“Well, where the hell did Ethan go? I swear, that boy doesn’t stay still for minute.”
Katherine suddenly spoke.
“Well listen...” Bill reached for Katherine's forearm, rubbing it softly to tell her to keep her cool.
“Well,” she began in a slow, delightful drawl, “We...umm, Bill and I, need a little vacation.”
“Oh don’t smile like that girl, we’re leaving Edna behind.” The housemaid.
“It’s not that we don’t trust you,” Bill began immediately after, “we just don’t want to put her out of work. You understand.”
“Yeah, and we don’t want to hear about any parties going on, either,” Katherine followed up.
“Mom,” Kelly laughed slightly, “me, party? Did you forget who you’re talking to?”
“Oh my little angel, not you. Ethan.”
“I love Ethan” Bill began, “after all he is my son...but sometimes he can get a little out of hand. I don’t want you to think we’re babysitting you. Just him.”
He gave her a big smile.
Kelly laughed, “What is he, 25?”
“Yes! And he’s a useless-- “
“Kath, don’t insult the man.” Bill cut her off.
“Katherine, William, it’s Katherine. Not all of us like to be called…”
They’re about to get started, Kelly thought. But her mother stopped herself, saying, “Kelly honey, can you tell Ethan that he missed the family meeting and that we’re leaving in the morning? Thank you.”
“I really don’t feel comfo--”
“Thank you, Kelly.”
Chapter 3
As she made her way the upstairs, she heard the music again.
The slow undulating pull of strings, tones rising slowly to its highest chord, reaching that sweet squeal; of which was so tender, Kelly’s stomach began to fumble and her hands grew moist.
Catching her breath became difficult too.
It was as though the shaking strings of Ethan’s violin shook Kelly, --and God she exclaimed inwardly, I can’t control this stomach.
She imagined her rib cages were lined with books and books, some of poetry, like Pablo Neruda's 21 sonnets; Allain de Botton’s collected essays on love. All of her felt like it was shaking, and crashing into her stomach.
She ceased moving forward when she got to the top of the steps, and then moved in when he stopped playing.
She approached his door. It was the first time she ever had. She knocked lightly. It only took a second before he answered the door.
The first thing she noticed was that it looked and smelled like he just got out of shower. If he weren’t looking directly at her, she would have taken a delicate whiff of his fragrant soap.
The next thing she noticed was that he was only wearing boxers and a tank top.
A wave of hair eclipsed his vision. He pushed it away with a finger, revealing a pair of light brown eyes, with splinters of gold and honey at the iris.
“Hey Miss Mysterious, come in.”
She chuckled, “Miss mysterious?”
“No? Not a good fit?”
She chuckled again, suppressing it midway. She knew that she only laughed like that when she was nervous, so she tried to control it.
“You can call me Kelly. Hey, by the way, the parents wanted me to tell you something.”
“Okay Kelly. Did you like my concerto?”
She didn’t think he’d bring it up himself, “I was going to ask you about that,” she looked around for the instrument, breaking her fixation on him for just a moment.
Bookcases. That was the first thing she noticed. Instead of 3 other walls, he had 3 massive rosewood bookcases, filled completely.
She began walking towards the one on her left-hand side, “You read all of these books?”
Running her finger over a collection of classic poems, and, ironically enough, the novel Lolita. She doesn’t recognize any of the others.
“Most of them. Well, all of them, except for the American History Anthologies up at the top. That’s just for show.”
“Why do you read so much?”
He looked at her crossly, in question.
“I mean like, is it for school, or did you study something in school or--”
He had cut her off by not saying anything at all, only moved closer to her. She felt the pink rushing to her cheeks; the room becoming smaller as he got closer.
“You know--this is the most we’ve ever said to each other. Why?” then he crossed the room so that he was standing between her and the bookcase.
She held her breath. Her hand twitched at her side, just about to reach and touch his cheek, but she shuddered--he was looking straight into her eyes, searching for something. She quickly turned around, facing the door.
“I forgot I have to do something. But my mom and Bill sent me up here just to let you know they’re leaving town tomorrow morning. They should be gone, but Edna’s staying.”
“Edna’s staying huh. Well she used to always stay, and she usually keeps to herself, so that shouldn’t be a problem. I’m going to have a couple of friends over, have a couple drinks. You should come. You can be my date,” he smirked.
She was lurid.
“Of course not in a serious way.”
She could have melted at his smile.
“We’re family now, sis.”
Chapter 4
Kelly couldn’t sleep that night. Far too much had occurred in the day. It was the first time that she really spoke to him.
Fuck, she thought. Everything was fine in the first month that Katherine and I moved in. Now this. Now complications.
But she couldn’t stop wanting him no matter how much she tried. When she closed her eyes, he was there, he snuck into her room in the middle of the night, and whispering and convincing her to let him has his way. A silly, stupid, impossible fantasy.
Still, it sparked the urge...she began rubbing her own breasts with one hand, sliding her other to her waist, beneath her panties. And now, she wasn’t flicking her own clitoris, it was him.
He’d come in sweaty after a long game of soccer, but his shower wasn’t working for some reason. She let him into her room to use it, and when he undressed, one thing led to another--a fantasy, a stupid fantasy.
While she lay in her bed, squirming to the rhythm of her own running finger--the name slowly rose from inside her and sprang to her lips.
She whispered it in final absolution, her body and voice shivering, “Ethan”.
She slid her hand from under her pantie and laid back, exhausted.
Amid lust-love confusion, she fell asleep. Her body warm. Her heart only half satisfied.
When she woke up, they were already gone.
She cleaned herself up and put on some house clothes, a pair of navy blue sweat pants and a tank top.
When she made her way downstairs, she heard somebody in the kitchen, listening to piano music, cooking on the stove.
Evidently, Ethan didn’t hear her she when she got downstairs and stood at the entryway of the kitchen. He moved swiftly, working on a pan of bacon, another pan with a pancake--dough still wet, and still another pan with a thin layer of oil, waiting for something.
His back muscles flexed with every movement. An island countertop stood between them so she couldn't tell if he had pants on or not. He didn't wear a shirt.
It’s like a morning after sex, only he’s making me breakfast, she mused to herself.
She knocked on the wall.
“Hey,” he gave a soft smile, “you’re up. Good morning. Sit, I’m making us breakfast,” and motioned to a small table for two at the corner of the kitchen.
She sat.
“I didn’t know you cooked.”
“Yeah well, they already left, and I didn’t want us to starve. This had to hold us off till later tonight. Think you’ll be up to party?”
She snickered nervously. She didn’t even like parties back in high school.
He moved for a fork and p
icked up a bowl, scrambling some eggs. She enjoyed watching him work.
He moved with efficiency in mind, not wasting a motion, nor forgetting that something is cooking--leaving it to burn.
No, she thought.
He’s perfect.
“I think so. Who is going to be there?”
“I just invited some old friends. Most of them are down from college for the summer, so it’s like a little reunion too. It's hardly going to be party, it’s really just a little get together. Don’t be shy.”
“I’m not shy.”
But she was shy, and a little anxious as to how she’ll present herself in front of his friends.
“Well, I’d like it if you were there…”
She looked at him for a second too long wondering if, until he finished, “I mean because you’re my sis and all. I mean they should meet you.”
She knew that he didn’t know what he was saying.
Am I making him nervous?
“Well, let’s say I did go. What kind of clothes are we talking here?”
“Semi-formal. I’m going to borrow one of my dad’s dress shirts. I’m sure you could find something in Katherine’s closet if you don’t have a dress.”
Dress clothes?! Kelly was not the kind of girl that wore dresses or anything of the like.
He saw the astonishment on her face, “Not the kind of dress you’re thinking. Something sleek and sexy. I think I saw your mom in a green party dress last weekend. It crosses at the front advertising a little cleavage, the then the whole back is showing. You’d look great in it.”
She had to look down at her plate to keep from blushing. They finished eating and raided their parents' closets.
After they found what they needed, he told her that he was going to go out to grab a few things for the party. She said she would use the opportunity to get ready. He gave her a smile for that.
He returned around 7pm. She heard him at the door, and thought it would be the perfect time to show him.
Her high heels clacked on the wooden stairway as she walked down. She knew that she looked stunning with her soft shoulders and graceful arms exposed, strong with her heels accentuating her calves.
Ethan only stared at her as she made her way down. Kelly saw him turning red--a rush of foolish blood--as she got closer to him.
She stopped at the last step, “What do you think?”
“You look...ravishing. I’m proud to call you my date tonight,” then swung his arm around her and gave her a peck on the cheek, “sis.”
Suddenly the doorbell rung.
“Shit. Can you get that? I’m going to go get dressed really quick. When a girl named Delilah comes in, tell her the food is in the kitchen. We’ve done this before, she’ll know what to do.”
Then he bolted down the hall, up a different set of steps to his room.
Delilah, Delilah, she didn’t like the sound of that. She had never felt jealous in all her life, but she certainly felt it then.
But when she answered the door it was just a guy named Brad, with his date Lisa, “Oh, I thought Torvy would answer” Brad said.
His date laughed, “No one’s probably called Ethan 'Torvy' in years. Good to meet you by the way. He has no manners. What’s your name?”
Kelly laughed, “No it’s fine. And Kelly, yours?”
“Lisa, that’s Brad. So how do you know Ethan?”
“I’m his date,” Kelly beamed.
Then after that couple, a steady stream of Ethan “Torvy”
Torvald's past made its way through the door, filling up the house. Even Delilah came and got working on the food. Apparently Ethan was getting a barbeque going.
Music began playing, and everyone seemed like they were having a good time, except for Kelly. She couldn’t find him. The Torvald home was huge.
She walked around a bit, drank a few beers, talked with a few of Ethan’s friends. Slowly, when the meat got on the grill, the party moved outback, to the pool area.
It was pitch black outside, and with a few drinks in her, she barely saw a few yards ahead of her, still, she made out his figure across the pool. He was talking with Delilah.
Delilah apparently said something funny because both of them tossed their heads back in unison and laughed.
When Ethan and Kelly finally made eye contact, he said something to Delilah, which made her walk away, and then he sauntered to Kelly.
Chapter 5
She had courage now. With a few drinks in her, and the whole party thinking that they were dating, she didn’t mind grabbing him by the lapel of his jacket, pulling him to the cold dark on the side of the house, where they could talk.
It was almost perfect. Someone cut the party music and put on something jazzy and slow. The piano keys tinkled steadily in the background. The party was winding down.
Most of the people left, except for a few of Ethan’s close friends. But they were unaware that Kelly and Ethan were dancing in that cold dark, away from everyone; and for a good while.
Kelly's arms were slung over Ethan's neck; his hands gently guided her waist.
“This is fun,” she said.
“This is. You know Kelly, I’m really--”
Cut off by a woman shrieking in the background. The pool erupted with noise.
They ran over to see what happened. Lisa, the girl Kelly met at the door, was in the water fully clothed, while everyone stood on the edge down to their undergarments.
The group held hands and counted “3...2...1!” And then they all jumped in the pool.
Brad looked up from the water, “Torvy where’ve you been?! Get in the fucking water!” and everyone tried to splash the young couple.
“C’mon,” Lisa called, “the water is beautiful.”
Someone screamed from the deep end, “Torvy wants to be with his girrrllfriend”
“Awwwh,” the pool howled.
“No, not tonight you guys--” sudden thrust towards the pool. He fell in, and when he resurfaced, he looked to the woman that pushed him.
“Oh you’re gonna get it.”
He pushed himself out and chased her down. She screamed a warm, playful scream when he wrapped his wet body around her, lifted her up, and made her jump in the pool with him.
The night couldn’t have gone better, Kelly thought to herself.
Slowly everyone left, leaving the couple in the warm water.
They shared that glance, the kind that rattled the poetry in Kelly’s stomach, and always, always came before kissing. But they refrained. She kissed his cheek, and then they got out of the pool.
He held her hand as they made their way inside. She didn’t find it peculiar anymore; she didn’t find it odd that he wanted her too.
Ethan pulled her to his room. They stood at the doorway, his back against the wall, his hands on her waist and she leaning upon him.
She tried to kiss his neck but he turned away, “let's just lay down.”
He let her into his room and they did just that.
They kept each other warm, not caring if they ruined the very bed they were to sleep in.
She lay just to side of him, her head on his chest.
“Why haven’t you kissed me?” she whispered, her eyes closed.
“I think both of us know why. Also you’re drunk, and I don’t take advantage of drunken girls. I’ll tell you what, if you still want to kiss me in the morning, I’ll be right here.”
She smirked and opened her eyes; he responded to her movement by looking down at her.
“I’m drunk, yes, but I’ve wanted to kiss you since the day I met you.”
He smiled, “really, why’s that? You have a weird fetish or something?”
Both of them roared with laughter, she coyly slapped his thigh.
“Why did you have to bring that up? We were doing just fine. Look, you’re not taking advantage of me. I want you.”
“I want you too, Kelly. But...that still doesn’t solve our other problem. I know, it’s not that big-a-deal, we’re
not blood related...it just. It would just seem weird.”
...she sighed, propped her chin on his chest so that they could get a good look at each other, “I don’t want to be with someone that’s always worried about what other people think.”
He said in the lowest tone, “You look lovely when you get angry.”
She held the same serious visage, then gave up and rested her cheek on his chest once more.
“Look, I want to kiss you. But you know we can’t.”
She then swung her arm around, so that her palm was just slightly touching his cheek, “kiss me right here, then.”
He accepted her hand in his; she nudged her head deeper into his neck.
When she closed her eyes the stimulus around her grew sharp: she felt her own warm breath deflecting off of his neck, she heard his heart beat glowing, but most importantly: felt his pink lips pursed on the soft underside of her wrist.
Ethan tilted his head to the side, and let her continue. Encouraged her by running his hands through her hair. She felt a soft moan vibrating in his throat.
Finally, he stopped her with a soft push, then looked down.
“You know we have to be ourselves,” she said.
He blinked, holding his eyes shut, maybe thinking, facing the possibilities on how all of that could go downhill. When he opened his eyes, he leaned forward so that their foreheads touched.
Both of them closed their eyes and kissed. A long unbroken kiss, followed by a slew of smaller ones, placing them on every spot from the neck up.
Then they held each other there, breathing exasperatingly into each other’s ear. She surprised herself by mounting him.
She liked the thought that she was pinning him down, that she was all his and that he had no say in the matter.
He can’t resist! she mused; but neither could she.
So she reached behind her back and unhooked her bra. At this, he took a long deep breath; she felt him getting stiff underneath her.
Letting him look at her, she placed her hands on her hips. He looked to her eyes again then back to her breasts, crunching up to kiss her puffy pink nipples.
Stepbrother: Forbidden Cravings: Stepbrother Romance Boxed Set Page 3
