OUTCAST: A Stepbrother Romance
Page 15
“So...” I cleared my mind of all reservations and started to ask, “why’re you here?”
“What do you mean why am I here?” he tried to clarify without even looking at me as he was preoccupied with what he was fixing.
“You. Why are you here?” I asked again. “Aren’t you supposed to be the super mysterious guy who’s involved with questionably mysterious things somewhere mysteriously unknown?”
“Well, I’m here, so deal with it,” he said rather heartlessly.
“I’m just wondering...” I began to explain.
“It’s my home too,” he interrupted me. “I have every right to be here, just as much as you do.”
I just shrugged, smiling still, confident in expressing my joy because he wasn’t even looking at me.
“Okay then,” I said. “I’m just wondering how long you’d stay this time around. Should we be saying goodbye to you after...” I looked at my watch, “thirty minutes... one hour at the most?”
He stood up and turned to face me.
“I’m here,” he stated firmly. “This is my home. I won’t be going away.”
I wanted to hug him right there and then, prying eyes be damned. He just made me so very happy. Yes, he was here. Yes, he was home. But what melted my heart was that he was there, in front of me, with me, and he hasn’t indicated any intention of leaving.
I went back inside to finish my breakfast. My dad and my stepmom where already in the dining table. I sat down in my designated seat, on the left side of my dad who occupied the chair at the narrower end of the rectangular surface. My stepmom was on his right. The chair next to her was meant for Nash, but he wasn’t home most of the time so we were used to seeing it empty.
Not that morning, though.
A minute after I settled on the dining table, he followed. But instead of sitting next to his mom, he sat on the chair beside me. My eyes widened in shock. I quickly chomped on my sandwich before anyone noticed how startled I was.
“I’m glad you’re joining us for breakfast today, Nash,” my dad greeted him.
He just nodded and gave my father a polite smile.
“By the way, Jim,” Aunt Susan began to say, “have you heard what the City Hall said about the ordinance they retracted?”
“What ordinance?” my dad asked. “The one about displacing the row of stores at Madraska Lane?”
My folks usually had this kind of discussion during our meals. They bored me to tears.
“Yes, they took it back,” she confirmed.
“Good,” he added. “It was an idiotic ordinance anyway. Who’s the imbecile who proposed that piece of garbage? Even if it got retracted, how could they compensate for the lost income of the storeowners who were displaced for weeks?”
“The city should pay them,” Nash suddenly said.
We were all shocked. It wasn’t because Nash spoke out his opinion on the matter. It was because, well, Nash actually spoke! In the dining table! With us!
“Well...” my dad struggled to continue, still stunned by Nash’s completely unexpected interjection. “Uhm... wow... that’s a nice thought. Yeah, yeah... I agree, the city should pay them for the income they lost.”
“It’s only fair,” Nash added. “The city made a mistake.”
Then something happened. Something that jolted my senses, stimulated every nerve in my body, and jumpstarted my heart into seeming overdrive.
Beneath the table, away from everyone’s eyes, he held my hand.
He held my hand...
“When someone decides to act on something,” he continued, “the right thing to do is to take responsibility for it.”
Wow! As in... wow! Was he talking about City Hall? Or was he referring to himself?
“Full responsibility!” he emphasized...
And he squeezed my hand.
And tears of absolute joy would’ve fallen from my eyes if I wasn’t quick enough to look away and regain my composure.
My folks were nodding, expressing their assent... as well as their delight that Nash has started to open up to us.
There we were, savoring our breakfast, together, as one family.
A family that will soon be tested once my parents found out about my pregnancy... and my affair with my stepbrother.
But none of that mattered at that particular moment. We were together. We were happy. A rare occasion... and I wanted to enjoy it as much as I could...
Then my phone beeped.
Hesitantly, I had to withdraw my hand from Nash’s grip to grab my mobile. I swiped at the screen and discovered that a text message was received.
It was from Finn.
Hey beautiful. Just bought a tux. I’m excited to
see what you’ll be wearing for the Homecoming.
If you need company while shopping, I’m
volunteering right now. :)
I quickly hid my phone. I didn’t want him to see the message. He wouldn’t like it. And it would definitely ruin what we were having.
As soon as I put it away though, he took my hand once more. His grip was firm but gentle. His fingers started to caress my skin. It was a simple act that forged an unforgettable instance... one that I will always carry in my heart.
But Finn’s text was an unwanted reminder...
Of the unfinished business that I had to attend to...
Of the pain that many will feel once I reveal that I’m carrying a child within me...
Of the peculiar sensation that lingered in my gut... one that seemed to tell me that though all was right in the world that morning, it was just a momentary peace... a quiet prelude to the days ahead... a calm before the storm.
19
Phone Sex
Nash actually managed to fix the power window. Singular. Because he was only able to restore the functionality of the window at the driver’s side.
It didn’t matter, though.
It wouldn’t even matter if he failed to repair it.
From all indications, he was a changed man. More responsive. More expressive. And most importantly, more responsible. I knew there were no guarantees that it would last. But it’s always more bearable to hope for something to stay than for something to happen. The latter involved countless hours of anxious waiting. At least, with the former, I could always relish what’s there before it went away.
The drive to school was refreshingly pleasant. The AC was busted, yes, but the window - my window, at least - was open and I was able to cherish the feel of the morning breeze.
School was rather uneventful. Mr. Schumeister slipped on the floor as he entered the room. That should’ve been funny already. What made it hilarious, however, was that no one actually approached to help him up. Everybody was busy laughing.
In the middle of his class, I placed my hand on my tummy. Was it getting bigger? No, it wasn’t. How long before the bulge became noticeable, I wondered? I must remind myself to google it later. If I wouldn’t be able to gather enough courage to tell the people who should know about my predicament, I might as well learn up to when I could hide my pregnancy.
I caressed my stomach. Don’t worry about a thing, I found myself muttering, you’ll be safe and healthy and everything will be alright.
I went home as soon as school was over, excited to see Nash once again.
But he wasn’t there.
I started to feel sad. Then, dreadful thoughts began to invade my mind.
Has he gone back to his mysterious ways again?
Was he back with the gang he left? The same gang that wanted him dead?
Has something bad happened to him.
I spent the rest of the afternoon and the entire evening worrying about Nash. I tried to remember his sweet, sweet words just that morning...
The right thing to do is to take responsibility for it...
Full responsibility...
Did he really mean those words, I wondered? Earlier, I believed that he did. But that night, as everyone slept and the blackness of the eve has crept
into my room, I began to doubt his sincerity.
Then, my phone rang.
It must be Nash! It could only be him.
I quickly picked it up without even looking at who was calling.
“Hello?” I said.
“Andrea, it’s Finn! Thank goodness you answered!”
My heart sank when I heard his voice... not only because of disappointment that it wasn’t Nash, but because I was afraid about the questions Finn would most certainly ask... questions that I might be compelled to answer due to the fact that I owed him for helping Nash get out of jail.
“Oh, hi Finn,” I replied sullenly.
“Hey, what’s wrong, Andrea?” he asked. “You sound... sad...”
“No, no I’m not,” I lied. “I’m just... a little bit under the weather, that’s all.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. Listen, can we talk?”
“We’re already talking.” I didn’t want to be rude, but I also didn’t want to sound welcoming. The truth was, I would rather not communicate with Finn until Saturday when we’d go to the Homecoming Party together.
“Uhm... yes, we are,” he said while chuckling. “How have you been?”
How have I been? That was a funny question. Should I just say that everything’s swell? Or should I tell him the truth? That I made love to my stepbrother and he knocked me up? That he was actually a member of this gang and now that he left, they’re after his head? That sooner or later I will have to tell him... and my folks... about the baby I was expecting?
That I was quickly realizing that I actually was in love with...
A movement on the window...
A shadow...
The silhouette of a man...
He’s not hooded...
He’s not Nash...
A tap.
A familiar tap.
It was actually him. I was so used to him sneaking into my windowsill with his trademark hoodie that I didn’t recognize him without it. I stood up and opened the glass pane. He greeted me with a smile. I greeted him back with a finger across my lips to tell him to hush up.
“Andrea... are you still there?” Finn asked, worryingly.
“Yes... yes... I’m still here,” I answered. “I was just... I.... I just picked up something from the drawer.”
“Oooohhhh... a piece of lingerie, I hope...” he naughtily remarked. That was totally unexpected. The previous month, he completely respected the distance I asked for. His teasing remark was surprising... though it sounded playful as if he just said it in jest.
“Finn...” I said, reminding him to avoid that kind of talk.
Upon hearing me mention his name, Nash squinted in seeming anger.
I held his cheek to assure him that he had nothing to be mad about. Then I grabbed his hand and led him inside.
“Sorry, sorry,” Finn quickly apologized. “That was so... improper. I’m sorry, Andrea... it’s just that I... miss you, s’all.”
“Uhuh,” was all I could say as I went back to bed. Nash sat beside me.
“Uhm... about this Saturday,” he started to speak, leading towards a topic I hoped we would not discuss, especially at that time when Nash was so near me that he could almost hear what Finn was saying.
“Uhuh...” was, again, all I could reply with.
Then it happened.
Nash brushed my hair over my shoulder, exposing my neck in the process. He drew his head closer and he started to kiss me... small, gentle kisses that were meant to excite my senses.
My body tingled. Goosebumps formed all me. An intense kind of heat shot up from my groin and swiftly spread all over my being. It was so tempting to just surrender everything... to lose control... to submit myself to the lover beside me.
But I cannot.
Finn was still on the phone.
“So... are we on?” he asked, with a tinge of nervousness in his voice, just like a pre-adolescent kid who was talking to his crush.
Nash pressed his lips harder against my skin and he started to nibble, and I tried my best not to moan.
I failed.
“Ungghhhhh...” the sound that escaped my mouth.
“Andrea?” Finn asked with concern. “What’s wrong? Did you step on something? Are you hurt?”
“N-No... I... I... I’m okay, Finn,” I said, struggling to speak.
Nash continued to softly bite my neck, like a vampire of yore who seduced his victims before he preyed on them. He then began to unbutton my pajama top. The exhilaration I felt escalated, thrilled by what his hands - his good, good hands - had in store for me.
“Okay,” Finn replied, the puzzlement in his tone was very much evident. “So... are we on this Saturday, just as you promised?”
Promised? I never said such a word. I told him that I’ll think about it, but what he has done for me... what he has done for Nash... made him expect that I would say yes. Deep inside, though, I knew I had no choice. I had to go with him, to express my gratitude, at least. To reciprocate his kindness.
Just for that Saturday. A simple company for the night. Nothing more, nothing le...
“Oooohhhhh...” I inadvertently moaned.
Nash’s hand managed to slide into my top, and he started to fondle my breast, going for my nipple immediately, squeezing it with just the right amount of force that was stimulating enough to make me squeal.
“Andrea?” Finn called my attention. “What’s going on? Why are you making that kind of sound?”
“W-What kind of sound?” I asked as I tried to catch my breath.
“Like you’re in agony,” he replied. “Are you sure you’re not hurt or something?”
“I... I’m okay, Finn,” I told him.
“Okay then. Can you answer me now? Are we still on for Saturday?” He was growing impatient. He didn’t want to show it, as he deliberately delivered his question in the kindest tone possible. But I knew him too much. I always knew when he was getting edgy.
“Yes, Finn, I’ll see you this Saturday.” I finally delivered the answer he wanted to hear.
Nash gave me a sharp look.
I slightly shook my head as I tried to tell him that it was nothing, that it was just something I had to do. There was nothing more to it.
He got the message.
And he continued with what he was doing.
He drove his head towards my bosom and started sucking my breasts, squeezing both of them together and swallowing them alternately. His pace was frantic... as if he wanted to let me know how much he pined for me, how much he wanted me at that very moment.
I bit my lip to prevent myself from wailing.
“That’s great, Andrea!” Finn enthusiastically responded. “Thank you so much! It’s going to be a wonderful night!”
Nash inserted his other hand underneath my pajama pants, inside my underwear, and instantly went for my cunt. He rubbed my slit to check if it was wet. It was. He smiled. My eyes rolled up in anticipation of the promise of ecstasy.
“O-Okay, Finn... see you S-Saturday,” I tried to end the conversation.
“Are you saying goodbye, Andrea?” he questioned, pleadingly. “Please don’t. The night is young. Let’s talk.”
Shit!
Nash speared my pussy with his finger as he sucked on my breast, his tongue slapping my already erect nipple. He had me locked up in a sensual embrace. His free hand held my arm firmly. He didn’t want to let me go.
Then his intrusions became rapid, spurring my womanhood into a fevered state of rapture that kept building up with every encroachment of his deft finger.
I started to breathe heavier... faster...
“W-What do you... do you... want to talk about?” I floundered to ask.
“Anything you want to talk about, Baby,” he said, calling me with a term he once loved to use.
“Y-You... y-you... you can talk... I’ll listen...”
“Andrea, are you having an asthma attack?”
“N-No... i-it’s just the... the... the weather...”
He then laid my upper body on the bed before kneeling on the floor. He hooked my legs over his shoulders and dove his head into the crevice between my thighs.