One Step Closer: A stepbrother, stand-alone novel.

by Kahlen Aymes

  Caleb’s head fell back in pleasure and his breath left his body. His eyes closed as her name fell like an ache from his mouth. “Wren. That feels so good.”

  His reaction drove her on as she continued to caress his chest and shoulders, pushing his shirt off of them. Caleb let it fall to the floor and reached for her.

  Wren leaned forward to trail kisses where her hands had been, then scratched her nails lightly down the outside of his arms, lifting his right hand to kiss the inside of his palm. She glimpsed some curved lines on the inside of his forearm and turned it over to get a better look.

  “Did you get a new tattoo?” When she was able to get a closer look, her eyes shot up to meet his. “Oh, Cale.” She bent her head to kiss the skin near it. She remembered how tender her tattoo was when it was new, and she was careful not to hurt him.

  His hand threaded in her hair and pulled her forward and upward so she was on her knees on the bed while he stood next to it. His arm snaked out and wound around her waist and he hauled her hard against his body and lowered her beneath him onto the bed. His head bent and he started to kiss the side of her neck and shoulder as his body surged against hers. “Mmmm, hmm?”

  Her words, in her own handwriting, were now permanently inked on his skin.

  No matter what, you’ll always be my Superman.

  Love forever,

  Wren

  “When did you get that?” Emotion overwhelmed Wren at the same time he took control of her body, and tears flooded her eyes. His lips continued their hot, open mouth torture as he slowly placed a series of warm, wet kisses, and then sucked softly on her skin. It felt so good, her head lulled to one side as she gave him the access he needed. She could feel her body opening, craving the fullness he could give to her.

  Caleb lifted his head so he could meet her eyes. The orange cast in the room made her eyes darker, but the love in them shone from them like a beacon. Her hands slid up his shoulders to hold both sides of his face as she waited for his answer. “The night you left me.” His words were soft, but laden with meaning. “Right away. You have one that represents me, and I wanted a permanent reminder of you.”

  It was a dream she thought would never come true. Wren was content to just look at his face, so full of love. She could feel his desire pressing into the soft flesh of her tummy below her navel, but was also assaulted by the passion in his eyes and the way his fingers ghosted over the top swell of her breasts at the lacy edge of her bra. Finally, she pressed the flat of her hand firmly against the shaft of his cock as he’d been craving.

  She pushed at the top of his jeans and boxers, moving them down over his ass and thighs, finally using one foot to hook into them and push them off. Caleb kicked them free and rose up on his knees and moved up the bed, leaning back on the pillows.

  Wren’s eyes widened at his cock as it bobbed proud and ready. It was full and thick and she wanted to wrap her fingers around it. Her breath left in a rush of air.

  Caleb scooted up on the pillows and headboard. He wanted to make love to her, but he wanted to see her body and watch her face as he pleasured her.

  “Come here, Bird,” he commanded huskily, his tone soft. “Straddle my lap.”

  Holding her and having her hands on his body was almost enough for Caleb. She wasn’t a girl anymore, she was a full-blown woman, and she wanted him. The love between them was tangible, permeating the air between them. Wren did as she asked and her eyes locked with his. Caleb ‘s gaze was intense, but never broke eye contact with her as he reached behind her with one hand and released the clasp to her bra. He slid the straps over her shoulders and down her arms until it drifted off. His hands raked down her back lightly, making her arch.

  He huffed as the pressure caused the sheer black fabric to slide against his dick. He could feel the slippery heat through the material and he wanted the last barrier gone. His hands grabbed her hips and his thumbs rubbed over her hipbones. Wren was incapable of remaining still as her hips rocked into his to repeat the delicious sensation.

  It was sweet agony. Caleb’s head fell back and a guttural groan left on a sigh at the same time as he thrust upward. The head of his cock slid against her and they were both vibrating with need. “I love you and I want to make love to you.”

  Wren’s eyes flooded with tears as a deluge of emotion left her helpless to his wishes. “Me, too.”

  “No more tears, Bird,” his words were a mere whisper as he used his nose to nuzzle the side of her face. “I love you and I want to make love to you every day for the rest of my life.” He let one hand trail down her body between her breasts, and over her stomach, until he reached the sheer lace. His fingers ran along the top of her panties.

  Wren bit her lip, and reached down to wrap her hand around his erection. She loved seeing him writhe in pleasure and she wanted more.

  Caleb couldn’t take it. He sat up to slide an arm around her lower back and hips. He pulled her forward, and at the same time his other hand ripped the panties away and tossed them aside.

  He didn’t apologize for ruining the panties. Instead, he came alive beneath her, thrusting his hips so his cock could slide and push against her slick folds, as he pulled Wren closer and buried his face in the curve of her neck, leaving a trail of light sucking kisses with his open mouth. His free hand reached between them, and started rubbing small circles on her clit with his thumb.

  Wren was bombarded with sensations more intense than she’d ever imagined possible. “Uhhhh, Cale,” she breathed out his name. “God.”

  “Take me inside, Wren.” His voice throbbed with desire.

  Her eyelids were heavy, and she made a sensual picture as she complied. She lifted up and rocked forward to gain position and then slid down, fully sheathing him inside her body. The position made penetration deeper. Wren’s knees were on the bed outside his hips and Caleb thrust up into her at the same time as her hips surged forward.

  He groaned into her neck. She was the perfect combination of heat and slippery moisture, but also tight around him. Her muscles squeezed and pulled on his dick as he stretched her open, digging in deeper to her body with each thrust. It was hotter than hell.

  “You feel amazing. We fit like a glove.”

  Caleb was overtaken with the need to have his mouth on hers, his tongue thrusting into her mouth in the same delicious rhythm as his hips against hers. Caleb’s movements were slow and deliberate, already familiar with how to wring the most pleasure from her, and unable to help himself from wanting to draw it out. He kissed her deeply, again and again.

  Breathing increased in tempo, words ceased, bodies pushed and pulled on one another, in an intimate dance that culminated in a shuddering and emotional climax.

  Caleb gave in when Wren began to shudder in his arms, his mouth never leaving hers as he swallowed her soft moans and sighs of pleasure. The exquisite building of pleasure finally erupted in an explosion of bliss as a deep groan burst from him.

  His arms wrapped around her tightly, as his body poured and continued to push into hers. Wren held him close, her arms around his shoulders and kissed the side of his face.

  The room was warm from the fire and a light sheen of perspiration covered their bodies. Caleb still held Wren close as his breathing began to even out.

  “I love you so much.” He fell back on the pillows and rolled a little bit, so Wren could lie on the pillow next to him. His body was sated for the moment, but his heart was full and he wanted to look at her.

  Her crystal blue eyes were soft, and the soft tendrils of hair at her temples were damp. He reached out and pushed one back behind her ear, then ran a thumb down the side of her face.

  “I love you,” his words were simple, but they touched Wren deep at her core.

  She scooted closer and pulled one of his hands into hers and then close to her chest. “I love you, too.”

  He continued to stroke her arm. “That was incredible,” he said. His deep blue eyes were intense and his expression somber as he studied.
“Are you hungry?”

  Wren’s pink lips curved up into a smile. That wasn’t what she expected after the look on his face seconds before. “Translation: you are.”

  “Yes. Starving.” Caleb kissed her briefly, and then bounded off the bed, uncaring of his nakedness. His hair was mussed from her fingers running through it. “I’ll run you a bath and order room service. Figure out what you want.” He tossed her the menu he found on the desk by the bed.

  He went into the bathroom to clean himself off and start the water for a bath, being careful to adjust the temperature. Wren had followed him and was already climbing into the tub.

  Caleb glanced at her reflection in the mirror, admiring the lines of her body. She was in perfect physical condition, but when she lowered her body down, he could see she was stiff and sore.

  She met his eyes. “Why do you look upset?”

  “I’m not. I just know how hard it will be to be apart from you.”

  Wren nodded and slid down further into the clear water wishing she had some bubble bath. “I know. We’ve done it for years, Cale. A few more months won’t kill us.”

  He turned away from the mirror and grabbed a clean towel and wrapped it around his waist then leaned on the vanity, folding his arms across his chest. “Just because we’ve done it for years, doesn’t mean it’s okay. It’s different now.”

  “I know that, but I’m not sure what to do. It’s a lot to figure out when it’s all so new.”

  “It’s not new for me. I’ve always been in love with you. I think from the first time I saw the real you. You were so ethereally beautiful. Like an angel.”

  Wren’s expression softened as her heart rocketed through her chest. “I wish I would have known you felt that way.”

  Caleb’s brow furrowed. “Didn’t you?”

  “I hoped so.”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  He left the room and returned within twenty seconds. He opened his hand and the locket fell from his fist, to dangle in front of her. “I gave you this when I left you before Boston. It’s the only real thing I had left of my mom, and I gave it to you. You had to know what that meant.”

  Wren felt at a disadvantage lying in the tub, exposed. She looked up at him, her eyes imploring. “I know. It meant everything. I never took it off.”

  “Until you left me. It killed me, Wren.”

  “If you ended up with Macy, I thought you’d want to give it to her.”

  “Why would I give this to anyone else? Ever?”

  Her shoulder lifted in a half shrug. “You said you wanted me to keep it until you got back from Boston.”

  “I know what I said, but it wasn’t what I meant! You know me better than anyone. How could you not see what you meant to me?”

  Wren’s heart squeezed. She’d caused him pain at the same time he was causing it for her. “Because in all of the time we knew each other, you never— ”

  “Crossed the line. I know. Because you were younger than me, and because our parents were married!”

  She rinsed off quickly and then began to stand up, reaching for the towel she’d left near the tub’s edge. Her feet slipped on the porcelain and she wobbled. Caleb caught her, easily lifting her out of the deep tub and helping to wrap her up in the big, fluffy white towel. He reached for one of the velour robes that were provided by the hotel and pulled the towel free of her body before and helping her on with it.

  “Is that the real reason you bolted after that night in the basement? Was it really because I was younger, or because you felt like you didn’t protect me? I was eighteen by then.”

  “It was a big part of it, but seeing you with Dex, my whole world imploded.” He lifted his head and looked into her face. Her hair was damp on the ends from the bath water. He took a lock of it in his hands. “I was afraid you’d hate me and I couldn’t live with that. I guess it doesn’t matter anymore.”

  She took his big hand in hers and pulled him into the other room. She pushed on his shoulders so he would sink down to sit on the bed’s edge. She wanted his eyes the same level as hers.

  Wren lifted a hand and cupped his jaw. “Of course it matters, Cale. I could never hate you.” Her hands came to rest on the bare skin of his shoulders. He met her eyes reluctantly and she bent to place a soft kiss on his lips. “I’ve dreamed about you every second since we met. I wanted you to look at me like a woman, but as you said, I was younger and I was afraid to tell you how I felt.”

  His arms moved around her to pull her closer until she was standing between his knees. Caleb dropped his forehead to her stomach, rubbing it back and forth against her.

  Wren’s hands dropped onto his shoulders and his arms slid around her waist, the soft velour sliding against his skin. She hugged him tight and kissed his temple and the side of his face and his jaw. Her eyes were full of tears when she pulled back. “So may I have the locket back? I promise I’ll keep it safe for you.”

  A slow smile spread across his lips. “I don’t want it back. I’ll give it to you if you marry me.”

  Wren’s eyes widened in shock and she gasped softly. “Really?” she asked tremulously, afraid she’d heard him wrong.

  He nodded and bent to kiss her softly on the mouth, tenderly teasing. Tears started to rain from her eyes and Caleb gently wiped them away with both of his thumbs.

  “I didn’t plan on asking you while you were wearing a bathrobe and me a towel, but I needed you to know, once and for all, who I want; the only woman I’ll be making babies with, is you, got it?” he asked sincerely, nuzzling the side of her face with his nose. “I know I should be kneeling before you with the engagement ring that’s in my bag, but then I’d be forced to let go of you to get it.”

  Wren’s heart was hammering so hard she felt it would fly from her chest as Caleb watched the tears fall down her flushed cheeks. Her chin was trembling as she nodded, and then her voice broke on a sob. “I love you so much, Cale. A ring isn’t important. You’re what matters. ”

  “I love you, too, Wren,” he said softly, bending his head to take her mouth with his. “You’re a part of me. Forever.”

  CALEB WAS LOOKING forward to a busy weekend.

  Wren had a performance of Swan Lake, both evenings and a Sunday, at the Denver Performing Arts Center. He loved watching his wife on stage. The Colorado Ballet was more than willing to add her to their company when Caleb and Wren both decided the distance and time apart was too much. But that was four years ago, and life was good.

  Caleb had acclimated to his role managing Lux and the company was flourishing. It was a huge conglomerate and he had the best in the business heading up research and development, quality control and marketing departments. Jonathan was still their corporate attorney and Wren sat on the board of directors with him and several of the major stockholders.

  They were launching a new line of fragrances, but their makeup line was solidly successful. They changed the color palettes each season and added a new skin care product occasionally. It was rewarding to know he was carrying on his mother and father’s legacy.

  His love of design hadn’t diminished and he and Dex started their design firm. It was grueling at times to be involved with two companies, but design was what he loved, and Dex was a talented mechanic who understood how things worked. He did an amazing job selling their services for industrial design and custom automobiles. Dex ran the day-to-day operations, leaving Caleb to contribute designs and consult when necessary.

  Caleb had invited Jonathan and his wife, and Dex and his family to Wren’s matinee performance the coming Sunday. Jonesy would be there as well, and then they were all going to have a barbeque at Caleb and Wren’s afterward.

  Caleb and Wren.

  Caleb smiled at the thought.

  The Goddard preschool wasn’t exactly the most convenient given the awful rush hour traffic. Interstate 25 always seemed to have construction and the backstreets were congested. It was the best preschool in the city, and though it would have been easier to ha
ve a live-in nanny, they considered interaction with children to be very important. “Grandma” Jonesy volunteered to babysit, but she still insisted on doing her household duties, even though Caleb and Wren treated her as one of the family.

  Caleb got out of the car, and smoothed down his light grey silk tie, unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled the sleeves of his crisp white shirt up to his forearms. He’d removed the jacket to his Tom Ford suit and laid it across the passenger seat of the Infiniti SUV. It was great for family treks into the mountains for camping or skiing and Drake helped him pick it out. He was only three, but he and Caleb were inseparable whenever Caleb wasn’t working, or Drake wasn’t sleeping.

  Many parents were picking up their kids and the parking lot was full. When Caleb walked through the door, he nodded to one of the caregivers who knew him. She pointed into one of the playrooms where Drake was playing with cars on a racetrack with two other little boys. He shoved both hands in his pockets in a casual stance as he watched the interaction.

  Caleb felt the rush of love he always did when he looked at his little son. Drake’s head covered in hair the same shade of dark brown as Caleb’s, and his eyes were the same light blue of his mother’s. He was busy talking to the other boys, pushing a little red racecar along the plastic track. Caleb watched him push it up a hill and then let it go. His expression was intent; taking the task so serious.

  “See? My car is the fastest!” Drake smiled in glee and scrambled to retrieve the car at the bottom of the hill before another little boy got to it first.

  “No, mine is!” A little redheaded boy answered.

  “Uh uh,” Drake shook his head adamantly and pointed to the other little boy’s toy. “See, that’s a truck. It’s not aerdo-dynamic.”

  Caleb chuckled happily at his son’s explanation and the pronunciation.

  “He’s very smart,” the teacher said, with a smile. She was an attractive young woman, and it was evident she thought he was attractive in the way she always looked at him. He made a fine specimen dressed for the office; his tailored shirt didn’t hide his broad shoulders or the strength in his arms. His hair was combed and held in place with a light amount of hair gel. He was professional, powerful and confident, which most women found to be a lethal combination.