Page 4 of Stepbrother Obsessed

Meanwhile, my stepbrother lounges at another table about twenty feet away. Nick appears relaxed and at ease, and incredibly gorgeous in a perfectly-cut dark suit that highlights the width of his chest. His bronzed skin contrasts against a stark white button down, and those cobalt eyes are lazy yet penetrating at once, like a jaguar biding its time. He’s obviously an alpha male in command of his world, and the two women he’s conversing with lean forwards, their expressions rapt as their tits practically fall out of their low-cut tops.

But I can tell from the slightly tense set of his shoulders that Nick’s not completely at ease, and I think I know why. Suddenly, Steve’s voice interrupts my thoughts again.

“You look a bit peaked, sweetie. Stay here, and I’ll get you a drink. Some alcohol will loosen you up,” my stepdad winks before patting my knee and standing. Then, the older man moves across the room, and eyes follow his tall form. In fact, half the women at the engagement party are watching Steve Bradley because my stepdad is a silver fox. He looks a lot like Nick, except older, of course. Yet Steve still retains the build of his youth, with broad shoulders, a wide chest, and the muscular physique of an athlete. I know my stepdad works out like a fiend, and especially now that he’s retired. He probably puts in a good two hours at the gym each day, and it shows, judging how someof the ladies here are practically drooling over the handsome alpha male.

But that’s the problem. Steve Bradley is a bittoohandsome, and a bittooaffectionate, to me at least. He’s not gross, nor is he overly touchy-feely, but when a man this good-looking embraces a young woman, everyone notices. All the wedding guests watch Steve as he strides across the room, and then they watch me too because gossip in Austin is like a match to kindling. It’s part of the reason why I left Texas after I turned eighteen. I hate that everyone talks all the time, and lately, I know they’re chattering about my family.

It goes back to my eighteenth birthday party. I’d just graduated from high school, and we decided to throw a shindig at the house as a combined birthday party cum graduation celebration. It wasn’t supposed to be over the top, but somehow, everyone caught wind and the house was jam-packed. The music was loud, food and drink were copious, and I was really excited! I’d taken pains with my appearance and put on a red minidress that was honestly, a little too much. It was a strapless number from a teen store at the mall, and the fabric hugged my big tits while narrowing at my waist. The hem came decorously down to my knees, but I paired the outfit with shiny black patent pumps that made me wobble. Yes, I was a curvy girl teetering on the precipice of womanhood, both literally and figuratively.

Of course, Nick came to my party. I hadn’t seen much of him for almost an entire year because he was so busy. Sure, he came to Mark Townsend’s holiday party way back when, but he didn’t even stay. The alpha male merely showed up that night, said his hellos, and then disappeared. Maybe Nick got called back to the hospital for an emergency. I don’t know.

But I was excited that my stepbrother was coming to my party. He arrived a little late, but I could sense his presence as soon as he walked through the door. There was a vibration in the air, and despite the living room being crowded with people, I somehowknewthat he was here. I turned, and sure enough, the huge man was staring right at me. That cobalt gaze met mine from across the room, and the air between us sizzled. The music faded away, other people seemed to disappear into the mist, and it was just me and him. We connected, and my insides grew moist and quivery while staring back at him.

But then Milly tugged at my arm and giggled.

“Yo, I think Brandon Rivers likes you,” my sister whispered in my ear. “He keeps asking all these questions about you, like what you’re going to do after high school, and whether you’re single.”

The truth is that at that point, I’d never had a boyfriend before. Sure, there were guys interested in me after I blossomed, but I still remembered their cruel comments when I was a stick-figure with coke-bottle glasses. Those boys were downright mean back then, and I have the memory of an elephant. Maybe their taunts were years ago, but I still remembered and resented them for it.

But Nick never made any such comments. It’s partially because he wasn’t around much, seeing that he’s ten years older and already out of the house. But something changed in the time since I was a kid, and while nothing ever happened between us, I couldfeelthe shift in the air. I could feel the heat in that blue gaze at the occasional family dinner, and I could sense my stepbrother’s appreciation of my curvy figure, even if I never actually caught him looking at me.

But nothing happened between us, and I put these dirty thoughts from my mind. After all, what’s a girl to do? Nick’s abusy man who has women throwing themselves at him left and right. He’s tall, dark, and forbidding, with a sculpted physique and penetrating blue eyes. He’s a doctor too, so he literally saves lives in the ER. What more could a woman ask for? Of course, everyone and their mother was ready to drop their panties.

But as soon as my stepbrother made an entrance at the birthday party, I knew something was different this time. I couldfeelit. Usually, Nick’s blue gaze would glance over me casually, before moving onto something else. Usually, he’d turn away and greet other folks as they welcomed him home from medical school.

But when he arrived at my party that evening, he saw me and his eyes didn’t drop. That blue gaze held mine and locked. Not only that, but for the first time, my stepbrother let his eyes sear my curves, openly appraising my big breasts, narrow waist, and long legs. Then, he let his gaze run hungrily back up my figure to meet my startled expression before a smile appeared on that mobile mouth.

Of course, I behaved like a blubbering idiot, even from across the room.

“Nick,” I whispered under my breath, my nipples taut as my insides melted. “Hi. You came.”

But Milly merely leaned forwards.

“What did you say? Oh Nick!” she said, whirling around to catch sight of her brother. “Oh, he’s here! Let me go say hi real quick. I’ll be right back, Kris.”

Then, my little sister scampered away before throwing herself at our brother for a giant bear hug. Meanwhile, I wrenched my eyes away as I struggled for oxygen.He’s here!Nick’s at my party. Oh my god, oh my god, what do I do?

But the answer was clear because nothing happened. I continued to circulate, chatting with guests, and so did he. I saw him talking with long lost friends from high school, our neighbors from across the street, and even old Mrs. Lazarus from the next block with the cat that yowls at night. Nick was unfailingly polite, and smiled and nodded at all the right times from what I could tell. His gaze never faltered from Mrs. Lazarus’s wizened facade, and he seemed to not notice me. Had I been dreaming? Did I make our sizzling connection up in my head? Slowly, my hopes ebbed.

Of course you imagined it, my subconscious scolds.You’ve been in love with this man since you were a pre-teen. He’s more like a rock star than a real prospect who might be interested in you, Kristie. The spark was just figment of your imagination.

My heart plummeted to the ground, and a wave of nausea literally rushed over me as my stomach roiled. Of course, my subconscious was right because did I really think my stepbrother would be interested in a naïve, eighteen year old girl who goes ga-ga whenever he comes within a ten foot radius? We haven’t even had arealconversation for years, if ever. Plus, would Nick truly make a move on me? In public, with tons of people circulating around us?

I stepped away for a moment, excusing myself, and went into the kitchen to catch my breath. Disappointment crushed my form and all I wanted to do was to go upstairs and crawl under the covers of my bed before bursting into tears. But it was my party, and I had to be present despite the unshed tears making my eyes hot.

Unfortunately, it was crowded in the kitchen too, with little chance of peace and quiet. As a compromise, I let myself into the laundry room off to the side of the kitchen, gently closingthe pocket door for added privacy. It was dark and I didn’t bother to turn on the lights because I needed some time alone to calm down. I’d been riding an adrenaline roller coaster after seeing Nick arrive, and the quiet and darkness helped my pulse subside.

Meanwhile, the voice in my head scoffed again.

All that happened is that you shared a look with your stepbrother, it said.He didn’t touch you. He didn’t kiss you. In fact, you haven’t even exchanged any words! Get your head out of the clouds, Kristie. Nick Bradley is out of your league, and he’d never be interested in you.

The words hurt, but I made myself believe them because it’s true. We’re literally family, albeit not related by blood, and Nick had a bright future ahead of him with a career in medicine and beautiful, accomplished women throwing themselves at his feet. He’s not going to get involved with an orphan who stares at him with big blue eyes, worshipping him like a child.

But then, someone pulled open the pocket door and before I realized it, Nick was in the darkened laundry room with me. I could hardly believe it.

“Nick!” I gasped. “What are you doing here?”

That big body loomed over me, crowding me against the washing machine.

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