"I fucking hate men! " Leona said, standing in his bedroom door way, not bothering to hide the hurt and anger in her voice.
He looked at her, his heart racing. She stood there, 23 years old, wearing a Mickey Mouse t-shirt each mouse ear, caressing the perkiest A cup breasts one could imagine. Her curly red hair cascading down her back like a wildfire, and her piercing blue eyes scanning him up and down as if searching for answers he hadn't yet provided. She was a vision of fiery beauty that could make any man trip over his own words. Five-foot-four of pure, unfiltered energy that made most men feel both thrilled and intimidated.
"What do you mean, Leah?" he managed to ask, his voice barely above a whisper, hoping she wouldn't notice his, erection.
Her eyes narrowed, as she took a step into the room, the fabric of her shirt stretching just enough to reveal the lack bra beneath. "I mean exactly what I said," she spat, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "You're all the same, thinking you can use and discard me like a dirty shirt."
Leona's voice was a blend of anger and sadness, her full lips quivering slightly as she tried to hold back tears.
"What are you talking about, Leah?" he said. He always called his sister Leah, she would kill him dead if she ever found out the truth. Leona and Leah, (Leahsthetics of chatterbabe fame they could be twins). Good thing Leona's middle name was Lee, she would never find out.
Her gaze softened slightly, and she sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's not you, James," she clarified, her voice losing some of its bite. "It's them. The way they treat me, like I'm just a toy to play with."
James, laying awkwardly on the bed, felt a pang of guilt. At 21 years, he was a slim, good-looking geek with a gentle nature that had often been mistaken for weakness. His sister two years older, had always been protective of him, so he knew her temper and what she was capable of. If she was venting her frustrations, it was clear she was holding back from letting it all out.
"Leah," he began, his voice soothing, "I know it's tough, but not all guys are like that." He sat up, trying to appear composed despite his heart. Her beauty was always a distraction.
Leona rolled her eyes, her gaze drifting to the floor. "Yeah, right," she muttered, as she slowly sat on the bed besides James.
"I'm serious," James insisted, reaching out to gently hug her. "You can't let them dictate your life like that."
Leona sniffled, her fiery gaze meeting his. "You don't get it," she whispered. "My boyfriend... he wants more. He says if I don't put out, then I'm just a tease, a board."
James felt a flash of anger, his grip on her arm tightening slightly. "John said that to you?" His voice was low and even, but the fury behind it was unmistakable.
Leona nodded, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "He said if I don't want to have sex with him, then I might as well be a board," she repeated, her voice cracking with emotion. "It's like I'm not even a person to him."
James felt a surge of protectiveness for his sister, his gentle nature momentarily giving way to a desire to punch John's lights out. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the emotions that were threatening to spill over. "Leah, you're worth more than that," he said firmly. "You don't have to do anything you're not ready for."
Leona's eyes searched his, looking for a hint of doubt or judgment, but finding none. She took another deep breath, her chest rising and falling with the effort. "I know," she whispered, "but it's hard. He makes me feel like there's something wrong with me for not wanting to."
"There's nothing wrong with you, Leah," James assured her, his voice steady and warm. "You're perfect just the way you are."
