LUSTING AFTER MY STEPBROTHER

Chapter Two

~ Tamara

"Abrielle is in college while Aeilia will soon join her." Dad rushed his words, and I thought I saw a hint of a smile on his face while he gazed at the woman he'd brought in—my step mum. Well, technically, yes, she'd be my step-mum in two days.

"The girls are gorgeous, babe." The woman spoke, pressing her lips to Dad's lips.

Gross. She was kissing my father like I was not in the room, like I was invisible. Either way, I knew they thought I was studying and was not paying them any attention.

"I know, right? Especially Aeilia, she takes after her mum. She's her mother's carbon copy." Dad spoke lowly.

I buried my head deeper into the book I was pretending to read. I didn't want to hear any more of Dad's words, or I'd lose my mind.

"Your wife was pretty. I'm so sorry for your loss, babe."

"You know, when I look at Aeilia, all I see is her mother."

"What the f**k?" I had had enough. "If you see Mama when you look at me, then why are you replacing her with this... woman?" I asked Dad in a loud voice. I'm sure by the shocked looks on their faces, they didn't know I could hear their hushed conversation from where I sat.

"Aeilia, don't push me," Dad said, his eyes portraying what he could do to me. He had one of those menacing looks he'd so perfected when Mama was alive.

"Don't talk about Mama that way. You have no right to say you miss her because you don't. I've had enough, Dad. I'm going to my room." I said, throwing one detesting look his way and one to his new wife.

"Babe, let me handle this, will you? Please. If I'm ever a step mum to the girls, you have to let me bond with them." The woman beside Dad seemed to understand him, because she placed her hand on his back, rubbing it slowly, maybe to placate him, I didn't know.

"Fine, if that's what you want. But call me if she's rude to you." Dad said before leaving.

"If you think you can just come in here and play house, you're wrong." I rose, gathering my books together.

"Aeilia, wait..." She was walking closer to where I stood while I glared.

"It's Tamara to you, stepmother. Aeilia to family," I cut in. To be honest, I felt a little guilty for taking out my anger on her, considering she was just innocent and dragged into this mess by my father. But I was beyond angry to care.

"I'm not here to replace your mum, Tamara. I could never take her place, and I know that. I see her photos everywhere in this house, and I know she's a part of you and your sister's life, and nothing I could do can change that."

"T-Then why are you here?"

"I'm here because I love your father and I want to make him happy again. Did I tell you my name is Samantha?"

I blinked. Thrice. This woman loved my father. And she cared for him. She wanted to make him happy. "Don't waste your time on him. He's incapable of loving anyone but himself. Look what happened to my mama," The words left my mouth sharp, and my tongue felt so bitter. Samantha gazed at me curiously, probably waiting for me to elaborate on what I'd just insinuated.

"What happened to her?" She finally asked, her intense gaze fixed on my irises.

I looked away from her. "Does it matter? She's gone. You're here and you're next. If you think you can handle him, then fine. I'm going to my room," I told her, earning a curt nod from her.

"And Samantha? Can you just pretend this conversation never happened? I'm still not in support of this wedding, and just because you spoke softly to me doesn't mean I'll ever be. I'll still see you as the woman who's here to take my mama's place," I said and with a final glance at her, blonde curly hair that was neatly bound into a ponytail, full red lips, and blue eyes that held an emotion I couldn't place, I made my way upstairs to my room.

The wedding was in two days. I had just two days to take my time and adjust because after those two days, I'd have a step mum. I'd had tales of what your step mum could do to you, and even though I didn't believe in such gory tales, Samantha didn't strike me like the type of lady who would maltreat her step-children.

I thought I felt a hand run through my hair in my sleep. I turned. It happened again and again. Who the f**k was disturbing my peaceful sleep? It couldn't be my sister because she knew how much I loved my alone time. I'd fallen asleep whilst thinking about the whole step-mum and wedding saga. And now, I was going to kill the insane human who...

"f**k, don't touch me," I said, throwing my eyes open. They landed on a male figure standing beside my bed. And because I knew Dad was the only male who could come into my room and this wasn't him, I jerked up, panicking. Who was this stranger—intruder? He was so tall, dude made my 5'6" look like nothing standing in front of him.

"Who are you?" I asked when I got tired of craning my neck to see his face.

"Who are you?" He asked me the same question, and when his eyes met mine, I forgot how to breathe for the whole while, as I studied the prettiest grey eyes I'd ever seen. I'd always thought grey eyes weren't pretty until this moment. The intruder rocked them—the grey eyes, I meant.

"Are you just going to stare?" He frowned, raising a brow, his pretty eyes focused on me, on my small figure.

I swallowed on nothing while I let my eyes do some exercise—check this gorgeous hunk out. The frown on his face weirdly made him look hotter? Oh Lord! I'd never called a guy hot. This one was one of those people who rocked their every emotion. Be it frowning, scowling.

"Look, I've not got all the time in the world, okay? You're Abrielle, right?"

"What?" I blinked.

"What is your name?" Intruder asked, folding his arms, while my gaze caught the flex in his biceps, and I gulped.

"Tamara," I said in a small voice. f**k. What was wrong with me? I don't talk small. That's my sister's thing.

"Sorry, I thought you were... Can you show me to Abrielle's room?" He turned to my closed door, and I wanted to haul him to a stop so bad.

"Who are you?" I had to ask.

"Xavier. Didn't your father tell you about me?" He regarded me with hooded eyes, and I suddenly felt small. Confident me, I felt vulnerable under his eyes.

"No, he did not. And I'm not supposed to magically know who you are by just hearing your name." I said. I thought I saw his lips twitch, or maybe I was mistaken.

"Do you have a name?" He asked, his eyes gazing at me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet.

"Do you meet people often without names? Xavier?" I frowned.

This time, his lips twitched for real, and he smiled. Oh my f*****g gawd. He looked surreal.

"Touché, " he said. "So, what's the name? You've said it—Tammy, right?"

"Tamara."

"Tammy, to me. Tamara to others,"

"Who the f**k are you? I don't even know you, and I'm having a conversation with you in my room like it's a natural thing."

"I'm going to be your stepbrother, Tammy, and we'll have lots of fun. Just you and me. I'm sure we'll get along pretty well." And with that was out of my room. I sucked in a breath. He was Samantha's son. He was going to be my stepbrother. Him. A walking temptation. A guy I thought was hot. The most attractive guy I'd ever seen. My stepbrother.

My breath hitched.

Rolling my eyes in my head, I made my way out of my room, headed for my sister's. Her room door was ajar when I entered. "Sis, do you know we are having a step-brother?" I was asking when I saw Abrielle by her window, gazing out of it like she always does.

"Yeah, Samantha told me. Why?" She said, not turning around to face me.

"You knew?"

"You didn't know? I thought she talked to you. She's pretty nice."

"Forget about her. I just saw him. He's —"

"What? What about him?"

"Abrielle, he's gorgeous."

"What?" Thankfully, she turned, and her surprised gaze met mine. Oh crap. I shouldn't have said that. Now I'd give her ideas. Silly ideas.

"Aeilia, you are not going down that lane. He's going to be your stepbrother. Our step-brother. I don't want any funny business or ideas, okay? It'll ruin everything," Abrielle narrowed her eyes at me.

"I just said he's fine. I didn't say I wanted to f**k him or something." I scowled.

"Still. Can you just stay away from him? I know why I'm saying this."

"Yeah, I know. You don't trust me at all. You think I'll hook up with my step-brother?" I shook my head slowly, a bitter chuckle escaping my lips.

"What—no. Look, I just don't want you hurt. Dad will do anything if you mess this wedding up."

"Can we not talk about how I'm going to mess the wedding up? I'm going out," I said and turned toward the door.

"Where to?"

"Job hunting," I replied, but I was out of her room already. Once I got downstairs, I ran into Dad, Samantha and Xavier. They seemed to be deep into their conversation. I loved to interrupt.

"Where are you going?" Dad asked me, fake concern dripping off his question.

"Job hunting," I said, looking at Samantha, who'd plastered a wide grin on her preppy face. "I'll be quick," I added, rubbing my clammy palms together.

"Xavier, can you drive her?"

"No, you don't—" I started to protest.

"Yeah, I can," Xavier answered.

"Have to," I finished, now looking at Xavier, my soon-to-be stepbrother. Now that he was seated, I could see all of his features. He was gorgeous. He had dark hair, so dark that the devil could be in there, somewhere. His skin looked soft, which had me glancing at mine.

"Come on, Tammy." He rose, walking over to me.

"Tammy?" Dad and Samantha looked surprised.

"Short form of Tamara," Xavier explained with a chuckle, and my cheeks flushed. I knew I didn't have any reason to be embarrassed, but I was. My soon-to-be step-brother was explaining the reason for the nickname he'd given me to my Dad and his Mum.

"Have fun, kids," Samantha called out as we walked away.

We had barely taken three steps when he spoke up, in that husky, deep, satisfying voice of his. "You're blushing,"

"I am not." I started to say, even though my cheeks probably looked flushed, first-hand embarrassment.

"Your cheeks are pink. Is it the weather?" He glanced around.

"Stop. I was not blushing." I bit the inside of my cheek, glancing anywhere but him.

"Okay, if you say so. So you're going job hunting?"

I ignored him.

"Come on, Tammy. If we are going to be step-siblings, we have to get along."

Xavier stopped walking when we got out of the house. But he didn't stop talking. And his voice was not helping my nervousness. He had to be quiet. He had to shut those sexy lips of his, or I'd lose my cool. Please shut up! Shut the f**k up. But he did not. Not until I stood on my tippy toes and pressed my lips to his.

Oh! f**k me! What the hell had I done?