Her Dirty Professor Series (21+)

But I remain steadfast in my refusal to reveal my relationship with Rick and Ryder. After all, what possible good could come from it? Angela’s only got one thing on her mind, and that’s money. We’ve been lucky so far because the saltbox house she hates so much is located on the fringes of Sheridan, and the fact is that she’s too poor to come into the city and partake of its delights. As a result, Rick, Ryder and I have been able to avoid her pretty easily. But at some point, the truth will be revealed, and what then? Will I suffer because I’m dating my stepbrothers, and because they’re filthy rich? I pant heavily, before another wave of nausea overtakes me.

Chrissy

I’m in the middle of luxuriating in a bath when there’s the sound of the front door opening.

“Honey, we’re home!” Rick calls out teasingly.Material © NôvelDrama.Org.

“I’m in the bathroom!” I sing back, happy that my two lovers are finally done with a long day’s worth of work. It’s been several hours since my horrible conversation with Angela but I’m still reeling from her vindictive attack. In an effort to rid myself of the stench of her abuses, I decided that the best way forward was to literally wash myself clean.

“What’s all this?” Ryder calls out from the kitchen. I grin as I slide beneath the bubbles.

As a surprise, I also decided that I should focus on the good things in my life, and prepared a Mexican themed feast for our dinner tonight.

In a few seconds, Ryder and Rick are peeking into the bathroom. Two pairs of bright blue eyes sweep across my body, their gazes hot and naughty. And suddenly, two pairs of hands are diving in the water around me, tickling me and splashing the bathroom floor with soapy suds. It’s playful, romantic, and just what I need.

A few wet kisses and soaked shirts later, I climb out of the bath and begin to towel off.

“Don’t bother getting dressed,” Ryder says wickedly.

“Seriously, why do you even wear clothes?” Rick chuckles, smacking my backside for good measure. “Just walk around naked, sweetheart. You know we don’t mind.”

“Guys,” I giggle my head at them. “I can’t just walk around nude! I’d get cold!”

The twins’ blue eyes gleam.

“We’ll keep you warm,” growls Ryder.

“Steaming,” adds Rick with another squeeze of my bottom. But I’ve put on a plush white robe, and wrap it tightly around my waist.

“Rick, Ryder, we have a massive taco dinner to devour, so I suggest we tackle that meal first.”

At that, the two men laugh, retreating in the direction of the kitchen.

Alone once more, I stare at my reflection in the fogged-up mirror, feeling considerably better now that the guys are home. The Walshes have a way of making me feel an easy happiness like I’ve never experienced before. Smiling, I slip into shorts and a tank top and make my way to the kitchen, where Ryder’s scooping a mouthful of guacamole into this mouth, looking like a naughty schoolboy who just got caught misbehaving.

“Ryder Walsh!” I chide him, but he takes the bowl of guacamole and escapes to the living room. Beside him, Rick grabs a bag of corn chips and swats my bottom while heading for the TV.

But instead of pursuing the twins, I begin dishing the various taco components onto plates and bowls, and within minutes, the three of us are settled at the dining room table, ready for a night of good food and even better company.

“How did the meeting go?” I ask the guys while sprinkling cheese onto my creation.

“It went well,” Rick says before taking a huge bite of ground beef and tortilla.

Ryder nods. “The manufacturer is eager to get started. They want to work with Ayema, seeing that our order size is triple what they’re used to.”

Nodding in agreement, I take a bite of my taco.

“What about you? Did you end up having to go into the shop today?” Ryder asks me, blue eyes inquisitive.

“No, Wednesdays are usually really slow, and unless we have to do inventory, my boss doesn’t like a lot of people just hanging out around the place.” I fidget with my food, omitting the worst part of my day the conversation with my mom. But the twins can sense my mood.

“What’s on your mind, sweetheart?” Rick tilts his head to a side.

“Nothing,” I reassure him with an easy smile. The last thing I want to do is talk about my mother with the guys. I’ve managed to stay vague on the subject of family so far, and want to keep it that way. So instead, I change the subject. “I take it you guys liked that little number I designed? The bra with the lacy elastic straps? I mean, if last night’s reaction is anything to go off of.”

Ryder grins mischievously. “Those straps came in handy, that’s for sure.”

“I personally liked how it left a little to the imagination,” Rick offers. “Sometimes a hint of sexiness is fun for a change.”

Blushing, I press on. “I’m glad it wasn’t too risque. I wouldn’t want people to think my designs were Frederick’s of Hollywood or something of that sort.”

The brothers frown. “No, your work is incredibly tasteful, Chrissy,” Ryder assures me. “It’s very high end.”

“What would make you think it wasn’t?” asks Rick at the same time.

I think for a moment.

“I don’t know. I guess it’s risky to design lingerie for girls like me, who are bigger. We don’t fit the typical model stereotype, and with such small pieces of cloth, we tend to pop out on all sides. But I want women like me to feel sexy, and not like they have to squeeze into something that’s too small.” Blushing fiercely now, I poke at my dinner, wishing I hadn’t brought up such doubts. I don’t have to worry, however, because both men immediately jump in.

“No sweetheart, your designs are perfect,” growls one brother.

The other agrees.

“I like it when you pop out of your clothes,” Ryder says with a naughty look. “To be honest, that’s my favorite part.”

But then they get serious.

“Besides,” Rick says with a shake of his head, “and don’t take this the wrong way but if we didn’t have confidence in your work, we wouldn’t have offered to help you launch a new line.”

“Exactly,” agrees Ryder. “Rick and I are businessmen, and we know a good product when we see it. You’ve got talent, Chrissy. Don’t underestimate yourself.”

I smile a bit sheepishly.

“Well, I’m glad you two at least like my style,” I murmur. I feel a bit better, but sometimes, I still doubt myself, and it’s my mom’s fault. Angela always makes me feel less than and I really need to stop listening to her.

But the good part about all this is that I can be open with the twins. I feel like I can to talk to Rick and Ryder about nearly anything, including my body-image issues, my doubts about my business, and even my plans for the future. In past relationships, I never felt like I could be so truly myself. Inevitably, I would be hiding something my love of certain hobbies or even my penchant to eat two sandwiches for lunch, and not just one. It wasn’t healthy and led to constant awkward moments. Now, however, I don’t know if there’s a single thing I could say to Rick and Ryder that would be a deal breaker. That’s how good things are.

Yet there’s a lot that remains unsaid between the three of us because I still haven’t told them that I’m their long-lost stepsister. Dread builds in my heart. I have to do the big reveal, but it gets more difficult each day I put it off.

Be brave, the voice in my head encourages. You can do this, Chrissy. The fact is, I have to tell them someday. So I take a deep breath because if not now, then when?

“Why do you guys like me?” I ask bluntly.

Two pairs of blue eyes lock with mine in confusion. “What do you mean?” Ryder asks, immediately serious. “What are you talking about?”

“I mean, that night at the reunion. Why did you approach me?” I clarify. For a moment, I wonder if I’ve ruined the evening with such a serious question, but Rick merely shrugs.

“Honey, you were the hottest woman in the room,” he says. “And when we went for drinks afterward, we saw that you were incredibly ambitious and excited about life, which we appreciate.”

Ryder nods, agreeing with his twin. “It was refreshing to meet a woman who was hopeful yet realistic about her dreams, as well as talented and beautiful too,” he adds.

“So it wasn’t something else?” I demand seriously.

They stare at me.

“No,” says Ryder in a slow voice. “Why, is there something we should know?”

This is my moment. This is my opportunity to tell them about my mother, and the fact that we’re step-siblings from long ago. But even as the words bubble up in my throat, I clamp them down.

“No, just wondering that’s all,” I say with a weak smile. “Sorry! Just got carried away.”

My words don’t even make sense and the twins shoot me another hard look. But Ryder takes my hand then, squeezing the small palm.

“You can tell us anything,” he rumbles soothingly. “At any time.”

“You’re not going to scare us away,” adds Rick with a smile. “We adore you, sweetheart, and we moved to Sheridan to be with you. Whatever it is, it’s not so bad.”

With that, I shoot them a watery smile but my lips stay pressed together. My secret has somehow grown to gargantuan proportions, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to tell them the truth. What’s going to happen? The twins will find out inevitably, but the question is when? And when they do, will they forgive me for deceiving them?