Vacation with my Stepbrother: A Forbidden Stepbrother Romance (3 page)

Mixed emotions filled me. On the one hand, I hadn’t left the country before. So one big item was about to be checked off of my bucket list. That part I was excited about. But on the other hand, I was getting sent to another country with the most arrogant, self-centered and sarcastic person to ever grace the Earth. And I knew that once we got there, he’d be finding every pretty girl in a swimsuit to hook up with and I’d have to sit in the beach house and listen to her squeals of pleasure as he pounded her. I knew this, because it had happened several times while living under our parent’s roof. He’d bring home a cute girl, pound her till the cows came home and then a few minutes later she’d leave, never to return. My stomach wretched at the thought of a trip filled with that.

“Well?” my mom asked. “What do you guys think?”

I brought my gaze toward Danny, whose smile had grown significantly.

“It’s going to be the best trip ever, Victoria,” he said to my mom. “A beach, a house, the nice weather...what’s not to love? Oh, and getting to enjoy some special bonding time with my baby sister? That’ll be priceless!”

Danny’s green eyes gleamed as he spoke and my stomach wretched hard once again. He knew that I hated it when he called me his “baby sister”. He said it just to piss me off. A long trip with him had the potential of turning into a horrific nightmare.

“Well, what do you think, Nikki?” my mom asked.

I looked away from Danny, bringing my attention to my mom. She seemed so excited about the trip that she had arranged for us. I didn’t have the heart to disappoint her. So I smiled wide, nodded in agreement and did my best show my excitement.

“I think it’ll be great, Mom!” I said. “It’ll be so nice to have a real vacation.”

A satisfied smile crossed her face as she responded, “Great. Well, you guys leave tomorrow morning, so after dinner you should start getting packed.”

Tomorrow morning???

––––––––

A
fter dinner, I went directly to my bedroom to begin packing. I couldn’t believe that we’d be leaving for Costa Rica the next morning. With such short notice, I didn’t have time to plan for anything. I needed to pick out what to wear, decide on which make-up I should bring and still find time to let my friends know that I’d be out of the country and unable to stay in touch for a while.

It was a long list of things to do and I didn’t have much time to do it in. But once I got to Costa Rica, I could sit back and relax for ten whole days. Yes, I was going to have to put up with Danny and his infinite sarcasm, but whatever. I could get through it. Danny was just a minor inconvenience in exchange for ten days of relaxation in the sun. It was more than a fair trade.

With my mind whirling about what to wear, I started to pack my suitcase. I filled it up more quickly than I thought I would, stuffing it with every swimsuit and bikini I had, extra shirts and jeans, and of course an array of different colored panties and bras.

In the room next to mind, I could hear Danny moving around. He had been away from his old bedroom for a while, so I assumed he was getting it back in order. I sat on my bed and listened as he hummed to himself. Then I began to wonder what the situation in Costa Rica was going to be like. My mom had said they had rented a house on the beach for us, but she didn’t know the exact set up of the home. However, I had hoped that there were two completely separate bedrooms on completely opposite sides of the house. That way, Danny and I could enjoy our little vacation without getting in each other’s way. He could do his thing, which I knew would involve heavy drinking and fornicating with strange women. And I could do mine, which would likely involve relaxing in a hammock, while drinking cocktails and reading a good book. A smile crossed my face as I imagined what the warm sun would feel like on my skin. I was just getting lost in the daydream, when my bedroom door flew open.

“Hey, little sissy,” Danny’s voice shattering my peace. “Are you all ready for our trip?”

“Oh, hey, Danny,” I said, as I opened my eyes and looked over at him. “Thank you so much for knocking.”

He just ignored me and stepped into my room, taking a seat next to me on the bed. He was wearing a long-sleeved shirt with the Marine’s logo on it. His legs were covered in grey sweat pants.

“I love you, too,” he responded, sarcastically.

Then he put his arm over my shoulder and pulled me close to him. At the same time, he used his other hand to rub the top of my head, messing my hair up.

“Goddammit, Danny!” I shouted, as I pushed him away. “I hate when you do that!”

I quickly stood up from the bed and walked over to the mirror that was hung above my dresser. He had frizzed my hair up, making me look ridiculous. I pointed at the door and shook my head.

“Out,” I commanded.

Danny just smiled and kicked his feet up, relaxing onto my bed. He put his hands behind his head and gazed at me. It was clear that he wasn’t going anywhere.

“Danny, get out,” I repeated.

He just pouted out his lower lip and said, “But sissy. Don’t you like it when there’s a stud in your bed? Oh, wait, you
never
have men in your bed. I forgot about that.”

The rage began to build inside of me. What he said may have been true, but it was also extremely insulting. Sure, I hadn’t had a real boyfriend in a year or so. But so what? I didn’t need to be getting laid non-stop like Danny did. I was perfectly content spending the nights by myself. It kept me out of trouble and also made for a completely drama-free life.

“Danny, just shut the hell up,” I snapped back. “You don’t even know what you’re talking about. I’ve been away at college for a year, so how would you know what I’ve been up to? On top of that, who are
you
to talk about getting laid over the past year? You’ve spent months in a barracks with a bunch of
men
. Unless maybe that’s what you’re into. Is there something you haven’t told me, Danny? Do you like men?”

He smirked sarcastically as he propped his head up with my pillow.

“You’re so cute when you try to be insulting,” he shot back. “You should do it more often. It looks good on you.”

I felt like screaming at the top of my lungs and slapping him across the face. But I didn’t. Because once again, for some unknown reason, that familiar tingling sensation coursed through me. It was the same sensation of attraction that I had experienced at the dinner table. Danny, with his tight shirt and sweat pants on—combined with the muscular figure that he had earned at boot camp. He looked hot and I hated it. I didn’t want him to look hot. I didn’t want to feel attracted to him.

What in the hell is wrong with me? Why am I having these feelings toward him?

I shook my head, trying to get those nasty thoughts out of my mind. Then I pointed to the door once again.

“Seriously, Danny,” I stated. “I’m trying to get ready for the trip. So please leave. You’ll have
plenty
of time to annoy me in Costa Rica. No need to use all of your energy up now.”

Danny laughed and then swung his feet over the side of the bed. He stood up and stretched, letting out a soft yawn.

“Yeah, you’re right,” he responded. “I should get my beauty rest. I want to make sure that I look good for our romantic getaway.”

He laughed as he spoke and I knew that he was joking, but I felt the dinner that I had just eaten start to come up into my throat.

“You’re disgusting,” I said. “Now go.”

After flashing his boyish smile one more time, he turned and finally headed out of my bedroom. I immediately walked over and closed the door, turning the lock this time so that he wouldn’t be able to make another intrusion.

“What a jerk,” I muttered, as I stepped back over to my bed.

The indent from Danny’s muscular body was imprinted on my covers, so I quickly used my hand to smooth it out. Then I crawled on the bed and rested my head on the pillow. As soon as my eyes closed, I slipped into a deep sleep, filled with dreams of Costa Rica, the sunshine and the sand between my toes. I had high hopes that it was going to be an interesting trip. However I had no clue just how
interesting
it was going to be.

––––––––

“T
his is your captain speaking. We will be landing in Costa Rica in less than thirty minutes. The seatbelt light will be on shortly, so now would be your chance to use the bathroom or get up and stretch. The weather in Costa Rica is a gorgeous eighty-six and sunny, with no wind. This should make for a smooth landing.”

The captain’s voice pulled me out of my sleep and I opened my eyes. I reached my hands above my head, attempting to stretch. Movement was nearly impossible, though, since I was squished in the center seat. On the window side was a rather robust man and in the aisle seat was my stepbrother, who was asleep and had been for most of the flight.

God, I have to pee.

I unbuckled and stood up from my chair. Then I turned to face Danny and carefully brought one of my legs over his. My foot touched the aisle and I found myself straddled over him. He was sound asleep, with his chest rising and falling as he breathed. My hands were on his seat, just above his shoulders. I paused in that position, but I didn’t know why. Then once again, the strangest thing happened. As I straddled him, I felt my body suddenly clench with desire. I found myself looking over Danny and not seeing the annoying stepbrother whom I had known for years. Instead, I saw just a man—a gorgeous, masculine man—nothing more and nothing less.

Suddenly, I wanted to taste him. I wanted to lean forward and kiss him. I felt like dropping my weight onto his lap and grinding my crotch against his. I wanted to do everything naughty to him all at once, right then and there. And the worst part was that I had no idea
why
I wanted any of these things.

No, Nikki. No! You’re sick in the head. This is your damn stepbrother you’re fantasizing about. What in the hell is wrong with you?

A second later, Danny opened his eyes. As soon as he noticed me, he sat up straight.

“What in the hell are you doing, Nikki?” he asked.

His words pulled me out of my fantasy. “Nothing. I was just trying to crawl over you so that I could go to the bathroom. I was trying to be considerate and not wake you up.”

“Whatever,” he said. “Well, I’m awake now. So go to the bathroom.”

I finished crawling over him and then started making my way down the narrow aisle. Danny chuckled to himself and my face flushed as I hurried toward the bathroom. I was so embarrassed. Not only had I straddled him for longer than was necessary to get to the aisle, but I had also gotten caught.

Welp. This trip just got awkward as hell.

Once inside the bathroom, I closed and locked the door. I looked into the mirror, watching as my face returned to a normal color. My heart was beating in my chest and I felt like throwing up right there. The thoughts of Danny were starting to make me feel weird. It was like I had no control over them. Certain situations were making me
want
him
so badly
. It was as though my lady parts had begun to take over the logical side of my mind. It scared the hell out of me.

“Get yourself together, Nikki,” I whispered. “You’ve
got
to snap out of this.”

After the little pep talk to myself, I quickly used the restroom and washed my hands. Then I unlocked the door and pulled it open. Standing in the small doorway with his hands above the top of the door, was Danny. He had a half smile and his green eyes gleamed from the fluorescent lights above.

“Come on, slow poke,” he said. “I’ve got to pee before we land.”

I rolled my eyes and then pushed past him. “Yeah, yeah.”

As soon as I stepped away from him, Danny grabbed my wrist. It stopped me in my tracks and I turned to face him.

“Are you doing okay, Nikki?” he asked.

As soon as those words came out of his mouth, it felt like the entire world grinded to a halt. Hell froze over as Danny, for the first time in his whole life, showed concern for somebody other than himself. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t heard it for myself.

“What?” I stated, needing to hear him ask me again.

“I asked if you were doing okay,” he repeated. “I heard you talking to yourself in the bathroom a few seconds ago. And you’ve been acting kind of strange around me lately. I mean I know you’ve always been a bit weird, but not like this. You’re different now. Ever since you went to college, it’s like something has changed in you.”

The shock of his concern continued to overwhelm me. But I was able to focus enough to give him a response. “Yeah, Danny. I’m fine. I think I’ve just been a little stressed or something. That’s why this vacation is going to be perfect for me.”

Danny kept his eyes locked with mine for a moment and then he shrugged his shoulders. “Okay. Then I’m glad you’re going to be getting some time off. Relaxing on the beach ought to do you some good.”

Then he stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. I was left standing in the aisle, shocked and overwhelmed by what I had just witnessed. The man who had spent his entire youth torturing me and making my life a living hell, had just shown genuine concern for my well-being. It was as though, for a fleeting moment, Danny was
not
the son of the devil.

That was...different.

After a few seconds of standing there in shock, I turned around and went back to my seat. Most people probably would have thought that Danny’s simple question of concern for me would have been trivial. But those people didn’t know Danny like I did. He
never
asked
anything
like that. It just wasn’t in his blood. For years, I was convinced that his only concern in life was getting laid or getting paid. But those few seconds in front of the bathroom on that airplane had me thinking otherwise.

Maybe Marine boot camp changed him more than I thought it had...

The seatbelt light above my head clicked on and the captain came back onto the overhead speaker.

“Attention, passengers. This is your captain once again. Just wanted to let you know that we will be making our final descent into Costa Rica. Please buckle up and make sure that your seats are in the full, upright position. Thanks again for flying and please enjoy your trip.”