Page 19 of Three Stepbrothers Save Christmas

My breath catches in my throat as I stare at him in absolute disbelief.

“So, it is my fault you cheated on me? Because you couldn’t give me an orgasm?” I ask for variation. There is no way that is what he means, surely?

“You make me feel like a failure, Ver. I had to prove to myself I wasn’t. So, I could show you that I’m not.”

I look into his eyes and realise he really believes it’s my fault. Is it my fault? Is my high sex drive to blame? I know I can take a while to orgasm at times; he must get fed up while trying to help me reach that point. But then it dawns on me: I never have issues when I’m alone. Plus, he didn’t even try the other night. If he had, he would have lasted more than four minutes.

“So, you cheated on me to prove to yourself and me that I’m the problem in bed, not you? How did you manage that if you didn’t take her home?” I ask before bursting out laughing. “That’s why you are here now. Why you left the other day saying you were working even though you weren’t. You spend time with her, but she won’t sleep with you yet, So you come to me when you want to get laid. It’s the only reason you keep me around!” I shake my head as I walk to the front door and hold it open.

“Enjoy your new relationship. I hope she knows what she is getting herself into.”

When Marshall turns to look at me, I see a side of him I haven’t witnessed before. He stares at me with such hatred in his eyes. When he steps towards me, I find myself scared of him for the first time.

“Why am I being made out to be the bad guy here? Do you know how hard it is to be in a relationship with you? I’ve put up with so much of your shit, yet I mess up once, and this is how you repay me? How many times have you cancelled a date to practice or because you are dancing? I did something wrong once, and you are throwing away the only relationship you will have? No one else is going to put up with your dancing shit and your little ways. I mean, who gets up at six every morning anyway?” He says through gritted teeth, stopping right in front of me. He grabs my arm and squeezes, pulling me closer to him. “I only put up with your continuous shit because you are a guaranteed lay. Bare that in mind for the next sucker who ends up with you, Ver.”

“You’re hurting me,” I whimper as he tightens his grip tighter.

“You’re lucky; that’s all I’m doing.”

A hand lands on the wrist of the hand he has wrapped around my arm. I look up to find Ethan's usual soft brown eyes glaring at Marshall.

“Get your fucking hands off her now!” he growls through gritted teeth as Marshall lets go of me and turns to face him.

“Or what? You’ll break my legs?” he laughs in Ethan's face. Nothing prepares me for the look that appears on my usual calm, down-to-earth stepbrother. A grin spreads as he steps closer to Marshall.

“No,” he replies, stopping when they are nose to nose. “I’ll fucking kill you.”

Ethan swings and punches Marshall so hard that he falls out of the door and down the front steps as Ethan launches himself on top of him.

“Ethan!” I cry out, attempting to get to them and break up the fight, but Ryan grabs me.

“Leave him,” Ryan whispers, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and holding me tightly against him. Ethan punches Marshall once before grabbing him by the shirt collar and pulling him to his feet.

“You can’t keep your useless dick in your pants, and that’s somehow her fault? You pathetic piece of shit!” Ethan yells before throwing Marshall down hard onto the gravel, “If you ever so much as look in her direction again, I will kill you. Is that understood?”

“Whatever, man, fuck you!” Marshall growls, jumping to his feet and spitting out blood. He’s bleeding from his nose and his mouth. Ethan charges towards him, but Marshall rushes to his car like the coward he is. He’s quickly realised he’s no match for the guy who works out daily.

“Ethan, he’s not worth it,” Ryan shouts as his arms loosen around me slightly.

“You’re dead, mark my fucking words!” Ethan yells, pointing towards Marshall as he climbs into his car and speeds off.

Ethan storms up to where Ryan and I stand and cups my face. All the anger I saw in his eyes melts away as he looks into mine.

“Don’t listen to a word he just said. He was the problem, not you. Do you hear me, Baby Girl?” He looks deep into my eyes, and I find myself nodding slowly. Ethan sighs and pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly against his chest. “No one speaks to you like that. You are perfect, just the way you are,” he whispers into my hair. I don’t know what to say, so I stay still, allowing myself time to enjoy being held.

“Thank you for defending me,” I whisper after a few moments.

“He’s lucky I didn’t kill him like I wanted to,” Ethan sighs before looking into my eyes again. “No one touches you. No one.” The conviction he places into the last two words reminds me of how the O’Reillys speak to Jasmine. Like there is nothing in the world they won’t do to protect her. I let myself believe Ethan feels that way about me for a moment.

“Come on, let’s get out of the cold and chill out for a bit,” Ryan says behind us before Ethan guides me back to the lounge. This time, though, when we sit on the sofa, he lies down and pulls me into his arms, holding me from behind.

“Try and get some rest,” he whispers into my ear. I relax against him, very aware that it’s my stepbrother holding me, as much as I’m aware I like it.

13

Ethan

I’m lying on the sofa, watching the TV with Verity in my arms. After everything with her dickhead ex, I needed to hold her. It was the only thing stopping me from jumping in my car to go after him and beat the dickhead to a pulp.

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