Stepbrother for Christmas

by Amy Brent

  I released a heavy breath as she knocked the wind out of me. “Easy, baby girl. You’re going to break a rib.”

  Harbor opened an eye and peeked at her. “How’s my honeybee?”

  “I’m good, Ladybug. Will you make me some waffles?” She bounced on my chest, and as I lifted her up above me, she put her arms out to fly.

  I tossed her on the bed beside us, and she giggled. But then she climbed over me and pulled Harbor by the arm until she got to her feet.

  I gave her a smile. “I’ll be down in a minute.”

  “Don’t be long, Daddy, or I’ll throw yours on the house.” The neighbor kids lost their waffle Frisbee on the house and so ever since she’s wanted to throw her waffles to see if they could fly.

  “You know the rules. No throwing waffles in the house.”

  “Does that mean we can take them outside?” She wagged her brows.

  I fought to hold back from laughing. “No, waffles are for eating, and we don’t play with our food.” She slouched her shoulders as Harbor led her away.

  I got up and showered and dressed and then met them downstairs about twenty minutes later. I found them in the kitchen waiting to pour the first bit of batter onto the hot iron. Blythe was a safe distance away, and Harbor was in charge.

  Harbor looked up and smiled. “Lucinda had to go, so I think we made too much batter.”

  “It should keep. Blythe can have some tomorrow.” Blythe smiled and gave me a wink as Harbor made the first waffle.

  After another few minutes, we were all enjoying our breakfast and making plans for our week. “Daddy, can we go to the park this weekend?”

  Harbor cut her waffle and stabbed a piece with her fork. “The ceremony is this Saturday at noon. I wanted you to come.” She spoke under her breath at me as if Blythe couldn’t hear. Did she really think we’d skip it?

  “We wouldn’t miss it for the world. You want to go to Harbor’s graduation?” It didn’t occur to me that Blythe wouldn’t know what that meant.

  She looked at me with wide eyes and took a deep breath. “Does this mean Harbor’s going to be my mommy now?” She made a little squeal and bounced in her seat. Blythe’s eyes bugged with horror.

  Harbor quickly clarified. “It’s a graduation for school. It means I’m all finished.”

  Blythe’s face fell. “I start school next year. Will you bring me?” She popped a piece of waffle in her mouth and washed it down with her glass of milk. I met Harbor’s eyes across the table.

  “We’ll see. But first, you better eat your waffles before they get cold.” Blythe listened to Harbor and ate without further questions which was easy since neither of us said a word either.

  After Blythe had taken off to watch cartoons, I went to the sink to help Harbor clean up.

  She stiffened as I approached and stepped away to put a bit of distance between us.

  “Let’s get through graduation and then we’ll talk to her,” I suggested.

  “I suppose she should be let down easy. I’ll only agree for her sake.”

  “It isn’t what we planned, you know. So it’s a lot to think about, especially since it affects her too.”

  “I agree, which is the only reason I’m still here.” She wiped the last of the plates and then stacked it in the sink for me to rinse.

  “The only reason? You said you were in love with me. Was that conditional?”

  “If it’s all one-sided then what difference does it make?” She left the rest of the glasses and stormed into the living room and up the stairs.

  I did love her, more than I ever thought I would. I just didn’t know if that was enough for forever.

  Chapter 20: Harbor

  Blythe helped me with my hair, and when we were done, I looked just like a princess. Then we pounded on my makeup, and I instantly regretted letting her do my blush. I told her what a wonderful job she’d done and then sent her to get me a glass of water as I toned it down and by the time she returned my makeup was on point, and my highlighter was glowing to the gods.

  I slipped into my dress and let her help me with the zipper and then she insisted on putting my feet into my shoes like Cinderella.

  “They fit!” she cheered and danced around me. “That means you’re the princess and Daddy is the prince.” She giggled and tugged my arm, and when I leaned down, she closed her hand around her mouth. “You can marry Daddy like Cinderella married the prince.”

  “I think we’re supposed to wait until the prince asks the princess.” I wished I could tell her we were already married and that I was, in fact, her stepmother. I knew she’d be happy to know it, but if this did all have to end, then I didn’t want her to know either. It would be too hard on her. She was getting really bad about the mommy thing, and it was getting harder to lie to her.

  Evan had been acting strange since I’d left and keeping a much closer eye on me. The only time he wasn’t watching me like a hawk was when he was working. My internship had ended just over two weeks ago in preparations for finals, so I’d had more time with Blythe.

  I couldn’t tell what Evan intended to do and he still got upset when I’d try to talk to him about it. I knew I should trust him, but honestly, if all he wanted to offer was a relationship that we didn’t have to hide from Blythe outside of the annulled marriage, I didn’t think I could handle that. I didn’t want the marriage to be over. I wanted it all.

  I contemplated what I’d do if he tried to take Blythe away and my heart hurt. Tears formed in the corner of my eyes threatening to take out my eyeliner and mascara. If he didn’t want to see me anymore, I’d hurt, but if he took Blythe too, I don’t think I could take it.

  A soft knock sounded at the door. “Are you girls ready to go?” He walked in with a solemn look on his face, and the tears spilled from my eyes.

  “Blythe go get your shoes on.” I sent her away as he walked up and placed his hand on my shoulder.

  “Don’t cry. You’ll mess up your face, and then you’ll be late.” He reached on the makeup vanity and handed me a tissue.

  I took a deep breath and turned to take his arm and give it a squeeze. “Even if this doesn’t work out, please don’t take her from me, Evan.” My voice broke, and suddenly Blythe was back in the doorway.

  “We’ll see you downstairs.” He walked over and took Blythe by the hand and led her out. “Come on. She needs a moment. We should go wait in the car.”

  I watched them go, and my heart sank, dropping to my gut like a stone. I gathered my cap and gown and my handbag and headed out to meet them. Once this was all over, I was going to ask him again. I didn’t want to lose either of them, and I could barely breathe at the thought of moving on without them.

  I’d dreaded this day since I’d drawn up that ridiculous contract and even though Evan had torn it up, it didn’t mean that things were any different.

  We drove to the ceremony listening to Blythe sing her ABC’s and ask questions about turtles. She was so smart, and I couldn’t believe I might have to miss out on her starting school.

  Evan held my hand in the car and then when we got to the event center for graduation, he gave me a kiss on the cheek to see me off. Blythe dove into my arms. “Good luck, Harbor.”

  “Thanks, Honeybee.” I gave one last look to Evan who winked and picked up his little girl. I turned and went to the back so I could line up with the rest of the graduates, but all I could think of was what would happen when I got back home.

  We all walked out and took our seats, and as they called my row to stand and make our way up, I stared out to the audience looking for Blythe and Evan. There were a lot of signs across the audience and one, in particular, stood out.

  I recognized a picture Blythe had painted, a bright sunshine with a ladybug, but she had added something to it that stopped my heart. It was painted and in big bold black letters that only Evan could have helped her with that read: WE LOVE YOU, MOMMY. I looked down, and Blythe was there smiling atop her father’s shoulders, and both were smiling ear t
o ear.

  They called my name, and as I walked across to get my diploma, tears filled my eyes.

  They met me afterward in the crowd and Blythe and ran up to me and into my arms. I swung her around, and Evan caught my arm and pulled me close for a kiss.

  “Does this mean you told her?”

  “It means we have a hell of a lot to talk about, but yeah. I told her you’re her mommy now. If you still want to be, but I hate to tell you, we’re a package deal.”

  “I’ll take it.” I kissed him again, and Blythe giggled and tugged on my arm for another hug.

  We made our way through the crowd and on the way home I told Blythe how much I loved the sign. She told me it was her daddy’s idea and he squeezed my hand.

  Before we made it home, she fell asleep in the car, and Evan carried her in. We both tucked her in, and then he threw his arm around my waist and tugged me close to capture my lips. We kissed a moment and then looked back down to Blythe.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “No. Thank you for loving us both.” He took my hand and led me out her door.

  “She’s amazing,” I said, as he closed the door.

  “I know someone else who is amazing, and I couldn’t ask for a better mother for my little girl.” His words melted my heart, and then I heated up as he whispered in my ear. “You’re amazing in so many other ways too.”

  He led me to his room, and it didn’t take me long to realize my things had been brought over. Lucinda must have done that while we were gone.

  We went inside, and he led me to the bed where he started to undress me. I let my fingers go to work on his zipped as he slipped off his shirt. I was left with nothing but my bra and panties, and he popped my strap, and the bra slipped off my shoulders, and he pulled it away and tossed it to the floor. He cupped my breasts and kissed them, then as I went to remove my panties he slapped my hand away.

  “No, I want those on.” He gave me a devilish grin, and I blushed while he stood behind me and then slipped his hand down the front of my panties as he kissed my neck. I could feel his stiff cock pressing against my ass crack as his other hand groped my right breast and then my left.

  My sex ached, and I wanted him filling me up with his thickness. I tilted my ass upward and rubbed it up against his cock. “Please,” I breathed.

  His hand left my breast and then reached down behind me, and a moment later I felt his cock nudging my panties aside and pressing up against my entrance. He nudged the tip inside me and ground against me as it filled me up in one hard thrust. I leaned forward, and he pulled my arms back and held them in one hand as he pumped in and out of me. I quaked around his cock massaging it with my walls. He always filled me up to my limits, and I moaned as he slipped his arm around me and rubbed my sensitive clit through my lace. I shuddered uncontrollably, and my knees weakened.

  He pulled out and stepped back. “Pull your panties down to your knees, baby.” I did as I was told and he stepped back up and spread my cheeks and then leaned forward and licked my little star. His tongue darted against it as his fingers pushed deep inside my channel. I moaned out, and my core tightened, soaking his fingers.

  His mouth left me. “Good girl. Come for me, baby.” I did exactly that as he pushed back inside for the last wave of my pleasure.

  He pounded hard, and I prepared myself for his release which came a moment later. I collapsed on the bed as he pumped hard and filled me up. I crawled into the bed and rolled over to look up at him.

  He lay across me and kissed my lips. “I love you, Harbor. I don’t ever want you to leave. I’m sorry it took me so long to say it, but I just had to figure it out. I never thought I’d love anyone after my wife died, not like that. But then when you showed up in my life I wanted you so bad. I was scared you’d leave too, and then when you did, I knew I couldn’t let you. I knew I’d have to do whatever it takes to keep you forever.”

  He closed his eyes and rested against me as I kissed and stroked his hair, and the two of us lay like that for hours just listening to the other breathe. He fell asleep long before I did because I wanted to savor that moment as long as possible.

  THE END

  If you want more of Evan and Harbor, turn the page for an extended epilogue and an extra steamy deleted kinky scene from their life.

  BONUS EXTENDED EPILOGUE: Harbor

  I stood in the window with Blythe waiting for Evan to return home and thinking how crazy it was that it was that a whole year had passed since I met Dr. Evan Black. I was just a young, virgin intern back then, on my way to volunteer for the Ortho-Nouveau birth control trials. Evan had been assigned to look out for me, but in reality, Dr. Nora Strong had planned to trap us.

  All of that had turned out okay in the end, though through our fake marriage, which turned into a real one, in the end, I had thought we’d never make it. As it turned out, we’d both fallen in love and still couldn’t get enough of each other.

  This was the first time he’d been away from me for so long, and he had called me every night to tell me how much he missed me. I’d even talked him through a naughty phone session or two, and he’d done the same for me. I tingled between my legs just thinking about it, and when he pulled into the drive, I knew that it wasn’t long until I’d have him inside me again.

  “Daddy’s home!” Blythe jumped down from the bay window’s sill and ran to the door.

  “Blythe, wait inside,” I called her down before she ran outside, which was against her father’s rules and she waited at the door giving me a sly grin.

  “I’m not.” She jumped up and down as she waited and as Evan walked up she dove into his arms.

  He picked her up and swung her around. “How are my girls?” Blythe smiled gave him a kiss.

  “We’re good, Daddy. Lucinda was here earlier, but she had to go home. I made paper butterflies and flowers, and we hung them in my room.”

  “How was school Friday?” He stroked her hair, and she held his face in her hands.

  “It was good. I get to be leader next week. So, that means I get to wear a button.” She had been excited to tell him all about it, and I let the two continue their conversation without interruption as we went into the kitchen.

  “I baked cookies for you too, and Mommy even let me decorate them with sprinkles.” She pointed to the counter, and he walked over so she could open the cookie jar and feed him one.

  He bit into the gooey cookie and closed his eyes. “Mm. My favorite.” Then he reached out for me, and I stepped to his side for his embrace. He pulled me close, tucking me against his side where he kissed my head and then my lips. “How are you, little Mama?” He’d taken to calling me that after we’d decided to let me be a permanent part of his family.

  “I’ve missed you.” I gave him another peck and then a wink. The truth was, I was nervous, but I couldn’t let him know that. With the one year anniversary also came the expiration date of the device. I didn’t think he remembered because he hadn’t said anything about it, but it was time to check it and either take out anything that was left of the pellet or add a new one if I wanted to be protected.

  I didn’t. I was ready for more.

  “You and me have a date later.” He didn’t seem to mind Blythe hearing, though she really didn’t understand just what kind of date he meant. She gave him another kiss, and he put her down turning to meet my eyes. “Is there something else on your mind?”

  “No,” I lied. He gave me a narrow stare and then turned away.

  We spent the rest of the evening with Blythe exchanging quiet glances, but I could tell he wasn’t buying that I was okay.

  We put her to bed, and then he pulled into our bedroom and shut the door. “Tell me what’s wrong. I know it’s something, I’ve seen it on your face all afternoon.”

  I smiled and pulled him closer. “I was just pouting because I had to wait to have you.” I rubbed my hand against his cock and licked my lips. “I have missed us.”

  “Mhm, and that’s why I had you c
oming your pretty little head off last night, but that’s not what you’re upset about. Tell me.” His voice was demanding, and I released a deep breath knowing I was going to give into him. I always did, especially when he got tough with me.

  I couldn’t find the words to tell him what I wanted. So, I thought I’d feel him out a bit and lead him in slowly. “It’s time to make an appointment about my Ortho-Nouveau.”

  His eyes lit, and he nodded. “We’ll get that taken care of. I’ll make you an appointment with Dr. Greene next week. You know I can’t do the procedure on you myself, but he’ll let me be there. There’s nothing to worry about.” He pulled me in and kissed me, his mouth drawing lazy pulls against my own. “I’ve missed kissing you.”

  That brought a smile to my face, but I knew my appointment was already set. I’d gone and done my bloodwork while he was gone. “Did you?”

  “Yes, so now you can finish telling me what’s bothering you.”

  “It’s truly about the device. It’s just that.” I looked down to the floor, but he shook his head and captured my chin in his fingertips.

  “Have you had a problem with it? Something you haven’t told me about? We know it’s effective.” We sure knew that. He loved to finish in me, and we’d never used any other form of protection with me being a virgin and him being checked regularly with the hospital.