StepBrother: New Rules (Stepbrother Romance)

by King, Jayna

  Evelyn couldn’t stand it any longer. She stood up. “I’ll be right back,” she said, picking up her tennis shoes and walking out the front door without another word.

  Chapter Three

  Evelyn walked out onto the street, looked around, and took a deep breath. She’d felt like she was going to suffocate … or explode … or say something awful inside, and she’d just had to get out and get some air. She was a little anxious that William was alone with her mother and Malcolm, and she worried he might spill the news about his relationship with Evelyn, but even though she wanted to manage that piece of information, she simply couldn’t stay in that house for a second longer.

  Turning to the right, Evelyn headed for the coffee shop on the corner, planning to have another cup of coffee and get her head together. Splurging on a calorie-laden caramel latte, she looked out the window and wondered just exactly how her life had gotten so completely screwed up.

  “Hey.”

  The voice at her shoulder startled her, and she turned to see William. “What are you doing here?”

  “I figured you’d be here, and I wanted to talk to you.”

  “Are they still there?”

  “Yes. Your mom looks all kinds of suspicious about my being there, and she didn’t understand why you just walked out. I think I talked her down for the moment, but you’re going to need to have something to say when you get back.”

  “What do I even say?”

  William sat down next to Evelyn. “You could say that you’re happy for them. You could also say that you’re dating me.”

  “I can’t tell them that! Not only will Mom tell me you’re a distraction from my studies, but she’ll also be horrified that you’re going to be my…” Evelyn hesitated. “I can’t even say it.”

  “Say what? That I’m going to be your stepbrother?”

  Evelyn put her head in her hands. “It sounds so awful.”

  “Well, that’s just silly. It’s not like we’re related. It’s not even like we grew up together.”

  “I know, but people will think it’s weird.”

  “You know who you sound like?” William waited until Evelyn looked up before he continued. “You sound like your mother, worried about what’s proper and what people will say.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  “But it’s true. The Evelyn I know would do what she wants regardless of what other people think.”

  “So you really think I can tell my mother I’ve been fucking the guy who’s about to move in with us and become my stepbrother, and you think she’s going to be thrilled for me?”

  William leaned back and held up his hands, as if trying to get Evelyn to slow down. “What I’m saying is that maybe it’s time for us to stop sneaking around. Evelyn, is that all this is to you? Just a fuck?”

  “That’s not the point, Will. The point is that being with you lets me be myself in a way I can’t be when I’m around my mother. You’re two separate parts of my life, and that’s just the way it is.”

  “You don’t have any desire to change that? To integrate these two separate parts of yourself?”

  “Not right now. Not when they’ve just dropped this bombshell.”

  “But we can’t go on sneaking around.” William put his hand on Evelyn’s knee and picked it back up, as if he’d touched a hot surface. “I guess I can’t do that to my stepsister, huh?”

  Evelyn grabbed his hand and put it back on her thigh. “Who says you can’t? There’s no reason at all we can’t continue to see each other, continue to have the best sex I’ve ever imagined.”

  “Wait. You said you don’t want to come clean to your mom.”

  “I don’t. But I still want to sleep with you. Let’s just keep it a secret.” Evelyn turned to face William, put her hands on his thighs, and slid them toward his crotch. “In fact, this makes our little secret even hotter, don’t you think? Imagine it … I could sneak into your room in the middle of the night. Mom and Malcolm never have to know a thing.”

  William shook his head. “But it’ll be harder to tell them if we don’t do it now.”

  “So we never tell them.”

  “So your plan is just to sneak around, grabbing time when we can find it for the rest of our lives?”

  “Who says we have to worry about the rest of our lives now? I’m only twenty years old. What I want right now is you inside me, whether you’re my sexy stepbrother or not.”

  William shook his head. “I don’t know.” He stood up. “I guess I need to think about this.”

  “What’s there to think about?” Evelyn stood up, returned her empty latte cup to the counter, and followed William out the door. She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the alley next to the shop. Pushing him against the wall, she leaned in and kissed him. “If we’re lucky, they’ll be gone. I need you, Will. I want you.”

  William’s erection pressed into Evelyn’s hip as he kissed her back, unable to pull himself away. “I want you, too. If they’re not gone, then tell them we’re going out, going to the movies or something.”

  Evelyn reached around and put her hand on William’s ass, pulling him closer. “I have to get to the gym for the class with the guest coach they brought in, but I’m free after that. Let’s figure out where they’re going to be so we can continue this later. I want you deep inside me, Will. I want us to be even closer than a real brother and sister.” She kissed him passionately, playing with his tongue, and biting his lower lip as she pulled away.

  “You’re acting like this mess actually turns you on, Evelyn.”

  “Would that be so bad?”

  ***

  “Goddammit!” Evelyn pounded her fist on the mat. Rolling onto her back, she relaxed, turning to face the woman who towered above her. “How do you do that? Every single time!”

  Lynda laughed and wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Practice. And lots of it.”

  “I feel like no matter what I do, what I try, you just wiggle away and the next thing I know I feel like a bone’s about to break or I’m about to lose consciousness.”

  “Yeah. That’s a pretty accurate description.” She extended a hand to Evelyn to help her to her feet. “You are getting better, though. The first time I sparred with you, you had no game.” She rubbed her shoulder, where a bruise was already starting to appear. “Now, you’re landing a few kicks here and there. And you made it longer before you tapped out this time.”

  “I guess that is progress.” Evelyn’s smile was huge and revealed just how much she enjoyed testing the limits of her body in the gym. “So what did you think of the guest coach session?”

  “I think he’s great. He sure thought you had potential.”

  The two women headed toward the bench along the wall between the locker rooms, stopping to refill their water bottles. They sat, leaning against the concrete block wall, watching one of the older members of the gym working the speed bag.

  “I wish I’d been in a better frame of mind,” Evelyn admitted. “I think I could have gotten a lot more out of the workshop. As it was, I was a little distracted.”

  “What’s on your mind? It’s not like you to lose your focus, especially not in a class that cost extra.”

  “So I told you I’ve been seeing Will.”

  “Yeah. I wouldn’t mind going a couple of rounds with him myself—if you weren’t seeing him, of course.”

  “Things are really cool with him. I can be myself, and he still likes me.”

  Lynda looked at Evelyn as if she’d lost her mind. “Why wouldn’t you be yourself?”

  “You don’t know my mother. Little miss prim and proper every second of every day. Women should be polite, discreet, and professional. Like always.”

  “I get it when you’re on the clock, but a girl’s gotta unwind, right?”

  “Not according to Ella. She’s never rattled. Always perfect. And sometimes it’s just too much to live up to.”

  “She can’t be all that bad, Evelyn. She supports you, right? She
’s putting you through school and just wants you to be successful, right?”

  “The problem is she can’t see anything other than a business degree—working in an office and wearing a suit every day—as being successful.”

  “Well, you’re going for a business degree, right?”

  “Yeah, but only because I can’t figure out how to tell her that’s not what I want to do.”

  “What do you want to do?”

  “I don’t know exactly, but I think I want to go into some kind of physical therapy—maybe sports rehab or something.”

  “So just tell her. It’s your life.”

  “You sound like Will.”

  “So he’s hot and smart. Killer combination.”

  “Well, William’s part of the problem now. So my mom has been casually seeing Will’s dad—or at least I thought it was casual. This morning they told us they’re getting married.”

  “Holy shit!”

  “Exactly.”

  “Don’t they realize that’s kind of weird for you and Will?”

  “They don’t exactly know we’re seeing each other.”

  Lynda looked at Evelyn, narrowing her eyes. “Why?”

  “Because it was kind of fun to have a secret. And I feel like Will is the only person I can really be myself with, and I didn’t really want to share that with anyone else. Like my mother.”

  “What does Will have to say about all this?”

  “Well, he’s been wanting to come clean for a while. He thinks I’m crazy—or stupid—for hiding so much from my mom.”

  “Wait a minute. You have a gorgeous, smart guy who doesn’t want to keep your torrid relationship a secret anymore, and you’re hesitating why?”

  “It’s going to sound crazy, but the secret is part of the fun. Think about it—when he and his dad move in, I’ll be able to sneak into his room.”

  “You’re planning to sneak into your stepbrother’s room?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “That sounds kinda sick, to be honest.”

  “Do you really think so?”

  “Um, yeah.” Lynda shook her head. “That’s like borderline incest, isn’t it?”

  “No! It’s not like we’re related. It’s not even like we grew up together.”

  “I don’t know. Sounds like more trouble than it’s worth. I think you should just tell your mom.”

  “Hm. I wonder though…” Evelyn’s voice trailed off.

  “What?”

  “What if they didn’t end up getting married? If I could somehow convince my mom that it’s a bad idea?”

  “No way. You cannot sabotage your mother’s relationship.”

  “It wouldn’t be sabotage, exactly. I just might point out the fact that she said she’d never get married again after my father died. It nearly killed her to lose him, and she’s just setting herself up for more heartache.”

  “That’s bullshit, and you know it.”

  Evelyn stood up. “If they don’t get married, then he’s not my stepbrother. There won’t be any reason for things to change, and we can just all go on living our lives.”

  “You mean go on lying to your mother.”

  “It sounds so ugly when you put it that way, Lynda.”

  “It is ugly.”

  “I’m not going to break them up. I’m just going to encourage her to be cautious.”

  “Evelyn, be honest with yourself. This has nothing to do with your mother and everything to do with you. You’ll be much happier if you stand up for yourself and are honest.”

  “Jesus, you sound just like Will.”

  “Smart guy. Listen, I’m going to hit the treadmill. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  “Yeah.”

  Evelyn sat on the bench after Lynda left, refusing to think about her advice. It was easier to focus on anything other than her own life.

  After Evelyn threw her stuff in her bag, she called William to see where they could meet. She was hot, sweaty, and horny as hell. He told her the coast was clear at his place, so she headed straight there.

  “Hey, gorgeous,” he greeted her when she walked in.

  “I’m all sweaty and gross. Mind if I shower before dinner?”

  “Of course not. Healthy fare tonight,” he said. “Salmon, quinoa, and asparagus.”

  “That sounds like heaven. I’ll be back.” Evelyn headed down the hallway toward the bathroom, dropping her bag on the floor and shucking her gym clothes. She adjusted the water and sighed with relief when she stepped underneath the hot spray. When she heard the bathroom door open, she smiled. “Need a shower too?” she asked, watching through the wavy glass block as William dropped his jeans.

  “I’m merely here to help out,” he said, joining her in the shower. “I thought you might need someone to wash your back … or your front.”

  “How considerate of you.” Evelyn got her hair wet and opened her eyes, enjoying the sight of water running down William’s lean, muscled body. “You know, I was talking to Lynda today at the gym. She’s got the hots for you.”

  “Hm,” William said, reaching for a washcloth. “You’re more my type.” He poured body wash onto the cloth and motioned for Evelyn to turn around.

  “So you have a type?”

  William slowly soaped up her back, lingering as he ran the cloth over the curves of her ass. “Absolutely. My type is smart, sexy, fit…” He reached around her, pressing his erection into her slippery body. “With perfect breasts.” He ran his hands over her tits, squeezing her nipples. “And a hard body.” He let his hands wander over her flat stomach, running his fingers along the muscles there. His hands dipped lower, fingers moving between her legs. “And a wet pussy.”

  Evelyn bent over, putting her hands on the ledge and spreading her legs. She turned to look up at William. “Fuck me. Please.”

  She didn’t have to ask a second time.

  William slid his hard cock inside her slowly, filling her. He grabbed her hips, pulling her toward him and burying himself deeper. He took his time, slowly stepping up his rhythm as he watched Evelyn put her hand between her legs to finger her clit.

  “I want you to come for me, Evelyn,” he said, pounding deeper inside her, watching the water run off her back.

  She did, throwing her head back and crying out as her muscles contracted, bringing his climax as well.

  Evelyn straightened up and turned to kiss him, long, dark hair streaming water down her breasts and belly. “I think I needed that.”

  “I think we both did.” William took her face between his hands and kissed her softly. “I’ll go finish up dinner while you clean up.” He stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel. “And then we need to talk.”

  He left the bathroom, and Evelyn washed her hair and rinsed it, standing under the water until it started to run cold. She knew what William wanted to talk about wasn’t going to be light and casual.

  “Wine?” William asked as she came out into the kitchen at last.

  “Yup. I earned those calories today.” She shivered as she sat down at the little table in the breakfast nook. “Brr. Guess I should have dried my hair.”

  “If you want, I can hold dinner for a few more minutes.”

  Evelyn shook her head. “No. I’ll be fine. I’m starving, and I guess I shouldn’t put this conversation off any longer.”

  “You make it sound like a chore.”

  “Well, I strongly suspect we’re about to disagree.”

  William set a perfectly plated dinner—complete with fresh parsley—on the table in front of her. “Evelyn, sooner or later, we’re going to have to have a conversation about our relationship. Given the fact that our parents are about to get married, I think now is the time.”

  She sighed. “You’re right. I won’t pout. Let’s do it.” She was dreading the encounter, but clearly she couldn’t avoid the topic any longer.

  William sat down and poured them both a huge glass of red wine. “So here’s the deal.” He reached out and squeezed her ha
nd as Evelyn took a drink of the wine. “And I want you to promise to hear me out, okay?”

  “Okay.” Evelyn wasn’t quite sure why, but she felt a flutter of anxiety about what was to come.

  “I remember the first time I met you like it was yesterday, even though it was more than a year ago. It was at that terrible Christmas party in January. Remember?”

  Evelyn laughed. “I do. I still think it’s crazy to call it a Christmas party, but when everyone’s so busy during December…” Her voice trailed off and she shook her head, smiling. “You were there with your dad, and I could tell right away when Mom introduced me to Malcolm that she was interested in him. There was something about the way she looked at him.”

  “I remember it too. Mostly, though, I just remember how beautiful you looked. You were standing next to your mother, and you could have been sisters, both of you in elegant, red suits, both with your hair up, looking like you’d just stepped out of the pages of a magazine. You were the prettiest woman in the room.”

  Evelyn was uncomfortable, and she looked at her plate, rather than at William. “And you were horrified at how terrible the food was. Remember that?”

  “Not as clearly as I do you. Your mom and my dad left us there by the bar, and I was almost too nervous to string two words together, but I just couldn’t stand the thought of you getting away.”

  Evelyn put her fork down. “Wow. I never realized I’d made that much of an impression.”

  “And when we finally started talking, it was like I’d known you forever. You were sweet and smart and funny. And you were so sexy I wanted you right then and there.”

  “You never told me.”

  “I had to play it cool. Do you know how much restraint it took to wait three days before I called to ask you out?”

  “I was so glad you called. I was even happier when you asked me out to a sports bar for beers. I was afraid you were going to be stiff and formal, like your dad.”

  “Evelyn, I felt like you were almost too good to be true. How could I have met a woman who was as comfortable in heels and a suit as she is in sweaty workout clothes?”

  “You’re making me blush, Will. I didn’t know you were such a romantic.”