Текст книги "Vulture a Stepbrother Romance"

Автор книги: Emilia Beaumont

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 11 страниц)

8

Harvey

“There’s no way I’m going out with her,” I said after a minute.

“Oh, come on. It’s not like you to turn down a sure thing. Stop being picky and text her. I told her you would,” said Sadie.

I leaned back against my swivelling leather executive’s chair, my spine protesting as I stretched the muscles of my back. They were still aching after the lunchtime workout of front and back squats I’d managed to squeeze into my day. The ache was nice; I revelled in it, loving the way my body felt after a punishing set of heavy weights. It was almost akin to the feeling I got after pounding my cock into the sweetest pussy—almost, but not quite. A bit like the other night, I thought, remembering the cute little bartender who I’d used as a distraction. She hadn’t a tattoo or wayward piercing in sight. I’d worked my magic and been able to persuade her to drop her panties and let me take her up against the bar after closing. She’d squealed and held on tight, clutching the old-fashioned beer taps, occasionally grabbing too hard and letting the beer flow onto the sticky floor as I fucked her cunt.

I’d let my imagination run wild. She was the same height as Sara, the same heart shaped bottom… but the bartender wasn’t the real McCoy, and as much as I tried to pretend that the breasts I squeezed belonged to another, it was all just an illusion, a means to an end. A way to fulfil my fantasy without fucking up the growing relationship I had with my stepsister. And even thought we weren’t exactly on speaking terms at the moment, I couldn’t get her out of my head. It was probably best we’d had that fight; it had made me stay away. It should have given me the chance to cool down… but it was having the opposite effect.

Sadie tapped her pen against the pad she was holding, cutting through my train of thought and bringing me back. I groaned, my cock stiff beneath my desk from the memory. “David, put the girl out of her misery.”

“Let me look at her again,” I said and pulled up the dating site Sadie had insisted that I sign up to. She was determined to get me slice of the normal life, paired up and locked into a relationship forever. But I was happy as I was—what man wouldn’t be? Wasn’t I? Well, at least until the perfect specimen came along. Even then, would I ever consider giving up my bachelorhood?

“So, how long have you known this girl?”

“A few years. We went to uni together. Look if you don’t like her, all you have to do is tell her you’re busy. I’ll get shit from her, but what else is new? But she’s cute, no?”

I stared down at the woman’s picture and studied her slightly crooked nose, hooded lids and broad forehead. Definitely not my type, even if she was willing to spread her legs wide at my command. Freckles plagued her face, small and large, strewn over the curves of her cheekbones. My lip curled; even if I was looking for my everlasting mate right now, the woman on the screen was definitely not her. I had standards. I wanted someone perfect.

“You and I have very different definitions of cute.”

“I’d fuck her,” Sadie said sighing, her smile broadening as she recalled her college days. “But even after several shots and a couple pitchers of beer, she only ever had eyes for the lads, unfortunately.”

“She’s got freckles,” I said and shook my head. “She’s not my type, and I don’t want to waste my time dating her.”

“Fuck’s sake, Harvey, you’re not getting any younger, you know?”

I’d have fired anyone else on the spot for talking to me like that, but Sadie wasn’t just my assistant, she was practically my best friend and confidante. She meant well, and I wouldn’t trade her for the world.

With Sadie everything was easy. For over a decade she’d been by my side through thick and thin, and if it weren’t for her preference for woman, we would no doubt have fucked… and I would’ve probably ruined it all. No, even though sometimes I tell myself different, the kind of relationship I have with Sadie – the no fucking kind – was how it was supposed to be.

Finally giving up, Sadie got up from her chair and loomed over me, and if it weren’t for the determined look on her face, I would have laughed and pointed out that she couldn’t intimidate me. But I decided to keep my mouth shut and indulge her for a little longer.

“How about I set you up on a blind date instead? It worked out the last time,” she said.

“Barely,” I remarked. “The girl almost choked to death on my cock. And she wouldn’t swallow!”

“There’s more to life than getting your dick sucked.”

“How would you know? You don’t have one.”

“I bet my strap-on is bigger than yours!” she said with her hands upon her slim hips.

I almost spluttered out the coffee I’d just taken a sip of, but I recovered and got it down.

“Jesus, Sadie, keep saying shit like that and you’ll give me no choice but to bend you over this desk and punish you,” I said, watching her chuckle, her beautiful eyes full of mischief. My cock pulsed at the thought; she’d look beautiful riding the end of my dick.

She threw her head back and laughed, “Ah, Harvey, you’re just not my type.”

“Don’t you have work to do, anyway?” I said, eager for her to leave me; I had business to take care of. No point wasting a good hard on, I thought.

That got me a sigh.

“Yeah, fine. But tell me this, when are you going to settle down?” she challenged me.

I grinned. That was an easy question. “When I find the right woman. The perfect woman.”

“Suppose that mythical creature is not out there? What are you going to do?” Sadie continued.

“Easy. I’ll just keep fucking till I find her.”

She rolled her eyes and threw her hands up into the air in mock submission. “Have it your way; I give up.”

“Ah, but these little matchmaking sessions of ours are so much fun,” I said with a hint of sarcasm.

She turned solemn. “You’ll have to settle down one day, have a couple of little Harveys of your very own running around. It’s not like you’re not getting any younger.”

If only it were that easy.

“You make it sound like I’m ancient. But enough now,” my tone warned. I did not like the new direction this conversation was taking.

Sadie paused and studied my face. I averted my eyes and grabbed up a stack of papers that needed to be signed. She thought twice about continuing and made her way to my office door.

“Don’t forget you have a three o’clock meeting with Dave.”

I nodded, and Sadie left to go back to her desk. A beep sounded in the room. I stared down at my phone and reached for it. When I saw who the message was from, I quickly slid my finger across the screen to read it.

Sara: Is fish OK?

A smile broke out upon my face, and I typed my reply. It was actually quite sickening how much I was looking forward to seeing her again. Earlier today at the cafe it’d been good to see her with a happy glow and a smidgen more confidence. After our little fight I’d been furious. The things she’d said—and didn’t say—had gotten under my skin. She was holding onto something that had cut her deeply. I could tell by the haunting look in her eyes. And I knew I’d be there for her when the truth eventually tumbled out, but she had to make the first step. I didn’t even mind if I wasn’t me she told, but there didn’t seem to be anyone else, anyway. Anita was a useless excuse for a human being, and her mother… But she had to get rid of the poison she held onto before it rotted her from the inside.

Harvey: Fish sounds good. See you tonight.

And as an afterthought I added:

Harvey: Want me to bring anything?

A few seconds later Sara’s reply popped up onto my screen.

Sara: Just yourself x

I tucked my phone in my pocket and grabbed my jacket, ready for my meeting down the hall. I had to look at least somewhat professional, as I suspected another fat contract was about to land in my lap.

As I was about to pass Sadie’s desk she called out to me. “Harvey, what do you want me to do with this monstrosity?” Her thumb pointed back towards a smooth but ugly-ass crystal on a black plinth, the size of a grown man’s arm. It sat glinting on a desk next to the floor-to-ceiling windows behind Sadie.

“That’s the award?” I said in disbelief.

“Mhmm. Horrible, ain’t it?”

“You would’ve thought the Businessman of the Year deserved better than that ugly piece of shit.”

“Well? What do you want me to do with it?”

“Bin it, or take it home and use it as a dildo for all I care,” I said and walked away as Sadie let out the most unladylike bark of laughter.

“I might just do that!” she called after me.

The meeting went as I expected. David, my business partner, reluctantly handed over another hotel chain contract to me. He was pissed, but the client wanted me and my magic touch… so that’s what they got. He knew his time was nearly up, and someday soon I’d either buy him out or the board would get rid of him. But I kept him on, holding off on pulling his legs out from under him, as I liked our current setup. I got to do the fun stuff, organising the redesigns of the hotels, showing them how to run their business efficiently, visiting them and shagging the occasional maid while I was there. And David was chained to his desk, up to his eyeballs in the nitty-gritty. It was perfect.

With a bounce in my step I left the office early and walked to the parking lot. A few vehicles were scattered around the area, and cold wind lashed at my cheeks. I popped my collar and braced myself against the promise of snow.

Before arriving at Sara’s I stopped to grab a bottle of wine, something fancy and extraordinarily expensive. She was making me dinner; it was only right I let her experience a heavenly bottle of red, and I secretly hoped the rich liquid would stain her lips crimson.

I approached the house, going around the back instead of knocking on the front door. A window was propped open, and the delicious scent of a home-cooked meal filled the air. I inhaled the aroma deeply. It’d been a while since anyone had cooked for me. I normally relied on Sadie to grab me occasional food supplies, the majority of them requiring little to no effort—maybe some boiling water in a cup of dried noodles, or the protein bars I snacked on. I made small work of the porch steps and pushed open the unlocked back door.

“Sara, it’s me,” I said, loud enough for her to hear.

Footsteps padded against the upstairs floorboards as I heard her make her way towards the landing. I put the bottle onto the kitchen counter and waited for her to come down the hallway.

“You should really lock your back door, you know. Anyone could walk—” I took a sharp intake of breath as I saw her again for the second time that day. She wore a pair of faded indigo jeans that made her short legs look amazing and a simple white shirt that stretched tightly over her ample chest. Her outfit was a far cry from the thick woollen sweaters and shapeless trousers she used to wear.

As I looked from her bare feet, my eyes skimming over her thighs and shapely body and up to her messy bun, it puzzled me how it had taken me so long to really see her. Her figure was full of arcing curves that cinched in at her waist, a top-heavy hourglass that I couldn’t help but wish to see naked. I conceded, though, I’d settle to see her bend over in those jeans.

“You look nice,” I said. “Got a fancy date?”

She chuckled and pushed a hand at my chest, then reached up to pat at her hair as if embarrassed. “Don’t be silly, I look a mess. I just nipped up to get changed out of my work clothes. You don’t mind that I didn’t dress up?”

“Not at all, I meant it when I said that you looked nice.”

“Oh,” she replied and turned away from me, but I caught the pink colouring on her cheeks before she did.

“Sorry, I thought you were teasing me.” A slight hint of– what was it, embarrassment? No, more like apprehension—had entered her voice. Was she not used to compliments? Or perhaps she didn’t know one when she heard it. Eric surely would’ve showered her with loving pet names and whispered plenty of sweet nothings in her ear. Had she simply gone too long without one after his death?

“Well, I can do that, too, if you want,” I said to her back, admiring the roundness of her arse as she collected a tea towel from a bottom drawer.

“No, that’s OK. I’d rather you not.”

“Fair enough. You’re enjoying your new job, then?” I asked.

She came close. An intoxicating cloud of vanilla and coconut drifted up from her body and around my head. The delicious smell made all my receptors stand up and take notice.

Fuck, they weren’t the only thing standing up, I thought as my cock thickened, straining against the tight confinement of my suit trousers. I only hoped to god she didn’t notice. If she were any other woman, I’d gladly be wanting her to dip her gaze down to my crotch, enjoying the moment when her eyes inevitably widened with lust and excitement as she saw the outline of my need for her. But this was Sara, my stepsister, and though it would no doubt turn me on to have her looking at me like that, well, it wasn’t ever going to happen, so why even think it? I’d have to make do with lookalike bartenders instead.

Her mouth opened again. She’d said something, and I’d completely zoned out.

“Harvey,” she smiled and nudged me back to life, “I need to you move, you’re in the way. I gotta get the knives and forks.”

I gladly strode away, coughed, and took the opportunity to readjust myself as Sara busied herself behind me in the kitchen.

I heard the oven door open and resisted turning back around, not wanting to give myself any more impure thoughts of her perfectly shaped bottom filing out those jeans. I almost groaned. I needed to distract myself.

“Need any help?”

I risked a glimpse back into the kitchen, and Sara was thankfully back at the countertop. She smiled and shook her head. “Thanks, but not tonight. Just go sit down on the couch and relax. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”

I nodded, walked into the living room and let out a huge, pent-up breath.

9

Sara

“I hope you’re hungry,” I said to Harvey from across the heavy wooden dining table. He sat with the top two buttons of his work shirt undone, revealing a toned neck. He’d removed his light grey tie and stuffed it into the pocket of his jacket, which was now draped over the back of his chair.

“Starving,” Harvey replied. Barely visible wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkled as his mouth turned upward into a smile. I couldn’t help but notice that he was looking at me more than usual. Studying me like an abstract painting he couldn’t quite understand. I caught him glancing up from his plate more often than not, causing me to squirm in my seat.

I couldn’t remember the last time we’d eaten a meal together alone. Come to think of it, I don’t think we ever had. There’d always been another person acting as a buffer—a family member, either one of our parents or Anita. It was new territory, and try as I might, I needed to remind myself constantly that it wasn’t a date. I supposed it would be good practice for the future, but god, Eric was barely cold in the ground. There was no way I could think of dating at such an early juncture. What would people think? And never mind that, who would even have me? When you hear the word widow, it conjures a withered woman in endless mourning, forever alone and surrounded by cats.

I raised my head, and our eyes met again across the silent table, our clattering cutlery the only sound in the room. Well, except the rapid thud of my heart, which I hoped he could not hear. His strong jaw moved as he chewed, a line of drop-dead sexy stubble darkened his thick neck. I held back a sigh. Even I knew that if I were ever ready to trust another man again, there would be no way I could get a guy like Harvey—full of confidence, with muscles that bulged and sultry eyes that always gave you their full concentration.

“This tastes so good. I didn’t know you could cook,” he said.

A hint of a blush blossomed onto the surface of my cheeks. “Thank you,” I muttered. Eric had never complimented me on my cooking, even though I’d studied countless recipes and attempted to perfect each meal, hoping one day he’d be pleased enough or satisfied enough to say something. I played with my food and grew restless.

“What’s bothering you, Sara?” Harvey asked a second later.

I sent him a sheepish smile. God, he was perceptive. I wasn’t sure if I liked having him in my head. It was an odd feeling, as if he were reading me, and doing a fine job of it.

“I was just thinking about Eric… the accident and the life insurance.”

He frowned and laid his cutlery down on the side of his plate, giving me his full attention. “What about it?”

“I can’t believe he killed himself. Not after that morning, it doesn’t make sense.”

“What do you mean? What happened in the morning?”

“Oh,” I replied, “I just mean, well, we had a bit of a fight.” I averted my gaze, then quickly added, “but it was nothing.”

“If it was nothing, then you can tell me what happened. What was the fight about?”

He reached over, took my hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

I nodded. I could easily tell him, just let it all out and wait to see the shock appear on his face, but then the shock would turn into pity. He’d see me as damaged goods, a weak excuse for a woman. “It’s not important,” I said firmly and attempted to alter the course of the conversation. “I just wish there was something more I could do. The insurance company won’t discuss it anymore; they’ve decided he killed himself and that’s that.”

“Let me help?” he uttered.

“How?”

“I might be able to get them to re-evaluate their decision.”

I swallowed a gulp of water and nearly choked on it. Harvey patted my back gently as I coughed, his large hands easing their way up my spine. “Really? You can do that? But how?”

He chuckled at my questions and shook his head. “Don’t you know I’m a big deal in this town?”

I shrugged my shoulders, and he continued. “Leave it with me. I can’t promise anything, but I’ll give it a shot, grease a few palms if you know what I mean. I have some connections. At the very least I might be able to get you some peace of mind. Enough perhaps to help you move on,” he said softly.

“I don’t understand, though. If they’ve closed the investigation, how can you get them to open it again?”

He waved my inquiries away and went back to his food, his hand letting go of mine. He readied his fork with salmon and lifting it to his mouth, he said, “Don’t worry about it, trust me.”

Easier said than done. I would worry, I thought. I didn’t want Harvey doing anything illegal for me, if that’s what he was implying. Maybe I should just move on with my life. It’s not like I would ever know what was going through Eric’s head in the last moments of his life, especially when I’d never had that ability during our marriage. He’d always been a mystery to me. I never knew what would set him off.

The delicious taste of salmon quickly faded, and I couldn’t bring back the enthusiasm of my appetite again.

While Harvey opened another bottle of wine, I reached out, gathered the dishes and brought them over to the sink. I turned the tap on and let the water run over the plates, rinsing them before I stuffed them inside the dishwasher. After everything was tucked away in containers, I took the glass he offered me, and we sat down on the sofa. I told myself to stop fretting, to enjoy Harvey’s company and the wine that was making me slightly tipsy. I could leave the worrying for another time.

“Thanks for this,” I said as I turned towards him.

“For what?”

“For coming over, spending time with me, for making sure I’m OK. I know you must have more exciting things to do. But I appreciate it. It’s sweet.”

“Sweet? Me? You must me have confused with someone else. I came for the food, nothing else,” he said and winked.

My insides melted, and for the tiniest of seconds I truly wished that the evening could last forever.

We settled down to watch a spoof horror movie on Netflix. The creepy sound that vibrated through the TV sent an unsettling feeling through me. I ignored it and continued to watch, trying my hardest not to cringe or turn my eyes away when the psycho killer jumped out in front of one the characters with his sharp knife.

“You OK?” Harvey asked, chuckling as he threw a cushion at me. “We don’t have to watch it if you’re scared.”

I caught the fluffy projectile and threw it back at him, glaring at him all the while.

“I ain’t scared,” I lied, “but you’re hogging the sofa, and I can’t get comfy.”

“Come here then,” he said as he pulled me closer to his side of the sofa. He made room, and though I felt a bit silly at first, I soon relaxed into his side, enjoying the innocence of the gesture. But then my mind began to wander.

His solid warmth radiated off of him, and his manly cologne invaded my senses, making me want to scoot even closer and nuzzle into the hollow of his neck. I resisted the urge and went back to watching the TV, thoroughly distracted. His tanned arm was slung across my shoulders, his fingers light but firm against my upper arm. The more I thought about where he was touching me, the more I tensed up, dreaming lazily of how it would feel if he moved his arm farther down, onto my waist perhaps, or if he angled his hand just right and accidentally brushed against the side of my boob.

By the time I pulled my attention back to the film, the credits were rolling up the screen, and Harvey was pulling away from me. I sighed in regret for not tuning in and cursed myself for paying too much attention to my unattainable stepbrother. Disappointment rolled through me that the film hadn't been a little longer.

Harvey excused himself and went to the bathroom, and I felt a light buzz beside me. I stared down and noticed his phone had escaped the tight confines of his pants and had slipped down the sofa cushions. The screen lit up in my hand as I pulled it free. An unfamiliar number and name appeared on the device, and I sat watching it for a moment.

I glanced towards the bathroom and waited for him to emerge. A minute later the ringing stopped and started back up again. I bit down on my bottom lip.

“Hello?” I said.

“Harvey?” A female voice asked. She sounded hot and impatient—a woman not to be messed with—and I wondered if she was his girlfriend, or perhaps a regular fuck-buddy.

“Sorry, he’s in the bathroom at the moment. Oh, hold on. He’s here.” Right in time, Harvey appeared, and I passed the phone to him. He smiled, took the phone from me and walked into the hallway. I perched on the edge of the sofa and waited patiently. I was desperate for us to recreate our little moment again—safe in his arms, watching movies and thinking of nothing else.

“Is something wrong?” A line marred my forehead when he ended the call and came back into the room.

“Sorry to cut our night short, but Sadie needs me.”

I need you, though.

Sadie, so that’s her name, I thought. Another twinge of disappointment gripped me. It was foolish to think I’d have him all to myself; he had his own life that didn’t revolve around me. I knew I shouldn’t be jealous of her and her relationship with my stepbrother, but every fibre of my being coloured itself green with envy.

He must be dating this Sadie, otherwise what could possibly be the reason? I scattered the thoughts away and told myself that it was none of my damn business. Harvey could fuck whomever he wanted, and I wasn’t entitled to pry into his business or feel jealous.

“I gotta run and see what she needs. I’ll check up on you later, OK?” he said and bent down to kiss my cheek. Surprised at his movements, I sat rigid, my eyes closing softly as his lips caressed my face. I felt his warm breath, and then he was gone.

“Bye,” I whispered.