Free Novel Read

Step Lover Page 4


  Finally, the minister said, “You may kiss the bride.”

  Hale was surprised to find his hands shaking as he lifted the voluminous veil to fold over the back of her head. The tears in her eyes somehow blurred his own gaze, and he blinked to clear them. A trickle of moisture trailed down his cheek as he bent his head slightly to kiss his wife.

  As always, her mouth was heavenly ambrosia that he wanted to savor. Somehow, Hale forced himself to keep the touch light and brief, knowing there would be plenty of time to explore each other later that night and on their honeymoon. After that, they would have years together. Now that they were married, no one could tear them apart.

  He was relieved to have his dad and Monica’s support. After three years of isolation, it had been a balm to have family again, but as he took Zoe’s hand, and they turned to face the congregation for presentation as a married couple, he knew he wouldn’t hesitate to give up all that for Zoe.

  He brought her hand to his mouth, brushing his lips over her fingers. Fortunately, he could have his wife and his family. “I love you, Zoe.”

  Her lips softened. “I love you too, Hale.”

  Breaking tradition, they kissed right then and there again. This time, Hale didn’t worry about keeping it brief for appearance’s sake. Instead, he tasted his wife the way he’d longed to, and she responded just as enthusiastically. When they finally parted, he made a point of not looking at the people in attendance. If there was disgust on any face, he didn’t want to see it. He refused to defend or justify their love to anyone else, and he wasn’t going to let some sour attitudes ruin the happiest day of his life.

  ******

  If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review.

  You might also enjoy another one of my forbidden stepbrother romances:

  Excerpt of Stepbrother Savior

  Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

  What the hell was happening?

  Standing nearly nose-to-nose with Jake, so close that I could feel his hot breath on my face, so close that I could feel the heat radiating off his strong chest, a rush of arousal and confusion swirled hot through my veins. My eyes widening, I stammered, “But—but that one time, when we kissed…”

  He groaned. And this time, it was a lot sexier than the time he groaned over the potatoes. “That goddamned kiss.”

  “You remember it?”

  “Do I remember it?” he asked, startling a little bit. “I can’t forget it! I’ve been thinking about that kiss for almost five years. The way your mouth was so hot and wet. The way you smelled like coconut sun tan lotion. The way the sun was reflecting off the pool onto your hair. I remember everything about that kiss.”

  Holy shit. Holy fucking shit. Inside, I was freaking out. But outside, I was desperately trying to hold it together, because it just didn’t make any sense. “Then why…why didn’t it happen again?”

  He swallowed, touching his forehead to mine. “Because I knew better. You're my stepsister. You're off limits.”

  “Says who?”

  “Says everybody,” Jake said, his voice cracking. “My dad gave me the evil eye every time I looked at you—and reminded me that you’d had a hard life. I knew I was going into the army. I didn’t want to be another guy to abandon you.”

  “So, instead, you treated me like crap?”

  Jake frowned. “I didn’t treat you like crap. I just tried to stay away from you. I tried to steer clear of you. I tried to be a nice guy who wouldn’t take advantage of you. But I’m obviously not a nice guy…”

  “Yes, you are.”

  “No,” Jake said, his knee pushing between mine with a promise of intimacy. “I’m not. Because a nice guy wouldn’t do this…”

  Want more STEPBROTHER SAVIOR ? BUY OR BORROW WITH KINDLE UNLIMITED

  Sampling of Available Titles

  Stepbrother Beloved

  Stepbrother Holiday

  Billionaire Stepbrother Obsession

  Stepbrother, My Love

  2 Stepbrothers. 1 innocent Girl Series

  Sins of the Stepbrothers

  About the Author

  Stephanie Brother writes scintillating stories with step-siblings as their main romantic focus. She's always been curious about the forbidden, and this is her way of exploring such complex relationships that threaten to keep her couples apart. As she writes her way to her dream job, Ms. Brother hopes that her readers will enjoy the full emotional and romantic experience as much as she's enjoyed writing them.

  Want her mailing list? Click here!