Stepbrother: Moving In/Moving Out (5 page)

In this moment, I’m his. And only his. I could die in his arms right now and be blissfully gone for all eternity.

The tension builds inside of me. “Seth…” I moan his name. “Say it again.”

“I love you.” His lips move against mine.

“Again.”

“I love you,” he repeats.

His words pull me into a deep orgasm. It blends through my body, awakening the depths of my soul. I let it crush me. I look at his smile, so satisfying and real. I feel his love, inside and out. And I don’t want it to end.

He buries his face in my breasts and lets out a deep, guttural groan. His hips buck once more and he stops as his own heated desire fills me to the brim. I hold him closely as his body shakes between my legs. I taste his sweat on my lips as I kiss his forehead.

After a few moments of rest, he slowly slides me down the wall. My knees wobble as I try to stand upright, but I find myself leaning against the wall to support myself. Seth slowly backs away and places his hands on the railing, his eyes blinking slowly as he gazes out into the quiet world.

“Seth…” I whisper, still catching my breath. “That was…” I can’t find the words to describe it. Everything I think of feels wrong.

“I know,” he says when I don’t finish. “I know.” He bends over to adjust his trousers and zip them back into place. “We should get back,” he says.

I nod and push myself off the wall. My legs still feel weak and worthless beneath me, but I’m well enough to move on. “Right,” I say.

“Are you okay?” he asks. His eyes linger on my body.

“Yes,” I answer with a smile. “Are you?”

He pauses for a moment. “I will be.”

My heart breaks as he turns around and begins traveling down the stairs.

Chapter 6

I spend the morning gathering my things. It’s my last official day in the apartment. My new landlord just called and gave me the go-ahead to come and move in to my new place. Suddenly, all the floor plans and decoration ideas seem frivolous and unimportant.

To say I didn’t sleep last night would be an understatement. I spent the night staring at the ceiling and then at the door, hoping it would open and Seth would step inside. I longed for his companionship, but I knew it could never be what I wanted it to be. Loving Seth is a fool’s errand and I know that. But it feels just as wrong to ignore it.

I bring my bags out into the hallway. My ears perk up as I hear the distinct sounds of two different voices in the kitchen. Carter and Seth. Two different paths. I hesitate for a moment before stepping out into the living room.

As I come into view, the voices go silent.

I throw on a smile to lighten the mood. “Hey, guys,” I say.

They each give me a nod. My gaze lingers on both of them.

“Is there anymore coffee?” I ask. I step around Carter and grab a washed mug from the sink.

They’re expecting me to make a choice and to make it now. I can’t bring myself to segue just yet, so I push all my focus into pouring the coffee into the mug.

“Help yourself,” Seth says.

I smile and bring the mugs to my lips. It’s pipping hot and I regret pouring it down my throat, but at least it gives me a distraction to throw my attentions on.

“Mina,” Carter says. He crosses his hands over his chest and leans against the refrigerator.

“Yep—” I choke out the word and wipe my stained lips.

“Go ahead,” he says. “We’re waiting.”

I take a deep breathe, finding myself positioned between them. My eyes wander between Seth, who sits at the table against the wall, and Carter, whose confident smile brings one to my lips as well.

“Okay…” I say as I put the coffee mug down on the counter behind me. I let the word linger on the air for a little too long.

“Come on, Mina… who will it be?” Carter asks.

I look them both in the eyes. My gaze shifts from one lover to the next. I had made up my mind before this all began, but as I look upon them both now, I feel a wave of doubt. I bite my lip and search my soul for the correct answer. But the bitch of the problem, at the core of it all, is that there may not be a correct answer to this problem. Will the grass always be greener on the other side? Or is happily ever after just one choice away?

“Listen…” My eyes linger on Seth’s face. “I—”

“Stop,” he interrupts me. He shifts his weight and stands up from the table. “You don’t have to say it again.”

“What?” I ask.

“You’re right,” he says. “This whole thing was stupid.”

Carter’s confused stare points in Seth’s direction. He opens his mouth to speak, but Seth continues.

“I’m sorry you had to be put through this, Mina,” he says. “I’m taking myself out of the equation.”

A smirk travels up Carter’s face. “Is that right?” he asks. “Can’t handle the suspense, there, buddy?”

“Seth, don’t—” I begin.

“You both were happy before and you’ll still be happy now.”

I chew on the inside of my cheek as I fight to come up with the words to make him stay.

“I should never have involved myself between you two. And I apologize for that,” Seth says. He reaches over to the table and grabs his keys. “I’ll leave you two to celebrate.”

I can’t bring myself to move as he walks across the living room and steps out into the hallway. My heart aches as I watch him go, his words lingering in my ears. I had hoped to let him down easily, but it was going to be difficult either way.

“Well…” Carter says as he rubs his chest. “To the victor go the spoils…”

I turn to him with a furrowed brow.

“What can I say, baby?” he says with a smug smile. “I’m an alpha male.”

I take a step towards him and push myself onto my tippy toes to plant a small kiss on his lips.

“Goodbye, Carter.”

***

I see him crossing the street down the block, heading in the direction of campus.

“Seth!”

He can’t hear me. I continue jogging towards him, being careful not to step on any rocks or trash with my bare free. Perhaps making a dramatic exit from Carter without stopping first to put on shoes wasn’t the best decision in the moment, but any wounds my toes happen upon will heal.

And a life without Seth? The mere thought of it now is excruciating.

“Seth!”

He turns around as he hears his name. When he sees me rushing for him, he stops and turns around. “Mina…” he says. “What are you doing?”

I finally catch up with him and inhale a sharp breath. My heart races so quickly, I can barely speak. I feel his hands on my shoulders, his strength holding me up.

“Goddamn…” I say. “I should really start jogging again…”

“Most people also wear running shoes,” Seth jokes.

I look up into his stunning eyes and say the words I’d been dying to say, but never planned on. “I choose you,” I say. “Seth, I choose you.”

He shakes his head. “We can’t be together, Mina,” he says. “You were right. I hadn’t thought it through before, but I see that now.”

“I don’t care,” I heave. “It’ll be hard and painful and impossible at times, but… I don’t think it’ll be so bad if we’re partners.”

He squeezes my shoulders slightly, reacting to my words. “Are you sure?” he asks.

I nod. “The world is already a really shitty place,” I say. “The idea of being together — of being with you — it makes everything bearable.”

“And what about Carter?” he asks.

“You were right.” I shrug and place my hands over his. “I was just a prize to him. You see me as something so much more. And for that, I’ll always love you.”

“You’re crazy,” he says through a smile.

“I know,” I say. “But so are you.”

He pulls me in and embraces me for a moment. “Are you sure?” he asks again, whispering in my ear.

“Yes,” I answer. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

His hands travel up my body and cup my face. He takes a deep breath. “Okay,” he says as he leans down and kisses me.

I don’t care who sees it. I push myself up higher on my toes and wrap my arms around his wide shoulders.

“I want this,” I say between kisses.

We pull apart and Seth rests his forehead against mine. “So do I,” he says. “I’ve wanted this forever.”

My heart swells. I never thought, even once, that anyone could ever love me like that. I’m so happy that I was wrong. Tears sting my eyes, but I hold them back.

“Of course…” he says. “Now, I probably need to find somewhere else to live. I don’t think Carter is going to take this well.”

My lips curl. “Well,” I say. “I know of somewhere you can stay, if you want.”

“Yeah?” he asks with a delicious smile.

“You can move in tonight.”

***

STEPBROTHER:

MOVING OUT

A Romance Novella

by Tabatha Kiss

WARNING:
This short story contains explicit descriptions of

erotic and sexual acts that some may find offensive.

Reader discretion advised.

This is a work of fiction intended for mature audiences only.

Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All characters detailed within are eighteen years of age or older.

No characters engaging in sexual acts are blood related.

Text and Story Copyright © 2015 Tabatha Kiss

Cover Art Copyright © Depositphotos.com/konradbak

All Rights Reserved.

Chapter 1

I can’t believe how much my life has changed in two weeks.

I moved in with my boyfriend temporarily. It seemed like a good, easy solution to my problem at the time. I couldn’t move into my new apartment just yet and Carter said I could stay with him. The only issue was with his roommate, Seth. My stepbrother. He always hated me.

Or at least, I assumed he hated me.

The truth came out during a party Seth threw just to piss me off. He loves me. And I, against my better judgment, loved him back.

I slept with my stepbrother that night and it completely changed my life.

Carter was upset, as anyone would be. But he kept his shit together and made a game out of it. They both wanted me and they wanted to play fair.

Two nights. They would both get one more night with me. Afterward, I would choose the winner based off who satisfied me the most.

I can’t believe I agreed to it from the start. It was a stupid game. I said as much to their faces. But the idea of being caught between two men was thrilling and exciting.

Does that make me a bad person? It probably makes me a bad person. Oddly enough, I don’t care.

I made my decision from the start. I wanted everything to go back to normal. Choosing Carter made that happen.

The night with Carter was amazing, more amazing than it ever had been with him. My decision was still locked. I would choose Carter.

Then the night with Seth happened. He opened up to me in ways I never thought possible and for the first time since I made my decision, I started to doubt it.

In the end, I chose Seth.

I chose Seth.

I’m sorry, I have to say it again.

Seth. I chose my stepbrother.

I love my stepbrother.

I lie awake, staring at my bedroom ceiling. It’s four in the morning. Boxes are stacked against the opposite wall, some of them full, some empty. I always love the moving process. It’s a lot of work, but it’s satisfying work. I get a thrill every time I place something in its new home. I make sure the final image matches the dream in my head.

I had a plan. I made sketches of how my new life in my new apartment would look. Carter would be a big part of that life. Of course he’d come over to hang out or stay the night a few nights a week.

But then, I chose Seth.

And to be completely honest, I did not think it through.

I glance over at his sleeping face. The moonlight creeps in through the window because I haven’t hung up the curtains yet. It casts shadows across his eyes and nose. My heart skips wildly in my chest as I look at him. I smile and shift my weight to my side to get a better view.

I had a plan. Then universe decided to screw it up.

But I’m not angry. I’m really not.

I’m ecstatic.

I reach out and lay a finger on his chin. He’s so deep in his sleep that it does nothing to disturb him. A yawn escapes my lips. My body wishes to sleep, but my mind keeps replaying the last two weeks over and over again.

As we suspected, Carter didn’t take my rejection of him well. He told Seth to get out of their apartment. Of course, I let Seth move into my two bedroom place with me. I had intended on using that second bedroom as a study area for school, but that’s just another piece of my plan that changed. He suggested that we both just use the same bedroom and then I could keep my study room, but I disagreed.