Excerpt
He was going to kill his best
friend. He was literally going to fucking kill him.
The
party was buzzing and so was Caleb’s brain.
He didn’t know the time, but it had to be somewhere around 3 AM, and
anger was simmering just below the surface.
He
was thankful it was winding down and most of the guests had already left
because he was agitated and pensive. The
few who lingered were all part of his best friend, Dex’s, crowd. He knew Jake and Bret because they were part
of the same group he used to hang with when he was younger, but there were
several new faces.
Caleb
had been hell-bent on making his father’s life a living hell. Dex and his
friends were rough, tough, and tattooed.
They walked a fine line between right and wrong; more unruly and wild
than the preppy crowd that went to the private high school his father demanded
he attend. However, that was sort of the point.
The three other guys and two women that remained he’d never met prior to
this evening when they’d shown up with his old friend.
Hard
to believe how much could change in four years.
Look at Wren.
His
eyes had been unwillingly glued to her all night, stalking her every move.
The
beer in his hand was probably the sixth he’d had in less than two hours, but he
wasn’t drunk. The time at home had been a combination of heaven and hell. He’d been dying to see Wren and they’d had
some great times together in the week he’d been back in Denver, but the
familiar aches in his heart and groin hadn’t magically abated during their time
apart. He silently chastised himself for
being foolish enough to think that it would ease as she grew into a woman. His breath left his chest in a loud sigh.
Sure,
the alcohol was giving him a buzz, but it wasn't enough to kill the burn in his
gut or the pressure in his chest as he watched Dex put the moves on Wren.
Caleb had asked him to watch out for her in his absence; but Dex was supposed
to protect her, not want her. No one fucking wanted her as much as Caleb
had wanted her, or for as long. He’d been tortured with wanting her. He’d been tormented for years with it, but
everyone thought of them as siblings.
The very thought made Caleb’s stomach turn.
Someone
was speaking to him, but he barely registered the sound of the female
voice. His eyes were trained on Dex’s
arms snaking around Wren’s back and waist, under the luxurious curtain of loose
blonde curls that rained to just above her hips.
Caleb
lifted the beer to his mouth and took a long pull. “Hmm?” he asked of the woman standing close
to him as he sat, half-assed, on the back of a sofa. The music was blaring over the
state-of-the-art stereo system, and he strained to hear her, but his eyes never
left Wren.
“So
this is your last year at MIT? Dex said
you two were gonna start some sort of motorcycle company together. That’s so cool. My dad is part of an MC.”
Dex’s
dad, Darren, had a shop and he had learned a shit load from the two of them;
and more importantly, they’d become like family in the years after Caleb lost
his mother. Darren was a stand-up guy who’d never abandon his kid, and Caleb
envied the close relationship Dex shared with his father. Sure, he was a
laborer and Edison Luxon had a successful corporation, but in Caleb’s eyes,
Darren was the better man. He had ten
times the respect for him.
Caleb
met Dex at a high school wrestling meet when Caleb was thirteen and Dex was
fifteen, and the two of them had become friends. Caleb spent as much time as possible at
Darren’s shop and with Dex’s family, as he could. Dex was sort of a wild child, and his parents
were less strict than Edison was, but there was a strong sense of mutual
respect in their family.
Caleb
and Dex hadn’t been angels growing up, but at least, Dex could count on his
parents to have his back. It was
completely unlike the abandonment that Caleb felt from Edison. Most of the time, Caleb acted out just to get
his father’s attention. It hardly ever
worked. Edison would deliver a cold
lecture, calmly deal with the situation by paying someone off, and then forget
about his son until the next time he got into trouble. Caleb had come to the conclusion that the
only thing he could do was get the hell away from his father as soon as he was
eighteen. Somehow even that got fucked
up.
“Yeah. We’ve talked about it for a long time, that’s
why I’m studying mechanical engineering.
It’s not that easy; we’re both dead broke, and his Dad’s shop can’t
spare him right now. A lot has to happen
first,” Caleb answered.
“But…”
the young woman began, waving her hand around at the expensive
surroundings. “It looks like your family
is rich—”
Caleb
cut her off. “Don’t get excited,
honey. These are my old man’s digs, not
mine.” He huffed. The only reason he
even came home, ever, was because of Wren. The music changed to a slow, deep
rhythm.
“But
this place…”
“Yeah.
My dad is swimming in it, but hell will freeze over before I’d ask him for a
damn thing. He’d just hold it over my
head for the rest of my life, or at least, the rest of his.” He could elaborate that his father was a
control freak, or explain the reason he hated Edison so much, but he’d most
likely never see her again. So, what was
the point? Besides, he was preoccupied
with what was happening across the room.
Caleb
glanced down at the woman for the first time since their conversation
began. She had hair so dark it looked
black in the dim light. Her make-up was
overdone making her skin tone a deep tan, and her clothing was tight and cheap. She was a sharp contrast to Wren’s natural,
blonde beauty. Caleb tried to remember the
name Dex had mentioned when he’d introduced her earlier.
Was it Marie?
He wracked his brain. Maryann?
Michelle? He knew it was an “M” name, but not sure exactly what.
Fuck!
Movement
in his peripheral vision made his eyes return to Dex and Wren. Aside from the girl at his side, everyone
else was playing pool on the other half of the big room, except for the one
couple dancing. Caleb’s chest was tight
as he tried to breathe; it physically fucking hurt to watch.
Dex
was pulling Wren close, pressing her against him and they were swaying softly
to the song. Wren seemed to be enjoying
herself. Her head was tilted up to look
at Dex; she was smiling alluringly. She
was so beautiful when she was happy. How
could she keep getting more fucking beautiful every time he saw her?
Wren
laid her head on Dex’s shoulder, her hands slipping up around his neck, clearly
losing herself. She had just turned
eighteen a month earlier, but Caleb was sure she’d had a drink or two; which
was enough to make her less inhibited.
Caleb
swallowed. He was mesmerized, unable to
look away from the two of them. It was nothing short of torture knowing it was
impossible for him to touch her the same way Dex was able to. Not only was she
the daughter of his father’s second wife, she was younger by close to three
years. Sure, he could protect her from
that abusive bitch. He could spend time
with her. He could even fantasize about her, but that’s where it stopped. Even though Wren had developed a kind of
crush on him at first, he’d never considered they could be more. He loved her.
He’d always loved her, but he’d always considered her off limits.
He
tried to keep making small talk with the girl whose name he couldn’t remember.
He nursed what was left of his beer, until he caught sight of Dex’s hand
sliding down over Wren’s ass to the hem of her dress and then creep up
slightly; underneath.
Caleb's
eyes narrowed and adrenaline started to flood his veins abruptly clearing the
alcohol haze. Suddenly the music was deafening.
The beat was pounding in his head like a hammer; the dim light
flickering with the beat. It was getting brighter with each hit of the base
drum.
“It
looks like Dex likes your little sister.”
Caleb’s
nostrils flared, and the skin of his face felt as if it was lit on fire. He ran a quick hand over the scruff on his
jaw trying to alleviate it. The girl
reached out to touch his muscled bicep.
Caleb
clenched his teeth. “Wren isn’t my sister.”
The
girl rolled her eyes. “Whatever.
Stepsister then. Same diff.”
No. It wasn’t the same thing, not even
close. If the “M” girl sensed Caleb’s
irritation, she didn’t show it.
His
instincts made his muscles coil, and it was all he could do not to fly across
the room and pummel his best friend down to the floor. He still fought in the occasional underground
fight club, but he was in even better shape now. The boxing club at MIT was official, and kept
him lean and honed. He could still beat
the shit out of anyone who challenged him. He could probably do it even easier
than before, and right now; he wanted to pound Dex into the fucking ground.
Didn’t
he know how Caleb felt about Wren?
When
Dex’s hand rose higher under Wren’s dress, his intent to grab her ass full on,
Caleb couldn’t stand still any longer.
He dropped his beer and the glass bottle broke with a loud crash on the
hardwood floor; making the girl beside him jump.
“Party’s
over,” Caleb growled deeply.
The
girl looked dumbstruck as Caleb left her standing there and moved quickly
across the room to shut down the music.
“Party’s
over!” he said, louder this time; shouting so he would be heard over the music.
Dex
and Wren split apart when the music stopped abruptly and everyone in the room
was staring in Caleb’s direction with blank looks on their faces. However, they sat down their drinks, and
began putting on their coats.
Dex’s
hand slid down Wren’s arm and his fingers closed around her hand, as he took a
couple of steps toward his friend.
“What’s up, man? Why? The house is empty.”
Caleb
met his eyes unflinchingly. “I’m
tired. Everyone out.” Caleb’s tone was low but the only sound in
the silent room. “Now.”
Dex
looked incredulous, and shook his head.
“Why Caleb?”
Caleb
continued to stare him down, his eyes menacing.
“I said; I’m tired.” He was livid
and he didn’t even understand why he was so fucking pissed off. Shit, if he’d been dancing with a beautiful
girl he was into, he’d probably have copped a feel too.
Wren
pulled her hand from Dex’s grip and walked to Caleb, looking up into his
face. She looked so damn innocent, her
brilliant blue eyes wide. “Cale, what’s
going on? We were only dancing.”
Caleb
looked down into her face, his eyes softening at the confused look in her blue
eyes, and his thumb lifting her chin briefly.
“Stay here.”
The
others, sensing the palpable tension between Dex and Caleb had already started
to file up the stairs to the outside door.
Caleb nodded in the direction of Bret, who was waiting for the two girls
to precede him up the stairs, then followed.
“I
don’t get it, Caleb. I mean, what the hell?” He took two steps in Wren’s
direction.
“You
don’t have to get it,” Caleb commanded, nodding at the stairwell. “You just have to get the fuck out of here.”
Dex
looked pissed, then glanced down at Wren.
“You wanna come with?” he asked Wren.
Caleb
shook his head once and in one second had moved in front of Wren, to separate
her from Dex. “She stays.” His tone insisted compliance.
“Caleb,
this makes no sense, man. We were having a good time dancing.”
“Yeah,
I saw,” Caleb hissed. The fingers on his
right hand began curling into a fist at his side, and he had to mentally insist
it didn’t fly and punch Dex right there.
“I want to talk to you. Outside.”
Dex’s
eyes widened. Suddenly he
understood. Definitely, he made a move
in Wren’s direction, intending to kiss her full on the mouth just to piss Caleb
off, but Wren, sensing it wouldn’t help the situation between the two men,
backed up even further behind Caleb.
She’d
danced with Dex and purposefully let him get a little too familiar with her
because she felt hurt that Caleb was letting Michelle monopolize him on his
last night in town. However, she didn’t
intend for the two of them to out and out brawl, and she didn’t see it
coming. She would have preferred
spending the evening alone with Caleb; talking, driving around, or watching a
movie together; but it hadn’t been her choice.
“Unless
you want to die, I suggest you get the fuck out! Now!” Caleb seethed.
Anger
flooded through Dex, as well. His friend was overstepping. He didn’t do anything wrong, and he’d be
damned if he’d cower to Caleb’s jealousy.
“Just
go, Dex. Go on,” Wren implored, peering
at him from behind Caleb’s solid form. Caleb was poised to strike, and Wren
could feel his anger vibrate in the air around them like electricity.
Dex
was built; lean and strong, but Caleb was a competitive boxer and formidable;
he easily had thirty pounds of muscle on Dex. Wren didn’t want Dex getting
pummeled or Caleb regretting his actions afterward, which she was certain he
would. They’d been friends for as long
as she’d known them both and the last thing she wanted was to see their
friendship ruined.
She
mentally kicked herself for leading Dex on.
She was confused by Caleb’s sudden anger, but it made her heart trip
around in her chest at the same time. She felt excitement at the prospect he
might be jealous making her own adrenalin flow.
Wren
liked Dex and he’d taken great pains to fill Caleb’s shoes after he left, but
no one could ever take Caleb’s place.
Wren had been in love with Caleb for years, but he was older and not
once had she imagined he’d reciprocate her feelings. Even now, habit made her push down that
daydream.
He
was just acting like the protective older brother, as he had since the day he
found out about her mother’s treatment of her.
He’d changed her life, and that was the beginning of her hero
worship. Before she knew it, her
schoolgirl crush had eventually matured and grown into full-blown love.
Dex
turned and pulled on his leather jacket.
He started to climb the stairs with Caleb following closely behind,
leaving Wren standing in the middle of the big room, alone. “I’ll be back in a minute,” Caleb said over
his shoulder as he left.
Dex’s
motorcycle was the only one left in the wide driveway at the back of the house
in front of the five-stall garage, signaling that everyone else had already
gone.
Before
Dex could say a word, Caleb used both of his hands to give Dex’s shoulders a
forceful shove that sent him stumbling and falling backward into his bike. The machine fell over with the loud clang of
metal bashing against the pavement, and leaving Dex sprawled face-up over it.
“What
the fuck were you doing touching her like that?
Wren is off-limits! You were supposed to protect her, not try to get in
her pants! Have you touched her before
this?”
“Son
of a bitch!” Dex shouted. “You just
wrecked my bike! You’re gonna pay for
that!”
“Answer
me!” Caleb’s chest was heaving. “What’s
going on between you two?”
Dex
scrambled to sit up, pushed his weight up off the fallen motorcycle with his
hands, and lunged at Caleb without answering; hitting him hard in the middle
with his shoulder. Caleb grunted as the
breath was forced from his lungs. He
stumbled backward but didn’t fall. He
pushed Dex back and soon the two were going at each other with fists
swinging. Caleb took a hit on the jaw,
pain exploding in his face, before he managed to land a hard right hook to
Dex’s temple. He followed it with a
solid left upper cut to his jaw.
Dex
fell backward, hard onto the pavement, and landed with a guttural grunt.
“What
the hell is your problem? For Christ’s
sake, Caleb, we’re friends!”
Caleb
looked down at Dex, his breathing heavy from the exertion of the fight, the
fight with his emotions getting the better of him. “Yeah, but friend or not,
touch her again and I swear I’ll mother fucking kill you!”
“Wren
isn’t fifteen anymore, Caleb!” Dex returned, out of breath and moving to get to
his feet. “She’s an adult and she
doesn’t need big brother’s permission to dance with me.”
If
anyone was painfully aware of Wren’s age and how she’d blossomed into a
gorgeous and graceful young woman, it was Caleb.
“I
saw what you were doing, and dancing was the last thing on your goddamned
mind! I could deal with a random guy;
but not you. Anyone but you, Dex!”
Their
eyes met and Dex could see the pain on his friend’s face. He’d watched Caleb come to Wren’s defense at
school, with her mother, or anyone who made fun of her or hurt her for years.
He should have seen that Wren was more to Caleb than he’d ever admitted. It was clear that brotherly was not how his
friend felt about Wren. It was clear
that it wouldn’t matter who was trying to get with her; Caleb wouldn’t take it
well.
Dex
nodded and put up his hand to keep Caleb from hitting him again, while he was
down. “Okay, man. You should’ve said
something.”
“You
should’ve known.” Caleb’s brow was
furrowed with a scowl firmly planted on his face. He turned his back and reentered the house,
running his hand through his over-long hair, anger still pumping through his
veins as he went down the backstairs to the lower level. He probably didn’t need another drink, but he
wanted one. His body was still on fire,
and his mind was raging at him. He took
a deep breath, not sure what the confrontation with Wren was going to be
like. She was sitting on one of the big
recliners that were lined up in front of the big projection TV on one end of
the room.
Caleb
walked past her, between the theater set-up and the pool table to the wet bar
along one side. Foregoing the beer in
the full-sized refrigerator, he reached for a glass and the crystal decanter of
amber liquid. It was his father’s
expensive single malt scotch. He’d never
liked that shit. He was feeling in need of something stronger, so he poured
half the glass full and downed it in one big swallow. It burned all the way
down; Caleb could feel it run down his esophagus and into his stomach, the heat
leaving a trail that didn’t lessen the tightness in his chest.
He
refilled the glass and turned, his gaze intense as it settled on Wren. The music was still off and Wren hadn’t said
anything. Caleb had fought his desire
for Wren for years. Ever since he’d
seen her as she really was without that hideous disguise she always wore when
she and her mother first moved in with the Luxon men. The scotch, along with the beer, might be
impairing his judgment just a little, but damn, if she wanted to grow up; he’d
help her.
His
eyes seared over her body, taking in the short dress that left her legs bare
and gave Dex easy access to her ass.
Anger flared inside him again.
“I
don’t understand you, Caleb—” Wren began, but he held up his hand to stop
her. He took another swallow of the
scotch then sat the glass down on the mahogany bar and walked purposely toward
her.
She
was amazingly beautiful, and he’d had enough fantasies about her to last a
lifetime. He couldn’t resist the blonde
curls that tumbled down her back to her waist.
Her dancer’s body was slight and firm, her skin flawless and
smooth. Caleb’s cock was already hard,
but blood surged again, making it throb even more painfully inside his
jeans.
Their
eyes met and locked. Wren could sense a
danger behind his eyes, a look that had never been directed at her. Her body quickened and heat pooled inside her
at the intensity in his eyes as he slowly unbuttoned his white shirt. When he got to her he reached out and took
both of her upper arms in his hands, forcefully pulling her up to stand in
front of him, close enough to feel the heat radiating between them. She smelled amazing. Like spring flowers with a hint of
vanilla. He leaned down and ran the tip
of his nose from her shoulder, up the cord of her neck until his mouth was next
to her ear.
He
spoke in a guttural whisper. “You wanna play with the big boys? Then, play with me.”
The only had each other…
Until one forbidden night ruined everything.
This new sexy stand-alone STEPBROTHER
romance releases on October 25th.
Pre-order on iBooks here: http://apple.co/2dvHJce
**Additional retailers to follow**
Receive an Amazon Alert as soon as One Step Closer is
LIVE: http://bit.ly/2dVSFBI
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Blurb
STEPSISTER. He hated that f*cking word.
When their parents got married, the only
thing Caleb Luxan had in common with Wren Brashill was that they both hated
their parents. When he was sixteen, Caleb discovered Wren's closely guarded
secret and vowed to protect her: from that day forward she became the reason
for every decision he made.
Jealousy and long-suppressed desire
overpowered Caleb's fierce protectiveness and they spent one forbidden and
unforgettable night in each other arms, but the aftermath left Caleb panicked,
Wren heartbroken, and their relationship in shambles. In the time since that
fateful night, he’d only seen her once and had only managed to make the
situation even worse.
The sudden death of his estranged father
calls Caleb home and face-to-face with Wren for first time in years. He is
presented with a choice that forces him to confront the painful memories of his
youth and his many regrets with Wren.
Like it or not, his father's last, hard
lesson, will demand Caleb deal with his long denied emotions for Wren, or let
go of her forever.
About the
Author:
I'm a single
mother of one daughter, Olivia. She's amazing in every way.
I was born
in the Midwestern United States and educated at a private university where I
received a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Business Administration.
I've
always been creative with art, music, theater and writing. I decided to write a
story as a way to build a network for a business venture. The reader support of
my stories and my overwhelming desire to find out where my characters would
take me, soon had the writing morphing the business. No one was more shocked
than I. When readers began nominating my work for online awards, it took my
breath away and only made me love it more. It soon became clear that writing
was, and should be, my focus.
GIVEAWAY!
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