Page 82 of Stepbrother Dearest

My chest tightened as I did some quick mental math. By the time I got back to my place, it would be around nine. I had to get up at five to get to the site on time. The responsible thing to do would be to go home, get ready for a full day of labor in the sun, and get to bed.

Too bad being responsible wasn’t my thing.

“Fuck it.” I unlocked my phone and opened my text thread with Caleb.

Gray: are you free?

The little dots appeared almost immediately.

Caleb: yeah I work in the am

Gray: me too

Caleb: what’s up

Gray: you can’t guess why I’m texting you?

Caleb: I can but it’s more fun when you say it

Gray: you’re an asshole

Caleb: you like it

Caleb: well? I’m waiting

Gray: can I come over?

Caleb: and what would you like to do when you come over?

Gray: kicking your ass for being a dick is moving up the list with every text

Caleb: remember what happened the last time you put hands on me?

My stomach fluttered. I abhorred violence, but something about Caleb manhandling me and shoving me around was hot as fuck. Yet another kink I hadn’t realized I had.

Gray: I do

Gray: maybe that’s what I want

Caleb: I’ll accept that

Caleb: for now

Gray: I’m about an hour away

Caleb: I’ll leave the front door unlocked

One more time. Just one more time, then I’d distance myself from him and go back to my regular programming of the occasional lukewarm hookup and forget all about the things my stepbrother had awakened in me.

* * *

“Hello?” I pushed open the door to Caleb’s house and peered around.

“Hey.” He got up from where he’d been sprawled on the couch looking at something on his phone.

Goddamn he looked good. He’d put on a pair of low-slung gray sweatpants and a white tee that was so tight it clung to every dip and curve of his muscles.

I closed the door and kind of stood there.

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