Stepbrother

by Stacy McWilliams

  As I sat and gazed at my Kindle, with my earphones in listening to music, I found myself sitting beside Coop. Zane had gone out and I hadn’t noticed because I was so engrossed in my book. Coop ran his hand softly down my arm and linked his fingers with mine. He squeezed, then stood up and walked out of the room. My face was flushed from the contact; his touch still lit a fire to my soul and from the story. I was a little turned on thanks to some of the scenes in the book being so hot. As I made my way upstairs, I passed Coop’s bedroom, and he was sitting on his bed, staring at his cell screen with wide, horrified eyes. I was about to pass by, but his cell flew past me and I screamed out in fright.

  “Bails, shit, I’m sorry. Guess I didn’t see you there.” His voice sounded off but closer to me than I’d realized and when he put his arms around my waist, his front to my back, I melted into him. He kissed my head and let go after a moment. I stepped over his smashed phone, my heart hammering in my chest as his room door closed. I didn’t see him for the rest of the weekend. On Monday morning I saw him in the garage as I went into summer school for a few classes for my transcript.

  He was cleaning his car and smiled when he glanced up and saw me approach.

  “Hey,” he called out as I passed him, heading to my car, “want a lift?” I turned to face him, and he smiled hopefully at me from beside his gleaming car.

  “Sure.” I smiled and moved my stuff into his car. We left the house in silence, but it didn’t last long. He was nervous about something, he chattered at me about college, classes, and the weather, but it was clear they weren’t subjects he wanted to talk about and as we approached the school campus, he pulled the car over before we pulled into the parking lot.

  As he stopped the car, I glanced at the clock finding I was early like I’d planned to be, but not so early that I had masses of time to spare.

  “Bails,” he murmured and my eyes shot to his. He was tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as Norah Jones sang out on the car speaker softly. His eyes closed, but when he looked my way, his eyes lit as hunger shot through them.

  He leaned over and kissed me softly, breathing hard as his lips gently stroked my own for a few seconds. When he pulled back, I was breathless, and my pulse throbbed all over my body. He turned the car back on and drove the rest of the way to school whistling to Bruno Mars’s Grenade. As we reached the lot, he squeezed my hand. “What time do you finish?” his melodic voice shot across to me, sounding just a little hoarse and I smiled, knowing I’d affected him as much as he’d affected me.

  “Just after three,” I spoke in a strange-sounding voice, it was higher than normal and breathy. He cupped my cheek and turned my face towards him, giving me another gentle kiss. As he pulled back, I sat there stunned at his disregard for where we were.

  “I’ll be here,” he murmured, and he sat back shielding his eyes from the June sunshine as I clambered out of the car.

  The day passed in a blur as I watched the clock anxiously for it to hit three p.m. and all day I was on edge. When he picked me up, he was almost the same, and he kissed me as we drove, entwining his hand with mine as I climbed into the car. We made our way home, and he drove slower than I’d ever seen him.

  “Coop?” I spoke tentatively, not wanting to upset him, and he glanced over at me smiling at my face.

  “Relax, Bails,” he murmured as his eyes returned to the road, “I’m not gonna tell our parents or anything like that, but I deserve a shot at happiness too.” He didn’t say another word the rest of the way home and when we got in our parents were at home, so it was family dinner night. Zane was out and Coop and I were forced to sit beside each other as our parents told us that they’d be away for the next two weeks.

  We ignored each other totally because that was what we’d done over the last few months and as we finally left the dining room, a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. Coop’s phone was sitting on his bed, repaired, and he looked at it like a bomb about to go off when we reached his door. I touched his arm gently and he shrugged me off. He closed the door and I walked to my room feeling dejected, but he came through a short while later. His eyes were bloodshot, and he crawled into bed beside me.

  He didn’t say a word to me, and I kept my mouth shut with difficulty, but eventually, his breathing evened out and I sat up reading. Sometime during the night, his phone rang, and he sat bolt upright in the bed, then dived out of my bed and took off for his room. I didn’t see him again until early the next morning when I went downstairs to feed my caffeine monster.

  As I walked into the kitchen I was met with the aroma of fresh coffee, bacon, eggs, and hot rolls. Coop stood over the stove and when I walked through the door, he handed me a fresh coffee mug, just how I liked it; a splash of caramel flavoring and some cream. I moaned in pleasure and his eyes widened as a salacious look crossed his face.

  He swallowed and it passed, but I watched him with mild amusement. I’d been feeling lighter since I’d shared everything with Jay. Wendy had cut me out, she’d begun avoiding my calls and not answering my texts and when I finally got a hold of her she told me, quite bluntly that I was never around anymore and she needed a more consistent best friend. I spent the night sobbing in my room and since then I hadn’t really had another best friend, but just having someone on my side was incredible. It helped me to realize that there was more to my life than the gorgeous specimen of a boy currently cooking me breakfast.

  “Hey.” He walked around the island and kissed me gently on the head, before turning around and going back to the range. I sat at the island staring out at the choppy waters through the windows lining the room as he cooked humming along to the music playing that I didn’t recognize.

  “Bails.” His soft voice caressed my neck as he placed a kiss on my neck, making me jump because I’d been miles away thinking about how nice it was to be normal around each other. We weren’t hiding our feelings or hurting each other, and it made me so happy that we’d finally relaxed in each other’s company.

  “Mmmm?” I muttered, turning and meeting his eyes. He glanced at my lips and then up at my eyes. His face tightened, and he moved closer to me, bringing his mouth to mine and capturing my lips in a soul-altering kiss. When he pulled back, because I’d never had any willpower where he was concerned, we were both breathing hard. His lips lifted in a glorious smile, and he kissed the top of my head, before sitting down beside me and sliding my plate of food to me.

  As we sat eating, his fingers brushed mine constantly and he smiled every time his eyes met mine. When I was full, I pushed my plate away and went to refill our coffees. As I stood at the machine, Coop appeared behind me and pressed his lips to the back of my neck making me shudder and I spilled coffee on the counter, and he burst out laughing. My eyes narrowed on him and he snorted, making me laugh.

  He took my hand and led me away from the mess, pushing me gently towards the table where something was sitting on the counter. I moved curiously towards it and smiled as I saw it was a giant cookie. There was writing on the cookie and as I moved closer, I heard him clatter about behind me. He seemed nervous when I glanced at him.

  I reached the island and looked down at my cookie to see a heart and a ring on it. On top of the heart were the words “BE MINE?” and I glanced at him, unsure what I was seeing for a moment.

  “Coop,” I whispered in a stunned voice as he came back towards me, biting his lip as he watched me standing there, “are you asking me out?” He nodded, a smile touching his lips, and I moved towards him. He placed our coffees on the island before his hand swept around my waist.

  “Bails, I know I’ve screwed up, but I am so in love with you and all I want is to try this, really try this? Can we do it? We’d need to keep it on the down-low though until we are sure we can work together?” His voice was muffled against my hair as our hearts hammered in unison. He pressed his lips to my head and spoke against my hair, “I wanna do it right this time, Bails. I know if I mess up again, you won’t give me another chance. I won’t dese
rve another chance.”

  He dropped to his knees and took both my hands into his. “Please, Bails.” He stared at the floor by my feet, then slowly lifted his eyes to mine where I stood in stunned silence. His eyes filled with dread as he watched me and when I smiled and muttered, “Yes,” in acceptance, he bolted up and picked me up.

  He spun me around in a circle, kissing me and laughing. “I thought you were gonna tell me to get lost.”

  His relief was palpable, and we spent the rest of the day wrapped up in each other’s arms, kissing and talking, and for the very first time feeling hopeful about being together. That night he spent the night in my bed, but we decided to take it slowly. As he kissed me softly his eyes closed, and he sighed pulling me tighter into his arms.

  “Bails, I haven’t been this relaxed for over a year and a half.” He snuggled down beside me and pulled me, so I was lying on his chest. I lay there, content, for a moment listening to his heart and his even breathing.

  “We should have done this in the beginning,” I murmured before I began to drift off, his hands running softly over the skin on my back. A few hours later I woke up and my bed was empty. At first, I didn’t think anything, but then his scent rose around me as I moved, and I remembered he’d been in my bed when I’d finally fallen asleep.

  I glanced at my cell and saw it was three a.m. My throat was scratchy as I went to call out for Coop, so I decided to head downstairs to the kitchen. I sleepily walked along the hallway, peeking into Coop’s room as I passed, but it was empty. My feet tripped over one another as I made my way down the stairs, but the house was silent.

  I didn’t hear a sound as I padded softly into the kitchen, but I paused as I walked in. Coop was sitting at the counter with his head in his hands. He was speaking, his voice full of pain. I moved towards him silently and I placed my hand on his shoulder. He shrugged me off and I moved away from him towards the pantry.

  My whole body froze just inside the door as Coop spoke, “Jan, we can’t keep doing this. You have to leave me alone.” He paused for a few minutes and I put my hand on the shelf to steady myself because I’d suddenly come over lightheaded. My breathing was shallow, and my pulse raced as I tried to focus on the room in front of me when Coop spoke again, “It’s not my fault. You can’t keep blaming me for having to abort our baby. That wasn’t my choice. I had no say in any of it, so please stop calling me.”

  He slammed his hand down and I jumped. Something clattered to the floor and I backed up. There was nowhere to go, and I heard his heavy footsteps approach the pantry. My heart raced as the door opened and lights flashed in my eyes. I blinked but could barely see through the moisture in my eyes. “Bails, please let me explain?”

  I couldn’t move and didn’t say a word to him. “She’s not supposed to call me anymore, I swear. I’ve asked her not to and told her I don’t want anything to do with her, but she won’t stop calling me. She’s lost it.” He paced just inside of the pantry, every time he moved, he came closer to me.

  “She’s still calling you?” I spoke so quietly, and his shoulders slumped.

  “It’s okay, you can go. You don’t need to tell me how much I’ve fucked up again. I already know.” His voice was broken and devastated.

  My body moved without my mind saying a word, but a moment later, he was wrapped in my arms. He sagged against me in relief.

  “You don’t hate me?” he asked in wonderment, and when I shook my head he leaned up and kissed me, whispering into my mouth, “God, I fucking love you so much, Bailey.” His hands tightened around my waist, and he moaned as I caressed his tongue before sucking gently on it.

  “Let’s go to bed,” I murmured against his lips, “but, Coop, don’t answer any more calls, okay, and don’t hide it from me.”

  He ran his fingers up and down my back as he muttered, “You got it, Bails.” His tone was off, and I pulled back and stared at him. He stared at my mouth, my neck, and his eyes dropped to my chest, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes.

  “Cooper?” I spoke softly into the room and his face fell.

  “She threatened to tell our parents about us if I ignore her.”

  He was trying to protect me, letting her tear him apart, so I didn’t get hurt. We went upstairs and as we climbed into bed his cell chimed with a text. He glanced at it and I saw it over his shoulder before he put it down on the nightstand.

  You are a selfish prick, Cooper Christie. I’m gonna tell everyone your disgusting little secret.

  He shook his head and lay beside me, taking my hand and holding it tight as he stared at the ceiling. I wanted to turn and look at him, but I could tell he just wanted a minute, so I lay on my back, tracing patterns on his palm with my thumb and after a few minutes he drifted off.

  I couldn’t sleep and I wanted to call that bitch and give her hell, but I knew doing that would only fuel the fire. I couldn’t do anything; we were completely at her mercy and I hated it. The next morning when I finally woke up, Coop was gone again. I was sure I’d dreamed the day before, but as I rolled over onto the opposite side of the bed a chiming sounded.

  I didn’t think, I reached out and grabbed the cell from my nightstand. “Lo,” I muttered and then I cleared my throat and tried again, “Hello.” A sharp intake of breath greeted me on the other end of the line. “Is someone there?”

  “What the hell are you doing answering my boyfriend’s cell?” My head woke up a little and I realized I’d answered Coop’s cell, oh hell.

  “Whose cell is this?” I fumbled to make up an excuse as to why I would be answering his cell. Her voice was sharp as she spoke again.

  “This is Cooper Christie’s cell and I’m his girlfriend, Jan. Now, why don’t you tell me who you are and why you’re answering his cell.”

  I scanned my mind for a name and a plausible excuse. “I’m Lindsay Thompson, and I found this cell when I was out running. I didn’t know whose it was, but I think the Christies live next to my uncle, so I’ll go return it now. Nice talking to you and I’ll let Cooper know that you called.” I ended the call and ran my fingers over my eyes as I realized how close we’d come.

  As I sat in bed, his cell chirped with a text and I saw a message light up the screen. I groaned and dropped his cell on the bed as Coop came into the room. His eyes lit as he saw me awake, but dropped as he saw me rubbing my head.

  “What happened?” he asked as he walked towards me.

  “Your cell rang, and I answered it, thinking it was mine.” Coop dropped onto the bed and his eyes widened. “Jan didn’t recognize my voice, so I told her I’d found your cell when jogging this morning.”

  He leaned over and kissed me hard running his fingers up and curling them in my hair. He was sweaty, but the smell of him was driving me insane. I grabbed hold of his arm as he pulled me gently backward, dropping us to the bed. I sat on his lap kissing him ferociously. He sucked on my bottom lip and I could feel him hardening between my legs.

  He lifted my tank up and leaned back to take me in. His warm eyes blazed up and down and he licked his lips before he dropped his head and sucked my nipple hard into his mouth, his other finger rolled my other nipple between his thumb and forefinger. I rubbed myself against him and slid up and down his workout shorts. I leaned back and pulled his shirt over his head, throwing it over my shoulder and onto my bed. I pushed up on his shoulder as he dropped his hands to my shorts and pushed the waistband down.

  His eyes were wild and roamed all over me, heating me in every place they looked at. His fingers tightened on my hips, and he lifted me up and placed me flat on the bed, pushing the duvet away. His erection stood out against his black workout shorts and his toned body glistened with sweat.

  He gripped my shorts and panties and pulled them down, before dropping to his knees.

  “Ah,” I moaned as Coop pressed his lips against my thigh, kissing downwards. “Coop,” I groaned his name, and he pressed his lips in a soft kiss against my clit before he spoke in a low sexy thrum.

  “Ba
ils, you moaning my name is the single sexiest sound I’ve ever heard in my life.”

  He gripped my hips and pulled me towards the end of the bed. He leaned down and sucked on my clit, almost sending me into a frenzy before he released it and licked up and down. My nipples hardened and my whole body tightened. I whimpered as his finger pressed into my wetness.

  “Jesus, I’ve missed this sound,” he groaned as he continued pushing me higher and higher.

  With his fingers pressing up inside me and his mouth licking and sucking on my clit, my toes tightened, and I came hard, convulsing around his hand. Before I’d finished, he rose up and grabbed a condom from my nightstand. He ripped it open with his teeth, keeping one hand inside me, pressing upwards. As he pushed it on roughly, I moaned his name again and suddenly his hand was gone, replaced by his throbbing cock.

  He pushed into me and thrust hard and fast, bringing me quickly back to the brink. He lifted my legs and placed them over his shoulders as he pounded into me and I moaned and groaned with every thrust. As I clenched around him, my second orgasm was harder than the first, he moaned and followed me.

  We collapsed beside each other and lay there for a few moments panting in each other’s arms. After a few moments, he sat up and spoke softly.

  “I need a shower.” I nodded, from my warm spot in the bed as I fought to control my breathing. “Bails?” Coop’s voice spoke and his body heat tingled my back as he kissed my shoulder. “Come with me?”

  “Where?” I asked, my brain turned to mush by the orgasms. His laugh was loud and made my skin flush with embarrassment.

  “For a shower,” he answered me, running his fingers over my ass and when his fingers tapped on it, I stiffened. He kissed me gently and then stood. I couldn’t help it as I watched him cross the room. Naked he was spectacular, and my mouth watered at the sight of his toned ass and bunched muscles on his back which moved as he stretched.