Forbidden Summer

by Claire Fertile

  Bryant picked my shirt off the ground and threw it at my face. I put it back on with a stern look. “We could get in some serious shit if they find us out here.”

  “Then what are we waiting for, let's get back to the house. The cops might get here any second and bust us.” Bryant acted like the one in a rush now but I knew he was joking.

  I put my hands on my hips. “Very funny.” I started to make my way back the mansion. I couldn't risk going back to the reception area and possibly encountering my mom there. I wouldn't be able to explain being with Bryant in the woods alone. We took the long way around and finally made it back.

  “We shouldn't go in at the same time,” I said. “Why don't you wait here and then go around to the front of the house.

  Bryant nodded but I could tell that he didn't like the plan.

  I entered the back door and found my mom and Irving at the kitchen island. “What have you been up to all day, Sarah,” she asked.

  Bryant walked in behind me. “We were out in the forest exploring.”

  I cringed. It's almost like he wanted our parents to find out about us. I turned around shot daggers at him but nothing could wipe off that shit-eating grin.

  “You guys must've gotten far out there.”

  I turned back around to my mother. “I took him out past the reception area. I wanted to show him the boundaries of the land we own. We kind of lost track of time.”

  “Well go get ready for dinner. Hugh should have it ready soon.”

  Bryant and I both left the kitchen but I tried to walk faster to get ahead of him. He was so infuriating. We argued all the way up the stairs in the most quiet voices and I went into my room without saying goodbye.

  I collapsed onto my bed with my chest heaving and my blood boiling. I wanted to wring Bryant's neck. He didn't seem to care at all about our parents finding out about us.

  I flipped over and stuffed my face in my pillow. I screamed as loud as I could until my breath gave out.

  Bryant was so damn frustrating but so damn sexy at the same time. My thoughts returned to the fun time in the forest. His rough hands all over me, touching me in ways I'd never felt before. The moment he entered me changed my entire life.

  I needed him to fill and stretch me every night.

  But I couldn't let that happen. There was no way we could keep this a secret if we kept going.

  And I had to do whatever it took to keep my mom from finding out.

  My bedroom door swung open and Bryant swaggered in. “Miss me yet?”

  I jolted out of bed, seething with anger. “What the hell do you think you're doing, Bryant?” I said in the most quiet voice possible. I walked around him and closed the door.

  I turned around to find Bryant only inches away from me. He pinned me against the door. There was no escape. The smell of sex still emanated from his body.

  “I'm only doing what you want me to do.” Bryant kissed me on my soft lips.

  I pushed him away and wiped my mouth. I wanted to punch him right in the face and make him hurt. “You think you're so cocky. You can't have me whenever you want.”

  Bryant wasn't going to stop his advances. He took a step back towards me. “I know you feel the same way I do.” He took my hand and held it in his.

  My heart was racing. So many emotions were flooding my head. I couldn't keep everything straight. I wanted him to take me on my bed and the other half wanted me to kick him in the ass and never see him again.

  But his hand was so warm and the electricity I felt flowing through me was hard to ignore. Bryant made me feel like a real woman. Desired and sexy.

  Who the fuck cares if he's going to be my stepbrother. If my mom is the one I have to worry about the most then I'll cross that bridge when I have to.

  All I knew was that I couldn't deny my feelings anymore.

  I led Bryant by the hand and to my bed. “I can't fight you anymore. I'm all yours.”

  Chapter Nine

  I'd lost count of the times Bryant had fucked me. The days had all meshed together. I'm sure my mom had suspected something but I knew she was too busy prepping for the wedding to question it.

  I sat at the vanity in my room, wearing the hideous teal bridesmaid dress and combed my hair. I couldn't help but smile. I actually couldn't get rid of it. I was genuinely happy. I didn't know if I'd ever felt that way before.

  “Can you help me with this tie,” Bryant asked behind me. He looked completely helpless.

  “You mean you don't know how to tie a tie?”

  “Of course I know how to tie one. I do it every day for work. It's just I thought it would be nice if you did it for me.”

  I huffed and puffed and set the comb down. Bryant was wearing a black tux that was slim fitting and showed off his superior physique. I couldn't help but get all weak in the knees. I grabbed both ends of the tie and began working it around.

  Bryant watched me as I worked. “You don't actually know how to tie one do you?”

  I started to laugh and let go of the tie. I'd only been able to tie it in a knot. “I didn't think it would be so hard.” I put my hands on my hips. “And why would I ever need to tie a tie?”

  Bryant put his hands up to calm me down. “It's all right. I'll tie it. Now come here.” He collected me in his arms and I melted instantly.

  His kiss was strong and deep. I closed my eyes and focused on the sensations. His tongue tickled my upper lip and I met his with mine.

  When he broke away, my lips tried to follow him. I opened my eyes and stared into his. How could a man have so much control over me?

  Bryant stepped in front of the mirror and tied his tie. “How do I look?” he asked.

  “Like the perfect man.” I knew building him up would only feed his ego even more. His cockiness was insufferable but I couldn't help myself. I said exactly what I felt.

  “And you look like a princess,” he replied.

  I knew he was lying through his teeth. There was no way anyone could look good in a dress like this. “I know you aren't telling the truth but I'll accept the compliment anyways.”

  Bryant hooked elbow out. “Shall we go join everyone downstairs?”

  This was the moment. The moment I had to decide if I wanted to be open about my relationship with Bryant. Not just with my mom and Irving but with my entire extended family.

  I knew there was only one right answer. I hooked my arm with his. “Let's go knock their socks off.”

  We joined the wedding party at the doors leading to the ceremony arm-in-arm and nobody even noticed us. My mom was too busy making sure her white veil was perfect.

  “You look beautiful, Mom,” I said.

  She took my arms. “Thank you so much for being here today. It really means a lot to me. You look amazing by the way.”

  What she really meant was that I looked very average which only made her look better. “I'm very happy for you, Mom. I hope Irving treats you the way you deserve.”

  My mom put her hand over her heart. “You're the best, Sarah. Now go stand with Bryant and get ready to walk down the aisle.”

  I nodded and stood next to Bryant. I could hear the wedding music outside beginning to play. It felt like this was all for Bryant and I.

  “Don't worry if you fall out there, I'll catch you,” Bryant said.

  I rolled my eyes. I knew he was just trying to break the tension with a joke but there was a deeper meaning to it. Bryant would always be there for me.

  The wedding coordinator gave us the green light and Bryant walked me down the aisle. I could feel everyone staring at us and I didn't feel the least bit embarrassed. I didn't care that the family would be spreading rumors about us.

  Because they were all true.

  Irving stood at the altar wearing a charcoal suit and looked very nervous. The preacher stood next to him with an open bible. Bryant kissed the back of my hand before letting me go to the bride's side while he joined his father's side.

  Everyone stood up as my mom entered the scene
in her white dress. A tear fell down my cheek. I was so happy, not just for her but for me.

  I gave her a wink and she joined Irving. I stood as straight up as I could with my bouquet in my hands. I had the perfect view of Bryant during the entire ceremony. I couldn't help but stare at him as the preacher went through all the rites. And he stared back at me.

  It wasn't a look of lust but a look of love. We hadn't said it to each other yet even though we both felt it. It was still too early in the relationship for that right?

  I mean falling in love at first sight only happened in the movies.

  It couldn't possibly happen to me.

  But it was.

  When my parents said their “I do's” I mouthed the words to Bryant and he did the same.

  It was a pledge to one another. We would love and cherish each other until the end of time.

  The End

  Story Three

  Copyright 2018

  All Rights Reserved.

  Disclaimer: This ebook is a work of fiction. Any resemblance characters in this story may have to real people is coincidental.

  No section of this book may be copied or reproduced without the author's permission.

  Description

  Anna is home for the holidays but this time is going to be different. The stepbrother she's been obsessed over is coming too. The only problem is they haven't exactly met yet. But this Christmas will bring them together in more ways than one.

  Mason didn't want to come home for the holidays. He never cared for Christmas. Everything is about to change and now he'll never want to leave.

  Warning! Get that mistletoe out because there's going to be a lot of insta-love. Warm up next to the fire but don't get too close because this one's going to be hot.

  Chapter One

  It wasn't much of a surprise when I found out that my mother got married while I was away at college.

  It was the way she got married that shocked me.

  She'd been dating Bobby for a couple years now and everything was going really great. Bobby was a nice guy with average looks but he always treated my mom with respect. It was a quality I really appreciated about him.

  My mom and I would talk on the phone about how much she loved Bobby and how they were going to spend the rest of their lives together.

  All of the mushy stuff that made me want to puke.

  One night she called me up sounding drunker than even the worse college guys. Every word out of her mouth was slow and slurred. I could barely understand what she was trying to say. I could hear Bobby on the other end yelling for my mom.

  The only words I was able to make out was: Vegas and married. Then the call ended.

  I couldn't believed they had eloped in Vegas. The crazier part was that my mom sounded trashed. I don't think I'd ever been that drunk before.

  I didn't get the whole story until the next day when my mom called me with a hangover.

  “I'm so sorry, Anna. I really wanted you there. It was just a spur-of-the-moment decision. Bobby and I were drinking and then the idea just popped up. I didn't even have time to think before I said yes.”

  My mom getting drunk wasn't a new concept to me. Ever since the divorce she'd been close with the bottle. I'd find her passed out on the couch almost every night and I would have to help her upstairs and into bed.

  But that was about the worst of it. She never drank during the day and she never let it affect our relationship.

  That's why I loved her.

  “It's not a big deal, Mom. I already knew Bobby and you would be getting married soon. It was only a matter of time. But this Vegas wedding doesn't take away the fact that you can still have a regular wedding.”

  My mom halted her crying for a moment. “You're right, Anna. I can plan a huge wedding and nobody has to know about the one in Vegas. It can be our little secret.”

  “That's right,” I replied.

  “Thank you so much for understanding, Anna. I don't know what I'd do without you.”

  “I love you too, Mom.”

  “You're still coming home for Christmas right?”

  I'd been so caught up with studying for finals that I didn't even see that far ahead. “Of course I'm coming home.”

  I could feel my mom's smile through the phone. “Great! Bobby will be thrilled. Oh and by the way, Bobby will be bringing Mason too.”

  My heart skipped a beat. Bobby had spoken of his son Mason a lot and showed me plenty of pictures of him. He was fucking hot. And that was an understatement. I'd never seen a guy that looked like that unless he was a model or in the movies. I'd stolen a picture of him out of Bobby's wallet and kept it with me at college.

  Mason had just graduated from college with a degree in business and got a job at some fancy startup with a hip name that I didn't remember. There was no doubt that he was making good money.

  I would pull out his picture during those lonely nights and dream about being with him.

  I never thought I would actually meet the guy.

  Too many things crossed my mind. What do I wear? What do I say to him?

  There was still a week left until Christmas break and it didn't feel like nearly enough time to get my shit together.

  “Are you still there, Anna?”

  I didn't realize that I still had my mom on the line. “I'm sorry, Mom. I had to put my phone down for a second.”

  “I asked if you were okay with Mason joining us for Christmas. I know you too have never met but I think you're going to really get along with him.”

  “It's totally fine. I've been wondering about him ever since you started dating Bobby.”

  “Perfect! Then I'll see you when you're finished with school. Good luck on those finals.”

  The call finally ended and I opened the drawer in my nightstand next to my bed. I took out my sketchbook that I had neglected for a long time and opened it to the middle. The picture of Mason was nestled next to the binding, crisp and flat.

  I lay back on my bed and stared at the photo. It was of Mason during college. Probably his senior year. He wore a black button-down shirt and black pants. He was dressed formal for some reason and I never got to ask Bobby the reason why. I couldn't bring it up after I stole it without risking Bobby checking his wallet and finding it missing.

  Mason was well built. Probably worked out in the gym twenty hours a day or something. But he didn't seem like all the other college guys.

  I felt a connection to him the instant I saw his photo. It sounded crazy but there was something about him that drew you in. It was most likely his insanely good looks. How he came from Bobby was a mystery to me.

  His smile made my heart melt.

  Now I'd get the chance to finally meet him at Christmas and I was more nervous about that than my finals.

  Chapter Two

  My mom always went all out for Christmas. Multi-colored lights hung from almost every visible surface on the outside of the house. The astronauts in space would have to shield their eyes.

  The lawn was covered with that fake snow that was like carpet. A cheap replica of Santa and his reindeer stood in the middle with Rudolph at the front with a glowing red noise.

  I walked up to the front door that had a fresh green wreath nailed to it. I almost knocked when I realized that this was my home too. I went to open it and realized that it was locked. I took out my key and stuck it in the lock. But it wouldn't turn.

  “What the hell,” I said.

  I tried it again to no avail. Bobby must've changed the locks at some point. I foolishly put my key away knowing that it was useless now. I rapped my cold fist against the door and waited.

  No answer.

  I put my head close to the door and listened. I could hear loud Christmas music being played. No way they were going to hear me. I grumbled and rang the doorbell this time. I folded my arms across my chest and bounced around to warm up.

  The door finally opened and Bobby stood there with the biggest grin in the world. “Anna! You're here.�
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  “Yep, I'm here.”

  Bobby grabbed the suitcase out of my hand and motioned for me to come in. “Dorothy! Our daughter is home!”