Redeeming the Stepbrother

by Andrew Grey

  “You aren’t going to hurt me.”

  “I know that. It’s just that I don’t know where to start.” I liked when Dieter touched my nipples, so I ran my fingers over his and then around his chest, flattening my hand on his warm skin, letting it flow beneath my palm. He was as hot and as sexy as any of my imaginings. Hell, he was better, real, and his eyes shone up at me.

  I kissed him, and he slipped his arms around me, rubbing small circles on my back. I waited a few seconds before reaching down between us, tugging open his belt, and opening his pants.

  Dieter did the same to me, kissing harder and more forcefully as he slid my jeans down past my hips. I tried kicking them off, wanting to be smooth, but ended up shifting to the edge of the bed and letting the denim drop to the floor.

  Dieter sat up behind me, lightly kissing my shoulder.

  “I didn’t want things to seem….”

  Dieter chuckled and kissed my shoulder again. “Being with someone isn’t like it is in the movies. Clothes don’t magically disappear and then everyone undulates in perfect harmony to a soundtrack of intense mood music. In the real world, it isn’t perfect, and that’s what makes it special. Being with someone who loves you for your foibles. Just relax. Sex should be an expression of joy. It doesn’t need to be orchestrated or perfect.”

  He wrapped his arms around me, drawing me into his embrace and back onto the bed. He’d gotten his pants off as well, and when he pulled me on top of him, only two layers of cotton separated us. Dieter took charge, kissing me, driving me wild until my hips bucked against him, cock straining against its confines.

  Dieter groaned softly, and I added a moan to the chorus, unable to stop myself. This was mind-blowing, and Dieter hadn’t even touched me yet. He slid down my chest and sucked my nipples until I gripped the bedding, trying with everything I had not to come. This was nearly overwhelming, and when Dieter slipped my briefs down, freeing my cock, I hissed and clamped my eyes closed, thinking unsexy thoughts… anything to keep my body under control.

  “Oh my God!” I nearly screamed as Dieter slid his lips over my cock, taking me into his wet heat. My head pounded and my heart beat in my ears as he took me deeper and deeper. I was on the edge in seconds, and Dieter took me higher, bobbing his head until I lost it completely, coming in a rush that Dieter took with ease, swallowing around me.

  I kept my eyes closed as my head floated for a while. I’d jerked off before, but that had never given me this kind of high. Now I understood why people loved sex so damn much.

  “Are you okay?” Dieter asked, and I opened my eyes, smiling.

  “You blew my mind.”

  Dieter chuckled. “I blew more than that.”

  I giggled at the joke and sat up, held Dieter, and lightly sucked on the base of his neck. “What about you?” I asked.

  Dieter groaned and sat on the edge of the bed, tugged off his briefs, and used them to wipe himself. “Things happened pretty much on their own.” He lay back, and I rested next to him, an arm around his chest.

  “I have just one more question. How long before we can do that again?” I grinned, and Dieter wagged his eyebrows.

  “How about we get dressed in a few minutes, and then we can go out and have some fun, get something to eat, maybe build up some energy for later. I have a feeling we’re both going to need it.”

  Dieter held me, and I closed my eyes, dozing off for a few minutes.

  An hour later we headed out into warm sunshine, sea air, and the screams of delight that emanated from the rides.

  “What do you want to do first?”

  “How about that?” I asked, pointing to the bungee tower ride.

  Dieter widened his eyes. “Are you kidding?”

  “No. It looks like fun.” I was already on my way, with Dieter following reluctantly behind. We paid and got in line. I could barely keep still as adrenaline and excitement raced through me. Once it was our turn, we stepped forward. I half expected Dieter to back out, but he sat next to me and we were strapped in tightly, bars over our shoulders.

  “Get ready for a blast!” The operator stepped away, waved his hand, and we shot into the air, rolling and turning as we hurled upward. I yelled, and Dieter screamed from next to me. As we tumbled back to earth, I held my breath until we bounced and shot upward again. Each subsequent bounce grew less, and eventually we hung in the air before being lowered to the ground.

  “That was awesome!” I wanted to do it again, but Dieter sat quietly, slightly green, his eyes as big as saucers. “We’re fine. They’re bringing us down.”

  “I’m okay,” Dieter said softly, breathing deeply as color returned to his cheeks. “I survived.”

  “It wasn’t that bad,” I told him as they unlocked the restraints and we climbed off the ride.

  “Maybe,” Dieter offered as a concession, looking upward. “But my stomach is still up there and hasn’t come down again.” He smiled, and I threw my arm around his shoulders.

  “Then thank you for being such a good sport.” I hugged him.

  “As long as we can go on tamer rides from now on.”

  I nodded and looked around. “Like that?” I asked, pointing to the big roller coaster. “That looks awesome.”

  We stood, watching other riders. “As long as it doesn’t go upside down, I’m game, but give me a few minutes.” Dieter sat on a bench, and I went to get him a bottle of water, which I handed to him. He drank most of it and breathed deeply for a few minutes. “Okay. We can go now.”

  He and I went on almost every ride, except the really big steel coaster that went upside down—Dieter drew the line there. I was in heaven.

  “I swear you’re an adrenaline junkie,” Dieter told me.

  “They’re exciting. I never got to go on these. The few other times I’ve been here, Mom would never pay for us to go on the rides. She said they were a waste of money.” I scowled. “Granted, she spent plenty of time in the clubs and bars while we were in the hotel room. So I guess we all know where the ride money went.”

  “Let’s stroll and eat,” Dieter suggested, and we began walking down the boardwalk.

  I got Dieter a box of saltwater taffy at the candy store, as well as a small bag for us to eat right away. “You can take the box home with you to share with your friends.” I wanted to send him home with something.

  We found a restaurant and ate under umbrellas, looking out at the sea, where waves pounded the shore. It was beautiful, and the food was good.

  “Is this typical American beach cuisine?” Dieter asked as he ate his hamburger and fries.

  “I suppose so. But these are really good burgers.” Mine had onions, mushrooms, cheese, and some arugula that crunched slightly with each bite. “We love our burgers. What sort of food do you love from back home?” I asked, setting down my food.

  “Schnitzel, and fried potatoes cooked with butter, onions, and bacon. My mother didn’t cook a lot. She preferred to have someone cook for her. But I always knew when I was in for a treat because I’d hear the pounding echo through the house.” His eyes grew a little glassy. Food memories were the best.

  “Pounding?” I squinted, unsure what he meant.

  Dieter nodded. “Yes. Real schnitzel is made from a veal or pork cutlet, pounded thin, breaded, and then fried. The outside is crispy, and the pounding makes the veal tender. No one could ever make schnitzel like my mother. I get it other places, but it’s never the same. She used to make the potatoes to go with it. Either those or spätzle with bacon and onions. It was really a treat.” He sighed. “I miss her for so many things.” He sniffed, and I saw some long-lingering hurt in his eyes.

  “Your mom was special?”

  “She could moderate my father the way no one else could. When he got stubborn, she’d do something—and I don’t want to think what that might be, because….” He shivered, and I got the idea. “He’d be reasonable after talking to Mom. That all changed after she died. He got rougher, more stubborn and controlling.” Dieter cleared h
is throat. “Anyway, I always think of her when I think of comfort food.” He took another bite, forcing a smile, probably for my benefit.

  I chuckled. “Wow, you and I certainly know how to have light and inconsequential conversations.” I wagged my eyebrows, and Dieter smiled, which was the point.

  “Then what do you want to talk about?” Dieter asked.

  “The World Cup? What do you think of Germany’s chances?” I asked.

  Dieter’s eyes lit up like a lightbulb. “You follow football? I adore it. My mom was a huge fan, and she took me to so many games. My dad liked it all right, but it was Mom and I who were nuts for it.”

  “I’ve watched some games. It’s getting bigger and bigger here. If I had children, I’d want them to play soccer instead of American football. I think the game is too rough, and I don’t think I could watch my kid—or any kid, for that matter—get tackled. I think I’d want to go off on the other kid the way I did on Jeremy.” I’d watched plenty of football and I understood the game well enough. Heck, I used to watch it with my stepdad because he loved it so. But having my kid play would be a whole different thing for me. Call me un-American, but it was just how I felt.

  “If you come to visit, I’ll see if I can get tickets to a match.” He grinned, the sun off the water playing in his eyes. I could fall into those deep blue orbs and never come up for air. He finished his burger and fries, and I did the same.

  After eating, we strolled the rest of the boardwalk, exploring the gift shops for trinkets, souvenirs, and T-shirts. Neither of us was really in the market for that kind of stuff, but we had fun looking and teasing each other.

  “No way!” Dieter said when I held up a shirt that read I have no sense of humor… I’m German. “I do too.”

  “That’s why it’s funny,” I told him, and winked. I decided to get myself one that read Artists do it with long and short strokes. I winked at him and paid for the shirts. Well, actually, he only thought I was getting the German shirt, but I switched it for a shirt that read I fell in love in Ocean City. It was one of the city promotional T-shirts, but I really hoped it was true.

  After paying for them, I joined Dieter out front. He was still scowling. “Did you get that awful shirt?”

  There was still a twinkle in his eye, and I wanted to hold out but couldn’t. I handed him the one I’d gotten for him, watching as he smiled and hurried off. I wondered where he was going until he ducked into one of the bathrooms and emerged a few minutes later, wearing the new royal blue shirt, with a wide grin on his face. I guess I had my answer, and, joining hands, we walked the rest of the boardwalk.

  “Do you need something to drink?” I asked, and we entered a candy shop, where we got artisan root beer and some fresh caramel corn. The scent was too much for us to turn down. “We’re going to get fat.”

  “Nope,” Dieter said as he opened the bag and popped a few kernels into his mouth. “We’ll work it off later.”

  My heart skipped a beat. I glanced downward, just to make sure I wasn’t giving everyone around me a flash of boinged-out pants. I was okay, at least from a visibility standpoint, though I was walking a little stiff-legged until I could adjust things without being obvious.

  “Dieter,” I mumbled, and he grinned as we continued down the boardwalk. Once we reached the end, we turned back toward our hotel, filled to the brim with snacks, candy, and even a caramel apple. Dieter was like a kid, wanting to try everything, and I wasn’t going to tell him no.

  “We could go swimming,” Dieter offered once we reached the hotel.

  I rolled my eyes. “You just filled me with enough food that I’d probably woof.” I gently patted my stomach, silently telling it to simmer down.

  “This coming from the guy who wanted to go on that.” He pointed to the bungee tower.

  “But that was before we ate.” I patted my belly once again. “But we could go up and get our suits on.” I didn’t want to disappoint him, and the walk and changing would give things a chance to settle.

  Dieter agreed, and we went up to our room. I checked my phone for messages—thankful there were none—and changed out of my shorts into a bathing suit. It was probably time I got a new one, but I liked the old, faded, blue-and-gray O’Neill suit. I wasn’t much of a swimmer, more of a wader when it came to the ocean. The waves always intimidated me.

  Dieter was stunning in his navy blue shorts, which hugged his legs just right. They were tight, but not enough that you knew his religion. I pulled on a T-shirt and was disappointed when Dieter did the same, hiding the incredible view of his chest and cut belly. I grabbed a couple of towels from the bathroom, stuffed them into a small, collapsible bag I’d brought along, and we headed out of the hotel, drawn by the waves and sand.

  Dieter rented an umbrella, and we spread the towels in its shade and sat on them together. The heat from the sun warred with the breeze off the cooler water, with the sun winning as long as we were out in it. The shade of the umbrella was perfect. I wanted to lie down to take a nap, except I’d promised Dieter we’d swim. He was eager; I could tell by his longing looks at the water.

  “Let’s go,” I told him, racing toward the waves.

  Dieter followed, plunged into the water, and came up shocked and cold. “My God, I thought it would be warmer.”

  I tried not to laugh, but failed. I stood in the shallows until a wall of water shot forward, drenching me from head to toe. “What did I do?”

  “No laughing,” Dieter said, and the fight was on. I sent as much water his way as he raised toward me. We both ended up standing in shallow water, dripping as we splashed each other. It was childish, immature, maybe a little stupid, and too much fun to put into words. We ended up laughing and he headed for deeper water. Dieter swam while I stood in the waves in the shallows, playing and letting them roll past me. It had been a long while since I’d spent time in the ocean like this, and it was too joyous to let that amount of time pass before doing it again. I wasn’t sure if it was simply because I was here with Dieter, but this was as much fun as the trips I remembered before we lost Ella’s dad.

  “What is it?” Dieter asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. I’d been standing still in the waves, thinking and woolgathering.

  I blinked out of it, smiling as I watched Dieter bound in the water. He seemed part fish with his antics, and I went to sit in the shade once again, drip-drying while he frolicked some more. Dieter in jeans and a shirt was gorgeous, but him in a bathing suit, wet, water running down his body as he came out of the water, was breathtaking. I wished I had a camera so I could take pictures of him. I wanted to paint him just like that and remember this moment forever.

  “Are you ready to get out?” I called.

  Dieter shook his head, running back into the waves with all the joy of a kid. Just watching him made me happy. His energy was so positive and happy that it was hard not to feel it myself. I sat down, still keeping an eye on him, but eventually lay down, closing my eyes.

  “You look happy.” Dieter sat down on the other towel near me. “Something tells me that’s a very rare occurrence.”

  I wished I could argue with him, but there was no use. “I’m sad to say….”

  “Being pleased is a good thing.” Dieter shook his hair like a dog, sending droplets everywhere.

  I laughed and raised my hands in a vain attempt to fend off the water. “You’re worse than a kid,” I told him, laughing again. I was happy and as contented as I could remember being, but I knew without doubt that this was only temporary. He and I could have fun and stave off reality for a while. But it would come to an end and we’d have to return to real life. Dieter would go home to Germany, and I’d have to return to the trials and tribulations of my family. Good, bad, or indifferent, that was my life.

  I closed my eyes as Dieter lay down as well. I didn’t move, not wanting to break the spell that had taken over. Happiness was something I wasn’t accustomed to. It was something I tried for, but always seemed to miss the mark on somehow. Usua
lly for me, contentment was something I got when I was alone, working on the art while deep in my own head and fantasies. It came from within, but was an illusion, because the pleasure I felt had its basis in my own mind and nothing more.

  But this was different, and I almost didn’t know what to do with it. Could I trust it? This happiness was from outside and it felt real. I didn’t want to say it was solid, but I reached over, touching Dieter’s fingers, and he touched mine back. This was two-way happiness, flowing back and forth, coming from someone else and me sending it back to him.

  Dieter squeezed my fingers as we lay side by side on the sand. “My feet are getting warm,” he whispered after a few minutes. I’d noticed the sun as well and scooted upward. My head hit the sand, and I brushed off what stuck, repositioned the towel, and lay back down. “That’s better,” he said softly once we were settled again.

  The breeze was amazing, with just a hint of cool to take the edge off the heat and humidity. “I could stay right here forever.”

  “We have all afternoon and tomorrow too,” Dieter told me softly.

  “Do you go to the beach at home?” I asked.

  Dieter sighed. “Sometimes. We have lakes, though. A lot of them are alpine in origin, so they’re really cold. Some of the lakes are lower, and they can get nice and warm in the summer. We used to go swimming when I was a kid, but it’s been quite a while, I think.” He rolled onto his side to face me, and I turned to look at him. “When you live somewhere, you go to work and do your daily chores and things. My home is very pretty, with mountains and craggy, rocky peaks. But you barely notice it because you see the same things every day.” He motioned. “You live so close to the Bay and to the ocean that they’re part of who you are even if you don’t notice them because you see them all the time.”

  “I suppose. Though how could I ever get used to seeing mountains every day…?” I tried to think of the last time I’d been anywhere like that. I had seen mountains before, but more the tree-covered variety of the Appalachians as opposed to the harsher beauty that Dieter described.