His Brothers Wife

by Paulin, Brynn

  His Brother’s Wife

  By Brynn Paulin

  Stiff Rain Press

  http://www.stiffrainpress.com

  His Brother’s Wife

  Copyright © 2012 Brynn Paulin

  Edited by Tiffany Mason and Juli Simonson

  Cover art by Les Byerley, www.les3photo8.com

  Published by Stiff Rain Press

  2665 N Atlantic Avenue, #348

  Daytona Beach, FL 32118

  Electronic format ISBN: 978-1-62344-000-8

  Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Electronic Release: June 2012

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

  Dedication

  To Carol and Tiffany: Thanks for the invite to the party!

  To Mr. Inspiration: Thank you for being the best husband ever.

  Chapter One

  I was about to cross the line and keep on going. When it comes to family matters, a guy isn’t supposed to betray his brother, but I had every intention of doing just that.

  I tamped down anger as I studied my sister-in-law, Briony. Though she tried, she couldn’t hide the bruises peppering her body, bruises that I knew came from my asshole of a twin brother, Chad. Even now, a dark discoloration had formed on her temple courtesy of him.

  Fucker.

  Chad has always deemed himself far above the rest of the world, the lord and master of all he touched. Apparently, that included his wife, who was currently scrubbing a glass at the kitchen sink. She didn’t realize I stood in the doorway behind her as she washed the dishes her husband had volunteered her to do.

  Working to control myself, I looked out the window. That didn’t help. As soon as I laid eyes on the scene, I wished I could just go down to where my brother frolicked with our cousins and kick the shit out of him. Would anyone stop me? They were all getting drunk out of their minds—again. It seemed to be the way of these holiday family reunions. This Fourth of July was no different.

  I looked back at Bree, and something stirred inside me. It happened whenever I got near her, and truthfully, it shamed me—that whole fucking brother’s wife thing. My lust for my brother’s wife was unacceptable. Bree was off-limits, whether or not Chad was an asshole.

  Angrily, I glared at him out the window before I examined Bree’s lush curves yet again. One of these days, I’d trace her hips with my palms and pull her back hard to my aching erection. Then I’d pushed my hand beneath her skirt to find her damp panties—

  Fuck!

  Why the hell did Chad have a woman like her? He didn’t deserve her. I knew that without a shadow of a doubt. Oh sure, my brother came across as happy-go-lucky, a man on vacation without a care in the world. He was a newlywed, deeply in love with his new wife of eighteen months, right? Hell, he was probably one of those that hit her then bawled about how much he loved her as he blamed her for his out-of-control fists.

  “Briony.”

  She jumped, nearly dropping the cup she’d been washing as she spun toward me. Her face went white. “Chad—”

  As suddenly as it had appeared, the fear seemed to melt from her.

  “Channing,” she whispered. “Sorry. I thought you were Chad.”

  “Are you all right?” I asked, my gaze riveted to the fingers of her left hand as she unconsciously rubbed her temple. That damn, ostentatious diamond winked at me. “Do you want me to look at that bruise?”

  She laughed, the sound brittle as she attempted to act calm. “I don’t need a doctor, Dr. O’Connell. I’ve had worse than this. Besides…the other Dr. O’Connell has already looked at it.”

  “Okay.” I wanted to say more, oh so much more. I sank my hands into my pockets. “How did you know it was me? Even my mom has trouble telling Chad and me apart. My dad doesn’t even try anymore.”

  “Really?” Briony asked. “I’m stunned to hear that. I know you’re supposedly identical, but you looked so different from Chad. Your hair’s a little darker than his. Your eyes are slightly larger. You stand differently, too. I don’t think you’re anything like him.”

  I smiled as her statement filled me with pleasure. “You’re the only one to think so.”

  She made a small disgusted sound. “All anyone has to do is look at the two of you.”

  Briony crossed her arms under her breasts, and I fought the urge to drop my gaze to her chest. My mouth watered to taste the nipples that pressed against her thin, white blouse. I wanted to draw those firm peaks into my mouth and suck them until she begged me to fuck her. And then, and only then, I’d spread her beautiful thighs and trail my tongue through her weeping slit, licking her and teasing her until she screamed for me. Finally, I’d rise over her and drive home my cock—

  “Did you need something?” she asked suddenly, interrupting my torrid thoughts.

  Oh God, I sure did need something.

  Yesterday, the sight of her round ass had aroused me as she’d bent into the refrigerator, and it still haunted me. My cock jumped, making me glad for the loose, untucked shirt, which hid my condition. If it wouldn’t have terrified her, I would have moved behind her yesterday and pressed to the tempting crease that had been defined by her shorts.

  Would she have realized it was me and not Chad? Could she tell the difference between us by touch? If in the dark, I buried myself in her sweet cunt, would she know it wasn’t her husband plowing into her? Could I bear for her to call out my brother’s name?

  She cleared her throat, and I realized I’d lost my battle. She seemed nervous but less about me ogling her and more about Chad. She glanced toward the window, and I knew he worried her. If Chad found us together, even innocently, there was no telling what he’d do.

  Which meant, I’d better get moving on my plan.

  I swallowed back my lust. I’d never get what I desired. I could only be the knight in tarnished armor who’d save her from her abusive situation.

  Suck it up, Chan. That’s all you’re getting. “They’re going to be drinking and horsing around down on the beach all night. It seems to me that you’re not really into that.”

  “No. Not really. It’s okay. Chad doesn’t like to have me around while he drinks, anyway. I, um, cramp his style.”

  She looked at the cup in her hand as if she’d forgotten that she even held it. Shaking her head, she put it in the drain rack then pulled the plug on the sink. Taking a deep breath, she pushed a hand through her blonde hair, absently working out the knots the wind had twisted into it earlier.

  “I shouldn’t have said that. Um, really, did you need something? I should find Chad’s vodka and take it down to him before he’s out of beer. I…well—”

  “I know,” I cut in. “He’s always been an ass when he’s drunk. The bottle’s probably in the cupboard above the stove.” Moving around her and covertly sucking in a breath of her lily-scented skin, I found the bottle quickly but didn’t hand it to her. I had to enact my plan before she took the booze and slipped away. “Give this to him then come out to my car. We’re going for a ride. That group will get pretty rowdy down there—even up at the house, there’ll be no peace.”

  Her brows furrowed. Clearly, she wanted to go but was afraid of what Chad would do if she left. Judging from the bruises I’d seen, she had good reason to be terrified of my brother’s iron fist.

  “Never mind,” I said. “Go out to the car now, and I’ll go clear it with h
im.” A lie, but hell, she didn’t need to know.

  “He won’t like that. He doesn’t like me to be around other men.”

  Unless it was for his sexual pleasure. I’d caught Chad offering her to one of our cousins if he could watch. It shamed me to think that if he’d offered the same to me, I might have said yes. Unlike Chad, I would have made sure it was good for her, though I’m not sure how much she’d have appreciated the swapping or being on display. Somehow, I didn’t think it was something Bree would have done willingly.

  I forced a bright smile I didn’t feel. “Hey, I’m not other men. I’m his brother. Who could you be safer with?”

  Without her answer, I headed for the door. I had to get her out of here. Her life depended on it, and it was well-past time to enact the cockeyed, half-assed plan I’d thought up while watching Chad’s erratic behavior today.

  There might never be another opportunity.

  I headed toward the bonfire someone had started on the beach. I knew from experience it would be a long night of alcohol and drunken behavior. That was the MO for every Friday night of the O’Connell’s annual reunions. I wouldn’t be joining in. I never did. It’s not my thing. Catching one of my cousins, I shoved the vodka into his hands then grimly turned toward the house.

  I, Channing James O’Connell, might be the most responsible member of my unashamedly flashy, wealthy and crass family, but I was about to behave completely out of character.

  You’re saving her life, I told myself. Yeah, I’m a real savior. All the best heroes swoop in and steal their brothers’ wives from beneath their noses.

  “Ready to go?” I asked Bree when I found her in the hallway, vacillating between going upstairs and going out to my car.

  She jumped, turning toward my voice. “He’s okay with it?” she asked in surprise.

  “Told you he wouldn’t mind. If you can’t trust your twin, who can you trust?”

  “He does call you Moses—the moral fiber of the family.”

  I frowned, not appreciating the comparison. Well, fuck Chad. I was about to free his slave and show her the promised land. “I guess that’s because I didn’t get into as much trouble as he did while we were growing up.” I glanced out the window, seeing Chad heading up the hill from the beach. Shit! “So, let’s go, okay?”

  “Let me just grab my purse.”

  “Hurry.” I tempered the urgency with a smile. As she went upstairs, I calmly went to the back door and slid the lock before Chad could get there. He’d have to go to the side door that led into the basement—hopefully, that would give me enough time to get my kidnap plan in place.

  Adrenaline flooded me, making me edgy as I waited for Bree. Hopefully, she wouldn’t notice some of her things were missing. I’d put them in my car earlier. Even more, I wished she’d hurry.

  When I didn’t hear the door rattling, I glanced out the kitchen window, nearest the hallway and saw Chad pissing in the bushes. He zipped up and headed back to the bonfire while I breathed a sigh.

  Scooping up the vodka bottle in one hand and a can in the other, he chugged some beer then took a swig of hard alcohol. Stupid fuck. Hell, he’d be as sick as anything tonight.

  When Bree finally came back down, I gave another quick glance out the window. All clear. I took her arm and ushered her from the house and out to the curved driveway where I’d parked my red BMW convertible. From here, we couldn’t see the beach, but we could hear the boisterous yells from the occupants—amazing since the sound of the lake drowned out everything else.

  “Storm’s coming,” I told her as I glanced up at the iron-gray clouds. We really needed to get moving before the rain forced everyone into the house.

  “Great. I hate storms.”

  And Chad probably had no patience for her fear. He loved thunderstorms and thought it was great good fun to drag people out on the porch to watch the lightning with him.

  “Why?” I asked to distract her. I opened the car door, holding her elbow as I helped her inside. Hell, her skin was so soft. I wanted to yank her into my arms right then. I squashed the feeling. This was my brother’s wife. I wasn’t kidnapping her to fuck her—much as I wanted to. No, I was putting her on a bus out of town and into a new life.

  “Our house was hit by lightning when I was a child,” she told me. “It caught fire and almost burned down.”

  “Hell, I’d hate storms too if that happened to me.” I closed her door and dashed around to my side of the car. She’d barely fastened her seatbelt when I started the engine and tore from the driveway.

  “Whoa!” She pressed a hand to the dash as she laughed. “Are we late for something?”

  “Nope.”

  “Okay.” She peered at me, apparently catching my mood as her smile faded. She clenched the armrest as fat raindrops spattered the windshield and I took a corner on two wheels. We had to get the hell outta Dodge. And I’d have plenty of explaining to do when I got back.

  “Channing, is there a reason we’re going so quickly?”

  I shifted gears as we rounded another corner and turned onto the divided highway that led into town. “Yes.”

  “And that reason would be…?”

  I didn’t answer as I tried to come up with a good reply. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel as we passed the turn-off into town and instead turned onto the interstate entrance ramp.

  “Channing?” she asked urgently, her voice raising in fear.

  I shifted gears again, my jaw tense. A tick pulsed just below my eye. Silently, I accelerated and flipped on the windshield wipers.

  “Channing. What the hell are you doing?”

  I looked over at her, determination thudding through me. “Kidnapping you.”

  Chapter Two

  “Have you lost your mind!” Bree screeched. “Do you know what he’ll do to me? Take me back to the house.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Channing, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but Chad is going to be pissed.”

  “And then he’ll hit you,” I said, my tone flat.

  “Why would you say that?” she asked slowly. She scooted closer to the door. I suppose with Chad, she knew what to expect. She probably decided I was insane.

  The muscle near my eye kept jerking as I refocused on the road. “Chad hits you.”

  It wasn’t a question.

  “No.”

  “Would you tell me if he did?”

  “No.”

  My knuckles turned white on the steering wheel. “Why were you crying earlier today?”

  “What?” She seemed stunned that I knew she’d been sobbing. Her face had been stained with it when she’d appeared this morning.

  “When you came to breakfast,” I pushed. “Why were you crying?”

  “I wasn’t crying.”

  “When you got there, you weren’t. But earlier you were.”

  She was about to deny it but held her words when I glanced at her, the knowing on my face. The house wasn’t so solid that sound didn’t travel.

  “How did you know?” she whispered.

  “Besides your red-rimmed and swollen eyes?” I asked rhetorically. “You looked even more sad than usual. Every time I see you, you, you just look so sad. When you smile, it never reaches your eyes. I saw you on your wedding day, and you were happy. I know what that looks like.” And it’s beautiful. I sped up slightly before I dropped the bombshell, I was sure she had no clue about. “And I saw what he did to his other wife.”

  “Other wife? What other wife?”

  “I knew he didn’t tell you,” I grated through my gritted teeth.

  “Chad doesn’t know I’m with you, does he?” she said suddenly, though it should have been a given since I’d mentioned “kidnapping”.

  “Of course not. You know him. Do you honestly think he’d let you come with me? Alone?”

  “Of course, he wouldn’t,” she replied, echoing my tone. “Oh hell! How could you do this to me? He’ll be ticked at you, but he’ll kill me. Do yo
u understand that? He. Will. Kill. Me.”

  “I won’t let him,” I growled. “It’s not what I’m doing to you. It’s what I’m stopping him from doing.”

  “From doing what?” she asked.

  “You said it. Murdering you. Just like he did his first wife.”

  “Murder? What? Channing, that’s insane.”

  “I wish.” This wasn’t going as well as I’d hoped. I had no proof that Chad had killed Melody and made it look like an accident—I just knew.

  “Channing,” she said slowly. “Just pull over and let me out. I’ll find a phone and call for a ride.”

  As if cued by some sadistic stage manager, a deluge pelted the windshield. Lightning sizzled to earth in the distance. She jumped with a small yelp, and her fingernails dug into my arm as she reached for me in her fear. She pulled her hand away just as quickly, realizing what she’d done.

  “Let me out of the car.”

  “Not until you listen to and understand what I have to say to you then I’m putting you on a bus outta here. You didn’t even know Chad had been married before. Don’t you want me to fill in a few blanks?”

  “I don’t have any money and nowhere to go—nowhere he wouldn’t find me. I can’t even afford to get out of the marriage and disappear.”

  I blew a short, irritated breath through my nose. “You can’t afford not to. Look, I’ll help you.”

  Lush pine trees sped past the BMW’s windows, their images blurred to Monet replicas by the rain-smeared glass as I kept my foot on the gas. Determination drove me. She wouldn’t die.

  The silence spread between us, an insidious virus of questions, until I was sure she didn’t intend to speak at all. Ever again.

  Fine. I needed to concentrate on the road, anyway. The rain pounded the car so hard that the wipers couldn’t keep up. I slowed to a crawl unable to see much past the car’s bumper. To the right, an exit came into view and I took it.