Infatuation: A Rebel Stepbrother Romance

by Phoenyx Slaughter

  She moans and her hips shoot forward. That’s an invitation to explore as far as I’m concerned.

  Pounding on the door interrupts the best kiss I’ve had since the last time I kissed Ella, and I let out a silent curse as she pulls away.

  The dazed look on her face and the way she sways on her feet do nothing to calm my raging erection. I did that to her.

  “Guys, it’s me! Open up,” Summer shouts. Great timing.

  “I guess we should get that?” I ask, hoping she’ll tell me to ignore it.

  “Sure.” She swipes at her lips with the back of her hand. Is that a bit of disappointment turning her mouth down?

  Throwing the door open, I glare at Summer. “What?”

  Her gaze drops to my shorts, and I’m sure the evidence of what she disturbed is still obvious. “I hope I’m not interrupting, but we’re all headed to the beach. Thought you might like to come?”

  Ella touches my back as she approaches. “Sure.”

  “Oh my gosh, I love that suit,” Summer gushes.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Ella blush. “Thanks. It’s nothing like yours, though. Wow.”

  Still reeling from our mini makeout session, I hadn’t even noticed Summer’s choice of beach attire. That right there tells me how much kissing Ella fucked me up. Summer’s banging body is covered in a tiny, metallic gold one-piece that can barely be called a bathing suit. After showing off, she throws on a T-shirt and grabs Ella’s hand.

  With no other choice, I follow the girls.

  So fucking close.

  Chapter Three

  What just happened?

  Flynn kissed me. Touched me. I wanted him to do so much more. Instead, I’m following Summer downstairs, with Flynn behind me.

  Summer stops so abruptly I almost ram into her. When I glance up, the reason for her sudden stop becomes clear. Lena’s waiting downstairs in what can only be described as a micro-bikini made out of hot-pink tissue paper. Ridiculous stiletto mules finish off the outfit, and she’s spread enough oil over her tanned skin to grease a pig. Centerfold beautiful.

  Between the two of us, there’s no contest. Flynn will fall for her charms again this weekend, and I’ll have to sit by, watching. Pretending I don’t care.

  Summer’s mouth twitches into a nervous smile. “Interesting look, Lena.”

  Lena’s lip curls. “This old thing?”

  My eyes roll.

  “Hey, Ella,” Lena calls out.

  “Hi, Lena. Good to see you.”

  Lena nods, then dismisses me. She pushes past Summer and me to latch onto Flynn. “Hey, handsome.”

  Flynn’s gaze shoots to me and I shrug. No matter how much I wish it weren’t true, I’ve got no claim on him.

  He pulls out of her embrace. “Hi.”

  “Excuse me, young lady. You need to cover up when you’re inside. Save that stuff for the strip club,” the check-in lady shouts from across the room.

  I stifle a laugh, while Lena actually looks embarrassed for about a nanosecond. Then she thrusts her chin in the air and struts out the front door. Summer and I snicker. Even Flynn’s struggling not to crack a smile.

  As we follow behind Lena, I groan at her exaggerated walk. Her butt winks with every damn step. She ought to look ridiculous in this quiet beach community, but she’s so gorgeous it doesn’t matter. I glance over at Flynn, but his eyes are focused on his feet.

  I’m not sure what to make of that.

  We kissed! The memory of his lips on mine, his hands on me . . . how far would we have gone if we hadn’t been interrupted?

  Butterflies bounce around in my stomach as I imagine all the possible scenarios.

  We run into Stu’s brother, Brady, on the beach. He hugs his sister-in-law to be, then gives me a squeeze and shakes Flynn’s hand. Lena, of course, gives him an inappropriate kiss while rubbing her breasts all over him. Clearly annoyed, he takes a step back.

  The boys take off for the water, and Lena follows them.

  Wrapping my hand around Summer’s arm, I stop her from running down to the water. “I need to talk to you.”

  She raises an eyebrow.

  “Flynn and I kissed.”

  “You what? When? Oh my God, that’s awesome!” Like the drama queen she is, she tips her head back. “Finally!” she shouts at the sky.

  I can’t help laughing. “Hush. Don’t get too excited, someone banged on our door and stopped us.”

  “Who? Oh, me. Sorry. So, go talk to him.”

  “I can’t. We can’t. You know that.”

  “Why? You’re not blood-related. Who cares?”

  “We’ve known each other since we were thirteen.”

  “So?”

  “You don’t understand.” I can’t explain the way Flynn’s monster of a father forbade us from ever being a couple. That he’ll disown Flynn, taking everything he’s worked so hard for away from him in a heartbeat. And God only knows what he’ll do to me.

  “I can’t compete with Lusty Lena,” I say instead.

  “Um, if you haven’t noticed, he’s been trying to keep his distance from her.”

  “He just doesn’t want to hurt my feelings.”

  “Look, I know she’s not your favorite person in the world, but she was a big help to me when my dad passed away.”

  Even though Summer didn’t intend to make me feel bad, I do. I’d been locked away at boarding school when Summer’s father passed away. It took me three days to arrange a way home. I arrived in time for the funeral. Lena had been the one there for Summer.

  To lift away the sudden gloominess, Summer elbows me in the ribs and lays down a challenge. We race down to the water and dive in.

  I’m a strong swimmer. As I’m moving through the salty water, there’s a tug on my leg. I shriek and suck in a lungful of brine. After thrashing around like an idiot, I realize—no, it’s not a shark—it’s Flynn.

  Big hands settle around my waist and lift me out of the water.

  It takes a minute of coughing and choking to catch my breath. The whole time I’m hyper-aware of Flynn’s hands around me.

  “Shit, sweet stuff, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare the shit out of you.” The concern on his face, along with the old nickname, leaves me speechless. My head bobs up and down like a moron.

  “I’m okay,” I finally sputter.

  My hands settle on his broad shoulders for balance. We’re totally alone out here. Over his shoulder, I spot Summer on the shore talking to Lena.

  “I got you.”

  “Yeah,” my gaze strays to his lips.

  “What happened up there, lil’ sis?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Can we do it again?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you know, girl?” he asks playfully.

  “I know your ex is glaring daggers at us right now.”

  My hands move from his shoulder to his chest, to push myself away, but I end up studying his ink and marveling at his muscles instead.

  He’s holding me so tightly, I couldn’t get loose anyway.

  “You know she and I are over, right? I never should have been with her in the first place.”

  I’m surprised to hear him say it so bluntly.

  “Does she know that?”

  He sighs and finally lets me go. “I don’t want to make this weekend awkward for anyone. Even Lena. We’re here to celebrate Summer and Stu, but after the wedding, you and I need to have a serious talk.”

  The last thing I want to do is rehash all the reasons we can’t be together. Without answering him, I swim away. As annoying as it is, I admire his desire to treat his ex with respect.

  Lena greets me when I get out of the water. “You two looked cozy.”

  “Well, he is my stepbrother.” Where the hell is Summer when I need her?

  “I know. This time next year, you’ll be getting ready to go to our wedding.” She sweeps her gaze up and down the beach. “Maybe we’ll have it here too.”
r />   “Is he aware of that?”

  Lena glares at me. “We’re keeping it quiet until after the wedding. Not to steal Summer’s thunder and all that.”

  “Oh, of course not.”

  “Everything good, ladies?” Flynn asks as he settles an arm over each of us.

  Of course Lena snuggles into his side, and I reassess my earlier opinion about him being nice to her.

  I could choke Lena for her ridiculous, possessive display in front of Ella. The hurt on her face went straight through my chest.

  “I think I swallowed too much saltwater. I’m going to head back,” Ella says, shaking my arm off her shoulders.

  After she leaves the beach, I lay it out for Lena. “Knock your shit off.”

  “What, you can’t seriously be interested in your sister?”

  “She’s not my sister, and our relationship is none of your business. You and I are done.”

  When I reach the boardwalk, there’s no sign of Ella. Room. She has to be in our room.

  I catch up to her at the front desk. She’s chatting with the clerk—probably asking for a room switch.

  As usual, she stuns me. I stop and stare at her profile. She’s always been pretty, my little Ella. Her thick, shiny, long blonde hair has mesmerized me since we met at age thirteen. I’ve known her long enough to know it’s natural. It fluctuates from almost white-blonde in the summer to a honey shade in the winter.

  Only once did I have the pleasure of waking up with it spilling over my pillow.

  I want to remedy that situation this weekend. We’re not kids anymore. There’s no reason we can’t be together. If our parents don’t like it, tough shit.

  If Ella can handle me, and I’m not so sure she can.

  A few seconds later, I’m seeing red. Some motherfucker I’ve never seen before has his hand on her arm, chatting her up.

  What the fuck?

  Nope. No fucking way. Ella’s mine.

  Throwing on my cocky-asshole face, I stroll up and place a hand around her waist, deliberately playing with the tie of her beach cover-up. “Hey, lil’ sis, I’ve been looking for you.”

  Oh, man. If looks could maim, I’d be nursing a punch to the balls right about now.

  “I’m sorry, Calvin. This is my stepbrother, Flynn.” She introduces us and then slaps my hand off her hip. “Flynn, this is Stu’s cousin, Calvin.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Calvin says, extending his hand for a shake. I give him a hearty hand slap and glance down at Ella.

  “I’m heading up to our room, babe. You coming?”

  Her face turns crimson, the color traveling down her chest.

  “No.”

  “That’s okay, Ella. I need to catch up with Stu about some stuff for the bachelor party later.”

  “Okay.”

  After he leaves, she turns and marches up the stairs without giving me another glance. I enjoy the view for a second before following.

  She almost slams the door in my face, but I slap my hand against it, easily pushing my way in.

  “What the hell was that?” she explodes as soon as we’re alone.

  I open my mouth to ask what she’s talking about, but she cuts me off. “Don’t try to play innocent. You deliberately embarrassed me. Why?”

  “I don’t like you flirting with other men.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re mine.”

  “I’m not yours,” she whispers.

  I back her up against the door.

  “See, there’s where you’re wrong.”

  Chapter Four

  I need to put distance between us. Because right now, I can’t decide if I want to punch Flynn or fuck him.

  Except, there’s nowhere to go. Everything inside me screams in frustration. He’s got me backed up against the door. Caging me in with his beautiful arms. Tattoos and muscles on display.

  Normally, we would have lost our nerve and gone our separate ways by now. Not this time. No, he’s staring at me as if he wants something he knows damn well he shouldn’t have. Can’t have. His eyes roam over my body and his breathing picks up. Words need to be said, but instead he’s quiet.

  My tongue darts out to wet my lips, and his eyes follow the movement. Before I lose my nerve, I ask, “Do you want me?”

  He closes his eyes for a second. Avoiding me. Avoiding my question.

  “So much it kills me, Ella. I’m tired of pretending. We’re adults. There’s nothing our parents can do to us now.” The words come out like a caress, touching every part of my body. I hate that I still respond to him this way.

  “We’re all grown up now, Ella,” he whispers while tracing his fingers down my cheek.

  “It doesn’t matter. Your father will ruin you.”

  A smile plays at the corners of his mouth. There’s something he’s not telling me.

  I don’t have a chance to ask.

  His lips brush against mine, soft at first. My arms wrap around his shoulders and my fingers dig into his ebony hair. “I like the longer hair.”

  “I always knew you would.”

  He lifts me, wrapping my legs around his hips and cradling me against his hard chest. His hands slide down, gripping my ass. Our tongues glide together. The taste of him brings back both sweet and awful memories.

  “Ella, forget about our family.”

  I move in to kiss him again. I don’t want to hear more excuses. His mouth moves over my jaw, nuzzling and kissing down my neck. He easily nudges my bathing suit straps to the side.

  One hand slides up, freeing my breasts. His thumb rubs over one nipple until it’s an aching point, then he sucks it into his mouth, lashing his tongue back and forth. The hot wetness of his mouth makes me gasp.

  This is so wrong.

  My fingers clutch a handful of his hair, pulling him away. Sharp teeth graze my nipple in warning, but I have to ask my question.

  “Are we doing this for real?”

  His lips brush my ear as he leans in. “I’ve got you pinned to the wall, your swimsuit half-off and your tits in my hands, so yeah, I think we’re doing this, lil’ sister.”

  It’s like pouring ice water on my crotch. “Ugh, stop calling me that.”

  The corner of his mouth pulls into a smirk. “Why? The forbidden makes it hotter.”

  I press my hands against his shoulders—his rock hard, broad shoulders—and shove. Why bother? It’s impossible to move him.

  “Yeah, well it makes my vagina dry as a desert when you say it.”

  I should’ve known he’d take that as a challenge.

  “Oh, my sweet lil’ Ella, I doubt that very much.”

  This needs to happen. I’ve never gotten Ella out of my system. But I also need to explain things better to her.

  And then someone knocks on our door. Again.

  You’ve got to be fucking kidding.

  It’s awkward since we’re standing right up against the damn door.

  Ella’s big, blue eyes stare up at me in fear. She’s so sweet. Too damn sweet for me. Gently, I set her down and help her fix her bathing suit. Since my dick’s harder than a sledgehammer, I step into the bathroom and let her open the door.

  We’re stuck sharing a room together, yet so far it’s been impossible to enjoy it.

  Stu’s voice comes through loud and clear. Once my dick’s under control, I step out and join them.

  “What’s up, bro!”

  I haven’t seen him in forever, so we slap each other’s backs. I offer my congratulations and silently will him to leave.

  But no, we’ve got bachelor party shenanigans to take care of tonight.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Ella gathering clothes and heading for the bathroom. I reach out and snag her hand. “We’re not done talking.”

  The way she trembles gets my dick all excited again, so I let her go. She closes the door with a soft click.

  Stu raises an eyebrow at me. “Everything cool?”

  “Yeah, just got stuck sharing a room together. It�
��ll be fine.”

  “I hear Lena’s looking for a roomie,” he says, waggling his eyebrows.

  “Fuck that. I’d rather sleep on a bench on the boardwalk.”

  “Can’t blame you there.”

  Ella walks back out fully dressed.

  “We’ll talk after the rehearsal dinner, buddy,” Stu says, slapping me on the back.

  I shut the door quietly, then turn and face Ella. “Take your clothes off.”

  “What? No.”

  “Ella, you have me worked up. We need to finish what we started.”

  She props her hands on her hips and stares at me. “No. Maybe us getting interrupted all the time is a sign that this is a bad idea.”

  I know her well enough to know she’s not only referring to today’s interruptions.

  Her mouth turns down and I’m distracted. My cock swells, thinking about her fuckable lips giving it a hug.

  “Don’t do that, Ella. You want this as much as I do.”

  “What I want and what’s good for us are two different things.”

  “You’re good for me.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  I risk moving a few more steps in her direction.

  “I’m good for you.”

  “No. We’re bad for each other. We’ll both end up hurt.”

  “How?”

  Tears shimmer in her eyes, and it seems a little extreme. Yes, we’d been caught by our parents when we were teenagers. It had been embarrassing for everyone. Worse for her, since she got shipped off to boarding school. But we’re adults now.

  “Ella?”

  “Just let me go. I should check on Summer.”

  The air between us has shifted. Playing games won’t do the trick.

  “Okay. But we’re still not done with this.” I move away from the door.

  “You might not be. I am.”

  Chapter Five

  Thank God I brought my dress and train case to Summer’s room earlier. This way I don’t have to see Flynn again before the rehearsal dinner. My body wants to give in to him every time he’s within two feet of me, no matter what my brain thinks.

  Summer’s happy chatter helps keep my mind off the way Flynn’s hard body pressed into my soft one. The beautiful ink that hadn’t been there six years ago. The chiseled, defined muscles he’s obviously been working hard on the last few years.