A Broen Family

Author's Note: I've been receiving emails asking about updates. I'm a college student and have to keep up with that above all else. I assure you I will not abandon the story though since writing is my escape from the world. Thanks for all the feedback!

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I woke up to a door closing. I opened my eyes and sat up in the empty bed. My ass felt like I'd pulled a muscle, even as the rest of me felt completely rested. I sat there for a minute, assuming JT had gotten up to use the bathroom, and was right as he returned not long after.

"Morning, Sleepyhead." He wore boxers again, putting me underdressed, but I just lay back and let him stare if he wanted. "Feeling okay?"

"Just a little sore I guess." The bed shifted beside me and his arms went around me, a kiss being pressed to my jaw.

"Go take a shower and you'll feel a little better."

I rolled over onto my stomach and rubbed my cheek against the bed. "I don't want to get up." His fingers stroked down my side where he knew I was ticklish and I pushed his hand away. He did it again and I rolled over to look at him. "Stop being annoying."

He smiled at me and pushed my hair back from my face. "Get up, Holly. Go shower."

"If I get out of this bed, I'm just going to move to mine." I closed my eyes, but snapped them back open again when his fingers trailed over my inner thigh, causing goose bumps and a shiver.

"You should get up." His eyes held mine a few seconds before sliding down my body and looking at where he'd rested his hand on my exposed hip. My hand slowly tugged the sheet up and he returned his gaze to my face. "Are you doing anything today?"

"No why?"

"Get in the shower and I'll take you to the park to feed ducks."

I sat up and ran a hand through my hair, holding the sheet to my chest with the other. "Why?"

"Because I want to. Now will you please get up and go shower." His voice was back to his normal irritation with me, and a part of me was happy for the normalcy.

"You don't like feeding ducks." But I slid out of the bed anyways. I pulled my shirt over my head, the only article of clothing I'd worn into his room before turning back to look at him.

"Fine. I won't take you."

I tilted my head at the anger in his eyes. "What's wrong?" I crawled onto the bed again and sat on my knees beside him where he was propped up on his elbow.

"Nothing's wrong, Holly." He lay back and rested an arm over his eyes. I let mine roam down his body before I rose up again and moved to straddle him. He didn't move and I lay my head on his chest to listen to his heartbeat. After a minute, he removed his arm to trail his fingers through my hair and down my back.

"I want to do this again." He said nothing and I lifted my head up to look at his face. He stared blankly back at me. "I'm not kidding."

"I know you're not. I'm just not sure if I'm inclined to let you."

"Why not? I'm not worn out like all those girls you screw. I have more in my brain than a sexual appetite and an urge to shop all the time." He closed his eyes and I leaned up and licked his cheek.

"What the fuck, Holly?" He quickly swiped his hand across his face.

"Don't ignore me." I lay back down again on his chest.

He was silent another minute before replying with, "I'll think about it."

"That's all I ask." I rolled off of him and stretched before walking to the door.

---

I stood looking into the cabinet, trying to decide what I wanted to eat, when a voice said, "What are you looking for?" I had jumped at Alex's voice and jumped again as his right hand slid around to my left hip and he pressed me back against him.

"Nothing in particular. I was just hungry."

His lips pressed against my neck and my head swam at wondering if he'd know. If he could smell JT on me even though I'd showered. After all, I'd lain beside him at the park, picking out shapes in the clouds, only half an hour before.

"What's wrong?"

I relaxed and closed the cabinet. I turned to face him and smiled at him, putting my own arms around his neck. "Nothing. What have you been up to today?"

Alex picked me up and sat me on the counter, reopened the cabinet, and pulled a box of macaroni out. "Just a little paperwork. What were you and JT doing today?" He turned away from me to grab a pan and I watched the muscles in legs strain as he bent down.

"We just went to the park to feed ducks. Don't ask me why. I asked him and he didn't give me an answer." I tried to keep my face clear of any apprehension or secrecy as he turned back to me and the stove beside me.

"It's nice that you're getting along." He turned back away to measure out water.

"One day doesn't necessitate getting along, Alex. I'm sure JT will be back to being an ass to me before long. And I'll be back to harassing him happily." I smiled at him as he salted the water and turned the stove on. "Where's Eli?"

"He's at practice or football camp or something. I forget which days he has which." His hands rested on my thighs like they had the last time we'd been in the kitchen together.

"So we're home alone."

"Where'd JT go?" His face still monitored mine.

"I have no idea. He came up stairs once we got back and then left like twenty minutes later." I lifted a hand to run through Alex's soft hair. "What?" I asked when he didn't say anything.

"Nothing." He leaned forward and pressed his mouth to mine. I followed him as he tried pulling away until I was in danger of falling off the counter. "You're still red."

I rolled my eyes. "I know. But I don't hurt much anymore."

"Want to go camping again before you start college? Just you and me." His tone and face were as if he were asking me the weather forecast.

"When?"

"You start in two weeks, so probably sometime this week."

I looked past him to the window. I pondered if maybe I should tell him, but he wasn't in any sort of relationship with me and didn't want to. I focused on his thumb that was brushing on my leg. "Sure."

He stepped away then and poured the noodles in the boiling water. "You seem different today."

"I'm tired. I can resume seducing you if you'd like though." I ran my hand down his arm and he smiled. "Someday it's going to work you know."

"When you're ready, I'll be happy to have it work."

I dropped my hand and leaned my head back against the cabinet. "How many girls have you slept with?"

"That's not just something you ask a person, Holly."

"How many?" I tried to count the girlfriends he'd had and came up with eleven I was sure of.

"Does it matter?"

"I don't guess so, but I'd like to know."

"You're more than just a number. If you became a number, you'd be the last one."

"What number would that be?" I stayed silent with him, closing my eyes and waiting.

"Seven." My confusion must have showed on my face. "I didn't sleep with Callie, Gina, Jen, or Erica." His fingers brushed my jaw as they came to rest on the side of my neck, and I opened my eyes.

"Jen surprises me. I always thought maybe you two had an open relationship with how promiscuous she seemed."

"Well." He searched my eyes, but found nothing as I'd been sure to keep my mind blank so as not to stress over being a letdown in comparison to other girls. "She did cheat on me. I figured she was and that's why I never slept with her."

"Oh." My eyes cast towards the pan and I hoped he wouldn't read into my guilty mindset.

"That's not why I'm making you wait, if that's what you're thinking." His thumb brushed my bottom lip and my tongue peeked out to wet my lips now that I'd become aware of their dryness. He didn't move his thumb and I felt his eyes on me.

"Okay." I looked back at him. "Can we at least kiss and watch movies together?"

His face softened and he brushed my hair from my shoulder. "Of course, Holly; I want you to feel cherished."

I smiled. "I do feel cherished, Alex. You've been a little psychotic at times, but I think we've gotten past that."

"Are you sure?" His touch was firm as he took hold of my hips. "I was under the impression you wanted that trait in bed."

My eyes widened before he pressed his mouth against mine. His hands slid under my shirt to my ribs and I shivered at the goose bumps his warm hands gave me. He moved and kissed along my jaw, and my eyes flitted around the room as I concentrated on his lips. He pulled back suddenly and my eyes snapped to him in fear; the idea of him smelling JT on me back to the front of my mind.

"Why is there a bite mark on your shoulder?" His eyes showed no emotion.

"I was tickling Eli and so he started tickling me. I bit him to make him stop, and he returned the gesture. No big deal. It'll fade in a couple days. He didn't bite hard or anything." I lifted a hand to my shoulder. "Where's it at?"

He moved my hand to the back of my shoulder and I figured that's why I hadn't seen it in the mirror. "I'm glad we got his shots."

I cracked a smile at that and Alex followed with his. "So is this mac and cheese for me?"

"It is. I feel like a housewife some days you know?"

"Awh. Maybe I should buy you a kiss the chef apron. Then you can wear only that when we're home alone." I winked at him and he shook his head at me.

"I think I'll leave you to the scandalous wardrobe. You keep me on edge enough." He stirred the noodles and I watched, trancelike, as the water moved like a cyclone.

"I've never seen you naked."

"I'm aware."

"I don't think it's fair."

"You've touched."

"So have you." I looked up at him and willed him to challenge me. He finally looked back at me and I felt a blush color my cheeks at my next words, "I think you should let me see. Right now. Strip."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "You think so? What do I get out of this?"

"Anything."

His forehead wrinkled. "You should never say that as an answer to a man."

"But I'm okay with all implications concerning you."

"Doesn't matter." He turned away to pour some of the water off the noodles so it would thicken quickly.

"How about I not threaten you about other men touching me? That's what you wanted before, so how about now?"

He set the pan down and leaned against the counter across from me. "What does it matter? I'm not shy, but knowing you're analyzing me and not just desiring me while we're having sex doesn't exactly appeal to me."

"I check you out with your clothes on all the time and you don't seem to mind. What's removing a few protective layers going to hurt?" I slipped off the counter and took a hold of his belt loops as I stepped towards him. I watched his face as I slipped my fingers around his waistband to the front by the buttons.

"What are you doing?" We both jumped at Eli's voice and my hands snapped to my sides as I turned to look at him. He was only wearing his football pants and was carrying everything else. The door to the garage was open behind him.

"How come you came through the garage? You never come through the garage." I smiled at his deliberately blank face and moved to take three bowls down from the cabinet. "There's mac and cheese once you get done showering."

Alex moved to finish putting the food together and Eli walked up the stairs a few seconds later. We both turned and looked at each other as we heard a door close. "And you wanted me to strip."

I grinned. "That would have been fun to explain."

He looked at me sharply. "You have a sick sense of humor sometimes."

I stepped forward and stretched to peck his lips. "I'll deal with Eli later."

"You can't tell him anything." His gaze was accusative and I picked up his arms and wrapped them around me.

"I'm not an idiot, Alex. Like I'd really tell him anything?"

"I'm just saying. I know you two tell each other everything."

"Not everything." I thought back to JT as I lay my head on Alex's chest. "Every girl has their secrets even their best friends would never guess."

"He's your brother though. He sees more than a best friend."

"And less in some cases." I pulled back and picked up a bowl and spoon. "Take you for example. There are things you don't know and you love me. Sometimes I'm a very good secret keeper."

"You worry me. You should tell me these things."

"I'll consider it."

Not

.

---

I'd walked into my room that night in my towel since I'd forgotten to grab a shirt, and had the full intention of going to talk to JT since he hadn't said a word to anyone since he'd been home right after dinner. I navigated my dark room to my dresser and turned on the lamp as I dropped my towel. I went to pull open a drawer full of large t-shirts I slept in when I heard, "Well, I'm not sure if this view was meant for me, but I'm not going to complain."

"Eli, what the hell?" I jerked a t-shirt out the drawer and over my head quickly before turning to face him. He was laying in my bed, eyes closed and arms behind his neck like always, but I knew from his words he'd been looking.

"Not like I haven't seen it before."

"Not like you should be seeing it

again

either." He opened his eyes and I glared at him. "I understand what I said before about taking it as a compliment, but I meant with my clothes

on

."

"Just like you only want Alex looking at you with clothes on."

"Yes. Just like that." I knew he was expecting a 'that's different' or something, but I wasn't going to give him any indication.

He looked me up and down. "Come sleep with me tonight?"

"Are you going to drop the accusations?"

"Sure." It was a noncommittal answer, but I took it and turned back to grab some panties. I slipped them on and led the way to his room. I crawled into his bed first and snuggled down on my back. He joined me, turned off his lamp, and pulled me over to cuddle up to me like always. It felt odd though to have his less bulky and becoming less familiar arms around me.

He didn't talk to me and so I lay and waited for his breathing to even out before I snuck down to check on JT. A few minutes later, his pulse felt even where my ear pressed against his collar bone and I carefully tried to move out of his arms. "What's going on, Holly?"

I had only moved an inch, but stopped and resumed where I'd been. "What do you mean?"

"Did I do something, or is it just that they've stopped being overbearing lately?"

I pulled back to look at his face in the shadows. "I don't know what you're talking about Eli, but you haven't done anything I promise."

"Then why are you spending time with JT all of a sudden? Last summer you came and watched a few of my practices."

"Last year I was in high school. I can come see you tomorrow if you want." I sat up more and brushed his cheek with my thumb. "Don't worry about that stuff. You know you'll always be my favorite little brother. I don't want anything interfering with the awesomeness of your senior year."

"I asked that girl out."

"That's great, Eli. What did she say?"

"She's not in to football boys. You know, because football takes her father from her."

I frowned at the girl's shallowness at allowing football to be the deciding factor. "You don't need her then. You're better than girls with ridiculous daddy issues and standards."

The glint of his teeth notified me of his smile. "I've missed you the past week." He pulled me back to him and I slid my arm around his waist. I briefly mused that he was the only brother who slept with shorts on.

"I've missed you too." I felt his lips on my hair and shut my eyes. "I'll be there tomorrow."

---

"You're up early today," Alex said as he walked into the bathroom as I was showering the next day. JT must have left the house since he hadn't knocked.

"I told Eli I'd come see one of his practices." I scrubbed at the conditioner in my hair, annoyed like always that it took forever to wash soap out of my hair.

"You need to keep your distance with him, Holly."

"Thanks for the reminder, Alex. He's my little brother. I'm not going to go there. But he

does

seem to be jealous right now, which is why I'm going today."

"You'd be surprised where you'll go as time passes."

I shut off the water. "Are you referencing me being your little sister?" I pulled the curtain aside and Alex looked up at me in the mirror. I wrung my hair out as he turned to face me. He had shaving cream on his face and only two strips had been removed since he'd entered.

"I am, but that's not the point. Keep your distance for his sake, too."

"I kept my distance from you and we see how well that worked." His eyes lost all façade of staying on my face and I felt my face heat up as I quickly wrapped a towel around me. It didn't make much sense for me to be embarrassed, but I was and a smirk came to his face as he read my mind.

"You'll have sex with me, but won't let me look at you naked."

I stepped out of the shower and grabbed the clothes I'd set on the counter. "I could say the same of you."

"I don't have any embarrassment on the issue; I'm just trying to keep you from jumping me." He braced his hands on the counter behind him, taking on a haughty air.

"Really?" I faced him and sat my clothes back down. He lifted an eyebrow, so I stepped closer and slipped a finger inside the waistband of his boxers. His eyes were intense and made me want to walk away at the challenge I saw there, but my stubbornness wouldn't allow me to back down. I pulled them down slowly and looked down as I heard them hit the floor.

He was longer than JT and only slightly smaller in width. I reached out a hand to trail down the angry vein I saw and Alex caught my hand. I looked up at him in question and he replied, "Seeing or touching. Not both, remember?"

"I think we've passed that line."

He shook his head. "Get dressed and go see Eli."

I sighed, frustrated and turned from him. "Everyone is always ordering me to get dressed and I never..." I muttered as I grabbed my clothes and walked towards the door.

"What was that?" I glanced back at him. He had his eyebrow raised, a sign I was close to getting in trouble, but his nakedness kind of ruined the threat.

"Get dressed, Alex. Wouldn't want your little sister getting the wrong impression."

He made his way towards me and my eyes widened before I ran from the room. I was pushing open my door when he grabbed me and I screamed. "Put me down!"

"I'm just making sure my little sister isn't getting any wrong impressions about her attitude. I'm still in charge of this house." He sat me on my bed and climbed on top of me.

"Of course you are. And you can climb on top of me without clothes any time." I smiled up at him and he rolled his eyes. "You're super playful this morning."

He sat back on my hips and my eyes scanned down his body. At that moment I wished I hadn't wrapped my towel around me. "What did Eli say about last night?"

"He didn't say anything really. He didn't

see

anything really." I propped myself up on my elbows.

"You had your fingers in my pants."

"Good point." I sighed. "I don't know. Eli doesn't tend to think the way most people do."

He started to get off of me and I grabbed his arm. "Let go. You need to get dressed."

"I need to get rid of this towel and then spend time with you in this position.

That

is what I need to do." His eyebrow was back raised, and I let go of him. "You are a tease. That's what you are. Stop it."

"Me? Really?" I nodded and he shook his head. "You've pranced around here in skimpy clothing since you grew breasts and I'm the tease. Wow."

"You've walked around without a shirt since you were in high school."

"That's different."

"Not when I have a thing for arms like yours." He took on a haughty grin and I rolled over. "Alright, go away so I can get dressed."

"Arms like mine?"

"Shut up, Alex. Go away."

He crawled over me and kissed my shoulders. "No, no, no. Do elaborate."