Infatuation: A Rebel Stepbrother Romance

by Phoenyx Slaughter

  “Ugh, my mother’s staying with me in here. She’s a light sleeper too. No pre-wedding nookie,” Summer grouches as I dab concealer under her eyes.

  “You’ll have plenty of time for post-wedding nookie after tomorrow,” I tease.

  “Speaking of nookie—”

  “Were we?”

  “Yes. Stu said you and Flynn looked cozy when he stopped by earlier.”

  “We were having a . . . discussion.”

  She closes her eyes while I sweep eyeshadow on her lids. This is good practice for tomorrow, when we’ll be in a time crunch. An awful thought enters my mind while I’m working. What if Flynn’s all revved up, after our make-out session, and decides to help disentangle Lena from her teeny-tiny bathing suit to ease his suffering?

  Perish the thought.

  As if she’d heard me pondering her swimsuit mishaps, Lena knocks and enters before anyone invites her in.

  “Hi, girls.”

  “I think you’re all done, Summer.”

  Lena runs her gaze over my work as if she’s the makeup inspector. “Nice work, Ella.”

  Oh. Now I feel like an ass. “Thanks.”

  “Think you can do me tomorrow?”

  “Sure. Summer asked me to do all the girls.”

  “Thanks.”

  We chat almost normally, bringing back memories of times before everything got out of control and messed up. Before I was sent away and lost everything.

  It’s nice, but it also reminds me why Flynn and I can’t risk getting too close again.

  Never again.

  Ella never returned to our room before the rehearsal dinner. Sneaky girl. I waited until the last possible second, then joined the guys for the party. I’m still half-hard from our kiss. Still dying to put my mouth on every inch of her body.

  An elbow to my ribs kicks me out of those thoughts.

  “What?”

  “Dude, you’re drooling.”

  Without thinking, I swipe my hand across my chin, making Stu laugh like an idiot.

  “Just fucking talk to her.”

  “We did.”

  “Without sticking your tongue down her throat.”

  One corner of my mouth curls up. I hadn’t even told Stu about our up-against-the-door makeout session. “Worry about your own tongue.”

  He responds with a lewd grin. “My tongue and other parts are in lockdown until tomorrow night. Summer’s mother decided to bunk with her in case we got any pre-marital sex ideas.”

  The water I’d been in the middle of sipping shoots up my nose. “A little late for that one,” I choke out between laughter.

  “No shit. My balls are bluer than my fuckin’ eyes right now.” He jerks his chin at Summer, who waves at him. “Look at her. How am I supposed to stay away for another twenty-four hours?”

  There’s a joke lingering at the tip of my tongue, but I reel it back. The love my two friends have for each other is enviable for sure. Makes me determined to work on Ella this weekend.

  “I’m sure you’ll find time for a closet quickie or something,” I finally answer. What? If I let the jokes go by, he’ll be up in my business in record time.

  “Good idea.” He slaps me on the back and stalks across the room to pull his bride-to-be out the door.

  Ella’s eyes meet mine and she raises an eyebrow. I shrug and she laughs—a silent communication thing we perfected when we were teenagers.

  I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with her since then. No amount of faking, fucking or talking my way out of it seems to work.

  Before this weekend’s over, I need her to be mine.

  Chapter Six

  As my gaze travels around the L-shaped table, it lands on Flynn. He’s watching me with an intent expression that sends heat blazing over my face. My lips tingle as I remember our earlier kiss.

  Summer places a hand on my shoulder and takes her seat. She’s grinning from ear to ear, and her makeup’s smudged on the left side of her face.

  “What were you up to? You messed up my work,” I say, delicately pointing to her cheek.

  “Oh, shit. Is it bad?” She grabs a spoon and tries to use it as a hand mirror.

  “Come here.” Using the cloth dinner napkin, I blend it back into place. “Better. Let me guess, Stu?”

  Her mouth curls into a wicked grin. “Of course.”

  After dinner, couples take over the dance floor. Flynn raises his eyebrows, silently asking if I want to dance. I’m about to nod yes when Lena presses herself against him and pulls him onto the dance floor. Watching them is enough to make my stomach churn. Instead, I focus on Stu and Summer. Summer deserves a good man, and Stu’s exceptional.

  After parents and grandparents say good night, Brady and Flynn grab Stu and drag him out the door. He walks backwards and blows kisses to Summer the entire time.

  “All right, ladies, it’s time!” Gina, Stu’s sister-in-law, turns to us and claps her hands together.

  “Where are they headed?” Lena asks.

  Gina waves her hand in the air. “Some strip club, a couple towns over. Bachelor party nonsense,” Gina answers.

  Lena eyes Gina’s six-months-pregnant-belly. “You’re okay with that?”

  Gina shrugs. “Those girls only care about the dollar bills the boys flash. Brady knows that. He’s not fooled.”

  I admire Gina’s confidence.

  Summer giggles along with her soon to be sister-in-law. “Boys will be boys. I’ve got something much more interesting in mind for us, don’t worry,” Gina says with an evil laugh.

  Lena and I are left staring at each other.

  “This should be fun,” I deadpan.

  I was right to be apprehensive. Gina drags us to an all-male review. The last thing I want to do is sit in a crowded bar and watch a bunch of strange men get naked.

  I only want to see Flynn naked.

  That thought needs squashing, so I order a gin and tonic.

  Lena gets right into the show. She laughs and dances with each man who gyrates into the crowd. She slips dollar bills into a lot of banana hammocks.

  Wet blanket, party of one.

  Does Flynn really think we’d be good together? How can he think that after what happened? How can he think I’d ever willingly set foot in his father’s house again? Our relationship would be doomed from the start.

  “Ella?”

  The show was over. Somehow I’d missed the end of it.

  “I’ll be right there.”

  I throw a few bills down to cover our tab and run out to the parking lot. Gina, the best choice for designated driver, was busy stuffing Lena and Summer into the back seat of her small sedan. “Gina! I got them,” I shout and race over. She shouldn’t be wrestling with two drunk chicks in her condition.

  Wiping my hair off my forehead, I lean in and buckle the two drunk messes up. “Don’t barf in Gina’s car,” I warn both of them, and they break into giggles.

  They’re a little more sober when we get back to the bed and breakfast. Not much, but they’re at least able to walk themselves inside. We say goodnight and promise to wake Summer up bright and early.

  “Bye girls, Flynn’s probably waiting for me,” Lena says with a drunken giggle.

  So much for us getting along tonight.

  Our room’s empty. No sign of Flynn.

  An hour later, he still hasn’t returned, even though I swear I heard Stu’s voice in the hallway. Did he decide to go have hot, monkey sex with Lena after all?

  Like an utter moron, I tiptoe down the hall and press my ear to Lena’s door. Silence.

  No monkey sex.

  Feeling foolish, I race back to my room.

  Still no sign of Flynn.

  I fall asleep waiting for him.

  “Aw, buddy, you’re gonna be hurtin’ in the morning when that ten a.m. wakeup call comes.” Even though my words are slurry, Stu gets what I’m saying and laughs like a donkey.

  The B&B’s dark when we get in. We’re trying to be quiet, but we probably wa
ke the whole place getting Stu to his room. I give Brady a fist bump and say goodnight in the hallway.

  Outside my room, I hesitate. If I go in there, I’m definitely fucking Ella. There’s no way I can sleep next to or near her tonight.

  The beach is too inviting to ignore. Jogging back downstairs, I step into the sea-mist air and take a deep breath. I love this place. Wouldn’t mind having my own house by the shore. But only if I could share it with Ella. After this weekend, I won’t be able to taste salt water on my tongue without thinking of her.

  One of the benches along the boardwalk looks like a perfect spot to park my sorry ass, so I can fantasize about my stepsister. Christ, I’m a sick fuck. Worst thing is, I don’t even care. Holding her in the waves today, kissing her in our room—I need to make her understand she’s mine and I’m hers. There’s nothing our parents can do now to tear us apart.

  As I drift off into a drunken sleep, I wonder if Ella still blames me for getting her a one-way trip to boarding school. Another thought tries to follow, but sleep chases it away.

  Chapter Seven

  “I’m getting married today! I’m getting married today!” The shouts from the hallway can only belong to one person. I smile and groan at the same time as I fling the covers back and sit up.

  Flynn never came back to the room.

  That wipes the smile off my face.

  “I’m getting married today! I’m getting married today!”

  “I knew that Friends marathon the other night was a bad idea,” I grumble as I climb out of bed.

  A shower perks me up enough to be functional. In the bedroom, there’s still no sign of Flynn.

  I can’t worry about that. There’s so much to do before the wedding. I’m responsible for the makeup for the bridal party and the bride. I slip into a robe and pad down the hall to Summer’s room.

  Put on your happy face. It’s Summer’s big day.

  For someone who got so little sleep, Summer’s radiant when I step inside the room. She’s already scarfing down breakfast and hands me a plate. When we’re done, I get started on her makeup. If anyone needs to be perfect today, it’s her. Everyone else will have to wait their turn. I’ll do my own makeup last.

  “Dammit, Summer. I told you not to get too much sun. You were an NC 25 just last week. Now you’re more like an NC 35,” I grouch as I test each foundation out on her skin.

  Gina giggles from the other side of the room. “Told ya!”

  “Come here.” I grab Summer’s hand and drag her onto the balcony overlooking the ocean, so I can see the foundation in the sunlight. “Turn your head.” I mix in another shade and try again. “That’s better.”

  With a critical eye, I walk around Summer, fixing and dabbing on each pass. When I’m finally satisfied, I let her go back inside and ask her to send my next victim out.

  “Hi, Mrs. Clancy.” I still blush around Summer’s mother. My mother must have explained why I got sent away junior year, and the thought fills me with shame.

  “Sweetheart, I haven’t seen you in forever.” She places a kiss on each of my cheeks.

  The sight of my friend’s mother almost makes me cry. She’s lost a lot of weight since the death of her husband. Her beautiful mother-of-the-bride dress hangs on her like bedsheets. I’m ashamed for not visiting her more often.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve been busy with school and trying to find a job,” I answer, feeling like a jerk.

  “You’re so talented, Ella,” she says as she admires my work.

  When I’m finished, she motions me to follow her inside.

  “Jeez, no one will believe you’re my mother,” Summer says as she hugs Mrs. Clancy. “You look more like my big sister.”

  Her mother chuckles. “Ella’s a miracle worker.” She grabs her handbag and pulls out a bracelet, handing it to Summer. “Here’s your ‘something borrowed’. You’re such a beautiful bride. Your father would be so happy. He always liked Stu.”

  Summer’s lip trembles at her mother’s words. I say a quick and silent prayer she doesn’t cry and ruin her makeup. Even the waterproof stuff can only take so much, and Summer cries like a fire hydrant when she gets going.

  “Thanks, Mom, I needed to hear that today.” She takes a few breaths, then grins at the bracelet as her mother helps her fasten it around her wrist.

  “Thank you so much for this, Mom. I always loved Grandma Janice’s charm bracelet. It’s perfect.”

  “Well, it’s both old and borrowed. I want it back after the ceremony.”

  “You bet, Mom. Thanks.”

  Mrs. Clancy leaves and I work on Gina’s makeup next. When she’s camera ready, Lena joins us. I behave myself and do not give her a Bozo-the-Clown makeover.

  Once everyone’s picture perfect, I take some time to get myself ready.

  “Did you sleep okay?” Summer asks Lena.

  “Not really. I spent the night in Flynn’s room, and you know how it is.” She stretches and yawns.

  I cough-snicker from my spot in the bathroom. Through the open door, I see Summer trying to contain her laughter. Only Gina doesn’t recognize Lena’s lie.

  “Have some tact,” Summer scolds.

  Lena shrugs. “See you ladies downstairs,” she calls out over her shoulder as she saunters away.

  “What a liar!” Summer titters after the door shuts.

  “What?” Gina asks.

  “Flynn and Ella are sharing a room.”

  Gina’s wide-eyed gaze swings in my direction. “You are? When did that happen?”

  Summer giggles some more. “Room mix-up.”

  Maybe Flynn finally fixed the mix-up and Lena was telling the truth. “He never came back to the room last night, so who knows.” I shrug and return to the bathroom to finish my makeup.

  “There’s no way he was with Lena,” Summer insists. “He probably didn’t want to wake you and stayed with Stu.”

  Gina nods. “Brady stumbled in super-late. I almost kicked his ass for waking me up. I barely sleep as it is lately,” she says as her hand rubs over her belly.

  “He probably woke you up for nookie,” Summer teases.

  “This is true,” she answers with a mischievous grin. “Like Stu didn’t sneak up here?”

  Summer tries to deny it, but her cheeks are bright red. “We may have gone downstairs to check on the decorations.”

  “All right, ladies—and I’m using that term loosely today—TMI portion of the morning is over.”

  Before we leave the suite, I have to wrap my arms around Summer one last time. “You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen, Summer,” I choke out.

  “Thank you, Ella,” she whispers.

  “Don’t cry. You’re perfect.”

  Her lips turn up and she nods. “Let’s do this.”

  Every part of my body aches when the morning sun stabs me in the eyes.

  “What the fuck?”

  Beach. Bench.

  “Fuck.”

  I jerk upright so fast, my head spins. I have to sit there for a minute until everything stops moving.

  “Ella.”

  The last thing I want her to think is that I hooked up with someone last night. How could I be so careless?

  Well, I hadn’t been thinking. I’d been drunk. Worried I’d try to fuck my girl if I stepped into the room. When the reality is I probably couldn’t have gotten my liquor-dick up even if she’d gotten on her knees—

  Nope. I would’ve gotten it up for that.

  When I amble up the stairs at the B&B, of course the first person I run into is Ella. Great.

  “Hey, are you okay? You never came back. I was worried about you.”

  Her earnest concern strikes me dumb for a second. “I’m okay, sweet stuff. I didn’t want to wake you.”

  “You look like you slept on a park bench.”

  Ducking my head, I run my fingers through my hair and glance up at her. “I sorta did.”

  “Why?”

  “It was late. I didn’t want to wake you.
I took a walk and sat on one of the benches. I guess the ocean hypnotized me to sleep.”

  Her lips part. “I didn’t know you were such a romantic.”

  The words themselves are teasing, but she’s so serious I don’t know how to respond. She reaches up and plants a soft kiss on my cheek. “I missed you.”

  My hand shoots out and grabs her arm, holding her in place. Her eyes widen. Maybe she’s about to protest, to tell me to stop, because we’re in plain view.

  But I don’t give her a chance. My mouth slants over hers, and she responds immediately. Her warm, smooth lips slide against mine. Her lips part, allowing my tongue to slide along hers.

  Someone clears their throat.

  Ella stares up at me with wide eyes when we part, then turns to face Stu.

  “Morning.” Stu grins, and I know it’s killing him not to hassle me. “What’s up, kids?”

  Ella shakes her head as bright pink stains her cheeks.

  “Ella, I’m just messing with you. About time you two work things out. This dumb fuck’s nuts about you. Fucker wouldn’t even get a lap dance last night.”

  “Thanks, bro.”

  A smirk plays over Ella’s lips. Then she turns serious. “He’s my stepbrother.”

  Stu’s shoulders lift. “So? You’re not really related. Who cares?”

  Okay, this time I’m thankful for his big mouth. Maybe if she hears it from someone besides me, it’ll sink in that it’s okay for us to be together.

  Silence turns to awkwardness and Stu shifts. “Well, thanks for taking my mind off things. I’m nervous as all hell.”

  Ella stares at him. “Why?”

  “Come on, Ella. We all know Summer’s out of my league. I’m just hoping she doesn’t figure it out before she says I do.”

  Her hand settles on his shoulder. It’s an innocent gesture, but it raises the beast in me anyway. “Aw, Stu, she’s giddy as a school girl today. She loves you so much. You’re perfect together.”