Love and Whiskers

by Olivia Myers

  Trey whirled around. “Oh right, sorry. Justine, this is my friend Selina Rowe. We grew up together. Selina, this is…my new friend, Justine Martin.”

  “Martin. Are you Jennifer’s daughter?”

  I nodded. “You know my mom?”

  “Sure, I met her couple of months ago with Mark. So, you’re Trey’s stepsister.”

  My heart dropped into my stomach like a lead weight. Stepsister. Not friend. Definitely not girlfriend.

  Not the kind of person he should be bringing to orgasm in public. What had he done to me? And why had I liked it so damn much?

  “Sorry, I have an appointment. I have to go.” Without waiting for a reaction or response, I dashed down the steps and escaped into the subway station. I swiped my card through the turnstile and didn’t fully breathe until I arrived on the platform.

  What a fool. Even if I could get past his lifestyle, did I really think we could get past the pesky little problem of being related? Unless something terrible happened between Mom and Mark, we were going to be related for the foreseeable future.

  Then again, could I really get past his lifestyle? Selina was part of a world I didn’t know or understand or even want to know. She was clearly someone I’d never be. If she was the kind of woman he was used to, we had no hope together.

  We had no hope anyway, because he was my stepbrother.

  ***

  The last day of school I wore something summery, a magenta sundress. My students would be shocked to see me in a colorful and less severe outfit for a change, but despite yesterday with Trey, I was in a good mood. Mostly.

  I’d have to come back tomorrow to pack up my desk, so I decided to leave early and enjoy the sunshine.

  Outside, I caught a glimpse of a man who resembled Trey before a bus rumbled past and I lost sight of him. What was he doing here? Why couldn’t he leave me alone? We’d see each other at the next family reunion.

  I strode to the crosswalk and waited for the light. Next to me a couple of boys balanced on skateboards. They were laughing and fooling around, and the taller boy pushed the smaller boy. The smaller boy shoved back and the tall boy rolled into the street.

  It all happened as if in slow motion.

  He rolled in front of a taxi. The driver blared the horn and his brakes screeched but he hit the boy.

  “No!” The sound came out of me before I’d fully processed what happened.

  The boy lay motionless in the street.

  The driver got out of the cab. “He jumped out in front of me. I tried to stop.”

  No one paid him any attention. I knelt down next to the boy. Scratches covered his face.

  “Don’t touch him. Someone call 9-1-1.” Trey dropped to the ground next to me and visually inspected the boy.

  The cabbie called for an ambulance on his radio.

  Trey gently but quickly felt the boy’s bones. “I think his left leg is broken. And he probably hit his head when he fell.”

  “Is this arm okay?” I asked, gesturing to the limb closest to me.

  “As far as I can tell.”

  I took the boy’s hand. I didn’t recognize him. He might be one of our students, but not in my class. His friend, the smaller boy, stood shaking on the sidewalk.

  “What’s his name?”

  “Andre.”

  “You’re going to be okay, Andre,” I whispered.

  A siren cut through the usual city din. “Thank goodness,” Trey breathed. It was the only way he’d displayed any uncertainty since the accident happened.

  Despite the circumstances, I couldn’t help feeling a flutter of appreciation for his commanding presence.

  The EMTs loaded Andre into the back of the ambulance. Trey introduced himself and climbed in after Andre. As the doors closed, he met my eyes. His were filled with concern and pain.

  The ambulance pulled away and I stared after it.

  Trey really did care about people other than himself. He was the man I’d wanted him to be. Could I let him go simply because his father was married to my mother? We hadn’t grown up together. We weren’t children. We were adults, and we were only related through marriage. Not blood.

  Would it be so wrong to be with him?

  Andre’s accident demonstrated how easily things could change in life. Life was short. I wanted to be happy. I deserved to be happy.

  I hailed a cab and directed it to the hospital.

  At the desk in the emergency room, the nurse wouldn’t give me any information. She told me to sit in the waiting room and she’d let Dr. Connors know I was there.

  An hour later, the double doors opened and Trey walked through. His broad shoulders sagged, as did the skin around his eyes. His gaze rose to meet mine. Exhaustion gave way to joy and a smile spread across his face. He had clearly witnessed too much suffering in his life, but seeing me seemed to help.

  I ran at him. I threw myself into his arms and he wrapped me in his strength and warmth.

  “You’re here,” he said, a catch in his voice.

  I pulled away so I could look into his pain-shrouded eyes. “Yes.”

  He leaned down and kissed me. His lips were hard and rough and I couldn’t get enough of them.

  “Come home with me,” he mumbled against my cheek.

  Taking his hand, I led him out of the hospital and into the fading light of the city. On the sidewalk, he hailed a cab.

  In the back of the car, we snuggled together, trying to focus more on being close and less on wanting to rip each other’s clothes off.

  Something occurred to me and I sat up. “You live here in the city.”

  “Yes.” Wariness edged his voice.

  “Then whose house did we…um…have sex in last time?”

  He grinned at my discomfort. “Dad’s house. He stayed at the hotel the night before the wedding, so I knew we’d have the house to ourselves. I’d been planning on cooking you breakfast, but you snuck out on me.”

  “I wanted to be home to help Mom. And I didn’t want her to see me sneaking in.” I let all of his words settle on me. “Wait, we slept in Mark’s bed?”

  He nodded.

  “Ew.”

  He laughed and rubbed his hand up and down my arm until I forgot my disgust. Watching him today with the boy in the street, seeing how much he obviously cared for a stranger, had changed something in me. I’d always been attracted to him, since the moment we met. For his good looks, his charm, his intelligence, and his compassion.

  The rich doctor thing didn’t have to be a problem. I’d seen him in action and it was the biggest turn-on ever. Being my stepbrother might always weird me out, but I thought I could get used to it. After all, we weren’t really related.

  In the luxurious marble lobby, I focused on Trey and ignored our surroundings. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to the way he lived.

  The empty elevator proved a fun place to explore each other’s lips again. The urgency returned and I couldn’t get enough of him. I pulled his arms around me and placed his hands on my hips. He slid one to my ass. The other snaked up to my breast and he pinched my nipple lightly. My breathing became shallow.

  The ding surprised us apart.

  I smoothed my sundress over my hips. He led me out of the elevator and through his apartment door.

  “Would you like a drink?”

  “Are you kidding?”

  He rumbled out a laugh, deep in his throat, and my whole body went hot. I pulled his face to mine. I needed his hands and lips on me. I needed him.

  We stumbled a few steps, unwilling to disentangle ourselves.

  “I have a better idea,” he said. He stooped and whisked me off my feet and carried me across the living room with all its windows. I wrapped my arms around his neck but his face was too close to ignore. I kissed him again. He banged my feet into the doorway.

  “Ouch.”

  “Sorry. I couldn’t see. I’ll kiss them and make them all better as soon as I get you to my bed.”

  Excitement and anticipatio
n flared in my belly and down between my legs.

  In the bedroom he placed me on a king size bed. This room also had a wall of windows overlooking the East River and Brooklyn. At my place, I had to draw my curtains as soon as the sun went down, but here we were high enough up that no one could see us without a telescope.

  I reached to pull him on top of me, but he turned and removed my sandals. His strong hands caressed my ankles. His warm breath tickled my toes and he rained kisses all over both feet.

  I writhed with the sensations. It felt good – so good – but I wanted more. Needed more. “Come here.”

  He turned and grinned. “Not yet.” He flicked his tongue over my ankles and slowly made his way up my legs.

  Too slowly. I reached for his arms but he resisted. My fingers brushed his hair. He continued his slow progress up one thigh, pushing my dress out of his way.

  Finally he reached my panties. His hot breath dampened the outside while my body reacted and dampened the inside.

  My back arched and I tried grabbing him again. He pushed my hands away then inserted fingers under the elastic of my panties. He slid them over my hips, down my thighs and across my toes.

  I could barely breathe because his touch was so intense.

  Our gazes met and a slow smile spread across his handsome face.

  He unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his pants, and let them drop to the floor. His shirt soon followed. His cock jutted upward proudly, making a tent of his boxers. He was ready to go.

  My fingers curled in the sheets in impatience. Why wouldn’t he bring that handsome face close enough for me to kiss? Why wouldn’t he bring that handsome cock close enough for me to ride?

  As if reading my mind, he quirked an eyebrow and slid his body up the length of mine. His skin moved against my stomach and nipples and drove me wild. I moaned.

  Finally, his face was level with mine. I grabbed him and kissed him and wrapped my legs around his waist. I pushed my slick center against his cock and he moaned this time. Low and guttural, and I wanted to hear it again. We ground against each other and I felt him heavy between my legs through his underwear.

  I moved my legs and scrabbled at his boxers with hurried fingers.

  “Not yet,” he breathed against my mouth.

  I groaned in impatience. “Please.”

  A deep kiss stole my breath, then his warmth left me. But only for a moment. He kissed down my jawline, down my neck and throat, to my breasts. I gasped.

  One huge, warm hand covered each breast and his mouth went to work on one nipple. My breath panted out of me.

  A part of me never wanted it to end and another part wanted him to get on with it, use a different part of his body.

  My fingers played in his hair and he continued to lick, bite, and suck.

  One hand caressed down my belly, between my legs, and I gasped again. His hand rubbed and teased my clit, playing in my wetness. So much sensation at once. I didn’t think I could stand much more.

  Then his mouth left my breast and he licked and kissed his way down my belly. I writhed in anticipation.

  Soon his mouth took the place of his hand, his tongue flicking inside me. My gasps became louder and my fingers curled in the sheets again.

  His tongue moved faster, his hands holding my hips, and I wasn’t going to last any longer.

  Again he read my mind. He lifted his head, gave me a searing look, and stretched out on top of me.

  His weight, the solidity of him, was heaven.

  I bit his lower lip until he kissed me. We kissed deeply and breathlessly.

  My hips rose and pushed against him.

  He leaned on one arm and used his other hand to guide himself into me. A long gasp escaped my lips. We rocked together and I clung to him and never wanted to let go.

  He dipped his head to my face and kissed me again.

  I caressed his back and reached down to his ass, scraping my fingernails against it. He groaned and thrust inside me. Deeper. He thrust several more times until I let go completely and rode the wave of pleasure he’d created.

  I lay, still wrapped around him, unable to do more than pant while the very heart of me pulsed.

  He collapsed on top of me and we panted together. Rolling to the side, he rested his head in the crook between my shoulder and my head. “Wow.”

  Wow, indeed.

  I’d only been with a couple of guys before Trey. Those experiences had been fun, even good. But this…this defied words.

  ***

  The sunrise flooded the bedroom with weak light, growing stronger by the minute. Trey stretched and yawned. He smiled at me and I smiled back.

  “You’re still here.”

  My smile grew. “Yes. No weddings today. But I do have to go to work. It’s the last day for teachers.”

  His face grew sad.

  My hand touched his cheek. “What’s wrong?”

  He held my hand to his face and turned to kiss my palm. “I’m falling in love with you and it scares me.”

  My breath caught in my throat. No one had ever said those words to me. I’d waited my whole life for someone to fall in love with me. I’d just expected the guy would be a little less related to me. I swallowed the thought and tried not to let it show on my face.

  “Me, too.”

  We kissed until arousal stirred in my belly and below. I climbed on top of him, enjoying the cool sheets on my bare skin and his warm body beneath me.

  He grinned. “Good morning to you, too.”

  I laughed and ground against his hardening cock until he groaned. “If I had time, I’d give you a taste of your own medicine and draw out the anticipation until you beg me.”

  He reared up, grabbed my arms, and rolled me onto my back. “Then we’ll make this quick.” He thrust into me and we thrashed and rocked until we both came.

  After, he fell asleep again and I snuck away to shower. His bathroom was lined in slate, a very manly choice. I washed with his soap, closing my eyes to savor the scent of him.

  Hopefully no one at school would notice I was wearing the same brightly-colored sundress. Thank goodness I didn’t have students today.

  Stumbling through the day, I got my classroom packed.

  At home, I poured myself some lemonade and collapsed on the couch. A nap would set me right. But behind my closed lids, pictures of my night with Trey haunted me, fueled by the smell of him all around me. Had I done the right thing by going home with him last night? Sure, it was the best sex of my life, but at what cost?

  He was my stepbrother and nothing would change that.

  The phone rang, startling me out of my steamy memories and uncomfortable thoughts. “Hi, Mom. How’s Tahiti?” I forced cheeriness into my voice.

  “You wouldn’t believe how beautiful it is here. Are you okay?”

  “Of course. I finished school today and have a few days off before I start my summer job. Why?”

  “You just don’t sound like yourself. Has something happened?”

  I started to cry then. Exhaustion from a night spent making love to my stepbrother had made me emotional.

  It all came spilling out of me. From the first time I’d met Trey through realizing who he was at the wedding to last night. Mom let me talk and cry and talk some more.

  “Sweetie, when I first met Mark, I thought it was wrong of me to fall for someone new when I’d loved your father so much. But your father was gone and life went on. You have to follow your heart. Trevor isn’t your brother, he’s an adult stepbrother. And he’s a great guy. I’m so happy for you.”

  I cried a bit more then we said goodbye. Wiping my face, I made a decision. A decision to be happy.

  After getting cleaned up, I took the subway back into Manhattan.

  Masha opened the door and gave me a big smile. “Hello, Miss Justine. I’m happy to see you.”

  “You are?”

  “Of course. Mr. Trevor has been a little down this evening and I’m sure seeing you will cheer him up.”

&nbs
p; It struck me then that Masha actually liked her employer. She seemed to care about him.

  I cared, too.

  I found him in the living room, staring out the wall of windows, a glass of something dark in his hand. “Like the view?” I asked.

  He whirled around. “Justine.” The sadness melted out of his eyes, as I’d seen before when he’d looked at me. “What are you doing here?”

  I ran into his arms and breathed him in. “Choosing happiness. Choosing us.”

  “Us?” The word tickled my head with his warm breath. His hands ran up and down my back. “Me, too.”

  My heart soared and I squeezed him to me. Rich doctor, stepbrother, whatever. He was mine.

  THE END

  Here’s a FREE BONUS Book Called Trouble

  Duke knew the girl was trouble the second she walked through the door. Not that Shotguns Bar was any stranger to trouble. Most of the men that came in to belly-up to the scarred walnut bar or play a borderline unfriendly game of pool were rough and tumble types, bikers and bad-asses, and Duke had to put his military training to use busting heads and rousting surly drunks pretty often.

  But she was a whole different kind of trouble.

  The late afternoon sunlight streaming through the dusty windows gleamed off her long, wavy blonde hair as she tossed it over her shoulder. She scanned the bar, slender, long-fingered hands propped on her hips, and her haughty little snub nose in the air.

  She’d made an attempt to dress down, but if her faded denim mini-skirt with its frayed hem wasn’t ‘designer distressed’ or whatever they called that shit, Duke would eat his own jeans — which were ragged and worn nearly white in places because he’d had them for over a decade, not because some he’d bought them that way.

  He didn’t smile as he took in the pink, glittery words on her tight black t-shirt — YOU SAY ‘BITCH’ LIKE IT’S A BAD THING — but his lips did twitch. He continued slicing limes, but kept half an eye on the new arrival as she sized up the few patrons scattered at the mismatched tables.

  Once she’d taken the lay of the land, her gaze zeroed in on him. Her eyes narrowed a little and her pointed chin went up another notch. Duke dumped the limes into a plastic bucket and stuck it in the chiller, wiped his hands, and tossed the bar rag over his shoulder. Then he crossed his arms over his chest and waited for her to come to him.