Stepbrother Forever: A Stepbrother Romance (24 page)

I lean back into my seat, and
him into his, and we just look at each other. What the hell is happening? I
can’t fall for another player—a bad boy. He talks a good game, and fucking-A,
he can turn me on, but I just got caught up in the moment. This isn’t going
anywhere. I’ll just be another notch on his bedpost. I can’t let myself fall
for him like this.

“That was even better than I
thought it would be” Jayson says, breaking the silence.

“It was nice,” I say softly.
That’s all I can give him.

He quirks a brow. “Nice? I can
think of much better ways to describe it. Guess I’ll have to work on my moves.”

“You don’ t have to. I don’t
think that will be happening again.” I sound cold. Which is a feat, because I’m
still hot from that kiss.

“Why not? I thought it was
pretty fucking awesome, and I would love to see what the rest of your body is
capable of.”

“Number one, you’re a player.
Once you actually have me, you’ll move on to your next victim and I’m not
looking to get into a situation like that. Number two, you’re what? Twelve,
fifteen years older than me? Number three, my mother and your father are pretty
serious about each other. That makes us practically related, which makes ‘us’
just weird.” The effect of his kiss is wearing off and I’m getting my bearings
back.

“You shouldn’t be so quick to
judge. Number one, yeah—I love the ladies and I love to fuck, but that doesn’t
make me incapable of having feelings for a woman. And number two, I just turned
thirty-five, and even though I’m older than you, we are both adults and can
make our own choices. And number three, Miss Porter, even if our parents
decided to get married and live happily ever, after we wouldn’t be living under
the same roof. There’s nothing weird about it.” His voice holds such
conviction.

We sit in silence for what’s
left of the ride home. I can’t help think about what he said. Yes, we are both
adults, but I’m still considered a teenager and he’s in his mid-thirties and a
successful businessman. How would being together not seem strange?

That kiss, though. It was
magical, and the chemistry between us and the heat we created was real and raw.

But the fact remains that
Jayson is a player and my future stepbrother. It—we—just can’t be.

JAYSON

Chapter 8

I know it’s not in my head. The
signs Ashley’s been sending me are unmistakable. She may not want to admit it,
but she digs me. I know she feels the magnetism we have. Maybe it’s just sexual
right now, but I know it goes deeper. I know because I’ve never felt that with
any woman—ever.

How can she even try to deny it
after that kiss? She was screaming for more with every stroke of her tongue. If
we weren’t on the train, who knows how far we would have taken it? I need her
to understand my feelings are real. I don’t know a lot about her yet, but I
want to. I actually want to spend time with her and do fun things—things that
people in an actual relationship do.

And how can she think that just
because my father and her mother are in love, we can’t be? All the more reason
to believe what we feel is real. We’re all adults. Ashley seems mature for her
age, and no matter how old she is, I can’t help what I feel. I can’t let her go
without her giving me a real chance. I have to help her realize that we can
have something great together. I can’t let her go.

I need to kiss her again. I
need her to feel me again. I need to get her back to the forbidden place that
she doesn’t want to go so she can understand how real this is. I think that’s
the only way to break her down enough to get through to her. When she lets her
guard down, I know she feels it too.

I’m not giving up on her. I can’t. I can truly love
this woman. I already know that she is all I’ll ever need.

ASHLEY

Chapter 9

We exit the train and walk up
into to Penn Station. It’s late on a Saturday night so it’s somewhat busy,
complete with drunken barely-legals stumbling around, looking for their train
home.

We make our way up to the
street and I try to say goodnight and hail a cab. Jayson and I haven’t said
anything to each other since the kiss.

“Not a chance you’re going home
alone,” he tells me.

I roll my eyes. “I’m a big
girl. I’ve taken plenty of taxis. I’ll be fine.”

“Not on my watch, Ashley,” he
says as he gets in the backseat of the cab with me. I wish he wouldn’t say my
name. The sound of it coming out of his mouth is heavenly.

I tell the driver my address
and he takes off. I’m trying to leave enough space between Jayson and I so
there is no opportunity for us to touch—even accidentally. I have to physically
restrain myself from this man. He makes me feel like I have no control.

“Well, it seems we don’t live
too far from each other. Small world,” Jayson says, smiling at me.

“Too small, sometimes,” I
mutter. How is it that of all the men I see every day, this one may one day be
my stepbrother?

The taxi is at my building
already. I try again to say goodnight and leave without Jayson, but he pays the
driver and hops out behind me.

“What are you doing?” I ask
him, knowing very well what he’s trying to do.

“Just making sure you get home
safe and sound,” he replies.

“I am home. I have a few feet
left to walk to my door. You should have stayed in the cab. You’ll never get
one over here this time of night.”

“Hey, you can never be too
safe,” he says as I turn my back and start walking away. He grabs my hand and
pulls me around to face him. We’re dangerously close again. I take a step back
but he doesn’t let go.

“Ashley,” he says in a breathy
voice.
Oh my God, please stop saying my
name. I can’t take it.
“You can’t deny that there’s something between us. I
know you feel it.”

“I can. It doesn’t matter what
I feel. I already told you why I can
’
t
fall for you.” I avert my eyes. I can’t bear to meet his gaze.

“I think you already did,” he
whispers, and with that, Jayson puts his strong hands on my face and gently
pulls my mouth to his again. I try not to give in, but I have to concede. I
want him—all of him. It may be foolish, but I can’t resist.

Our bodies are pressed together
and his hands are on my back, pulling me tight against him. I feel his erection
against me and my knees grow weak. Our tongues are intertwined, and no matter
how deep our kiss is, it’s like we are trying to get closer and deeper. Jayson
slides his hands back up to my neck and rests his fingers in my hair and thumbs
on my cheeks. He slowly pulls away and I see his face is red and his lips are
swollen.

“Give me a chance, Ashley. I
promise I will make it worth your while.”

Strange thing is, I believe
him. Maybe I should give him a chance. Maybe he can change. All I know is that
kiss made me weak, and I want more.

“One chance, Jayson. You better
make it count,” I warn him as I kiss him on the cheek and start to walk to my
door. He begins to follow me, but I’m not playing his game. This is
my
turf.

I wait until he’s coming up the
stoop behind me to say, “Not tonight. I only kiss on the first date.” I smile and
he stops, a look of genuine surprise on his face as I open the door. “If you
want to prove yourself, you’re going to have to do better that sweet talk me
for a night and kiss me—no matter how good you are.”

I walk into my building with a
huge smile on my face. That took every ounce of strength I had. I wanted to rip
his clothes off and tear into him, but I can’t—not yet. I really like this guy,
and I believe he may really like me too, which means I can’t make it easy for
him. If he really thinks I’m worth it, he’ll prove himself. I press the
elevator button and wait for the car, still smiling.

————

I had a hard time falling
asleep last night and woke up late this morning. I took my time getting out of
bed and made a cup of coffee. While it was brewing, I sent Rachel a text to see
if she was awake yet and ask if she could talk. She’s probably with Chris, but
he’s cool and I don’t mind talking girl talk with him in the background. I also
texted my mother to let her know I was home and to thank her for last night. I
told her I really liked Tom and I was glad I got to meet him.

My coffee is ready, so I take
it over and settle in on my couch so I can call Rachel. She answers on the
first ring and it takes me over ten minutes to explain my day and night to her.
I rehash me and Michael breaking up, my mom’s boyfriend being Jayson’s father,
and then drop the bomb about me and my future stepbrother’s passionate kiss.

“That is crazy shit, Ashley!”
she replies when I finally finish. “I mean, it’s just crazy. And what are you
doing kissing that guy? He was such a dick! He’s also way older than you. And
he could be your brother one day! That’s… crazy!” she says again.

“I know it’s crazy,” I admit
with a sigh, “but we just have this connection. I tried not to acknowledge it,
but it’s there.”

“If you say so. He was
definitely a hottie, but be careful, Ash. You always seem to fall for the wrong
guy.”

“I know. I am being careful. I
ended the night with the upper hand,” I tell her, smiling as I remember my award-winning
goodbye.

We spend a little more time on
the phone chit-chatting. Rachel is excited for my mom and her relationship.
Spending so much time together growing up, Cynthia has always been like a
second mother to her. We enjoy a few minutes of gossip and small talk, and then
end the call.

I don’t have to work until the
afternoon, so I enjoy a lazy morning and catch up on some reading and laundry
before I get ready for work. I hear my phone signal that I have a text right
before I get in the shower. It’s Michael.

Ashley,
I’m sorry. I’d really like to talk to you.
I
erase it just like the last one. He fucked up and it’s over. There’s no reason
to talk.

I put the phone down and
continue into the shower. I mindlessly go through the same routine until I’m
ready to leave. I pick up my things, walk into the hallway, and lock the door
behind me.

It’s a typical Sunday afternoon
at work. We’re busy with families and friends gathering for a late brunch or
early dinner. Time passes as I go through the motions.

I am smiling at one of my
tables as I take their drink order when I glance at the man walking through the
door. It’s Jayson. I forget what I’m doing and start to trip on my words. I
look again and see he’s made his way to the bar.

What is he doing here? How did
he know where I worked? I wish I could see what I look like right now. I’m sure
the small amount of makeup I put on has worn off already and my hair must be a
mess. This is so unexpected and it’s making me anxious.

I can’t hide, so I have no
choice but to pull myself together and walk over to the bar to say hello and
get the drinks for my table.

“Fancy meeting you here,”
Jayson says with a smile, picking up his beer and taking a swig.

“Are you a stalker now?” I
joke. But seriously, what is he doing here?

Jayson shrugs. “Maybe.”

I decide to press him on the
matter. I don’t remember telling him where I work, and frankly, it’s a little
creepy. “How did you know where I worked?”

“I know people,” he says as he
winks.

“Right. And you came here because…?”

“Last night after you got me
all hot and left me standing there, I decided to cool off with a walk home. I
had some time to think of a good way to prove myself, so here I am,” he
answers. He knows he’s been just vague enough that I’ll ask him another
question. I can see the smugness in his eyes as he takes another pull from his
beer bottle.

I give in. I have to know. “So
you’re proving yourself by stalking me?” He laughs.

“Well, I thought it would be
nice to ask you on an official date,, but you didn’t give me your number. I
called my father and he asked your mother—one of the plusses of being
quasi-related I guess.” He smirks at how red in the face that makes me. “Then I
thought that instead of calling you, I would come here and ask you out in person.
Cool idea, right?” He is so proud of himself. He is trying to one-up me for my
goodbye last night.

“I’ll have to talk to my mother
about how freely she gives out my information,” I say, narrowing my eyes at
him.

“Your mother loved me the
moment she met me. Must run in the family. I can’t help it—it’s part of my
charm.” He’s on a roll now.

“Well, thanks for coming,” I
say as I take the tray full of drinks and walk toward my table. I know he’s
screwing with me, and to my surprise, this time I am enjoying it.

Jayson sits at the bar, nursing
his beer and cracking jokes with Sam. I go about my business trying to pretend
he’s not there so I can focus, but I keep stealing glances when I can. He is so
hot. There’s no better way to describe him. Every woman in here has stopped to
look at him, and I know he likes it. I notice he has another beer, so I guess
he’s planning to stay for a while. I finish up with the few tables I have left
and sit down across the bar to count out for the night.

He waits a minute and then
comes to sit next to me. Sam brings me a glass of wine. I take a sip and
finally look up at Jayson.

“So, this is our date?” I ask.

“Oh, no. I told you what a real
date with me would be like. I also don’t want to be ‘the other man,’ so I’ll
wait until you decide to leave your boyfriend” He’s giving me a hard look and I
realize he’s serious. Shit. I never told him the truth about me and Michael.

“We… broke up,” I sheepishly
reply. I hate saying it out loud.

Jayson smiles. “Well, that’s
convenient.” Then he flashes me a look of concern. “Are you okay? I honestly
didn’t believe there was a real boyfriend, but I can see you’re hurt.”

“I am. He cheated. It’s over. I
ended it when I found out, which happened to be the day we had dinner at my
mom’s house.”

Jayson looks like he doesn’t
quite believe me when I say I’m all right, but then he smiles. “His loss, my
gain. I guess I can ask you on a date, now that you’re single.”

I smile back. “I guess you
can.”

We sit for a moment, each
taking a long sips of our drinks. I’m twirling my glass in my fingers.

“Well?” I prompt him.

Jayson’s eyes are glittering in
that devilish way again. “Well what?”

My face and ears are burning.
“Are you going to ask me?” Jayson rolls his eyes in mock annoyance and gets off
his stool. He stands in front of me and takes my hand in his.

“Ashley Porter, will you have
dinner with me?” he asks as he kisses the top of my hand, overselling the
concept of him being a gentleman.

I roll my eyes right back at
him. “I guess so.” I know that secretly, we’re both enjoying the banter. I have
to admit that Jayson’s sense of humor is starting to grow on me.

We continue to talk and joke
with each other as we finish our drinks and I get my shift work done. There are
no more patrons left, just us and Sam and a couple of other employees who are
getting ready to leave. Jayson excuses himself and goes to the men’s room. Sam
walks over to my side of the bar.

“You look like you’re having
fun,” he says.

“I think I am.” That reply
surprises even me.

Jayson is striding back to the
bar, so Sam goes about cleaning the last of the mess that’s left. I slide my
glass to him so he can rinse it and be done. We toss the beer bottle in the
recycling bin and I say goodnight to the few coworkers left. Jayson and I head
to the door and exit into another beautiful summer night.