Sofia was hardly your typical sixteen-year-old, just one of the reasons she drove him so insane. She was tall, and had filled out beautifully in all the right places. Her dark hair was longer than ever, and though she probably didn’t even realize it, she exuded sensuality. The way she gazed at him sometimes with those beautiful bedroom eyes of hers nearly did him in.

Eric took her hand as soon as she was all the way in. She smiled and took it a step further, caressing her fingers ever so lightly over his. It was all he could do to hold back putting his hand behind her neck and kissing those beautiful lips.

“Do you have to take me straight home?” She gave him those big, pleading eyes.

Eric groaned. This wasn’t the first time she’d asked him that. Just like the last time she’d asked, the temptation to take her back to his house overwhelmed him. His dad wasn’t home, and they’d have the whole place to themselves, but he may as well have a death wish. Finally initiating a first move of his own, he kissed her hand. Her eyes widened. “You know I do, Sof.”

She let out a disappointing sigh. “Then will you come over and have some pie? I made it myself this morning, and my mom’s home so my brothers can’t say anything about it.”

Over the years, Eric had been over the Moreno’s residence plenty of times, even when none of the brothers were home. Living with his single dad, who was working constantly, Mrs. Moreno knew he rarely got a home-cooked meal. The woman, and now Sofia, was always cooking. He’d always get invited to come in and eat, or like today, have a slice of pie. So Angel and his brothers didn’t think anything of it. They made jokes about him spending more time in their kitchen than they did, but they’d always treated him like family. That only intensified the incredible feelings of guilt about the things he’d been thinking lately when he was around Sofia.

He sat at the center aisle of their kitchen, forced to watch Sofia as she moved around the room. Her br**sts full and firm, Eric had been having dreams about them for years now. She bent over, looking for something in the refrigerator and he nearly fell off the barstool.

Sofia pulled out the whip cream bottle and walked over to the pie in front of him. She squirted some on it, then some in her mouth, licked her lips and smiled, wickedly. Those big eyes of hers seemed to taunt him so much lately.

At seventeen, Eric had no control over his raging hormones. He panicked, feeling the development in his pants. If Mrs. Moreno or anyone walked in, there’d be no way he could stand up without it being noticeable.

Sofia giggled, and squirted a little more in her mouth again.

“Sofie.” Eric glanced around. “Stop.”

“Stop what?” Those big innocent eyes appeared genuinely confused.

“That.” He pointed at the can of whip cream in her hand, then tried, unsuccessfully, to adjust himself in his pants. “I’m not gonna to be able to walk for a while thanks to you.irmanks to You better hope no one comes in here.”

He’d never said anything of that nature to her, but things felt different lately. It took a second to register, but when it did, instead of blushing like Eric thought she might, she smiled again. She squirted some on the tip of her finger, then slowly, licked it clean. Eric squeezed his eyes shut, sitting up straight. “You evil little girl.”

Sofia laughed and walked back toward the refrigerator. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not a little girl anymore, Eric.”

“Oh, I’ve noticed.” Had he ever.

She turned and smiled. “Good, now can you please tell my brothers that?”

Good luck. They all still spoke of her, and treated her, as if she was this fragile little flower. The only good thing about that was it kept the guys away. Guys he knew had to be watching and waiting.

Lately, even Eric was having a hard time not losing it when he saw guys around her. He knew Angel thought he just felt the same protectiveness they all did. He did, but not for the reasons Angel thought. He had to break down soon and talk to Angel. He couldn’t hold back much longer.

*

Angel had a girlfriend now. Her name was Sarah, and she was on the track team with Sofia. Sofia liked her a lot, but most importantly, she owed Sarah for all the time she was getting with Eric now.

They walked back to the gym after practice. The football team was just coming off the field, as well, done with their practice. The guys usually met Sarah and Sofia halfway to the gym, but they were interrupted by a couple of giggling girls this time. Both Sofia and Sarah tensed when they saw the exchange. Only Angel kept walking toward them, without giving the girls the time of day.

Eric and Romero, however, stopped to chat. Romero obviously enjoyed the attention. He laughed about something. One of the girls leaned into Eric playfully and touched the curls on his head. The very curls Sofia had only begun running her fingers through in the past week during their time alone.

Eric smiled, glanced in Sofia’s direction, and she looked away. She felt her skin crawl. Too many times, she’d had to endure seeing him with girls. It was so unfair. With just about every guy in school well aware of her brothers, and recently even Romero and Eric stepping up the big brother act, Eric would never have to deal with seeing her with other guys.

She gulped hard, staring straight ahead. She hated this feeling, and lately it was getting worse. Every time she saw or overheard the guys talking about the things they’d done with girls, she wanted to scream. At the moment, she felt on the verge of tears.

Angel reached for Sarah’s hand as soon as he was close enough. He turned in her direction. “You tired, Sof?”