Stepbrother With Benefits 8 (Second Season)

by Mia Clark

  Stepbrother With Benefits 8 (Second Season)

  Mia Clark

  Published by Cherrylily, 2015.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  STEPBROTHER WITH BENEFITS 8 (SECOND SEASON)

  First edition. June 9, 2015.

  Copyright © 2015 Mia Clark.

  Written by Mia Clark.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Foreword

  Stepbrother With Benefits 8

  A Note from Mia

  About the Author

  Foreword

  Check here for all of the currently available Stepbrother With Benefits Season Two books on Amazon:

  Stepbrother With Benefits (Second Season)

  Make sure you don't miss any of my new releases by signing up for my VIP readers list!

  Cherrylily.com/Mia

  You can also find me on Facebook for more sneak peeks and updates here:

  Facebook.com/MiaClarkWrites

  ~*~

  You can find all of the books in my Stepbrother With Benefits series on Amazon

  Stepbrother With Benefits series

  Stepbrother With Benefits 8

  *** Ashley

  This is awkward.

  I guess I never truly realized how awkward this would be, but it's awkward. Going to dinner with my mom and Ethan's dad, with Ethan and me, is reminiscent of a double date. Do you know how awkward it is to be on a double date with your mom and stepdad? Um... well, if you don't you're about to find out.

  We all drove here together. It seemed like a good idea to go to this restaurant we used to go to. I don't know if we've all been here together before now, though. If I had to guess, I'd say we haven't, because as soon as we step inside, I remember how small the booths are.

  "Four?" the hostess asks us.

  Ethan's dad smiles and nods. "Yeah, just us."

  "Alright," she says, smiling. "Right this way."

  We follow her and she leads us to a corner booth. Which, um... yes. It's small. I think the corner ones are actually a little bigger than the others, but it's going to be a tight fit either way.

  My mom sits down on the bench at one side of the table and Ethan's dad sits down next to her. Yes, I suppose I should mention that they always sit next to each other, which means...

  Ethan and I stare at each other, not sure what to do. The hostess keeps looking at us funny, too. Ethan's dad is kind of oblivious, and I'm not sure if my mom has realized the predicament we're in right now.

  "Is something the matter?" the hostess asks us.

  "Nah," Ethan says with a shrug. To me, he adds, "Sorry, Princess. Looks like it's you and me together."

  Yeah, well, you know what, Ethan? I like that! Um... I usually would like that, except I'm supposed to pretend I don't like him much, because his dad doesn't know about us yet, and... really, even if he did know, this would be awkward. I can't even rationalize this one. I thought everything would be fine, and I knew we'd figure out a way to make this work once our parents came back, but I literally put zero effort into figuring it out before that.

  I feel like I probably should have, because now I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. Ethan seems like he has everything figured out, though. I decide to follow his lead.

  He sits down first, sliding as far into the booth as he can, and I take a seat next to him, quiet and dainty. I think that's how I'm supposed to be, right? I'm certainly not supposed to cuddle up next to him and share a menu with him and ask him if we can split the food on our plates, and...

  Calm down, Ashley! I mentally slap myself, or maybe splash some imaginary cold water into my face. Something! This is difficult.

  What am I supposed to do?

  Ethan snatches up the menu that the hostess puts in front of him and starts browsing through his options. I barely realize I have a menu of my own. Why is he so calm and relaxed? I guess it's because Ethan always seems calm and relaxed. The perks of being a bad boy?

  Well, yes, maybe, but the downside of being a good girl is that you worry about being caught if you do something wrong, and while I don't think Ethan and I are doing anything wrong, I'm still worried about being caught. No real way around that one.

  My mom gives me a sympathetic glance before beginning to look at the menu.

  "How was your trip?" I ask Ethan's dad and my mom.

  I need to get my mind off of Ethan sitting right next to me. It's kind of hard considering I can feel his thigh touching mine, the warmth of his body caressing my leg. It's nice, and I kind of want more, maybe just to reach out and touch his arm or hold his hand for a second, but obviously I can't do that.

  "Good!" my mom says. "A little stressful during the day, but we went out to eat at night and tried to relax. It was nice."

  "Yeah, it was nice after things settled down," Ethan's dad says with a smile. "During, the day, though... ugh. I felt like I was dealing with a start up company again. We've been in this business for decades and it was like no one knew what to do anymore. I know the industry is changing, but..."

  His words trailed off. That was that, apparently.

  "How about you two?" Ethan's dad asks, smiling at me and giving Ethan a suspicious look. "Any incidents I should know about?"

  Incident? What incident? Like Ethan and I deciding to have a lot of sex with each other?

  Really, I don't think that's an incident so much as amazing magic. The things Ethan can do with his hands... his lips... mouth, tongue, fingers... oh, and I shouldn't forget his cock. I mean, honestly, that's a pretty hard thing to forget.

  I giggle at myself, for my unintentionally play on words. Cock. Hard? Oh my God, what am I, twelve?

  I belatedly realize I'm the only one laughing, which is because, um... I never said any of that out loud. I'm glad I didn't say any of it out loud! Wow, how embarrassing would that be?

  Laughing for no reason is pretty embarrassing, too, though.

  "It's funny you ask," I say. "Sorry, um... I was laughing about something funny that happened."

  "Oh?" Ethan's dad asks.

  "Yeah?" Ethan asks.

  "Yup, you know, that thing, Ethan?" I say. "I'm sure you remember it better than me."

  He gives me a look. It's a very confused look, which I guess I can understand because I literally have no idea what the funny thing is, either. I'm just making this up, but he's supposed to help me here! What good is a boyfriend if he can't make up funny stories to save you from embarrassment? I'm going to have to have a talk with him about this later.

  That doesn't save me now, though.

  He furrows his brow and looks deep in thought. I'm actually pretty sure any of the funny stories we might have had over the past week are completely inappropriate to discuss at dinner, especially in front of our parents. Mostly because they probably involve us being naked, or having just been naked, or about to be naked, and also um... puzzles. Yes, that's it. Puzzles. Like how you connect the pieces together? Which is um... well, it's sex. There! I said it, except I didn't say it, and Ethan is still looking at me funny.

  "I've got nothing, Princess," he says. "Give me a hint?"

  "Um, you know? The thing with..." Think, Ashley! Quick! Get it together! "The thing with the pizza, and the drive-in movie place, and Julia?"

  There. That's three things. It's the first three things that came to my mind, and we did have pizza a few times last week, and we also went to the drive-in movie place, and my friend Julia came over that one time.

  Granted, the first time we had pizza was also the night we accidentally slept together, which started th
is whole stepbrother with benefits thing, and I gave him a handjob and then we had sex the one and only time we went to the drive-in. When Julia came over that day before we went shopping, she was trying to seduce Ethan, also.

  All of these have one thing in common and that's that they're sort of maybe sex-related. Is that funny? Um... I think so, but not in the way I'd hoped.

  "Yeah, that time that we bought pizza and then went to the drive-in with your friend Julia," Ethan says. "Great night. Tons of fun."

  My mom and Ethan's dad are looking at both of us funny.

  "Maybe you had to be there to get it," I say, forcing a laugh, trying to save myself from this horribly awkward situation. "Right, Ethan?"

  "Alrighty then..." Ethan's dad says, looking down towards his menu.

  "That's a very funny story, you two," my mom says, smiling. "I hope Ethan was on his best behavior with you and your friend."

  "That chick's crazy," Ethan chimes in. "Yeah, so Ashley was upstairs getting ready, right? I go to let her in, except I'm shirtless, because—" He pauses, apparently remembering why he was shirtless.

  You idiot! Ethan, you can't tell them this story!

  "Because you were swimming, I'm sure," my mom says, filling in for him.

  "Yeah... yeah, that's exactly what it was. I was swimming, so I was shirtless, and I let Ashley's friend in. She's following me back, and I guess I don't realize it but I have this effect on girls or something and the next thing I know she's trying to put her hand—"

  "On Ethan's shoulder!" I shout out, interrupting him. "Ha ha ha! Isn't that... that's funny, huh?"

  This isn't funny. None of this is funny! It's disastrous. Ugh!

  Wow. I really need to stop doing this. I get myself into too many weird situations and I don't think I like it.

  "Shoulder, of course," Ethan's dad says, shaking his head. "Ethan, I understand you have a bit of a reputation with women your age, but could you please be respectful with Ashley's friends?"

  "Me?" Ethan asks, incredulous. "I didn't do anything with Julia. Fuck. Why do you always jump to conclusions like that?"

  "I mean this in the nicest of ways, but it's an easy conclusion to jump to, don't you think?" Ethan's dad says. "I know you've been a lot better lately, what with focusing on school and football. Sowing wild oats is one thing, but would it really kill you to try and have a serious relationship for once? I'm not asking for grandchildren or marriage, but wouldn't it be nice if you had someone you weren't ashamed to bring over for dinner once in awhile?"

  I don't know what to say. My mom and I are casualties in this father and son war, I guess. We both sit there quietly while the men battle it out with clenched jaws and glares.

  "You don't know me," Ethan says. "Maybe I have found someone? What would you say to that?"

  "I'd say great!" Ethan's dad says. He laughs, but it's not exactly a nice one. "I'd tell you to invite her to dinner sometime. I don't hate you, Ethan. I'm just looking out for you."

  Ethan opens his mouth to say something, but I'm scared of what he might say. I'm worried that he's going to tell his dad about us right here and now, and that it's going to ruin something. I want to tell his dad, I really really do, but not when they're both angry and upset at each other. I think that might make everything worse. I don't think his dad would understand, and I just think he'd get even more upset, which would make Ethan upset, and...

  It's just not a good idea.

  "Ethan did ask someone to dinner while you were gone," I say suddenly.

  Oh my God, what am I doing?

  "He did?" my mom asks, confused.

  Ethan gives me a look. Don't worry, Mr. Bad Boy. You saved me with a story earlier, so this time it's my turn. I think my story is going to be better than his, though. Really, getting a pizza and going to the drive-in with Julia? That's not even remotely funny! Ugh.

  "Yes, actually," I say, matter-of-fact. "It was very sweet. He asked her if she wanted to hang out because her boyfr—" Oh, no, um... if I tell the story that way, it's going to sound exactly like what happened with me and Jake, isn't it? Maybe our parents won't realize it, but that's cutting it too close for me.

  "Boy—?" Ethan prompts me.

  "Her boy brother," I say.

  My mom nods in quiet agreement. "Of course. Not her girl brother. That wouldn't make sense."

  Ethan's dad gives my mom a silly look and then laughs. She smiles back at him and pokes her tongue out.

  "She was having some problems with her brother," I say, continuing the story. "He told her that he didn't want to see her at all that summer because she wasn't fun. He told her that she needed to learn how to be fun."

  "Sounds like someone I know," Ethan's dad says, glancing at Ethan.

  "Hey!" Ethan says. "I've been hanging out with Ashley and she's pretty cool. Yeah, yeah, sometimes I'm a jerk, but I wouldn't say shit like that about her."

  "Please, Ethan," my mom says. "Mind your mouth. Your father was just joking. Maybe it wasn't the best choice for a joke at the moment, though."

  "Sorry," Ethan and his dad say at the same time, grumbling an apology to my mom. It's kind of funny and cute, and it makes me giggle.

  "Well, um... so the story I was telling you," I say after a second. "Ethan invited her over for pizza and a movie and it was sweet, and also he made her breakfast in the morning, um... because..."

  Oh no, I ruined this. Why did this girl stay over? Well, in the real story, it was me who stayed over, and I stayed over because we had crazy reckless sex and also we live in the same house, so where else was I supposed to stay? Oh, and we were a little tipsy after drinking, which I doubted was a good thing to tell our parents because we're too young to drink.

  Maybe my story isn't actually better than Ethan's.

  "Look, yeah, she stayed over, and I slept with her," Ethan says, picking up where I left off. "But it's different. I really like this girl."

  "It's a little crude, but I guess it's a start, right?" Ethan's dad says.

  "It is?" me and my mom ask in tandem. Apparently she's as surprised as I am by this random turn of events.

  "He's never had a girl stay the night before, has he?" my stepfather says. "I think we could do with a little less of the sex talk before dinner, but I commend you for taking a step and having a girl stay the night with you, Ethan, and I especially like the fact that you were considerate enough to make her breakfast in the morning."

  "Thanks," Ethan says. "I think."

  To be honest, I'm not sure if this is a compliment, either. I guess it sounds like one.

  "What did you make her for breakfast?" my mom asks.

  "Pancakes," Ethan says. "They're her favorite."

  "Oh? Ashley, aren't those your favorite, too?" Ethan's dad says. "Did he save any for you?"

  I die. I am pretty sure I'm dead right now. I start to choke and cough and splutter and my mom is also dying, apparently. I think it runs in the family. Ethan gives me a look before patting me on the back, except it's kind of a palm slam. Unfortunately that's even worse, because um... it reminds me of...

  It's a slap, skin on skin, sort of, and yes, I'm wearing a shirt, but it still reminds me of other sorts of skin on skin slaps, particularly ones involving Ethan and I, which have happened rather frequently lately.

  It's sex, alright? It's not the exact same noise or anything but it reminds me of sex, and I think I've just got sex on the mind or something. I'm not good at being a good girl pretending to be a bad girl pretending to be a good girl. This is all too complicated.

  Thankfully Ethan's dad is trying to save my mom from choking, too. We aren't even choking on anything, which is probably the worst part about this. Can you choke on ideas and words? I didn't think so before this, but apparently you really can.

  A waiter comes up and stands by the table, looking concerned. "Should I get you some water?" he asks. "Is everything alright here?"

  We calm down. Sort of. There's no more choking going on, but my face is red and my mom's face is red.
Ethan has his hand on my back, rubbing gently. It's nice. I kind of move closer to him, almost nuzzling my cheek against him, but then his dad looks at us and we both freeze.

  I notice Ethan and he notices me and we both panic and move back. I look away from him, staring hard at the waiter's shirt, and Ethan does a perfect impression of a mysterious and brooding bad boy, gazing out the window next to him and into the parking lot at nothing in particular.

  "Water would be good," I say. "Um... actually, I'm ready to order if everyone else is, too. I think I was just hungry."

  "I was choking because I'm hungry, too," my mom says. "I think it's a family trait."

  The waiter gives us both a weird look, but Ethan's dad waves his hand, shrugging it off.

  "Yes, I think we're all ready to order," my stepdad says.

  "Yeah, I'm ready, too," Ethan says. "Sounds good."

  *** Ethan

  Alright, so, what the fuck? I'm being serious here, for real: What the fuck?

  Everything's confusing as fuck and I don't mean to be huge on the profanity at the moment, but I don't know what to do. It's a really strange place for me.

  What do I want to do? Well, I'd like to put my arm over Ashley's shoulder while we order our food, and I'd like to maybe give her a quick kiss on the cheek or the lips, and I'd like to whisper stupid shit back and forth with her. I never realized how nice it was to whisper stupid useless junk with someone before I met her. Yeah, you see people doing it, and they smile and giggle or whatever. I don't giggle. What the fuck kind of guy giggles? I've got a reputation to uphold here.

  Ashley can giggle, though. I can smile at her giggling. And we can enjoy whispering stupid shit back and forth to each other.

  Except, uh... yeah, not with my dad right there. I guess maybe we could do it with her mom here, but my dad and her mom are sort of a package deal, so that's out.

  I can't do anything but sit here and look like an asshole. To be honest, it's pretty easy to do.

  Then she wants me to tell a story, though? What the fuck are you doing to me, Princess? Do I look like I'm some professional storyteller? Stephen King or something?