by Ryli Jordan
He couldn't do anything on Christmas, though, I figured. Our whole family would be there, and there wouldn't be these private moments that we kept having.
We had a fun day. It started with a late brunch, followed by opening our presents. Once all the gifts were opened, Mom put on a movie, and it was almost as though this was just another Christmas for us. But where normally we'd be curled up on the couch together, this year it was Mom and Alex on the couch and the rest of us—David and I, plus David's cousins and various other relatives who lived in the area—scattered around the room on armchairs and cushions and wherever else we fit.
“You've been quiet today,” Luke said, cornering me in the kitchen as I went to refill my eggnog later that evening. It was cozy out in the living room, everyone curled up with books, a few of the cousins playing cards over in one corner, and a Christmas special playing in the background for those who cared to watch. But I couldn't help feeling antsy. David had disappeared just after dinner, and I was itching to do the same but I didn't want anyone to think I'd disappeared with him.
I shrugged a little in response to Luke. “I'm not feeling great,” I said. It wasn't totally a lie. Of course, he would probably think I meant I was getting sick or something. But mentally I really wasn't feeling great. There was this cloud of nostalgia that had been hanging over me, plus I'd been on-edge about the whole thing with David, trying my best to make sure he never managed to corner me. I hadn't thought to avoid Luke as well.
Luke smiled sadly at me. “That makes two of us,” he sighed, hopping up to sit at one of the counter stools. He leaned his face against his hand. “I wanted Jen to come over,” he confessed.
I frowned, wondering why he was telling me this and took another sip of eggnog. “Why didn't she?” I asked, figuring I'd humor him. Maybe if I could stay on his good side, he wouldn't air his suspicions to Mom or Alex.
“I didn't ask her,” Luke answered. He sighed. “I think I actually like her. Like, as...potential girlfriend material, I guess. That's new territory for me.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh?” I couldn't stop my sarcasm: “Is the sex with her really that much better than with your whole string of one-night stands?”
Luke winced and dropped his head down against the counter. “We've never had sex,” he admitted. “So I wouldn't know.”
“Well, you've done one thing right then, I guess,” I said, hopping up to sit across from him on another of the stools. “Does she know that you like her?”
“Of course not,” Luke said, sounding miserable. “Look at me. My life is in pieces at the moment. I don't know why she still even talks to me. I live with my uncle, I don't have a job, I don't have any skills, and for all anyone knows of me, I'm a total asshole of a manwhore.”
“Your words, not mine,” I said, tilting my glass towards him. I frowned thoughtfully, though. “But that's a good sign, right? That she's still willing to be around you. You must not be doing all wrong in her eyes.”
“Yeah, but...” Luke sighed, lifting his head. “Sorry, I don't mean to bother you with all of this. I guess we're not even related except tangentially. I just...” He shook his head. “I'm just lonely, I guess.”
The raw note in his voice resonated with something inside of me. “Yeah,” I said, swallowing hard. “Yeah, I know that feeling.” I studied my hands for a long moment.
“You've got David, though,” Luke said. “For whatever, you're doing with him. Which I don't want to know, because he and I are related.”
“We're not doing anything,” I mumbled. “He's my stepbrother.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well. I mean, it could be a lot worse, right? And it's not like the two of you grew up together or anything like that. There are no laws saying that you can't marry the guy, even. Just might make family gatherings a bit awkward if the two of you break up, that's all.” He managed half a grin.
I shook my head. “Look, I appreciate the stamp of approval, but it's not going to happen anyway. I mean, have you seen the girls he flirts with? Leggy and blonde and...” I gestured down at myself. “I’m not looking for a relationship and neither is he, but I don’t want to be played like a toy.”
Luke shrugged. “I saw the two of you at the mall. You were cute together. And David looked like he was actually enjoying himself, for the first time in, oh, never? Don't rule it out. One of us deserves to be less...lonely tonight.”
“Are you actually telling me that I should go find David and—and what? Just kiss him and expect that everything is going to work out?” It was a sign of the amount of eggnog I'd already had that I was actually considering this, I knew. But I took another sip of my drink anyway.
“I’m sure he’s in his childhood room; that’s where he usually retreats to during these things. You know where that is,” Luke pointed out, slipping off his stool. “I'm going to go see what everyone is up to and try to cheer myself up. Thanks for the chat, though.”
Chapter Seven
KATE
When David answered the door to his room, it was dark inside, as though he'd been sleeping. But his eyes were bright, and he didn't appear to be just waking up. “What do you want?” he asked shortly.
I paused for a second, taken aback by his tone, and then pushed boldly forwards, leaning up one my tiptoes so I could kiss him. For a long moment, nothing happened, and then his lips slowly moved against mine. His arms came down around my waist, pulling me into the room with him, and then he kicked the door shut.
He pulled back, staring down at me, his eyes glinting in the light from his computer screen. “Didn't expect that,” he said honestly.
“Good surprise or bad surprise?” I asked, but I didn't wait for his answer before I leaned in to kiss him again. The kiss was raw and uncoordinated, a desperate mix of attraction, surprise, lack of inhibitions, and need.
After a moment, David pulled back, staring down at me. “How drunk are you?” he asked. I moved to kiss him again, but he pulled away. “No,” he said. “How drunk are you? I don't want to do something you'll regret in the morning.”
“I doubt I'll be the first drunk woman you've ever slept with,” I scoffed.
David gave me a considering look. “That's true,” he agreed, his thumb coming up to stroke along my cheek in a gesture I was rapidly becoming familiar with. “But you aren't just any woman, I hope you realize.”
I snorted. “I'm sure you say that to all of them,” I muttered, ducking my head.
David made a soft noise. “Kate. Kate, look at me.” I reluctantly lifted my eyes. “Kate,” David said again, leaning in to kiss me gently. He cracked a small smile. “Can you imagine how awkward it would be if I made you hate me? We are family now. I imagine there will be plenty more of these family events organized by your mother in our futures.”
I sighed and pushed him away. “I don't want to hear that you're being considerate just because I'm your stepsister. In fact, I'd prefer to forget about the fact that I am, in fact, your stepsister.”
David shook his head, stepping back in close. “Kate, I've wanted you since the moment I first laid eyes on you. And I know that's not something that maybe we're supposed to act on, but I really, really can't help myself. You're so fucking beautiful...”
His hands slid down around my waist, and I felt a punch of lust hit me right in the gut. “So what happens now?” I asked.
David shrugged. “You're the one who came to my room. I'm still waiting to see what you had planned.”
“I didn't have anything planned,” I said, but my eyes slid guiltily over to his bed.
David arched an eyebrow at me. “Oh really?” He glanced over his shoulder at his bed as well, one of his hands still stroking soft lines along my side. “Well, maybe we could just...lay down and get comfortable for a little while. I had a movie on...”
“Sounds great,” I said shyly, moving towards the bed with him. I paused next to the bed and then boldly reached behind myself and undid the zipper down the back of my dress. “
I don't want it to get all wrinkled,” I said, shedding the fabric.
David made a sound as though all the air had been punched out of his lungs and crawled on his knees across the mattress to get closer to me. “Jesus,” he muttered. “Warn a guy before you...” His eyes roved hungrily over my body. Then, he slowly settled himself back against the headboard, moving deliberately to remove his own slacks and button-down. “Come here,” he said finally, holding his arms out to me.
I crawled into the space between his legs and leaned in to make out with him some more, our tongues moving hot and slick against one another's. I moaned as David's hands came down to cup my ass, pulling me off-balance so I fell firmly against his chest.
He growled and rolled us over so that he was on top of me. We were both still wearing our underwear, but I could feel his thick cock nudging at my entrance, and I couldn't help but arch helplessly against him, driving down against his member.
He trailed kisses down the side of my neck and straight down to my navel, igniting a line of fire that went all the way down to my core. “Fuck, David,” I groaned, twisting my fingers in the sheets.
I can’t believe this is happening, but I have to ask him, “Do you have condoms?”
“Yep, always,” He smirked devilishly up at me and slowly hooked his fingers into the elastic band at the top of my panties, dragging them slowly down my legs. Then, he bent in and placed a soft kiss to the folds between my legs. His tongue flicked lightly over my clit, making me whimper. Meanwhile, his fingers came up to thrust inside of me, expertly stroking in a rhythm that quickly had me gasping and tangling my fingers in his hair.
“You like that?” David asked, his smirk widening.
I rolled my eyes at him, ready with a snarky response, but before I could voice it, he changed the angle of his fingers, and I found all I was capable of was a wanton groan as I fell back against his sheets. I glanced towards the door, suddenly struck by the realization that anyone could walk in at any moment—and they likely would, if they heard us groaning and gasping.
“It's locked,” David said, following my gaze. “And one of the perks of living in a house that costs a fortune is that the soundproofing is excellent.” He grinned at me. “I'm going to have you screaming my name by the time I'm done with you.” As though to prove his point, he suddenly reached up and twisted on of my nipples between his deft forefingers, drawing a yelp out of me.
I caught his shoulders and pulled him up into another kiss. “Come on,” I begged, palming his hard dick. He didn't even have his boxers off yet—something we definitely needed to rectify. I tugged at the material and made a soft noise as his manhood sprung free, a drip of precum already there at the head. He retrieved the gold foil package from his jeans on the floor and sheath himself.
“Impatient?” David asked, nipping at my jawline. But he quickly lined himself up and slid his member deep inside of me. I gasped and writhed against the sheets, fingers clenching and unclenching. David froze, although he was practically shaking with the effort of doing so. “Too much?”
I groaned and urged him onwards with my heels in the small of his back. “That feels so good,” I said. “I've just never been filled like this before.” My breath caught as he shifted slightly out and then thrust back in, opening me up even more if that was possible. He started moving against me, a slow drag out and then a quick movement to fill me up again. Our hands roamed over one another's skin, perfect points of soft friction.
“Wait,” I groaned, pulling away from him and turning over onto my knees, presenting my backside for him. I looked back over my shoulder at him.
David stared at me, pupils blown wide. “Jesus, Kate,” he murmured, reaching out to stroke a hand down the curve of my ass. He positioned himself behind me and slotted his dick back inside of me, pushing in even more deeply than before. For a moment, I could barely breathe. I felt a tear run from my eyes – all my emotions and horny feelings built up. “Is this okay?” David asked, sounding concerned.
I mewled and rocked back against him, trying to convey just how okay it really was. “David,” I groaned as he continued to hesitate. I reached a hand back and lightly slapped his thigh in reproach. “David, move.”
David chuckled and complied, pulling back and then quickly snapping his hips forward. I practically keened at the perfect feeling of us slotting against one another. My arms gave out, causing my upper torso to collapse down against the bed, but my hips stayed up, with David's fingers holding them in a bruising grip as he continued to piston his hips back and forth. The new angle was right on the edge of being too much for me to take, and I dragged my hands across the sheets, fingers scrabbling for purchase. But I didn't want him to stop.
Instead, a couple minutes later, I gasped, surprised at how quickly he'd got me to this point. “David,” I whimpered. “David, I'm about to...” I clenched my fingers around his wrist, eyes squeezed tightly shut. I could feel the walls of my pussy fluttering against his length, reflexively tightening and loosening as I shook through my orgasm. I fell even more bonelessly against the bed, moaning as David continued to use me to bring himself to a climax of his own. It didn't take long before I could feel him spilling his seed inside the rubber, still buried to the hilt. Then he crumpled down as well, barely managing to roll to one side and keep from crushing me.
He languidly dragged his palm across my skin and I rolled over to prop myself up on one elbow and look at him. “That was...”
David nodded. “Yeah,” he said breathlessly. “Yeah, that was.”
Chapter Eight
KATE
Afterwards, we lay there in the dark, each of us staring up at the ceiling. I wanted to curl into him, but I didn’t know how he would take that. Instead, I settled for resting the back of my hand against his side. Suddenly, a fit of giggles that burst forth.
“What?” David asked, glancing over at me. He even looked a bit self-conscious, as though he thought he might have done something wrong.
“Sorry,” I said. “I'm not laughing at you, just–“ I waved a hand between the two of us. “This. What is this?”
David sighed and sat up, moving to the edge of his bed. “Well, I mean...” He shook his head. “If it's going to be something, we're going to need to tell our parents,” he said.
I winced. “Mom's not going to like that.”
“Dad probably won't either,” David said grimly. “But he'll accept it if that's...really what I want.” He cocked his head to the side. “Is this really what you want?”
“Are you actually saying you'd enter a relationship with me? Or are you asking that we just keep having sex? I assume the latter is more your style.” I needed to clarify that now, before I got things all wrong and made things awkward.
David stared at me for a long moment and then moved over to my side, pulling me into his arms. “Kate, it would be best if we see what happens,” he said quietly. “And look, I'm headed back to London at the start of January. If you came with me, we wouldn't need to worry about being found out for now, and we could see if this was even something we wanted before we told everyone about it.”
“That actually...sounds like a good plan,” I said slowly. “But what about my job?”
David shrugged. “I make more than enough to support both of us over there. You could stay with me at my flat. Make things a little less lonely for me to come home to. And we could just see where this goes. If at any point you want to leave, I'd buy you a ticket straight back home.”
I frowned, looking over the plan from all angles. “Okay,” I said finally, nodding decisively. “Okay.”
David beamed at me. “Okay,” he echoed. Then, he pulled me in for a gentle kiss.
“We really should be getting back downstairs,” I said breathlessly when we broke apart. “They're going to start getting suspicious.”
David put a finger over my lips, shushing me. “I've been hiding out during the holidays for years now,” he admitted. “You're the first person who's ever come look
ing for me. And what, do you really think one of our parents is going to think that we're sleeping together? They'll think we're just having sibling bonding time, maybe having some drinks and watching a movie.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “So if we don't have to go back down there yet, what are you suggesting?” I asked.
David grinned and pinned my arms above my head so that I couldn’t have gotten away if I’d wanted to. “I think we probably have time for another round,” he said.
“I couldn't agree more.”
Chapter Nine
DAVID
The morning after Christmas, I woke up with a hangover of massive proportions. It felt like someone was trying to split my head down the middle, and I was afraid that if I moved even a little, my nausea would catch up to me in ways I didn't even want to think about. But when I rolled to the side, trying to find a slightly more comfortable position against the pillow—if that was even possible—I rolled over against someone else's warm, smooth skin. Frantically, I tried to remember the details of the previous night and found that I couldn't.
I blinked my eyes open and forced myself up on one elbow, looking at the planes of gentle curves spread out in front of me.
Kate.
I groaned and flopped back on the bed. Suddenly, it was like the movie-memory of the previous night wouldn't quit. I could remember ever detail of the sex, but what I could remember most of all was the promise to take her with me to London so that we could explore this relationship of ours.
There was no relationship between us. There couldn't be.
I could remember Kate giggling when we'd gone back downstairs. Could remember her taking another sip of champagne, her eyes sliding over to me. Could remember Luke's knowing looks. Could remember Kate's hand brushing my lower back as she passed on her way to the bathroom. Could remember coming back upstairs and finding that we just couldn't keep our hands off one another. Could remember doing it all over again.