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even though our old house did n't really feel like home either , i wish i were there now , stretched out on the ratty old couch , with my mom in her chair , watching something on our small tv .
i do n't know if i 'll ever be able to feel like i belong here .
i 'll always feel like a guest in pierce 's house .
i walk down closer to the water until i can feel the pebbles getting smaller underneath my feet .
i do n't want my shoes to get wet .
i jump as a bird breaks out of a tree above me .
i can just see it as it flies off , its body a moving ink blot against the dark sky .
i wish i could follow it .
i turn and walk back toward the steps , feeling as lonely as i 've ever felt .
i shake my head at myself as i climb the wooden stairs .
my mom is happy , and i 'm fortunate to live in a place like this .
stop feeling sorry for yourself , brynn .
as i walk across the lower lawn , i look up and see my mom and pierce 's bedroom light go off .
i guess they 're turning in early tonight .
i walk up toward the pool and freeze as i hear a moan .
the lights downstairs are all off except one in the hall , and the pool 's lights underneath the water .
my eyes dart around and fall on two writhing bodies on a poolside lounge chair .
nate and dana .
i stare as nate whips off his own shirt and then dana 's .
i know i should move but i do n't .
the blue pool lights shimmer against his back muscles as he expertly undoes dana 's bra and pulls off her pants and underwear .
leave , you pervert !
my brain commands me , but my body stays firmly glued in place , even as it throbs with desire .
one of nate 's hands massages dana 's ample breasts , and the other disappears beneath her .
dana cries out immediately and i almost gasp myself , as though his hands are moving against me .
i can practically feel his touch on me , his hot breath against my ear as his expert fingers move inside me ... nate grunts and pushes against her .
she struggles to contain herself as he thrusts slowly in and out of her .
oh my god-what am i doing ! ?
i step back with a jolt as though i 'm breaking out of a trance and almost trip over the hydrangea bush next to me in my hurry to get away .
i run as quickly and quietly as i can around the side of the house and to the front .
i reach the front door and pray that nate is going to lock up later .
i feel the doorknob turn and push the door open in relief .
i hurry up the curving staircase and down the hall into my room , kicking off my sandals before hurling myself onto my bed and burying my head in the pillows .
i can feel my cheeks burning with mortification over what i just witnessed and the uncontrollable desire i felt .
i 've had crushes before , but none like my obsession with nate .
and even after finally meeting him , only to have him tease me and push my buttons , i still feel so physically drawn to him .
i pull my face out of the pillow and crawl to the nightstand , pulling my dog-eared copy of lady chatterley 's lover out of the top drawer .
just as i 'm opening it to the folded-over page , there 's a quiet knock at my door .
i toss my book on the bed and walk to it , hoping and praying it 's not nate .
i almost jump as i pull open the door and nate 's face appears , shrouded in the darkness of the hallway .
he leans forward , leaning his forearm on the doorjamb as i step back nervously .
his wavy hair looks particularly unruly , and his lips are curved in a slight smile .
`` technically speaking , does a peeping tom have to be outside , looking inside ?
or does the term still apply if both , or all three , parties are outdoors ? ''
he asks , calmly , tilting his chin up slightly as he considers me .
`` i ... i do n't ... '' i stammer , feeling heat crawl up the back of my neck .
`` you .
were .
watching us , '' he accuses me , narrowing his eyes .
`` i 'm sorry .
i did n't mean to .
i just ... i was down at the river ... how did you ... ? ''
`` i heard a twig snap and saw you running away like a drunken ostrich . ''
`` did dana- ? ''
`` no , and i did n't tell her . ''
`` thank god . ''
`` so ?
what did you think ? ''
he smirks .
`` oh , i 'm so sorry , again .
i 'm so embarrassed , '' i rush on .
it strikes me that this is the longest conversation i 've ever had with my new stepbrother .
and it 's about how i 'm a pervert .
fantastic .
`` why were you watching us ? ''
he asks , stepping forward into my room .
i take another step away from him .
`` um , i ... i do n't know .
it just sort of happened .
i did n't mean to . ''
`` liar , '' he comments lightly .
`` asshole . ''
it slips out before i can stop myself .
he tilts his head slightly .
`` prude , '' he levels at me .
i look down .
maybe i am a prude , but i do n't want to be .
`` what 's that ? ''
he asks .
when i look back up at him , i see him gazing past me , to my book on the bed .
`` nothing , just a book , '' i say , but he 's breezing past me toward it .
i hurry after him but he reaches the bed before me and picks up the book .
`` see ? ''
i say defiantly .
`` i know what lady chatterley 's lover is about , '' he says , looking at me with a smug grin .
shit .
`` maybe not such a prude after all , '' he adds , running his eyes up and down my body .
i swallow hard .
`` you know what i think ? ''
he asks , stepping toward me .
i step away again , feeling one of the posts of my bed against my back .
`` i think you want me .
i think you can barely contain yourself . ''
`` that 's mighty arrogant of you , '' i comment .
i begin to tug the ends of my hair nervously .
`` why are you doing that ? ''
he asks , frowning .
`` it 's just a nervous habit , '' i say with a shrug , and drop my hand .
`` so i make you nervous ? ''
`` no , '' i reply quickly .