Page 18 of Dubious (Darkly Ever After)
Ella gazed at me in unadulterated shock. “What?”She lost her footing and stumbled.
Lunging, I braced her fall, jubilant at the heat of her body engulfed in my arms.She clamored to free herself, but I didn’t want to let her go. Bringing my face closer to hers, I crushed our lips together, losing myself in the only kiss I’d ever shared with a woman. I didn’t know why I’d dived in. I was well aware of the dangers, but all I could think about was my desperation to taste something pure and untainted for once in my life.
Her lips held the flavor of honey. I pondered why that substance was so prevalent in the bible, where it was mentioned sixty-one times. In Exodus, God told Moses he’d take his people into a land of milk and honey. Was Ella the promise of freedom? I’d never believed in the bounty of an omniscient being, but right now, I’d fall to my knees in worship of this woman. Maybe she was the key, my messiah, my savior, and my prophet.
She pushed at my chest before pulling me close as if she couldn’t decide what she wanted. I couldn’t blame her. Something in her subconscious must have warned her that I was impure and unworthy, unlike her. We were the juxtaposition of sin and virtue battling for dominance, knowing we were the polarity of the other.
“You’re supposed to be my brother,” she whispered against my lips. “This is wrong.”
“Stepbrother,” I corrected, the taboo of her words causing my cock to rise. If only she knew how much I enjoyed fucking people meant to be my siblings.
“Is that how you justify having sex with Asher and River?” Ella asked, almost knocking my ass to the ground.
Instantly, irritation bloomed within me. I was discreet with my relationships, but I wasn’t ashamed. Too many people and obstacles could rip my world apart in an instant. I might not care about many things, but I loved Asher and River and would do anything for them.
I should play it cool and pretend I didn’t know what she was talking about, but I didn’t.“How do you know about that?”
Ella flinched, dropping her gaze to the vegetation scattered around the garden.
Panic. It was an emotion I knew well. It was the suffocating knowledge that you’d been caught, and everything was about to crumble beneath your feet. “I’m not gonna hurt you, Ella. We’ve had to be careful. Most people look down on the relationship we’ve fostered. Yes, we’re stepbrothers, but we’ve also grown up with each other, which adds another layer of fucked up to the taboo.”
“I would never judge those who bonded to survive,” Ella whispered.
“Pardon?”
“Asher told me how you helped him.” She paused and gazed at me as if hoping I’d say something, but I remained quiet. People talked too much, never listening to understand but only to respond. I didn’t want Ella to feel like I wasn’t listening to her.
Ella took my silence for displeasure or anger and quickly blurted, “Please don’t be mad at him. I caught him in the bathroom. There was so much blood, I thought something had happened, but then I saw the razor in his hand and the cuts on his thighs. He yelled at me and ran off. I was scared. My mind told me to ignore it, pretend it didn’t happen, but I’ve never been good at shutting myself off to those in need.”
I scoffed, irritated that she was labeling Asher as a weak, pathetic creature. “Asher isn’t a weak kid.”
“Of course not. Being in need doesn’t mean you’re incapable, only that you need help.” I started to speak, but she brushed her finger over my lips, silently requesting that I wait. “The strongest need an escape, and the weakest can provide shelter. Asher needed something, and I could provide it. So he let me in.”
I jumped up, needing distance to think. “So now you’re breaking his trust by spilling his secrets.”
“She broke nothing, Brother,” Asher said calmly behind me.
I’d never seen Asher look at a woman the way he looked at Ella. Like she turned the world on its axis and caused the sun to rise and set. He gazed at her like a prophet witnessing the revelation of God.
“I want her,” Asher stated. “She’s important to me, just as you are. There’s no reason for secrets between us.”
Asher was right. Sheisimportant, not only to him but to all of us. And that’s why I have to fight my urges. We need to keep her safe.
I hate that I’m fucked up. I hate the depravity that surges through me. Ells deserves someone who’ll softly kiss every inch of her skin and tell her how beautiful she is. She doesn’t need men like me and my brothers.
“You’ll regret doing that,” I say.
Ella has the audacity to lock eyes with me, pushing the dildo further down her throat. She looks stunning with mascara running down her face, and another stab of guilt jerks my cock and claws at my heart. What kind of fucking psycho enjoys watching a girl he cares for cry?
River and Asher delude themselves into believing we have a shot at something better, but we’re too fucked up. We’ll never have anything resembling normal. But as I watch Ella pushing back on River’s cock and grinding her pussy on Asher’s tongue, I wonder if she craves the depravity only we can provide.
“Be careful, Princess. You might bite off more than you can chew,” I growl.
I move from the shadows, taking deliberate steps closer to my pretty little prey. I’d prefer her to run than fight, but not all games need to be physical. Ella wants me to fuck her. She wants me to taste her skin and pound her pretty holes until she screams in ecstasy. But I’m not gonna give in to her. Ella needs to understand that brats don’t get rewarded.
I stand in front of her and undo my pants, releasing my thick cock. Ella removes the dildo from her mouth and edges closer to engulf my cock with her lips.
Laughter falls from my throat as I look down at her. “You think you deserve a reward, Ella? You think I’m going to bend for a little brat like you?”