Stepbrother Romance: My Alpha Cowboy Stepbrother (Stepbrother Romance, Taboo, Forbidden, Stepsister, New Adult, Western Romance, Cowboy Romance) (4 page)

D
inner that night passed uneventfully. Thankfully the Aunt had kept to herself for most of the meal, participating only in some small talk about the weather and such. Edward and I too kept our conversation to a minimum, perhaps scared that our closeness would be revealed if we talked.

Once we had eaten Edward had decided to go out to meet some of his friends from his Polo team, so I decided to watch the stars come out on the veranda with a glass of wine. A short while later I heard footsteps approach from the house.

“Enjoying yourself?” It was the Aunt.

“Err... Yes, thank you,” I answered, surprised. “It's a nice night.”

“Don't think I can't see what you’re up to,” she sneered.

“I'm sure I don't know wh...” I began.

“Don't play innocent with me, you little trollop. Your mother may have gotten her claws into my Nephew, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let you worm your way into Edward's affections.” Mildred bent closer towards me, she smelled of lavender and disinfectant. “People like you need to know your place. You're the granddaughter of a second-rate actress. You don't belong in this family.”

“Now, look here,” I retorted angrily, struggling to keep my voice level. “I don't know what you think you know, but it is none of your business either way...”

“Things that happen in my family are my business, and I'm not letting Edward get involved with a strumpet like you. I won't warn you again...” said Mildred coldly. She stared at me for a moment, letting the threat sink in, then walked silently away – like a Nosferatu slinking into the shadows.

The encounter had made me angry, but there was nothing I could do about it at that time. Edward was away, and I could not raise the subject with anyone else, for fear of prompting some awkward questions. I retreated to my room with the last half of a bottle of wine, and found a mindless movie to distract myself. The old woman had scared me, if I was honest with myself. What Edward's suspicions were true, and she was capable of far worse than harsh words... A chill ran down my spine, and I decided to double check whether I had locked the door, I had.

With the aid of the wine, I soon fell asleep, although my dreams were restless and full of lurking terrors.

*****

             
I
was still tired the following day, so stayed in bed until almost noon. Finally feeling somewhat rested, I showered and went downstairs for breakfast, hoping to avoid Mildred. Fortunately, the malicious Aunt was not present and I was able to enjoy my belated breakfast in peace on the veranda. There was also no sign of Edward, in the house or in the fields below. I desperately wanted to tell him about the conversation I'd had with his Aunt the night before. We had exchanged phone numbers the day before, but it was not something that I wanted to talk about over the phone.

              As I thought about the situation, a message came through on my phone; it was Edward. He said that his friends had talked him into going to the Casinos at Atlantic City last night, so he would not be back until later that evening. He added that he would still make our 'rendezvous', and was looking forward to it.

              The hours seemed to drag by that day. The minutes and seconds slowly ticking away – ever closer to our next carnal liaison. I could barely stand the anticipation. I attempted to distract myself by catching up on some reading and sunbathing, but my mind kept turning to fantasies of the night to come.              

              Edward had not arrived home by dinner time. I could not bare to face an awkward dinner without him under the disapproving scrutiny of his Aunt, so I feigned sickness and took dinner alone in my room. The evening was warm, so I sat on the balcony and watched the full moon rise over the distant horizon. Stars began to wink into being across the clear sky; far more than I was used to seeing in the suburbs.

              Despite the pleasantness of the night, time still passed by painfully slow. Eventually, an age later, midnight was just a few minutes away. The house was dark and quiet as I carefully made my way outside. I dared not use a torch to find my way down the steps, which wound down the hill and through the trees to the stable. Fortunately just enough moonlight penetrated the thick canopy for me to traverse the cut-stone steps safely.

              Finally I reached the shore of the lake. Its surface glittered like mercury under the silvery moonlight. The jetty lay a short way ahead, both dinghies still tied up beside it. There was still no sign of Edward. I would have been angry if he did not show, to say the least. 

              Still cautious that I could be observed under the bright light of the moon, I crept cautiously towards the boats. Suddenly a figure rose from the hull of the nearest boat. My heart skipped a beat.

              “Hey Sandra!” whispered Edward.

              I breathed a heavy sigh of relief, and waved to him. Quickly I went to the boat. He offered me his hand and helped me in. Half-stepping, half-falling, I entered the wooden boat, fearful that I would fall right over the edge as it rocked beneath our weight. Edward laughed under his breath and, with a strong arm around my waist, guided me towards a faux-leather seat near the bow.

              “Look's like there's a bit of a breeze tonight,” he whispered. “I guess we can sail across the lake.”

              Edward took a large, wooden board and fitted it into a narrow box which rose from the boat's hull.

              “What's that?” I asked, curiously; I had never sailed before, and certainly not in a tiny boat by moonlight. Though I trusted Edward, I realized, and was not worried.

              “It's the center-board,” he replied, fastening the wood in place with a couple of metal bolts. “It stops the wind from tipping us over and helps the boat stay in a straight line.”

              With the center-board now in place, Edward unfastened the mooring lines and pushed the small boat gently away from the jetty.

              “Okay, we're set to sail! Don't worry, it'll be a smooth ride with this light breeze.”

              Edward took a line from the base of the small mast, and pulled a white, triangular sail free from where it had been furled at the bow. Almost instantly the air filled the small sail and the boat began to spin. Edward turned the tiller, and the rudder caught the water. Slowly, the dinghy began to move forward, gaining speed, until it felt like they were almost skipping over the water. Though I guess we were barely moving faster than a brisk walking pace, it felt very fast. Low and close to the water, in the dark beneath the stars. I trailed my fingers in the warm water, the stars sparkled upon its dark, swirling surface, glistening under the moonlight like crystal-flecked, liquid obsidian.

              Soon the jetty was visible ahead, protruding into the lake from the dark mass of trees which lined the far shore. Edward dropped the sails well before we had reached the shore, coasting the boat in on its momentum alone. As we neared, he took a line from the bow, and in one movement released the tiller and sprung onto the jetty, quickly securing the line to a post, then doing the same with a second line to the stern.

              With a bow, and a flourish, he offered me his hand. I laughed and took it, stepping up to the jetty where he caught me in his arms, kissing me passionately.

              Taking my hand, Edward led me up the wooded trail and soon we came to the cabin, illuminated here and there by shafts of bright moonlight. We entered and Edward went about the room lighting a half dozen candles and a small storm lantern which hung beside the cabin's carved wooden bed piled deep with sumptuous furs and velvet pillows.

              Edward began kissing my neck, his hands caressing my breast. Tugging free the buttons of my blouse, he took my nipple in his mouth. Warmth spread between my thighs and my knees grew weak. Suddenly I heard a distant, but distinct splash; like something large hitting the surface of the lake.

              “What was that?” I asked, startled.

              “Don't worry, probably just one of the big carp in the lake, they get excited in the full-moon,” replied Edward, his hand reaching beneath my skirt.

              My hand strayed to his crotch, the soft cotton stretched tight over his firm cock.

              “They're not the only one, I notice,” I teased him, as I unzipped his pants.

              Edward’s trousers dropped to the floor and his cock sprung free. Playfully I flicked the smooth, hard tip as it throbbed and bounced. Then, gripping the base firmly, I took it slowly into my mouth. I loved the way he moaned as I did so, growing louder – and harder – the more I sucked.

              Suddenly Edward scooped me up in his strong arms and laid me down on the soft furs of the bed. Slinging my ankles behind his neck, he slowly lowered himself into me. The position allowed him to sink even deeper than he had before. I gasped as the final inch slipped inside, the dull pain washed away by waves of pleasurable fullness, as he slowly began to move inside.

              Harder and faster he rode me, each thrust sending a shock of sensation tingling through my nerves, the warm tension of my climax growing deep inside, spreading down my limbs, to the tips of my fingers and toes. I screamed with pleasure as the first waves of climax washed through me, digging my nails hard into Edwards muscled back and buttocks. Edward growled, his body going stiff. With a shiver, and a few deep, final thrusts, he came deep inside me. I freed my ankles, allowing him to collapse on top of me. We lay there for awhile, gasping for breath, his firm, warm cock still inside of me.

              The silver moonlight shone down across us, through the panes of the bay window. I must have drifted off for a moment, because the next thing I remembered was Edward waking me gently, speaking softly, “Sandra, we should go before sunrise, in case anyone is up early.”

              It was still a few hours until dawn, but already there was a faint, violet glow on the eastern horizon. The moon had now set, and it was now much darker than it had been on the way over. Though, it was still possible to see the outline of the mansion against the sky and the shadows of the buildings below.

              Halfway across the lake, the boat had struck something solid in the water. Edward had rushed to the edge to see what it had been, but we could see nothing by the pale starlight, and dared not use a light. Once we had returned to the house, Edward and I parted way with a kiss, and crept back to our rooms. Undetected, thankfully.

T
he following day, I slept late again, thanks to our illicit midnight rendezvous. A light covering of cloud had blown in while I had slept, and it was now gray outside, with a light, misty rain draining the color from the landscape. It was almost noon by the time I made my way to the conservatory for breakfast, where I was pleasantly surprised to fine Edward, breakfasting on croissants and espresso. Seeing me enter, Edward grinned and winked at me mischievously. I smiled in return, thinking fondly back to the night before, while I sat down across the table from him, and poured myself  some coffee.

A moment later, Henry entered the room, looking concerned.

“Have you seen Aunt Mildred?” he asked. “Nobody's seen her all morning...”

We both shook our heads.

“Have you checked out at the gazebo?” asked Edward. “She often likes to sit there around this time of day, I noticed.”

“Yes, we looked,” relied Henry. “Well, if you see her, let me know, it's unlike her to just disappear like this.”

Henry left, and Edward and I exchanged a guilty glance, but said nothing. I think we both started to form the same thought at that time, but dared not speak it.

Our suspicions were confirmed later that day, when Henry finally decided to call the police. One of the officers had been search along the shores of the lake when he had seen an object floating in the water. It had turned out to be the inverted hull of the second dinghy. Floating nearby they had found the corpse of Edward's Aunt. She had been trying to sail the boat across the lake, but had forgotten to fix the centerboard in place.

I was sat with Edward in the lounge when the officers told us the news, and we dared not share even a glance. The detectives were stumped as to why she had been out there alone, in the dead of night, but we knew. For a week we worried sick after we heard that they had found a camera slung around the old woman's neck. Finally, to our relief, we were informed that they had not been able to recover any images from the film. If Mildred had ever managed to gather the evidence that she was hoping to shame us with, we will never know.

I can’t say I felt particularly sorry. Were it not for her hatefulness, she would have never have been on the lake in the first place. Despite my reasoning, I still felt a twist of guilt about it, but I guess that is only human.

Edward and I continued our affair throughout that summer. I guess, for a while, I thought I loved him. Perhaps I had, in some way. After all, he had helped to awaken my sexuality, and had given me the confidence to take what I wanted; a fact which I would be grateful for when I headed to college that fall.              

But that, that is a story for another day...