Stepbrother for Christmas

by Amy Brent

  She was grinning ear to ear. “I like bunnies and kitties too, but I think kittens are my favorite of the two.”

  “You want to go see my room?” She grabbed Harbor’s hand and dragged her to her feet. Harbor gave me a glance as if seeking my approval.

  “Run along, the two of you. I’m going to unpack the car and then make some phone calls. Lucinda, I’d like to talk to you in the kitchen please.” The woman’s eyes widened, and she nodded before hurrying away.

  The two were gone in a flash, and I released a deep breath thinking how there was only sixteen years difference between them before joining Lucinda in the kitchen.

  “Thank you for taking such great care of her. I hope it doesn’t put you off that Harbor will be staying with us. The truth is, we were married this morning after secretly dating. But I love her very much. I’d like to ease Blythe into it, so I’ll tell her when the time is right.” I wasn’t planning on ever telling her what was going on, but I didn’t want Lucinda trying to either.

  “Your business is your business, sir. I don’t see how it could hurt to tell her, but I’m sure you have your reasons, and I’ll respect that.” I had a feeling she’d see it my way. I gave her a nod and then went out to unload the car.

  I figured it was best to ease people into the idea because soon enough Nora Strong would play her hand and I’d have to admit the marriage to everyone. The plan was to make it like we’d been dating in private for a while, but only now made it official because we couldn’t stand to continue living apart. The only person who could bullshit would be Tana. But I hadn’t heard from her since I’d pissed her off.

  After I finished unpacking and made a few phone calls, I went down the hall to check on my two girls. Music filled the room, and Blythe had Harbor by the arm, and they were dancing with her big teddy bear. Blythe was giggling so hard I thought she might wet herself, and Harbor grinned singing along.

  She helped me a bit at bath time and was a bit embarrassed when she had to tell Blythe she couldn’t join her in the tub. She promised her she’d take her on a trip to the pool, and then tucked her into her big princess bed after Harbor had brushed her hair and I’d promised I’d buy her a zoo themed quilt with monkeys and elephants.

  The two had hit if off better than I imagined they would, and I asked Lucinda to stick around so I could take her to her house to get her things and talk to her roommate. We were really doing this. So far so good and everything seemed to be working out. It was almost too good to be true.

  A little voice inside my head reminded me that it wasn’t.

  Chapter 16: Harbor

  I was three weeks in before I realized I was in over my head.

  Everything had been going fine, but that was the problem. Things were too good; too good to last.

  We’d finally been brought before the board to discuss our relationship and though the idea of us being a couple was a shock to some, most respected the fact that he’d married me and wished us the best. Dr. Strong had taken her defeat well and went ahead and left earlier than planned. The new administrator was a friend of Evan’s, so that had made things even better. Once the case had been dismissed against us, it was final, and there was no chance of it being brought up again.

  Lucinda and I had actually grown much closer, and the only strain was that she talked like I’d be around forever. Each time she wanted to make plans for anything past June, my heart would sink, and I’d known that I’d be gone.

  Blythe was a different story. Every time I thought about leaving her in June, I teared up and had to excuse myself. There were, even more, tears in private, and it only got worse the closer I got to finishing school.

  We’d hit it off so well, and in the few short weeks, she’s become a special part of my life. I really felt like I had a family. With Evan and I being so intimate, which hadn’t slowed down a bit, even though my hormones had leveled out and the cravings weren’t as intense, I had fallen for him in a way I hated to admit.

  It’s funny how a little slip of paper brought me back to earth. I had reached into my handbag to clean it out and found the agreement I’d written up and was reading over it when Evan came into my bedroom to say goodnight.

  I had been waiting in my room for him every night until he checked on Blythe to make sure she was asleep, then he’d either come into my room or call me into his. Tonight we’d made plans to fuck, but for the first time, I wasn’t in the mood.

  “She’s out.” He sat next to me and stiffened when he saw what I was looking at. “What are you doing with that? You needed a refresher in bargains 101?” He gave a short chuckle, but I wadded the paper up and tossed it at him.

  “I think we need to talk.”

  He unfolded the paper and placed it on my knee. “You see this. This was your idea. You insisted we write this up and sign it.” He pointed a finger to my name and then to his. “What’s there to discuss? So far things are working out fine.” He stormed out and headed down the hall toward the stairs.

  I chased after him and followed him downstairs to his office. “That’s how you really feel? Nothing has changed for you?” The very idea that he didn’t feel the same for me as I did him was a hard blow to take. It was no matter. I was still going to tell him what was on my mind.

  “I think—

  He turned and grabbed my hand pulling me close. “I think you need to follow along with this deal.” He pulled me close and kissed me and even though I was frustrated that I hadn’t gotten a chance to speak, I was lost in him.

  “I want more.” I let the words fall from my lips like a confession of a sin that was far too unforgivable and it felt that way, even more, when he released a long breath.

  “Things are going so good, Harbor. Let’s just go with it okay? We’ll see where we are on the other end of this.” It might have been easy for him, but my heart was breaking inside.

  Not only had I fallen in love with him, but I'd also fallen in love with his daughter, with the whole idea of family and even with this home. I didn’t want to ever leave, and I couldn’t help but wonder what was going to happen on the other end of it all. Would he send me away? Would we try to remain friends? He’d never let me tell Blythe that we were married and her life was so sheltered that no one else had mentioned it either. I could only think that it was because he knew my graduation wouldn’t matter.

  He held my face and stroked my cheek with his thumb. When he looked deep into my eyes, I always wondered what was going on in that mind of his. “I just think we should reconsider.”

  “I’ve got Blythe to think about. This isn’t easy for me, Harbor. I was married before, and I loved her so much that when I lost her, I vowed never again. I won’t be put through that pain.” That was all I needed to hear. He wasn’t in love with me. If he was, he’d realize that he was going lose me come June and he’d do everything he could to keep me. I’d be easy to let go.

  He drew me closer and kissed my cheek. “I don’t want you to worry over this. Trust me. It will be fine.” I didn’t know I was supposed to trust him, not when everything he was saying was pointing to things ending. “Let’s go to bed.” He took my hand and walked me back upstairs and into his room. He closed the door and locked it behind us before taking off his shirt.

  I followed suit, shedding my clothes and the heavy burden of it all to lose myself in ecstasy for a while. He pulled me close, and we kissed as he cupped my breasts and then pushed them together. Then he lowered his mouth to them, kissing and sucking my nipples.

  “I want to fuck these.” He slapped one of them sending a delightful sting of pleasure to my core and then he took my hand and walked me to the small bench at the foot of his bed where he had me sit. I pushed my breasts together as he slipped his cock between them, and I tucked my chin, allowing him to push into my mouth. I worked my head up and down on him and then he laced his fingers through my hair and quickened his pace. He fucked me like that until I was red-cheeked and out of breath. Then he slapped my breasts and tweaked my nippl
es before pulling me up to my feet and walking me around to the bed.

  “I want your face down and ass up.” He spun me around and nudged me forward, and I crawled up on my knees, resting on all fours. I always felt so vulnerable like that, and I loved it when he had something special in store for me.

  Tonight was no different. I heard the buzzing noise after he’d stepped away a moment and reached into the small bag under his bed. Then I felt the blunt intrusion of the vibrator as he pushed it inside my soaking wet channel and worked me with it.

  I rolled my hips at the pleasure and longed so bad for him to touch my little bud with it, but he left it in my channel working up my nectar as he placed the clamps on my nipples. I wanted to cry out, but I couldn’t with Blythe sleeping just down the hall, and that was something I’d learned to control within the first night.

  My need grew so great not a moment too soon he pulled the vibrator free and replaced it with his cock, which was much thicker. His hand spanked my pinched nipple, and I cried out, my release building only to be edged. “Don’t come.” He pulled away, and my knees were so weak I wanted to collapse. They shook as I waited for him to plunge back inside of me.

  “You want more of this, don’t you?”

  “I want more of everything with you.” He pushed his cock deep and then worked me over so good, that my release crashed around his cock, splashing my nectar against us as he thrust.

  “I’ve told you before, little one, to be careful what you ask for.” He gripped my hips and pounded me so hard my eyes rolled back in my head. He put the vibrator against my clit, and I wiggled beneath him. I moaned a bit too loud and paused, but I lay dawn against the bed and bit the covers to muffle the sound.

  Just when I didn’t think I could take anymore, he pulled out and turned me over. Then he tugged my hips up and sheathed his hard cock back into my depths, rubbing my breasts with a free hand and working my clit over with this thumb. He was very greedy with the vibrator, and I was begging for it by the time he was done with me. He put it against my clit as he continued working for his release and I bucked my hips upward, swirling and grinding on him. “Here it comes, baby.” His cock twitched and pulsed as he spilled into me and as he stilled tears sprang to my eyes.

  He laid down beside me and pulled me into his arms and cleared his throat. “Talk to me.”

  “I can’t do this much more if you’re just going to end things. I want more from this now, I didn’t think I would, but I do.”

  “I need to know you’re a woman of your word, Harbor. Besides, we had a deal. I won’t be pressured into anything when you’ve already agreed to these terms. Just hold out for the duration” He tried to keep his voice gentle, but failed.

  “And then what?” I snapped back. His eyes met mine with a hard glare. I couldn’t take it anymore. I’d done everything and let him be in control, but he couldn’t control my heart for me.

  “Just give it time, baby. It’s only been a few weeks. It’s still too soon.” I wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince me or himself.

  I stayed there for another few minutes while I settled down and he stroked my hair. He seemed to be trying to soothe me, but it was going to take way more than that.

  I decided to give him more time, but in my heart, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay until graduation without something more.

  Chapter 17: Evan

  Blythe and Harbor laughed so much on the way home from the zoo, and as soon as they got inside, Blythe asked if Harbor would tuck her in and read her a story. Harbor gave her a tickle and told her she’d be right up.

  As I walked upstairs, Blythe followed in my footsteps. “Daddy, is Harbor my new mommy?” I stopped on the landing and scooped her up.

  “No, she’s not your new mommy.” I wondered for a moment if Lucinda or Harbor had said something to her. “Why do you ask?”

  I carried her to her room and sat her in the rocking chair her mother had bought when she was pregnant with her. She shrugged her little shoulders and stared up at mine with those gray eyes. “Harbor lives with us like a mommy, and she loves me like a mommy does.” I let out a long breath and didn’t know how to respond. Legally, Harbor was her stepmother, but I hadn’t planned on that being a permanent thing.

  “Well, she’s not.” I reached for her shoe to slip it off, but she kicked her foot and squished her face tight.

  “I want Harbor to do it.” She met my eyes with a challenging glare as Harbor walked into the room. “I want Harbor to be my mommy!” She took off like a shot and ran to grab hold of Harbor’s legs. “Will you read my story when I’m in the bath?” She ran to get her book as I rose to stand upright.

  “I didn’t say a word, I swear.” I believed her.

  “You two have gotten closer, so I suppose it’s only natural.” I put my hands in my pockets and watched as Blythe looked through her bookshelves for her nightly pick.

  “We need to talk about this; about us. I’ve given you more time, but we have to figure out what we’re going to do.” It seemed that both of my girls were defiant that day.

  “Don’t keep her up too late.” I didn’t want to deal with things, and so I bailed. It might have been a coward move, but I couldn’t get into it now, or I’d say something I regretted. My own daughter had chosen her over me, and I couldn’t help but be a bit upset about it.

  I walked downstairs and went to my office. Then I milled around there for another hour until the doorbell rang. I let out another long breath and went to the door.

  My eyes widened when I opened the door to find Tana on the other side. Leave it to her not to call first. I hadn’t seen her in a long time, but she looked as ready as ever. She rushed me and kissed my cheek as she gave me a hug. “Hello, Evan. I’m sorry to barge in, but I was just down the road when I realized how long it’s been and I was hoping Blythe would be in bed now so we could play.” She stepped forward and leaned on me.

  “You can’t be here.” I tried to politely lead her away toward the door, but then she jerked away.

  “I want to talk about us. I’m good with the sexual relationship. I’ve had plenty of time to think—

  I spun around to see what she was looking at, at what had made Tana’s eyes go wild with fury and found Harbor clutching her chest.

  “Evan, who is this?” Tana cleared her throat and glared at Harbor.

  I figured there was no need sugar coating anything, and with Tana, it was best to be blunt. “She’s my wife, Harbor. Harbor, this is Blythe’s former nanny, Tana.”

  “And your former girlfriend until a month ago,” she added.

  “A month ago?” Harbor narrowed her eyes, and I shook my head and crossed the room toward her.

  “Not a month.” I glared back at Tana, the troublemaker. “I haven’t seen her since a week before we got married.”

  “That’s not true. I wouldn’t believe him. He plays the same games with everything. I guess I got a bit too old for his tastes.” She turned and stalked out leaving me alone to try and sort out the mess she left in her wake.

  “You broke the deal. You were with that woman.” Harbor searched my eyes and though I could tell she wasn’t entirely sure she was too pissed off and hurt to stick around to listen.

  “I didn’t.”

  “What does it matter? The deal is almost over, and you don’t want me. You’ll send me away and replace me. That was the plan. I can’t believe I fell in love with you.” She turned and walked away leaving me there fuming at Tana and angry that Harbor wouldn’t believe me.

  She stormed back upstairs, and I ran after her. I tried not to shout and wake up Blythe, but I needed Harbor to know I was serious. “I didn’t cheat with her. You have to trust me, Harbor.”

  “Take your trust and shove it. I’ve given you everything, and all you’re hung up on is that stupid bargain. This whole thing was a mistake.”

  The words stung more than she’d probably meant them to, but I wasn’t going to break down. “Maybe you’re right.”

&n
bsp; She went stone still as the tears ran down her face, and then she grabbed her bag and a few things and headed to the door.

  I wasn’t content to let her leave. “You’re not going anywhere, Harbor. Get your ass back here this minute.”

  “I’m done letting you control me. You might control my pleasure, but you don’t control my heart. You use your wife as an excuse to keep us from getting serious, but you're hurting your daughter more this way, by denying her someone she already loves. But you know what, I get it. You don’t love me. You never will.”

  She went to the door, and I grabbed her arm. “If you have to leave let me at least put you up in a hotel room.”

  “Not on your life. I’m done letting you take care of me. It’s killing me.” She turned and stalked toward the door and when she opened it, I saw a car already pulling into the drive, it’s headlights blinding me.

  “Who is that? Your boyfriend?” I wanted a reason to be mad at her, but it wasn’t working. I was watching her go, and there wasn’t a damned thing I could do about it.

  “It’s Lucinda. I called her from upstairs. She’s giving me a ride. Don’t take it out on her.” I wasn’t going to take it out on her even though I had to admit I wasn’t happy.

  “I’m not, but let me take you and check you in somewhere.” The thought of her leaving and me not being able to know where she’s at was really getting to me. “I need to know you’re safe.”