by Aria Ford
“It was fun doing it, though. It’s not something I will ever forget,” I said, my voice dropping a couple of octaves.
Her face grew flushed, and I knew she was thinking back to the moment we’d broken the small table. That was going to cost me. The blankets were in a twisted mess on the floor. I looked around the room, but there wasn’t a surface we didn’t use. I had fucked her every which way possible until both of our bodies were completely spent. We had collapsed on the bare mattress and passed out. Both of us were overheated and didn’t require any blankets.
“I’m so glad I don’t have a meet this weekend or training.” She looked at me with a warning in her expression. “Don’t even think about trying to drag my ass into a pool today. I got a good enough workout yesterday.”
I wrapped my arms around her. “Yeah, you did. Maybe I’ll give you a workout tonight. Your place?”
She stood on her tippy toes, kissed my nose and then my lips. “We’ll see.”
I growled. “I want you right now.”
“It’s checkout time. We need to go. The last thing I want is the maid coming in and me having to look her in the eye when she sees this mess. That’ll be embarrassing.”
I laughed at the picture that put in my head. “All right. Let’s go.” I swatted her ass, and we headed out the door.
When we pulled into the parking lot of her apartment, she turned to me, her mouth agape.
“What?” I asked, glancing around, trying to see what had made her speechless.
“That’s Brian’s car,” she said, pointing to the little Nissan in the lot.
Sure enough, it was his. Had he been there all night?
We got out and started toward her apartment, where Brian was sitting on the steps. I warily looked at him, sizing him up, trying to get a read on his mood and figuring out whether I should protect my face.
“Hi,” he said with a sheepish smile.
Lindsey looked at me, took my hand, and smiled back at Brian.
“I’d like to talk,” Brian said, standing and brushing off his jeans.
“That would be great. Let’s go in,” she said, climbing the stairs.
I was slightly hesitant to walk past Brian, but he seemed cool. I eyed him as I went by. He seemed normal, but I couldn’t be sure.
Lindsey unlocked the door, holding it for Brian and me to pass by.
“Sit,” she ordered.
Brian and I sat on opposite ends of the couch.
“I wanted to apologize,” Brian started. “I shouldn’t have freaked out on you.”
“It’s okay,” Lindsey said.
I didn’t agree with her.
“I’m okay with your relationship, not that you need my permission, but I want you to know it’s cool. I’ll get better with it. You took me by surprise, Tanner, really. You can’t say you’re banging my little sister and not expect me to be a little pissed,” he reasoned.
“I never said that, and I would never speak that way about your sister, man. Never. Don’t put words in my mouth,” I growled, more than ready to knock him on his ass.
“Relax, Tanner,” Lindsey was saying. “I’m glad you’re okay with it, Brian. Please understand that neither of us thought this would happen. It just did. I know that sounds terrible, but, well, it did. I mean, come on, you had to know I was crushing on him for years.”
He laughed. “Gee, is that why you asked me a million questions about what he was doing and who he was dating?”
She shrugged, looking a little embarrassed. I smiled and winked.
“Whatever,” she shot back. “I know you were watching me too. Brittany and I used to parade around in our bikinis whenever you guys came home from school.”
Brian’s eyes grew wide in horror. “Oh my God. I don’t need to hear that. You were in high school, Lindsey. Like, underage. Illegal.”
“Stop, like you weren’t checking Brittany out,” she chided.
I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry you had to find out that way, but I’m not sorry that I’m with her, and I am with her. Like, all in. There is nobody else. There won’t be anybody else. I promise you I won’t hurt her, Brian.”
“That’s fine. It’s cool. It just caught me off guard. Tanner, I’ve known you a long time, and you can’t blame me for being a little worried. I can see you’ve changed. I believe you when you say you love her. I can see it. You’ve both changed—for the better. Maybe we can double date, sometime down the road. For now I’m going to keep my distance. I still can’t get my head around you guys kissing and whatever. It kind of creeps me out,” he said.
I wanted to be mad, but I couldn’t be. Brian had been looking out for Lindsey for a long time. I didn’t have a great past. I could be an ass, and I did have a long list of jilted women in my phone history. I had to prove myself to Brian, and I had to prove I was worthy of Lindsey. I could. I would.
“All right, well, I’m gonna go. Thank you for hearing me out. I hope this works out for you both, and hopefully we can all go out sometime.”
Lindsey walked him to the door while I waited in the living room. I wasn’t sure if I totally believed this sudden change of heart. I would still be watching my back when he was around. She came back into the living room and sat down on my lap.
“That was a surprise, huh?” she said, her arms going around my neck.
I nodded. “Do you think he’s for real? I mean, is it a setup so he can get close to me, wait for my guard to drop before he tries to kick the shit out of me?”
She threw her head back and laughed. “I doubt it. I think he’s genuine. He’ll come around all the way eventually. Give him some time.”
“I will. I will do whatever it takes to make him like me again if that’s what you want, but I won’t give you up, Lindsey. You’re mine, and that isn’t going to change,” I said, squeezing her thigh.
She buried her face into my neck, kissing a trail up to my ear, her tongue brushed over it before she nibbled on my lobe. My dick sprang to life under her.
“I thought we were taking the night off,” she murmured in my ear.
I wrapped an arm around her, ripping her off my lap and dropping her onto the couch before coming over the top of her. “I never agreed to that.”
She giggled. “Thank God. But Tanner?”
“Hmm?” I said, kissing her collar bone while running my fingertip up the inside of her arm.
“You cannot break my furniture. And remember, I eat on that table and prepare food on those counters.”
I chuckled. “You can clean them, which gives me an idea.” I leaned back, pulled her up to straddle me again before standing and walking to said counters. “Perfect,” I breathed, spreading her legs and standing between her.
She put her hands on my face and kissed me with such passion, I nearly exploded in my jeans.
No matter how many times we had sex, it was always like the first time. I was always ready and willing. I had a feeling there were going to be many nights in like this for us.
Epilogue
Lindsey
I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. I had to pinch myself daily to ensure it was all real. It was. My life couldn’t be better. I had the man of my dreams literally by my side as I worked toward my goal of winning an Olympic medal. Of course I wanted to win the gold, but hell, I’d be just as happy with a silver or bronze. The very fact I get to represent my country was amazing.
“Hey,” Tanner said, coming up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist before dropping his head on my shoulder. “What are you doing out here? It’s early.”
I sighed. “I like watching the sun come up. I can’t believe we’re here. Like, we’re living here and training at the Olympic facility. Do you know how long I’ve dreamed about this?”
He chuckled. “I do, actually. I think I have been dreaming the same thing for just as long, although I never had any desire to be the one in the pool. I’m glad I get to be your trainer.”
“Me too. I think my parents are going t
o come out this weekend. They’ve been dying to see the training center out here. I can’t wait to show them around.”
He stepped away and went back inside the small apartment we had rented when we moved out here to Colorado Springs nearly six months ago. The climate was a little cooler than we were used to. Gone were the days he could walk around wearing shorts every day. He came back out, pulling on a sweater.
“It’s fucking cold out here. Thank God that pool is heated. You would freeze to death,” he grumbled.
“What are you and Brian doing today?” I asked, ignoring his comment about the cold. He always complained about the cold.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I’m going to go by his office while you attend that nutrition class. We have to hook him up with somebody. I mean, he’s a lot better now that he’s moved out here, but the guy needs a woman.”
I laughed. It was good he was so happy with his relationship that he wanted to share the feeling with her brother, but Brian wasn’t quite ready. “One step at a time. Brian has always been more career orientated than the type who wants to settle down and get married.”
He nodded. “I guess. I’m glad your dad agreed to let him open a branch out here. When we move, do you think he’ll stay behind?”
“I don’t know. He seems to really like it here. Maybe he was simply not cut out for life in Southern California. He needs the mountains and the cold, fresh air.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me back inside, shutting the doors to the terrace. “I’m happy he’s here, and I’m happy he’s cool with us, but I hope it doesn’t change when it’s time to get back to the real world.”
“We’ll see. I need to get ready to head over to the center. Are we still on for that hike later today?” I asked.
“Yes!” he said with way more enthusiasm that I would have thought. We’d been hiking several times a week. It was one way for us to spend time together, alone, while I strengthened my legs and lungs.
“Okay, well, I better get moving.”
After a boring session about eating right and fueling our Olympian bodies, I was ready to get outside into the fresh air. I walked home, enjoying the cool, brisk air. I couldn’t wait to see Tanner. Granted, I had seen him this morning, but I missed him. I missed seeing those green eyes and that tousled blond hair. I couldn’t wait to run my hands through it and maybe squeeze in a quickie before we left for our hike.
When I walked into the apartment, Tanner was there—pacing.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, fine. Everything’s great. Are you ready? Do you want to change?” he asked, slightly out of breath.
“I think what I have on is okay.” I looked down at my jeans and tennis shoes. “I’ll grab a jacket in case it gets cold.”
He nodded. I could tell something had him worked up. I grabbed my jacket from the bedroom and returned to see him packing a bottle of champagne into the little picnic basket we had bought at a flea market.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked again. He was really starting to freak me out.
“Yes, I’m great. You ready?”
I nodded, still a little concerned for his mental health. Maybe he was going stir crazy from waiting cooped up inside all day. A walk would do him good.
We headed to his truck. The trailhead was a few miles up the mountain. Once there, Tanner grabbed the picnic basket from the back, and we started out. It was a trail we frequented. We had even made love on it one occasion. Thankfully, it was off the beaten path and few people bothered to come out this way.
He grabbed my hand, and we walked at a leisurely pace, taking in the sights, sounds and smells. I loved it up here.
“You think we could live out here one day? Like in the future,” I said clarifying.
He stopped walking. I stopped, too, and studied his face, worried I’d freaked him out with my talk about the future. We hadn’t really broached that subject in the past.
He carefully set down the picnic basket and dropped to one knee. I stared at him, not sure if what I was seeing was what I thought it was or maybe he was just going to tie his shoe.
“Tanner?” I said on an exhaled breath.
He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a small, black velvet box. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest, and I could feel tears welling before he even spoke. Then he said the words.
“Lindsey Scott, will you please be my wife?” he said, holding out the opened box.
I looked down, my vision blurred with tears. Inside was a gorgeous teardrop-shaped diamond surrounded by vivid blue sapphires.
I was nodding my head, bobbing up and down, and I couldn’t speak. I wanted to say the word he was looking for, but my throat felt like it was closing over the giant lump that had appeared.
“Yes,” I squeaked out.
He stood up and slid the ring on my finger.
“You’re mine, Lindsey Scott. Now it’s official.”
I was still bobbing my head up and down like a fool.
He wrapped his arms around me, holding me while I wept tears of joy.
He stepped away and reached into the picnic basket, pulling out two plastic champagne glasses and the bottle of champagne I had seen him pack earlier. He popped the cork and filled the glasses before he handed one to me.
“To our future. We can live anywhere you want. Wherever you go, I go. I love you more than words can ever say,” he said, clinking his glass to mine.
We drank, and I finally managed to clear my throat. “Tanner, you are full of surprises. I can’t wait to call you my husband.”
We stayed at our special spot for a long while, talking about the future and making tentative plans for our wedding. When we noticed the sun was getting lower in the sky, we headed back to his truck.
“Let’s go tell Brian,” I said.
Tanner grimaced. “I don’t know. Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“He has to find out at some point. May as well be now.”
“Okay, if he says anything stupid, I swear I’m going to hit him,” Tanner vowed.
I rolled my eyes but didn’t disagree. I would be the one who slapped my big brother if he had anything negative to say.
When we told Brian, his response surprised us both. “I’m the best man, right?”
We all had a good laugh and quickly dove into the wedding planning. Brian seemed to be very excited for the wedding. It made me unbelievably happy to see my two favorite guys getting along so well. Life was good. Just when I had thought it couldn’t get any better, it did. I was going to be Tanner Brown’s wife.
The End
MY HOT STEPBROTHER
A Second Chance Romance
CHAPTER ONE
Ryan
Darkness enveloped us. Bradley and I moved side by side, silently trekking a path through the wilderness. Our footsteps were quiet, but leaves crunched beneath our boots, making us hold our breath. My nerves were calm and my heartbeat steady. Nothing about this mission was simple, but I knew my team had my back.
Bradley and I slowly entered the compound from the north, while Jacob and Drew came from the east. The southern and western sides were covered by a deep, murky swamp.
As Bradley and I approached the building, I felt my breathing slow even more. My mind went blank as I let my training take over. Bradley and I moved slowly, checking our surroundings with every step. There wasn’t room for fear, only action.
When we reached the designated room, Jacob and Drew came around a corner. We nodded to one another and silently planned the extraction using hand signals. We’d made it this far; we weren’t turning back now.
Jacob ducked to inspect the lock on the door. He nodded to let us know it was an easy entry. Quickly, he slipped his tools out of his pocket and inserted them in the lock. Bradley and Drew stood with their backs to us, watching the hallway for any signs of life. When Jacob opened the door, my gun was raised, ready to fire on sight.
Luckily, the room showed no signs
of enemy resistance. I entered first, sweeping my gun from side to side as I moved. Jacob grabbed Bradley and Drew, who walked backward into the room. Drew kicked the door closed behind them. It swung shut with a soft click. Finally, we were in.
The room was dark. It took our eyes a few seconds to adjust. Once they did, we saw her sitting against the back wall. Her arms and legs were tied together, a gag shoved in her mouth. When she saw us, her eyes went wide with fear, and she tried desperately to crawl away. Bradley moved forward, quickly bending down in front of her.
“Shh,” he whispered. “We’re here to help. You’re okay.”
The girl still looked scared, but Bradley’s words calmed her. He untied her and removed the gag from her mouth.
“Stay quiet,” he said firmly. “We’ll get you out of here.”
Bradley handed the girl off to Jacob, who swept her up in his arms. Now that we had her, we had to move fast. If we were caught, none of us would make it out alive.
We moved back through the door and down the deserted hallway. As we emerged from the building, everything was clear. We moved as a team, taking steps in unison and constantly swinging around to check our surroundings. It wasn’t until we made it to the tree line that things took a turn.
Bradley and I stood back, making sure Jacob made it to cover with the girl. Drew followed close behind, and just as I was about to step into the woods, I caught sight of an insurgent behind Bradley. Without thinking, I grabbed Bradley by the collar and threw him to the ground, swinging my gun around as I moved. My shot went off just in time, and the insurgent fell to the ground.
“Tango eliminated,” I said into my headset.
Bradley jumped to his feet. We ran into the woods, falling close behind Jacob and Drew. We didn’t stop running until we were a safe distance from the compound. Finally, we slowed to a walk, and Jacob put the girl down. She stretched her legs for a few seconds before she could walk on her own. After muttering a soft “thank-you,” to each of us, she fell silent. I could tell she was battling some serious hunger and pain, but she was strong. She didn’t slow down or stumble until we reached our camp.