Malik (Carter Brother Series Book 1) Read online

  “Yeah, it’s also the only seat that’s left in the classroom as you can see,’’ I snap gesturing around the room getting pissed at him. I hate it when I’m the centre of attention and with everyone staring, as well as Malik causing a scene, it has my defences going up.

  I look back down at my book, trying not to let his presence bother me, but it does. I can smell his spicy cologne and never, and I mean never, have I ever known a boy to wear cologne before, they don’t usually care for hygiene. Then I make a bigger fool of myself when he sits down next to me. My body automatically leans in towards him, getting a better whiff of his scent.

  “Are you sniffing me?’’ he says on a whisper leaning into me, his face just a breath away.

  My back straightens once I realise how close I am to him, my face reddening from the mortification of what I just got caught doing. Only I could do something so embarrassing with the hottest lad I’ve ever laid eyes on. And he is. The hottest lad I mean.

  Way to go Harlow; talk about making a fool out of yourself Harlow, I scold myself.

  “So, you smell me like I’m the best cooked meal you’ve smelt in years, and then go all shy on me. Tell me, how do I smell?’’ Malik whispers huskily, adding to my embarrassment some more.

  “Like McDonalds,’’ I lie, not wanting to tell him he smells really fucking good. My face is still on fire and I’m hoping my long brown hair is doing enough to hide that from him. Then he leans into me and I hear him inhale deeply making me snap my head around to him horrified. The quick movement brings us nearly mouth to mouth; another move forward and my lips would be locked with his. The thought has shivers racing up my spine before I quickly come to my senses and move back.

  “What are you doing?’’ I shriek, getting the attention of everyone in the room including the teacher.

  “Smelling you love. You smell fucking good too,’’ he grins, showing me his straight white teeth.

  Everyone in the classroom laughs, and the teacher tells them to settle down, but his eyes never leave mine, sending my stomach into a tailspin. God his eyes are so freaking intense. I’ve never met anyone like him. Or have anyone affect me to the point I feel like I’m paralyzed.

  “Glad I pass,’’ I mumble, my voice having a slight hitch to it as I look to the front of the class.

  I hear him mumble something under his breath that has me wanting to ask him what he said, but I keep my eyes trained forward. I’m hoping he buys my confident attitude because deep down I’m a crumbling mess, and for some reason, I feel if he knew that he would have a field day.

  “Would you like a picture?’’ I hiss turning to face him.

  “Why, you offering me one?’’ he asks looking surprised.

  “God no, but then, you’ve been staring at me long enough that you wouldn’t need one anyway.’’

  “You’re a little full of yourself aren’t ya love?’’ he says loud enough for people around us to hear.

  “Malik please settle down and leave Miss Evans alone,’’ the teacher says, grabbing the attention of every other student who didn’t catch the first bit to turn around to watch us.

  I tried, and I mean I really tried to concentrate on what the teacher was talking about during the class, but I heard the word equations, inwardly groaned and tuned her out, my attention going to the hot boy sitting next to me. I can feel him now and then staring at me, but because my face is still up in flames I’ve kept my head down to the table pretending to look at the book in front of me.

  The rest of the class goes pretty much like this, making my back ache from all the tension that is building up inside me. I try rolling the kink out a few times by stretching, but my arms would brush up against Malik’s and a zap of electricity would shoot through my arm straight to the tip of my fingers making me gasp. So instead I’d spent the rest of the class avoiding touching him and not stretching.

  As soon as the last bell chimes, I’m out of my seat and rushing out of the classroom before Malik can stop me to say something else. In all fairness I just wanted to avoid looking into those eyes again; ones I’ll no doubt be dreaming about tonight.

  Running away so quickly was another great mistake I made today because as soon as I turn left out of the door I go barrelling into a hard body, both of us falling down onto the floor. I land on top of the hard body knocking the air out of my lungs.

  Really Harlow? Anything else you want to do to embarrass yourself in front of the whole school today?

  I didn’t realise I hadn’t moved from off the body and that I had shoved my head into the persons neck until the person beneath me starts to chuckle. My whole body instantly freezes when I recognise who the chuckle belongs to.

  “I knew you’d come around,’’ Max says excitedly, his hands roaming my hips.

  “Move them any higher and I’ll knee you in the balls; don’t think I won’t,’’ I warn him.

  “Babe, I’m getting hard from your body lying on top of me, please don’t talk dirty to me as well,’’ he says before leaning in to whisper, “I don’t want the girls to think I cum too soon.’’

  “Ewww,’’ I tell him looking down at him. I lift myself off him, but he tugs my hands making me fall back on top of him with a loud squeal. Then he takes me suddenly by surprise when he kisses me hard, wet, and completely unwanted. Everyone around us begins to whisper and I can hear the distinct sound of camera phones going off. When I feel his tongue trying to enter my mouth, I bite down hard on his bottom lip, but not hard enough to draw blood. Although if I did, it would be what he deserved.

  “Get off me,’’ I shout, shoving him away as I get myself back up again, dusting my skirt and shirt off.

  He follows me, his movements lazy and arrogant as he stands in front of me, his large shoulders straining in his school blazer.

  “Awe, little Harlow, of course I’ll go on a date with you,’’ he says loudly, everyone gasping with surprise.

  There’s a crowd surrounding us that I never noticed before, my cheeks reddening once again. I swear today I’ve looked like a red beet root all day. It’s then a figure towards the back of the crowd grabs my attention. Malik is standing there with a frown on his face looking between me and Max. Something inside me wants to go over there and explain what happened, but as soon as the thought comes, I realise how crazy I sound. We’ve just met; I don’t need to explain myself to him or anyone.

  Not bothering to answer Max, I storm off to my locker to grab my books, getting pushed by a few girls on the way. It isn’t until I make it to my locker that I breathe a sigh of relief, glad I made it out alive or without turning back to knee Max in the balls as promised. My relief is short-lived when I look up to open my locker door and find a piece of paper taped to it with the words HORE written on it. The fuckers couldn’t even spell it right. Feeling eyes watching me, probably ready with their phones to record my reaction to the note, I grab a biro from my pencil case and write the letter W in front to make the word ‘WHORE’. I feel like writing something clever on it, but I know it will just give them more ammunition to pick on me. The fact they’ve called a virgin a whore just amuses me. It must take some skill on my part, so I’m happy with that. In fact, I’m willing to put money on me being the only virgin in this school, although, the fat science teacher might also be put into the virgin category. I shiver just remembering his unbuttoned shirt that showed his hairy belly. It was gross and I had to sit through an hour of listening to him and watching him scratch at the hair on his belly.

  Shoving the books into my bag, I zip it up before walking away from prying eyes. I’m dying to run home and away from the school, or to scream at todays festivities, but I don’t. I don’t want them to know how much they’ve gotten to me. Showing them weakness will just invite them to do more; I don’t need that in my life right now. I have enough in my life that I struggle to handle than to listen to a bunch of immature kids call me names and be pushed about.

  I’ve been home for a few hours when I hear my Gram’s call my name fro
m downstairs, her voice high pitched and out of breath. Worried she’s burnt herself, or fallen, I dash from my room in just my pyjama bottoms and tank top.

  “What’s wrong? You okay?’’ I rush out when I reach the kitchen, my heart beating ten to the dozen. I feel like I can’t breathe and my chest feels painfully tight worried about what’s happened, but then I notice she’s standing at the kitchen side making a cup of tea.

  She’s fine.

  She’s fine I tell myself over and over again, but it doesn’t help slow my breathing down. My skin feels hot and sweat starts dripping from my forehead and down my back. My vision blurs, black dots spotting my vision.

  “Hey, it’s okay. Just breathe baby girl,’’ Gram’s says grabbing my hand and placing it over her heart. I can hear her heart beating fast, but it’s not as fast as mine. “Breathe in, breathe out, slowly, that’s it, you’re doing good,’’ she coaxes, leading me over to the kitchen table, pushing me down onto the chair. My breathing starts to match hers, my vision becoming clearer and my heartbeat beating steadier as she talks me through it.

  “I’m sorry. Are you okay?’’ I ask once I feel more like myself. I’m embarrassed she had to witness my panic attack. I had a few when my parents died, but mostly I’ve suffered from nightmares. It’s been an on-going thing that the doctors assured me my anti-depressants would help with.

  “Oh baby girl, I’m fine. What brought on the panic attack?’’ she asks softly, wiping away the tears I hadn’t realised were there from my cheeks.

  “I thought… I thought you were hurt. You shouted for me and I presumed you had fallen or something,’’ I tell her, feeling stupid about the whole thing.

  “Oh God, I am so sorry girl. I didn’t even think. There’s nothing wrong, I just wanted to let you know we will be joining the Carter’s for dinner tonight. Mark is cooking a lasagna and between you and me, it’s the only dish he knows how to cook without burning it,’’ she chuckles.

  My mind should have registered straight away what she said, but my mind is too busy thanking the lord nothing had happened to her. I breathe in a sigh of relief, looking up at Gram’s until what she said finally sinks in.

  “What? You mean today? Now? I thought we were having mac and cheese?’’

  “Oh, he offered earlier today and I never can turn down that man’s cooking or company,’’ she giggles.

  I have to stop myself from saying ‘I bet you don’t’ to her, not pleased about having to go around there and have dinner. Although, I am curious as to what the four other brothers look like, though I can’t see them being anything compared to Malik. Just remembering his eyes and the way he looked at me earlier has me blushing.

  Such a school girl Harlow.

  “Okay. What time?’’ I ask reluctantly, wondering if I’ll have time to get a run in before dinner.

  “He’s just popped out to pick up some bits he forgot from the store, so he asked me to head on round to keep an eye on the lasagna. So if you run on up and get dressed we can head over.’’

  “Whose going to be there?’’

  “Well the boys I presume, though Maverick is probably still at work. He works most nights since he lost his night manager. Mason runs the club upstairs, but there’s a V.I.P club below for certain guests. I’ve never really been given the specifics. Mark told me it isn’t my kind of club when I asked him to take me out for a drink there once.”

  “Oh,’’ is all I can say, wishing there was an excuse I could use to get out of going. “I’ll be ten minutes.’’

  “Go on then girl, I need to get my face on too. I don’t want to look like an old hag in front of those fine men,’’ she cackles, making me smile at her.

  She may be an old woman, but she has so much life inside of her that it’s scary as hell. Most women her age are sitting in their chairs knitting or watching their favourite TV shows. Not Gram’s though. She’s too busy making sure she looks good for Mark next door.

  Fifteen minutes and three outfits later we’re finally heading over next door.

  Arriving, Gram’s lets herself in scurrying off to what I presume is the kitchen, leaving me to stand awkwardly near the front room. I’m just about to follow her into the kitchen when I hear someone coming down the stairs to my left. Nervous as hell that it’s Malik, but also excited at the thought of seeing him again, I straighten up my burgundy blouse that I paired up with my black leggings and burgundy dolly shoes. I’d left my hair down not bothering to mess with it as I’d already blow-dried and straightened it after the shower I had when I got in from school.

  Turning around, I groan. I should have fucking known from the eyes, “Fuck! Please not you,’’ I snap, praying like hell he’s just visiting here or something, but the eyes tell me to keep on wishing. They resemble Malik’s a lot, they’re just not as dark and intense. They’re softer, lighter than Malik’s.

  “Huh?’’ Max says looking at me confused yet slightly amused. Great, not only has he made my first day hell for me, but he’s already forgotten who I am. Figures. He’s also not jumped me again, so I’m guessing he moved on pretty quickly.

  Thank God!

  “Do you know the shit you’ve caused for me today? What I’ll most likely have to put up with until I finish up with the school year? What the girls have being calling me all day?’’ I growl stepping into his space.

  Something flashes in his eyes, like understanding and something else that I can’t put my finger on, “Look, I’m sorry, but I think…’’

  “You’re sorry? Are you fucking kidding me?’’ Unbelievable! Not only has he forgotten who I am, but the rat bastard has the nerve to tell me he’s sorry. What’s worse is that he added a freaking ‘but’ on to it.

  “Harlow is it?’’ he says, looking slightly taken back by my assault which confuses me based on his earlier behaviour towards me.

  “Typical,’’ I laugh. “You don’t even remember my name.’’

  Just then another figure walks into the room halting my next words, time freezes, and all blood runs from my face and I swear I can feel my pulse beating so hard that I’m sure the two boys in front of me can hear it.

  “Hey there bro, you’ve met Harlow I see,’’ he grins, giving me a flirtatious wink.

  “Oh my God…. you,’’ I say pointing to, fuck-knows who. “You’re… oh my God, there are two… ‘’

  “Before you finish we’re not into sharing. Myles here doesn’t like to share and I love having all the attention, so only way you’d get me having a threesome babe is if you invited another girl,’’ he winks.

  “Oh my God,’’ I whisper, mortified at what I just said to Myles thinking he was Max. “I am so sorry,’’ I tell Myles when I open my eyes to look at him. He’s looking at me with an amused expression, not saying anything. It’s then I notice he’s carrying a health and social care course workbook. It seems like an odd course for a boy to take as a G.C.S.E, especially looking as hot as he does.

  Wonder why he’s taking those classes, I think forgetting about the actual problem in front of me.

  “Did she try to kiss you thinking you were me?’’ Max says laughing to his twin brother. I can’t believe I never noticed the difference before. Max has dark hair, slight dimples and a bigger build. Myles is still big muscle wise, but he doesn’t look like the type to keep in shape. In fact, he looks more like a bookworm than a pest like his twin brother.

  “No. She was filling me in on the drama you’ve caused her at school already on her first day. Really Max?’’ he says, slapping his brother across the head. “Couldn’t you have just left her alone?’’

  “Is that why you’re here?’’ he asks me, confusion written all across his face. That’s when I grin, a plan forming in my head. Myles obviously knows who I am because he didn’t seem too shocked to find me standing in his house, whereas Max hasn’t clued in yet. He was probably looking at himself in the mirror when my arrival was announced to them or something.

  “No, I’m here for dinner. Your Grandpa
and I got talking about our wedding and we agreed on having a summer wedding. It’s going to be great. We can start a life together, buy a house have a kid or three,’’ I say in an excited dreamy voice, teasing him.

  “What?’’ he squeaks and I watch amused as his face turns pale. “You spoke to my Granddad?’’

  “Yeah, he was really excited about the whole idea of us being together and said it was about time you settled down with a good woman. Just think, me, you and the rest of our lives, together, forever,’’ I say dreamily, earning a chuckle from Myles. Max looks like he’s about to pass out, but I’m having way too much fun teasing him to drop it.

  “Oh Max, Myles, I see you’ve already met my Granddaughter Harlow,’’ My Gram’s grins walking in and ruining my prank.

  “Your Granddaughter?’’ Max repeats, his shoulders relaxing before he turns a hasty glare my way. “You… you little…’’

  Myles stops him before he finishes what he was going to say by slapping a hand over Max’s face making me laugh. Max glares at me then his brother before stomping off out of the room, mumbling about getting the table ready, and how unfair girls are.

  “It’s about time someone put him in his place,’’ Myles says grinning at me.

  “I’ll bet.’’

  “You two know each other already?’’ Gram’s asks pleased.

  “No, we’ve only just met, Joan. Harlow had the pleasure of meeting Max at school,’’ he says dryly, amusement clear though in his voice.

  “Oh dear, he tried to woo you didn’t he dear?’’ she asks me making me laugh.

  “Not really sure about the wooing Grandma, but he certainly tried something,’’ I smile.

  “Well I’ll let you two get to know each other. Why don’t you watch television or whatever you kids do now-a-days. Maybe Myles can let you on that FakeBook you mentioned,’’ she says before looking to Myles smiling. “We haven’t got the web-net yet, we’re getting a cable installed so she can use her laptop.’’

  “Grandma,’’ I laugh, “It’s Facebook. It’s a social networking site I had signed up for to keep in touch with my friends back home. Also it’s the internet and we’re having cable installed not a cable,” I laugh, Myles joining in with me.