Perfect Summer (16 page)

The
boys stopped playing to glance over at me. Both looking sinfully dark and
aroused as they openly gave me the once over. Drew was the first to say
something.

“Summer,
you look incredible,” he said, getting out of the pool and coming over to me,
his boxer shorts wet against his body.  The sight of his muscles, perfect v,
and manhood dripping wet near me, made me want to grab him and kiss the living
daylights out of him. Pulling me to him, he bent down , as if he was going to
kiss me on the lips, but kissed the top of my head instead. He gave me a wicked
smile and said, “I have to take off for an early morning football practice
session with the team tomorrow. I’ll see you soon.”

I
hugged him tightly then and said, “Thank you for saving me, Drew. You deserve
the hero award today.”

“Thank
you,” Drew smiled. “I think you do, too. You’re as much of a hero as I am.”

“We
saved each other,” I said smiling. “You sure you don’t want to stay?”

“No,
I’m alright,” Drew said. “Nat’ll be here, and I know you two would want to
spend some time together.”

I
raised my eyebrows. “But you’re welcome to stay, too.”

“No,”
Drew said, looking pained and sad. “Nat has a lot of things he need to tell
you, Summer. It’s better I don’t stay. You’ll want to spend some time with him,
Summer. And for the first time in my life, Summer, I’m Team Nat.”

With
that, he walked into his room and within minutes, came out fully dressed. He
glanced at me with the warmest eyes, but darted them to an area behind me.

Nat
had gotten out of the pool, and was standing behind me, semi-wet. He had the
sense to grab a towel and began toweling himself off.  When dried, he wrapped the
towel around his waist low emphasizing his v in the most sexiest way.

Drew
went up to Nat and gave him a strong man-hug. “I’ll see you before you take off,
Nat.” He hugged Nat again and left.

*****

As
soon as Drew left, I turned to Nat, who had moved into stand behind me,
wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing my shoulders.

“You
look like a treat,” Nat said, “Pale pink suits you.”

“Seducing
me isn’t going to keep me from asking…did you have something you needed to talk
to me about?”

Nat
grinned sheepishly. “Well…I was hoping we’d get to bed first and worry about
that later.”

“Depends
on what you have to talk to me about,” I said.

“Ok,”
Nat said, “But it was such a perfect night tonight…I don’t want to spoil it
yet.”

“But
Drew knows, right?” I said. “Why shouldn’t I?”

“No,
I was planning on telling you, Summer. But I want to savour this moment and us
like this as long as I could.”

I
was beginning to worry now. “Nat, does this have to do with your mother or
Drew?”

“Kinda,
but there’s more…let’s sit down.”

He
took my hands and led me to the sofa, where I sat next to him, anticipating
what he was going to say.

“There
are a couple of things, Summer, and I haven’t told you about them because
they’re really not for me to tell.  But circumstances have made it so that you
have to know. Then you can decide if you wanted to help us out or not.”

I
looked deep into Nat’s eyes and said, “I’m part of the Donovans, Nat. There
isn’t any family I want to be part of more than yours, as crazy as it seems,
and there isn’t anywhere else I’d rather be, than with you.” I kissed him
soundly on the lips, and rubbed his hands in mine. I knew how hard it was for
Nat or any of the Donovans to open up so for Nat to say he wanted me to be
privileged to what he was going to say, outside of family, I felt somehow
honored. I kissed him again, “I love you, Nat Donovan.” I kissed him again,
“So. Incredibly. Much.”

Nat
kissed me back, and held me tight against him. “Gosh, Summer, this is harder
than I thought it would be, but I need to, I have to do this. There is so much
at stake that I have to put aside my own dreams and wants right now…which is to
always be with you.”

I
stopped kissing him, and pulled back. “What are you talking about?”

“Sum,”
Nat said, “What I’m about to tell you has to be of strictest confidence. Lives
are at stake and everything can be jeopardized if this isn’t kept secret. No
kidding. But, I have to go on an important trip to Afghanistan. My dad’s been
missing for a couple of days on a trip he went on for Donovan Dynamics. Only a
handful of people know about this trip, not even my mother, Drew or Rachel
knows about it. I found out yesterday that they located him, and he’s alive,
but I’ll have to go as leverage to get him out. It’s very dangerous, and
I…don’t want to leave everything here as it is…”

Nat
broke off, and he looked sad, but determined. “Mom is getting better. I found
her a new doctor, but I think Drew may have a bit of what Mom has…”

He
paused, and he watched my face closely for my reaction.

“What
do you think he has, Nat?” I asked.

“He
may be a bit bipolar,” Nat said. “His personalities and social interactions may
be affected.”

My
mouth dropped open. It explained how Drew could act hot and cold to me within a
short span of time. It also explained how he reacted to Sloane, yesterday. “Do
you know, for sure?”

“No,
it’s very mild if he has it, but sometimes, it shows up…like yesterday, I
think.” Nat looked straight ahead and said, “I mean anyone would be shaken up
by what happened, especially you, Summer. You should be shaken and almost
traumatized. I know a lot of girls would be, after being nearly raped and
killed by this stalker twice. And all the mindfucking games played on you. But
you’ve proven to be stronger than all that. You’re amazing, Summer, and I don’t
mean that because I love you, but because it’s the truth.”

I
looked at Nat, and then I couldn’t help it…tears formed in my eyes. “I’m not so
strong as you think, Nat. I know I’m going to miss you like crazy when you’re
in Afghanistan. I’ll be worried the entire time, but I don’t want you to worry
about me, too.”

Nat
reached over and held me. “I promise to be as careful as I could. I won’t be
reckless, and I intend to return to you safe and sound. My father may not be
the best husband in the world, but he’s smart enough to get to where he is.
He’s put together a sharp team of people who know what they’re doing. I’m in
good hands…but I just don’t know when I’ll be back.”

“Whatever
happens, Nat,” I said, “don’t worry about things at home. I’ll help Drew and
Rachel out. I’ll even help things out with your mother and Donovan Dynamics. 
Just let me know what I have to do…”

Nat
kissed me then and said, “I’ll leave you a note of instructions then. On your
dressing table. Don’t read it until you’re ready…I told Drew about everything
last night, and he took it surprisingly well. I’m going to count on him and you
to stand in for me at Donovan Dynamics and at home while I’m gone…”

“I
will,” I said. “I promise.”

Nat
searched my face for a second before kissing me. “I love you so much, Sum. I
always have…I’m going to miss you, this…”

I
gulped down my tears and pushed Nat down. I grabbed hold of his boxers and slid
them down his legs. “Then let’s make the most of the time we have together.”

I
bent my head down towards Nat’s hard abs, kissed it, and made my way down.

*****

That
night, we made love with an intensity and an intimacy that was higher than
we’ve experienced. Knowing how he had to go to Afghanistan and how he’d been
keeping his father’s secret, made me want to hold unto him forever and love the
hurt right out of him.

In
the heat of passion, I told him he will always be my first of everything, that
I will always love him no matter how far apart we are. I meant it, too. It
became clear to me that Nat had always been the one I loved.

The
next day, after having breakfast with Nat, I was sore all over. I had suffered
some cuts and bruises from Sloane’s attack on me, but it was replaced by the
delicious soreness of Nat’s passionate lovemaking. I couldn’t get enough of
him, and he couldn’t get enough from me.

“Summer,”
he said, kissing me as he gathered his things to go. “I don’t know when I’ll be
back from Afghanistan. I hope this mission would be quick and over with soon,
but there are no guarantees. What happened with Drew…can you help watch him for
me, make sure he’s okay? And Rachel…she actually looks up to you and admire
you…if she gets too out-of-hand, not the Rachel kind, but if she flips out too
much about things…”

I
smiled gently. “Don’t worry Nat, I will watch out for Drew and Rachel. How
could I not? I love them, too…”

“Drew’s
going to be taking over a lot of my duties when I’m away, Summer, especially
with Mom and Donovan Dynamics…I just hope it’s not too much. He thinks he could
do it all, but he’s only human. With Drew and Rachel…having a possibility of
what Mom has, I just wanted to make sure someone stable and strong, like you -
mentally strong, can step in when they need you. You’ve always been there for
me, Summer, and I can’t thank you enough for that. But mostly,” he kissed me
hard, “it just makes me love you more each day.”

Then
he left.

Chapter 16

Drew

a week later

N
at is missing. He was supposed to come back today,
but didn’t make it back. The mission was more dangerous than we had originally
thought, and I’m besides myself with guilt, thinking I should have persuaded
Nat not to go. It was one thing to lose Dad, but now Nat? As much as I teased
Nat for being the responsible one in the family, he really was the glue to hold
everything and everyone together. Growing up, being stupid kid like I was, I
couldn’t appreciate that kind of dedication and self-sacrifice for the family.
Neither did Rachel.

While
Rachel and I played and went on our way to do our own things, pursue our own
dreams, Nat set aside his own dreams, his own wishes to follow along the family
business and to take care of Mom. He was the real man in the family, while I
was just some kid.

No
wonder why Summer looked up to him so much and loved him with that constant
hard crush. From the start, even at a young age, Summer recognized and reached
out for the love of a responsible man who could one day be her equal, fulfill
her potential, and help complete her. She saw that in Nat. Unlike the other
girls, who just wanted to have fun in the now, Summer already knew she wanted
someone like Nat as her anchor. I

But
now he was missing and perhaps gone.

I
can’t bear to think of it. But I have no choice. I have to step up and be the
grown up and step into Nat’s shoes.

*****

Mom
still thinks Dad and Nat are on a business trip to the Caribbeans, because
Rachel and I didn’t want to upset her and cause her to fall further into
depression. I don’t know how long before she finds out but now Rachel knows
about Nat. She knows about the possibility of us Donovan kids having what Mom
has. It’s brought Rachel and I closer, and despite how she flew off and broke
down crying when she heard about Dad and Nat, she was still strong enough to
comfort me. I guessed being twins, despite being fraternal twins, we were able
to sense when one was hurt so at least I had Rachel to rely on…and Summer.

*****

What
to do about Summer?

Even
without trying unlike those girls who are all over me in the front row of
Standish’s class, Summer managed to blow them out of the water as the hottest
and classiest girl in class.

They’re
easy. Not like Summer. She’s not loose, she’s not easy, but she was sexy enough
to make a man want her constantly and to forget everyone else.

It
was easier being able to keep from ravishing her every chance I got with Nat
physically being here or nearby. But now he was missing, and I have to step
into his shoes to help run Donovan Dynamics, to make sure Summer is safe, and
to be her shining knight in armor and her hero.

With
her crying like this, looking so vulnerable and sweet in my arms, with her
smelling like a bright new day, and her eyes imploring sweetly at me to kiss
her, to make things alright, and to make love to her; it was too hard to
resist. I wanted to comfort her to tell her all will be fine, but I didn’t know
if it would myself. All I knew was that the best way to comfort her was to give
her what she wanted, what she craved from me. I knew she was missing Nat and
his touch. I knew she was waiting for him to return, and things would go back
to normal, but he wasn’t here, and there was no telling when. And if.

Fuck.
Please God do not let Nat and my father die, I prayed.

As
much as I wanted Summer, I didn’t want to have her because Nat died. I wanted
her to love me for me, not as a substitute for Nat.

I’ve
never seen Summer so distraught as she was. Not even when Aunt Sookie died. She
really did love Nat. I knew that now.

“Drew,”
she cried. “I keep praying and hoping it’s not true,” she said. “Nat can’t have
disappeared. He can’t have gone missing. He assured me he wouldn’t leave me,
that he would return, and everything would be alright.” She paused, sobs
racking her body until she could barely breathe. “I loved him so much. I craved
him so much. I’m having withdrawals. I can’t. I can’t imagine not being able to
ever touch him again!”

She
sobbed so much and didn’t eat all day that I finally pulled her into my arms. All
the resolve I’ve had these past weeks dissolved. How can I fight this longing
for her? I must be crazy sick in love with her beyond reason. For even when I
watched Nat make love to her, kissed and devour her breasts while stroking her
core with his fingers; I was so turned on, I almost came just standing there,
marveling how beautiful Summer looked with her face alive with passionate
ecstasy. What kind of a sick bastard got turned on watching his brother make
love to the girl he was in love with? A sick one, some kind of perv, that’s
who. But I’ve reached a point of surrender, not caring what anyone thought of
me, only caring about this incredible impossible passion between Summer and I.