Step by Step Love: The Complete Collection (2 page)

Jacquelyn was pacing back and forth in her living room, seething. She had just spent ten thousand dollars to bail her daughter out of jail for the second time in a month. Veronica was seated on the sofa, her eyes fixed on the floor. Her head ached and she had the urge to vomit, despite detoxing in a holding cell for several hours.

“How could you be so irresponsible?” Jacquelyn scolded. “I let you stay in my home, you degrade it. I get you a job, you make a joke out of it. I bail you out of jail once, you land yourself in there again two weeks later. What the hell am I supposed to do? You're
twenty-seven
for God's sake, Veronica! I'm not going to be around forever to fix your mistakes, you know.”

“Mum, can't this wait until my hangover is gone?” Veronica grumbled, rubbing her head.

“No, it can't wait!” Jacquelyn snapped. “I didn't emigrate from England with twenty dollars in my pocket for you to be a bum on my couch until the day I die!”

“What are you going to do, then? Throw me on the streets?” Veronica retorted.

“Sounds good to me,” Ted replied from his place in the recliner, flipping the page in the newspaper he was reading.

“Shut up, Ted, I'm handling this,” Jacquelyn yelled. “You have one week to get a job and get the hell out of this house.”

“But—”

“No, Veronica. I mean it,” Jacquelyn interjected, pointing a finger at her.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Jacquelyn narrowed her eyes and wagged her finger at Veronica.

“You...don't move a muscle, young lady,” she said, walking towards the front door.

“I'm not fifteen!” shouted Veronica, rubbing her forehead.

“You're right, fifteen-year-olds are smarter,” murmured Ted, flipping the page of the newspaper again.

Veronica gave him a dirty look.

“Hey, Jacquelyn,” a deep voice said.

Veronica craned her head to see who it was and her face flushed. The visitor was none other than her stepbrother, Ryan. Not only did she have a bizarre attraction to him, but she also felt like she was consistently in a competition with him. Both her mother and Ted bragged about him, tirelessly. He owned his own business, owned a home, and even drove a luxury vehicle that he paid for by himself. Veronica could not even find a job, was kicked out of her ex-husband's home, and inherited her late father's sports car. She sighed and prepared herself for the comparisons to begin.

“What a pleasant surprise,” Jacquelyn said, leading Ryan into the living room. “Look who it is!”

Ted chuckled and stood to embrace his son.

“Son! What brings you into the neighborhood?” he asked.

“Hey everyone, hey Veronica,” Ryan said, breathlessly, flashing her a smile.

Her heart skipped a beat.

“How's the firm?” Ted asked, patting Ryan's shoulder.

“Well, it's been great and all,” Ryan said, “but I lost my secretary yesterday and I've been trying to balance my own paperwork until I find a new one. You'd be surprised how hard it is to find a good secretary in Manhattan that isn't already working somewhere.”

Ryan sat down on the opposite side of the sofa from Veronica.

“Can I get you some tea?” Jacquelyn asked. “Or a beer? Scotch?”

“How come
he
gets to drink?” Veronica sneered.

“Because
adults
get to drink,” Jacquelyn snapped.

Ryan looked from Jacquelyn to Veronica, a confused expression on his face.

“I didn't interrupt something, did I?”

“No,” Ted replied, dryly, sitting back down in his recliner. “Your stepsister just ran her car into a fire hydrant again.”

“Again?” Ryan asked with a chuckle. “This has happened before?”

“The first time wasn't my fault—” Veronica murmured, trying to defend herself.

“Yeah, those fire hydrants will jump right in front of you if you aren't careful,” Ted muttered.

“Ted, he doesn't want to hear about that,” Jacquelyn said. “You said you lost your secretary, Ryan? What happened?”

“She died,” he replied.

“Oh dear, that's terrible,” Jacquelyn replied. “What happened to her?”

“Well, she was eighty-six and had glaucoma so that probably had something to do with it,” Ryan answered, scratching the back of his head.

“Veronica is looking for a job. Maybe she could be your secretary,” Jacquelyn suggested.

“Jacquelyn, don't stick the poor boy with that dumbass,” Ted retorted. “Trust me, son, you don't want her to work for you.”

Veronica frowned. Ryan noticed out of the corner of his eye and chose to challenge his father. He always felt obligated to stand up for his stepsister, despite all of her mistakes.

“Maybe I will hire her,” he said, winking at her. “What do you say, girl? Wanna give it a trial run?”

Veronica did not want to work, but she saw her mother out of the corner of her eye. She was mouthing the words “one week.” Veronica let out a heavy sigh.

“I guess so,” she replied. “You think I could get a cash advance for some rent?”

Ryan gave his father and his stepmother a questioning look.

“Dad, you aren't letting your own family pay rent, are you?” he asked.

“No,” Jacquelyn replied. “We're making her get her own apartment. She has to learn to be a responsible adult one day and she's not doing it by sitting on our couch.”

“Isn't that a little harsh?” Ryan asked, making a face.

“
You
try living with her,” Ted murmured.

“Maybe I will,” he replied, flashing Veronica another smile. “Need someplace to crash until you can find a new place?”

“Not if you give me that cash advan—” Veronica started.

“Of course she will stay with you,” Jacquelyn said, flashing her daughter a glare. “Don't give her any cash advances. It'll go straight to booze.”

“Wow, Mum, thanks for the self esteem boost,” Veronica murmured. “I don't want to have to move my things, and then have to move my things again once he kicks me out... Isn't it just all a bit of a hassle?”

“Do you think you're going to find an apartment in the city within the week that you can afford? Good luck,” Jacquelyn scoffed. “It's settled. You're going to go stay with your brother for awhile and your stepfather and I can finally have some alone time.”

She smirked and got a twinkle in her eye, eyeing her husband.

“You're literally kicking me out so you can
fuck?
Real awesome parenting,” Veronica murmured. “Fine! Ryan and I will have more fun than you guys. You're going to be bored without me.”

“I really doubt you'll be having more fun than us, dear,” Jacquelyn said, coyly.

“If you do, they'll be making one of those porno movies about it,” Ted murmured. “That was a joke. I'm not condoning having sex with her. Don't do that.”

“Yes, because I needed my father to remind me,” Ryan replied, sarcastically.

***

Veronica plopped the last box of her things on the floor of her new bedroom and looked around the room. Ryan's house was much smaller than her mother and Ted's, but she knew it was better than a studio apartment in the Bronx. There was a computer desk in the corner of the room and beside it was a filing cabinet.

He moved me into his office?
she thought to herself.
He's rich. Shouldn't he at least have a guest bedroom?

Ryan walked into the room, and looked around the room. His torso was exposed; he had taken his shirt off to help her move boxes. He ran a hand through his thick, dark hair and sighed. Veronica jumped a little bit because he had surprised her. She turned on her heel and raised her eyebrows with a weak smile, swallowing nervously as his dark eyes met hers. Her face flushed and he scratched the back of his neck, averting his gaze.

“Sorry about, uh, you know, not having a real bedroom for you,” he murmured. “I know you're used to everything being a little nicer, but I'm in the middle of renovations and—”

“It's fine,” she interjected, straightening her skirt and siting on the bed. “I mean, where else was I going to go?”

He nodded and sat next to her. He cleared his throat.

“Yeah, I don't know why they tried kicking you out,” he replied. “Divorce isn't easy. They shouldn't be as tough on you.”

Veronica sighed and blew a strand of her white blonde hair out of her face.

“Honestly, I can't blame them,” she admitted, putting her hands in her lap. “I'm a loser. I haven't had a job since my divorce, I mean, until you pitied me enough to hand me one. I haven't owned my own apartment or my own house. Hell, I haven't even tried. I've been arrested for DUI and reckless driving more than once. The only men that have any interest in me are creepy married men that my stepdad work with. I'd probably kick me out too.”

She frowned and her nose twitched, nervously. Sometimes, it was difficult for her to admit how much she had ruined her life. Despite her intelligence, she had allowed her sense of entitlement and depression to rule her entire existence. It was not something of which she was proud, but Ryan knew everything about her. There was no reason to hide from someone that knew the truth. She could not exactly defend herself when he already had all the evidence he needed to condemn her behavior.

Ryan took a deep breath and slowly touched her hand. She looked up at him, surprised, but after a moment, she laced hers with his. His touch was comforting and she knew that her silly schoolgirl crush was not anything that he would reciprocate. He was offering her the brotherly consolation that she craved. Nobody had comforted her in a very long time. She smiled at him.

“I think...I think you're too hard on yourself,” he said, softly, rubbing her palm with his thumb. “And, whether you believe me or not, I didn't give you the job because I pity you. I gave you the job because you're good company and you're smarter than you give yourself credit for. I don't know many people that could put Medieval Latin on their resume.”

He chuckled softly and his eyes dark eyes met her blue ones. Slowly, he pulled his hand away from hers and brushed some of her blonde hair from her face, his eyes exploring her features. Veronica blushed and chewed on her lip, looking away from him.

“Good company? Really?” she inquired, nervously.

“Yeah, I mean, plus it never hurts to have a hot assistant,” he replied with a chuckle. He cleared his throat and pulled his hand away from her face. “I mean...it's a business thing.”

“You think I'm hot?” she asked with a nervous laugh.

“I mean, if we weren't related and—I need to just learn to keep my mouth shut.”

He cleared his throat and got to his feet, looking around the room nervously. He began to walk away, but Veronica seized his hand. He turned on his heel and looked at her with an anxious expression.

“I mean...we aren't really related,” Veronica replied in a careful voice, pulling him down to sit beside her. “It's...natural. Right?”

Ryan gulped, nervously, sitting next to her quite closely. She played with his fingers for a moment and he felt his stomach contort in knots. His eyes met hers again and he chewed on his lip, unsure whether or not their situation was acceptable. Although they did not have any blood relation, relationships between stepbrothers and stepsisters were frowned upon by most. Nevertheless, he was incredibly attracted to her.

“What do you think people would say?” he asked, quietly. “I mean, not that anything is going to happen, but—”

“Why would anyone have to find out?” she replied, running her hand up his thigh. “Why deny yourself something that you want?”

He began to breathe heavily as her hand drew near his manhood. Her blue eyes intoxicated him, and without thinking, he pulled her face towards his and pressed his lips to hers. She reciprocated the action, tangling her tongue with his. They were finally releasing years worth of repressed sexual tension.

Veronica began pulling her top off and Ryan pulled away from her, nervousness evident in his expression. He scratched his head and bit his lip.

“Should we be doing this? I mean...”

“I don't know, you tell me,” Veronica murmured, squeezing the bulge in his trousers.

A moan fell from his lips and he hurriedly unbuckled his belt. Veronica smirked and finished pulling off her top, showing off her leopard print brassiere. Ryan's eyes traveled to her, massive, firm breasts, as he impatiently kicked off his pants.

Veronica began pulling her skirt off and quipped, “Thank Marcus for those.”

“Thank you, Marcus,” he breathed, running his hand along the fabric of her bra to unhook it.

The bra fell to the floor and her large, tan breasts were exposed. Ryan gulped and his eyes traveled up and down her frame. She only wore a small, black thong, and he could hardly wait to get it off her. He began kissing her neck and massaged her breasts for a moment before running one of his hands down her body. Understanding his body language, she reached towards him and slipped a hand in his boxers to lightly cradle his testicles. He groaned and began rubbing her through her lacy thong. She moaned at his touch.

“Oh, Ryan,” she breathed, “that feels so good.”

“Good,” he murmured against her neck. “I think you should take that off though.”

“I'll show you mine if you show me yours,” she muttered, coyly.

“Deal,” he whispered.

He pressed his lips against hers and slowly removed his hands from her body. She pulled off her thong as he pulled off his boxers and the pair sat beside one another, entirely exposed and vulnerable. They found it exhilarating.

Hungrily, Ryan kissed down Veronica's body and wrapped his lips around her erect nipple. She groaned and lay back, pulling him down with her. His fingers danced along her flesh and she shivered as his touch grew close to her womanhood once more. Suddenly, he found her clitoris and a loud moan fell from her lips. He pulled his mouth away from her breast to smirk up at her.

“Will you...?” she asked, shyly, sticking her tongue out and wiggling it.

He nodded and began kissing down her form until his tongue found her womanhood. She groaned in pleasure as his tongue quickly rubbed her clitoris. After a moment, he ran his tongue down a little further and penetrated her warmth with it. He began rubbing her clitoris with his fingertips and wiggled his tongue inside of her. She screamed in pleasure and arched her spine as he buried his face in her womanhood. He pulled away and looked up at her.

“Are you ready?” he murmured.

She nodded and he pulled himself up to hover above her for a moment. He balanced himself on top of her as he spit in a hand. Veronica chewed on her lip as she watched him coat his manhood with the saliva. Then, he pushed his throbbing manhood towards her feminine, pink opening and penetrated her with his head. They moaned in unison.

“You're so tight,” he groaned.

“I don't care. I want more,” she begged. “Please.”

With a moan, he pushed more of himself inside of her and began rocking his hips against hers. She emitted a scream of pleasure and sunk her nails into his back. He grunted as she dragged him down his spine and hungrily wrapped his mouth around her nipple again. She reached for her other breast with one of her hands and closed her eyes. Her mouth fell open as he pleasured her with each thrust.

“It might be a little fast,” he admitted. “It's been awhile.”

“That's fine,” she breathed. “I'm about to come anyway.”

“Come for me,” he pleaded, exploring her insides faster and faster. “Please, Veronica.”

She moaned, finding herself strangely aroused at his choice of pet name for her. Her muscles tightened around him and her eyes widened. Rubbing her breast as hard as possible, she chewed on her lip to muffle her sounds of pleasure. Suddenly, her muscles tightened around his throbbing erection and she pushed her hips towards his. She stifled a scream and her eyes rolled into the back of her head, but he did not stop.

“Let's see that happen again,” he suggested, breathlessly.

He rotated his tongue around her nipple in sync with his hips, which he rotated in order to feel every part of her inner walls. A groan fell from both of their lips and she put her fingers in her mouth. After removing them, she reached down to rub herself and let out a soft moan. Ryan pulled away to look down at her pleasuring herself and the image was becoming too much for him to handle. His manhood stiffened and Veronica opened her mouth in the shape of the letter “O.”

“I'm getting close again,” she admitted, rubbing herself faster. “Come with me, baby.”

Breathing heavily, he nodded, creating more friction between their bodies. He hardened even more and her insides squeezed him even harder than it had the first time. She began moaning uncontrollably and his movements started to become sloppy.

“I'm going to come,” he breathed.

“Me too!”

Her insides tightened around him as much as physically possible and he released inside of her while she screamed. He collapsed on top of her, burying his face in her neck as their limbs intertwined in a sweaty heap. They both were breathing heavily, but smiles were etched upon their faces as they basked in the euphoria.

“Don't tell anyone,” he murmured with a laugh.

She chuckled and replied, “As long as you don't tell anyone.”

“Agreed.”

Veronica sighed and ran her hand through his hair.

“Things won't get weird, will they?” she asked, softly.

Ryan rolled over onto his back and frowned, wiping the sweat from his brow.

“I guess it'd only get weird if we made it weird. Why do you ask?”

“Just wondered,” she said. “I'm nervous about work tomorrow.”

“Why's that?” he asked, turning to look at her.

“Because I'm sleeping with my boss and people usually pick up on that kind of thing,” she replied with a laugh. “You aren't nervous at all?”

“No more nervous than I was trying to get in my stepsister's pants,” he retorted.

“Fair enough,” she replied, twiddling her thumbs and chewing on her lip. “So what happens now?”

“I guess we'll just have to wait and see.”

He pressed his lips to her forehead and she smiled.

They had a long, interesting ride ahead of them.