his anxieties. Yeah, he'd see his girlfriend the next day and the day after that and so on, hopefully so far into the future Bro never had to think about the alternative.

WHEN the heater began to warm up the car properly, Lacey settled more comfortably into the cus.h.i.+oned seat, sighing. The tactile memory of kissing Bro still lingered on her lips, making them tingle, and as usual, a goofy smile rose on her lips. the heater began to warm up the car properly, Lacey settled more comfortably into the cus.h.i.+oned seat, sighing. The tactile memory of kissing Bro still lingered on her lips, making them tingle, and as usual, a goofy smile rose on her lips.

"Thinking of Bro?" Jordan's teasing voice was kind, and Lacey knew him well enough by now to realize he was supportive of their relations.h.i.+p.

"Don't I always?" she countered amusedly, glancing at her driver. Jordan was a very good-looking man with his muscular build, platinum-blond hair with lavender-colored streaks, green eyes like gems, and tattoos and piercings all around. Lacey had never kissed a guy with a tongue piercing. Then again, she didn't know if Jordan actually had one. Lacey had not taken that close a look, and she blushed at the thought.

"Listen, Lace...." Jordan sounded more serious now, so she gave him her rapt attention. "Does he...? No, never mind." He shook his head as if to clear confusing thoughts.

"What?" Lacey asked, curious now.

Jordan harrumphed, but the sound seemed directed at himself. "Bro's young. You're both young. So if he.... I mean, there shouldn't be any, you know, um, pressure... to hurry into...." His tanned face rarely showed his blush, but this time the reddening was definitely visible.

Suppressing a laugh as best she could, Lacey did grin at that. "Don't worry, Jordan. Bro would never force me into anything I didn't want, no matter how h.o.r.n.y he got. He treats me like a lady. He's the perfect gentleman."

Jordan gave her an incredulous look, quirking an eyebrow. "This is Bro we're talking about, right? Boy, seventeen, black hair, blue eyes, athlete?"

Lacey giggled. "Yes. He's sweet. He'd never hurt me." Looking away, but feeling quite mischievous, she added, "And it's not like we haven't done stuff already." Now Lacey was totally messing with Jordan, since she and Bro had not yet done the big... it it. a.n.a.l intercourse. That was a bridge they had yet to cross.

The car suddenly swerved sharply as Jordan's shock caused him to overreact. "Come again?"

Lacey laughed out loud, bouncing on her seat in full-on goading mode. "Oh, come on, Jordan. We're seventeen, not seven. And we use protection each and every-"

"Aw, I think I'm gonna be sick," Jordan groaned with a pained expression, though Lacey was certain at least half of that was exaggeration.

"Oh, come on on, Jordan," Lacey reproached. "You're seriously going to sit there and tell me you never did anything before you were eighteen or, goodness, twenty-one? 'Cause that would definitely be a load of-"

"All right, all right," Jordan practically shouted, waving an impatient hand around to stop her from talking. "Fine. I'll take your word for it." Readjusting his position on the seat, he added, "For now."

Snickering, Lacey let it drop, because Jordan did have a point. Bro was like most of his friends, young and eager. But Lacey also knew Bro felt something deeper for her than if she were just a casual high school hookup. The two of them were in the final stretch of their senior year, having successfully navigated the major pitfalls of the high school house of horrors-so far.

And the possible threats in school were just the tip of the iceberg.