by Aria Ford
He smiled at me. He was standing in the front hall, just taking off his sneakers.
“No worries, Darbs. Good to have you back. I was just thinking you'd miss your flight.”
I rolled my eyes at him, but I was smiling.
“Thanks,” I said.
He chuckled again. “No worries. Your aunt is out with friends, the boys are working. Want some coffee?”
I nodded. “That'd be great. Thanks.”
We went through to the kitchen. We sat at the table. He seemed inclined to talk.
“Now, listen,” he said. “This man of yours... Alex seemed a bit concerned.”
I laughed. “Trust Alex. Look, I know. Alex is super-protective of me. But I told him about it and he's okay with it now. Trust me.”
He nodded. “Good.”
I told him about the way things had changed. How Jared was going to go back to college. He nodded gravely.
“That's good, Darby. Really good.”
I nodded. “I know.”
We talked a bit longer. He gave me some advice.
“You know,” he said. “People are weird. If you do something with enough confidence, everyone will completely accept what you're doing.”
I nodded. “You're right, uncle.”
“So,” he said, draining his coffee and setting the cup aside, making it look tiny in his big, farmer-style hand, “if your colleagues give you shit, just ignore them.”
I nodded. “Thanks, uncle. I know. I don't know why that ever meant something to me. It doesn't. My happiness means more to me now.”
He nodded. “That's good.”
“I know.”
I couldn't quite believe, thinking back on how I'd been thinking all those months ago, that I ever thought otherwise.
I left at midday and got on the plane at four. It was going to be a long flight.
But, I thought as I leaned back in my seat, my body aching pleasantly inside and my mind tender with thoughts of our night together, I wouldn't have had any different.
The first thing I did when I got home the next morning – after making coffee and checking my mails – was to search for colleges.
I managed to find a course in Waltham, MA, at Bentley college. It was selfish of me, perhaps, but I wanted him to be close to Newton. I considered ringing them, but in the end I texted the link to Jared.
He called me.
“Darby! You're safe at home now?”
I nodded. I was touched. “Thanks. Yes. I am. You saw the...”
“Yes!” He interrupted me excitedly. “I did. Wow! You think they'll take me?”
I laughed. “You can ask. I think with enough good referrals they might do. You might have to go to some kind of night classes first, though.”
“Anything,” he said. “I want to do this so badly.”
I chuckled. “I'm so pleased to hear it.”
“So am I.”
His voice sounded so sexy that I shivered. “Good,” I said.
He laughed.
The move would only happen in six months' time – we both knew that because we knew he had to do the apprenticeship first. But that didn't stop him from coming up with a plan.
“There's a few holidays between now and then,” he said. “If there were cheap flights, maybe...”
I laughed. “It might be worth coming to check out Bentley university?”
His voice was breathy. “I don't know if that's what I wanna check out. But yeah.”
I shivered with longing. “Well, then,” I said.
“Good.”
We talked some more and hung up. The next day at work I floated in.
“Hey!” Arlington, the office gossip, greeted me coolly when I came in and went through to the coffee-room. “You're finally back.”
I nodded curtly. “Yes, I am.”
I couldn't help the fact that a secret smile played round my mouth. I was glowing with happiness. It was going to show, one way or another.
“So,” she said. “We all noticed you'd been away quite often. Something up?”
I laughed. “Well, I'm having a passionate love affair with a wild cowboy whose studying a degree in logistics and I had to intervene in a legal dispute with his boss.”
She laughed. The made-up eyes narrowed. “That's funny. But seriously. You're okay, aren't you? We were all worried...”
I nodded. “I'm fine.”
I walked out smiling.
I am serious, I wanted to say. Yes, I know it sounds like a crazy story. But life can be crazy sometimes.
The first holiday to come up was Thanksgiving. The day before the event, I found myself driving to the airport. My heart was thumping in my chest.
I waited with everyone else, trying not to feel the mix of elation and concern that was gnawing like a wild thing in my tummy.
He's on the plane. He's fine. Just a minute now...
The plane had landed and people were starting to come through the doors. I watched them pass, my lip clamped between my teeth.
There!
I felt my heart thump as he sauntered through the doors. He had that savage elegance he'd had the first day I met him, walking with the lithe ease of a predatory creature. My loins were flooding at the sight of him.
“Darby.”
His eyes lit up, a warm, twinkly blue, when he saw me. He looked at rest. Happy. Confident.
My mouth tasted his.
“It's good to see you,” he said.
“Shall we go home?” I asked.
He laughed. Nodded. “Mm.”
I drove us to my apartment, my heart thumping crazy-fast in me. We could barely wait to get through the doors. We fell on each other in the lift, his mouth devouring mine. We reached my apartment and fell in through the doors.
“Oh, baby,” he moaned.
We collapsed on my bed. I was shivering as he tore my clothes off my body and I started to tear his off.
We collapsed onto the bed together, my legs around him, his cock pushing at my entrance. He entered me and I cried out in wonder as that hard, throbbing cock thrust in me until I thought I was going to burst.
I shivered and panted and cried out in his arms and then, gritting his teeth, he cried out a moment or two later. We slept.
The next day was Thanksgiving.
I had decided to stay in Newton this year. We did, however, have a party at work. The next morning, I dressed smartly in a red skirt and blazer, an ivory shirt with them.
I looked at Jared.
In a suit, he was exceptional. I couldn't tear my eyes from him. I stared.
“You are stunning,” I said. I giggled. He was going to knock them dead.
He smiled shyly. “Thanks.”
We drove to the restaurant the company booked for the event.
When we got there, I had to bite my cheeks. Otherwise the grin would have actually made my face hurt. All the girls stared.
I caught sight of all my colleagues. They looked at him and at me and I felt my heart swell. I was so proud of him.
“So,” Arlington said when I saw her later on the terrace. “Who's he? Come on...”
I smiled. “I told you.”
She frowned. “No, you didn't, Darbs. You're getting confused with telling another person.”
“No,” I said. I couldn't keep the smile off my lips this time. “I told you. He's a cowboy and he's going to college to study logistics. I had to help him with some legal issues back home in Wyoming, but they're fine now. He's here on a visit.”
She rolled her eyes. “Be serious.”
I shrugged. “Fine – think that.”
“I'm going to ask him,” she said boldly.
If she'd hoped to disconcert me, she was about to be proved badly wrong. I shrugged again. “Please.”
She stalked off.
Later, I asked Jared about it. He chuckled.
“I told her what you'd said was true.”
“And?” I asked, a giggle starting to rise in me.
“And she s
aid that wasn't possible.”
I felt the giggle reaching my lips. “What did you say?”
He shrugged. “I told her she needed to get a new dictionary. It was possible. It's happening.”
I laughed. I couldn't help it. I wished I'd seen her. We both collapsed into giggles.
Later, when we'd made love, I leaned over, stroking his handsome face.
“I love you,” I whispered.
He reached up and stroked my hair. “I love you, too,” he said.
We kissed.
EPILOGUE
Darby
I sat in the car and tried not to get impatient with the traffic. I shifted uncomfortably in my tight pencil skirt and stockings. I was heading to a fancy restaurant. I leaned back in the seat and focused on the growing tingle in my belly.
“And... here we are.” I pulled up into the parking-lot of the Grennock Hotel.
I got out and went in.
“You're here for the graduate lunch?” the doorman asked.
“Mm,” I nodded.
“Follow me.”
I went through after him into a big room with several long tables, each with perhaps thirty seats. At one of the places was a man with tousled, gelled blond hair. He looked up.
“Hi,” Jared greeted.
“Hi!” I slipped into the seat beside him. “Sorry I'm late.”
“Not at all,” he said.
We chatted in hushed tones, waiting for the rest of the people to arrive. As the room filled, I felt a growing excitement inside me. It was a year since Jared moved to Waltham. He had just graduated from the logistics course.
“So,” I said, feeling his knee pressing mine. The waiters were coming around with drinks and appetizers and Jared leaned in towards me with a big smile. “How are the plans?”
“Well,” he said, “I just had news from NewTrans – they want to interview.”
I covered my mouth with my hand in surprise. “Jared!” I said. “That's awesome!”
NewTrans was a big freight enterprise. Their main advantage – besides their excellent reputation – was being based out of Newton, MA. Not far from me.
He looked down, shyly. “I dunno, Darbs...”
I chuckled. “Yes, you do. It's brilliant! Well done.”
He looked at me shyly. Again I was struck by those sweet, gentle eyes in that intense, lean face. He was so handsome, so strong. So gentle inside.
“I dunno,” he said again shyly.
“I do,” I said firmly. “Well done.”
The waiter came toward us and put down a plate of little snacks.
“Red or white?” he asked politely.
Jared and I looked at each other. Our cheeks quivered with suppressed laughter.
“No, thanks...” I began.
“We'll just have the water.”
We both collapsed with giggles. We got a few stern looks and the poor waiter went away looking as if he'd just had to serve to crazies.
“You know,” he said with a big chuckle, “I think they'll think we're the wrong kind of people for this place.”
I laughed. “You know what?” I said.
“What?”
“I don't think I care very much what they think. I've spent my whole life caring. I want my freedom now.”
“Me too,” he said softly.
We looked at each other with warm smiles. I felt myself start to drown in those eyes of his. We kissed.
The professor who'd taken the course proposed a toast.
“To the new graduates.”
“Hear, hear!”
Jared and I clicked water-glasses. We shared a grin.
I felt his leg press against mine under the table and my excitement started to rise in my chest.
“Well done, Jared,” I whispered to him. “I'm so proud of you.”
He swallowed hard. “Thanks, Darbs.”
Later we went home together. We made fierce love and then gentle love. We lay together and discussed our plans.
“If I get this job,” he began hesitantly. “Darby, I...?”
“Yes?” I encouraged gently. I stroked his hair.
“Darby, I don't know how to ask you this question. But...but do you think you...I....” he rolled over onto his tummy and looked into my eyes. “Darby, I love you. I've wanted to ask you this since just after we met, only I never thought I could. But now, I want to ask. Would you think of making us...more permanent?”
I swallowed hard. “Jared. I...you mean that? You're sure? I mean...” I trailed off. I felt as if there was a light turning on inside me, a big bright wonderful light that was growing and burning and flooding me with its beauty.
He laughed.
“Darby, how can you even ask me that question? Of course.”
I kissed him. I cried. My tears ran onto his cheeks and he dried them off mine.
We lay there with my hand on his arm and his other arm under my head for what felt like an eternity.
“I'm so happy,” I whispered.
“Me too,” he said.
We were. We were happy. We were living our fullest life. We were in love.
For the first time since I could remember, all was well in my world. And all because I finally decided to stop caring about other people's opinion: to live life true to that compass we all have inside ourselves. Our hearts.
The End.
MY HOT STEPBROTHER
A Second Chance Romance
CHAPTER ONE
Ryan
Darkness enveloped us. Bradley and I moved side by side, silently trekking a path through the wilderness. Our footsteps were quiet, but leaves crunched beneath our boots, making us hold our breath. My nerves were calm and my heartbeat steady. Nothing about this mission was simple, but I knew my team had my back.
Bradley and I slowly entered the compound from the north, while Jacob and Drew came from the east. The southern and western sides were covered by a deep, murky swamp.
As Bradley and I approached the building, I felt my breathing slow even more. My mind went blank as I let my training take over. Bradley and I moved slowly, checking our surroundings with every step. There wasn’t room for fear, only action.
When we reached the designated room, Jacob and Drew came around a corner. We nodded to one another and silently planned the extraction using hand signals. We’d made it this far; we weren’t turning back now.
Jacob ducked to inspect the lock on the door. He nodded to let us know it was an easy entry. Quickly, he slipped his tools out of his pocket and inserted them in the lock. Bradley and Drew stood with their backs to us, watching the hallway for any signs of life. When Jacob opened the door, my gun was raised, ready to fire on sight.
Luckily, the room showed no signs of enemy resistance. I entered first, sweeping my gun from side to side as I moved. Jacob grabbed Bradley and Drew, who walked backward into the room. Drew kicked the door closed behind them. It swung shut with a soft click. Finally, we were in.
The room was dark. It took our eyes a few seconds to adjust. Once they did, we saw her sitting against the back wall. Her arms and legs were tied together, a gag shoved in her mouth. When she saw us, her eyes went wide with fear, and she tried desperately to crawl away. Bradley moved forward, quickly bending down in front of her.
“Shh,” he whispered. “We’re here to help. You’re okay.”
The girl still looked scared, but Bradley’s words calmed her. He untied her and removed the gag from her mouth.
“Stay quiet,” he said firmly. “We’ll get you out of here.”
Bradley handed the girl off to Jacob, who swept her up in his arms. Now that we had her, we had to move fast. If we were caught, none of us would make it out alive.
We moved back through the door and down the deserted hallway. As we emerged from the building, everything was clear. We moved as a team, taking steps in unison and constantly swinging around to check our surroundings. It wasn’t until we made it to the tree line that things took a turn.
Bradley and
I stood back, making sure Jacob made it to cover with the girl. Drew followed close behind, and just as I was about to step into the woods, I caught sight of an insurgent behind Bradley. Without thinking, I grabbed Bradley by the collar and threw him to the ground, swinging my gun around as I moved. My shot went off just in time, and the insurgent fell to the ground.
