TASTE: A Stepbrother Romance Read online

  He gives a smile and I can tell that it has been forced.

  I’m sitting right across from him so I’m able to observe him from beneath my lashes.

  He is gripping his fork tightly. I can tell because his knuckles are white. He seems to be shoving down a bitter expression.

  My brows furrow. Wondering what his problem is. I shake my head slightly. He is so unpredictable. That much I have already learned in the hours we have been here.

  “Well isn’t that a great story to tell the kids,” he says. I raise my eyebrows and shoot him a pointed look.

  My grandmother joins in the conversation, “That is indeed a funny story. Alice, dear, last we spoke, you started a new job. How is that going?”

  “It’s great, Grams. I absolutely love it. I’m enjoying my independence too. I’m a working girl with her own apartment and everything,” I gush happily. Grams has always been capable of getting me to share. Where I am usually reserved around everyone else, I chat nonstop as soon as she asks me a question. “And pretty soon I will be married,” I beam.

  I ignore the irritated glance that Damon throws my way.

  I refuse to let him put a damper on my happiness.

  My grandmother smiles. “I’m so proud of you, my love. Your father would be proud as well.”

  I smile sadly. “Thanks, Grams. I think so, too.”

  “I can’t believe it’s been so long since I have seen you, Alice. You graduated college and have already started working. What kind of work do you do?” Damon asks.

  I manage not to roll my eyes and ask him why he is suddenly so interested in my life. Instead I smile sweetly, “I’m an analytical chemist for a pharmaceutical company.”

  He smiles. “You always were a smart girl. I’m proud of you too.”

  I glance at him. I become a bit uncomfortable because I see that he is being genuine.

  “Thank you, Damon.” I say softly.

  I catch my mom smiling at Jared. They are probably just glad that Damon and I are in the same room and we seem to be getting along.

  “How is your job going by the way? You are still working in Michigan I assume?” I ask.

  He nods. “I am and it’s alright.”

  “Oh you are way too modest, son.” Jared says. He turns to me, “He is already the CEO of the company he works for. Can you believe that? In just three years. He is a wolf in the boardroom.”

  He’s a wolf outside of it too.

  I smile at the pride shining in Jared’s eyes. “Your dad is right, Damon, you are being too modest. That is pretty impressive. You must be really great at what you do.”

  His lips curve slightly and he shrugs. My eyes move to his left hand. The presence of the very expensive Rolex gripping his wrist has been explained.

  I remain silent for the rest of dinner. Chatter bounces around the room, but I am only half paying attention. My mind is caught up with thoughts of Damon and his words.

  I will have you before the night ends.

  The words echo in my head.

  I am pissed that he so confidently uttered those words and I am afraid that he had every right to be confident.

  I am ashamed to admit, even to myself, that I still want him just as much as I did before he shattered my world and broke my young, fragile heart.

  I sneak a glance at the man occupying my thoughts but my gaze collides with his.

  He smirks over his wine glass and I quickly look away, reaching for my own glass. I need to drink down some liquid courage—or thought silencer—rather than drink in the man who can overtake my body when I only think of him.

  He says that he'll have me by the end of the night? He has me now.

  Chapter Six

  “Are you sure you don’t want to stay a little while longer?” I ask, leaning against the door of my room. “I can go downstairs for a bottle of wine.”

  He exits the room to stand in the hallway. “I can’t, babe. I’m a bit jetlagged. Plus, do you know how hard it is for me to be in your room and not be able to touch you?”

  I move closer to throw my arms around his neck. “But you can touch me,” I pout.

  He sighs and gently pulls himself from my embrace, “You know what I mean, Aly.”

  I look down to study the blue carpet. “I’m sorry, Rich.”

  He lifts my chin with gentle fingers. “No need to apologize babe. I respect you and your wishes.”

  I smile. “I love you Rich, you are so amazing. Alright go and get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Love you too, Aly.” He places a soft kiss on my lips and walks to his door. He turns to give me a wink before disappearing and locking the door. I let out a deep sigh and sag against the wall. I lean my head backward and close my eyes. I hope that Richard’s patience doesn’t wear thin waiting on me. I have expressed that I wish to abstain from sex until we get married. I am twenty-three and I am still a virgin. I’m not entirely sure why I haven’t slept with Richard yet, but the timing has just never felt right. I just assume that I will feel better about sex once we are married. If we ever get married.

  “Do you really love him?”

  I jump at the sound of Damon’s voice. My eyes fly open.

  I glare at him. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I straighten and pull my robe tighter. “My relationship with my fiancé is none of your business.” I eye him. “Were you eavesdropping?”

  He shrugs. “I couldn’t help overhearing. My door was open.”

  I snort in disgust. “If you will excuse me, I’m heading downstairs for a drink.”

  He holds up his hand, revealing a bottle of scotch. He grins. “No need for you to make the journey.”

  I roll my eyes and accept the offered bottle. I turn and walk into my room to plop down on the bed. He follows me in and closes the door. I frown when I see him turn the lock. “I don’t remember inviting you in.”

  “Well you took my bottle of scotch and I want it back, so I had no choice but to follow you.”

  I grunt, taking a swig from the bottle. I wince and shudder as the liquor burns its way down my throat.

  I hold the bottle out to him and watch him saunter in my direction. He is only wearing a sleeveless, skintight undershirt and sweatpants that hang low on his sculpted hips.

  I stifle a groan. The man is sex on legs and always has been.

  He moves toward my bed and sits. “I noticed how much wine you consumed during dinner Alice. I hope you haven’t taken to drinking, it’s not very healthy.”

  I glower at him. “Says the man drinking an entire bottle of scotch.”

  He lets out a laugh. “Touché.”

  I sigh. “I’m not a drinker. I just drink a little extra when I am stressed.”

  “What has you stressed Alice?”

  You.

  “That’s none of your concern.” He doesn’t need to know that he is the reason I am on edge.

  He gets up and reaches across me to set the scotch bottle down on the night stand. “I know exactly why you are drinking, Alice. You have been thinking about what I said earlier, and you are worried.”

  I swallow hard. Since when did he develop the skill to read minds? I flip my hair and scoff. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  He chuckles softly, “Oh, Alice, you have the reputation of being an ice queen, never showing any emotion. But if you only knew how transparent you are right now...”

  I am aggravated that he has bought up my past. I haven’t been called an ice queen in a while. The old name causes hurt to flicker inside of me. My miserable high school years comes rushing back and I am that sad and friendless little girl again. I avert my gaze. “You should go,” I say, nodding toward the door. He must have seen the hurt in my eyes because he takes hold of my chin and forces me to look at him.

  “I wasn’t calling you an ice queen, Alice. I know better than anyone else that you are anything but,” he says softly. “The way you respond to me is extraordinary.”

  My pulse is speedi
ng up. I drag my chin from between his fingers. “You need to get out of my room, Damon.” I almost raise my voice but remember that Richard is right next door. “Please just go,” I plead softly.

  “I don’t think you really want me to, Alice.”

  “I—”

  My words are abruptly cut off when he pulls me onto his lap and places his lips over mine.

  I immediately respond to his touch by winding my arms around his neck. I blame my instant surrender on the alcohol that I have been consuming all night.

  Deep down, I know that the alcohol is not to be blamed. I actually want this. I always have. Even after he hurt me with his cruel prank, deep down I never stopped wanting him.

  No man has ever invoked such passion in me—not even the man I am supposed to marry.

  He shifts me on top of him and I am straddling his thighs. He reaches up a hand to bury it in my loose hair. His mouth devours mine, moving more roughly with every second. He releases my lips to feather kisses down my neck. I feel his erection pressing against my lower abdomen.

  I rub against him, wanting to feel the hardness between my thighs.

  He lets out a soft moan. “I want you Alice. I’m going to make you mine.”

  My rational thoughts begin to seep in. I pull away. “N-no we can’t. Richard is right next-door.

  He places a finger against my lips.

  “To hell with Richard—you should have been mine,” he growls. The possessive note in his voice takes me by surprise.

  What does he mean I should have been his? I draw back and tilt my head to study him. He probably doesn’t even realize what he has said. People say things they don’t mean in the heat of the moment all the time.

  “But Damon you’re my stepbro—” A hard kiss stops me mid-sentence.

  He pulls away. “Don’t even say it, Alice. The things I am going to do to you are in no way brotherly.”

  I shudder in anticipation at the rough tone of his voice and the feral look in his eyes. Desire pools in my core. All rational thoughts flee once again. I am lost. I want him to make me his.

  He moves swiftly and I find myself pinned beneath him.

  I stare up into his eyes, “Take me, Damon,” I whisper.

  He gives a satisfied growl and rips my robe open. He draws in a sharp breath when he discovers that I am completely naked underneath. He slowly removes the material from my body.

  I begin to feel insecure. I instinctively lift my hands to cover my nakedness.

  He catches them. “Don’t, I want to see you.” His gaze slides lazily down the length of my body. “You’re beautiful,” he whispers hoarsely.

  I shake my head. “I’m not.”

  His forehead creases. “Why don’t you think you are beautiful, Alice?”

  I shrug. “I-I guess I’m too thin and tall and you—well you weren’t really attracted to me three years ago, or ever for that matter.”

  Regret flashes in his eyes. “I never said you weren’t attractive.”

  “But—”

  “If only you could see yourself through my eyes,” he whispers.

  I stare at him, utterly speechless. If it’s possible, I have fallen even more in love with him.

  He lies down, stretching his long body out beside me. He cups my breast and I gasp. I nearly catapult off the bed when he takes a nipple into his mouth. I am about to cry out but I remember that Richard is asleep next door. Guilt assails me, but quickly vanishes when I feel his warm breath on my most private place. I freeze and my eyes widen. “Damon, what are you doing?”

  He responds by flicking his tongue over my clit. “Oh my God,” I moan. I am flushing from head to toe, totally embarrassed. I lift myself up on my elbows and peek at him shyly. “Damon, no, this is weird. I’ve never done this before.”

  He frowns, “Has he really never pleasured you like this before Alice?”

  I swallow hard, not sure how to tell him that the furthest I have ever gone with Richard is kissing. “Er-no.”

  “Relax. Let me show you how it can be.”

  His tongue darts out to lick my sensitive bud again and I fall back onto the bed. My back arches as he expertly pleasures me with his tongue.

  My breaths come out in shallow gasps and I writhe on the mattress. The sensation is almost too much for me to handle and I try to escape.

  His hands pin my hips down.

  I let out a groan, trying desperately to remain quiet. A strange sensation erupts inside of me and my entire body convulses. Holy crap. I have just experienced my first orgasm.

  Before I can come down from the sky, I hear something being ripped open. I look up to see Damon standing completely naked, unrolling a condom over his hardness. I openly admire his male beauty. I take into memory every chiseled and toned body part. My eyes drift downward to his impressive length and I gulp. He still doesn’t know that I am a virgin. I want to tell him, but I am too embarrassed. The last time we were in this position I admitted it to him. But the fact that it is years later and I am engaged, he must assume that I am experienced.

  He looms over me and I am hypnotized by his lustful gaze. “I finally get to have you Alice,” he murmurs.

  My breath hitches in my chest. His words imply that he has been longing...for me. But how can that be? I don’t get the chance to follow my thoughts any further because I'm following him from the high of my first orgasm to my hunger for my first time. I want him with a powerful lust that I've never known. It has gripped me tighter than anything I have ever felt before, and I can barely breathe, much less think.

  I feel his erection press against my softness and he pushes forward.

  I let out a shriek as sharp pain pierces my lower half.

  He freezes and lets out an expletive. His eyes widen and he looks down at me in disbelief and a touch of confusion. “Alice what the hell…”

  I peek up at him guilty. I am ashamed and afraid that my virginity will scare him away. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I-I was embarrassed,” I say weakly.

  “Damn it, you should have said something. I would have been more careful. And it’s nothing to feel embarrassed about. As a matter of fact, I’m glad.”

  “Y-you are?” I shyly reach up to run my fingers along his jaw. “I don’t want you to stop.”

  He grins, a look of pure male satisfaction on his face. “Hold on to me, Alice.” I wrap my fingers around his bulging biceps as he eases into me once more. The pain that I feel dissipates with each of his slow movements. My tight muscles grip his length and all I feel now is the strange sensation of being filled and the unadulterated pleasure that feeling brings. I moan and arch into him. The pace of his hips increases causing my pleasure to escalate.

  I arch into him. “Damon,” I moan in his ears.

  “Yes, baby. I have wanted to hear you moan in my ear for so long now.” He captures my lips, swallowing another soft moan that escapes. He lifts his head to peer down at me. “You are mine in every way, Alice. Mine alone.”

  “Yes,” I breathe. In that moment I can’t even analyze his words or question the meaning of my own. I am incapable of any sane thoughts, but with Damon I cannot lie. Not with him inside me. Not when he is holding me so tenderly, and I’m being taken by him so roughly all at once. The tension starts to build inside of me again and I know that I am about to explode. My body bows and releases. I grip Damon tightly. My nails sink into his skin. The orgasm that passes through me is even more intense than the one before.

  He lowers his head to muffle my scream with his mouth. I feel his body shudder on top of me as he reaches his peak seconds after me. He collapses on top of me but quickly rolls off, leaving me feeling empty.

  “Don’t go,” I mumble, hardly able to form the words but desperately needing to call him to me and to cling to him. I finally have him and I don't want to let him go. I don't want him to let me go.

  “I’m too heavy.”

  We lay in silence, our heavy breathing mingling and filling the otherwise silent ro
om.

  I finally come down from my high and the guilt that I was feeling begins to seep back into my mind. I have betrayed Richard in the worst way. The worst part is, Damon didn’t force me into anything, I actually asked for it and it was amazing. I have never felt anything like what I felt with Damon before. What am I going to do now? Tears spring up in my eyes and spill over my cheeks. I feel like the worst person on the face of the earth.

  Damon finally sits up. “That was incredible.”

  When he gets no answer from me he reaches for me, and I am turned around to face him. He looks horrified. “What is it? Did I hurt you?”

  I shake my head and his shoulders relax but concern is still on his face.

  He wipes at my tears with gentle fingers and that makes the tear flow even more. “Then what is it, Alice? Talk to me.”

  “Richard is right next door,” I sob. “What we just did was wrong.” I lift my hand up to study the gold band with a solitary diamond embedded in it. The ring represents commitment, trust, and love—all of which I have just thrown out the window because I couldn’t resist Damon.

  He wipes a hand over his face, “Don’t marry him. Break off the engagement.”

  I stare at him, horrified. “Do you really think it’s that easy? I do love him, you know.”

  But think I love you more.

  Good grief, I am one messed up individual. Richard has been nothing but loving, understanding, and kind to me and I love the man who I had vowed to hate, who has wounded me in the past, more than him.

  Damon clenches his jaw. “So you just had amazing, passionate sex with me and you are still going to marry him? You haven’t even slept together for crying out loud. How hard can it be to tell him you don’t want to marry him?”

  “How do you know I don’t still want to marry him?” I ask, quickly getting irritated.

  “If you loved him like you say you do, you wouldn’t come undone so easily with just one touch from me. You wouldn’t give me the one gift that you were saving for your wedding night.” His eyes bored into mine.

  I simply stare at him. I have nothing to say because he is absolutely right. I let out a sob and he pulls me to his chest.