Forbidden Steps: A Stepbrother Romance Read Free

vibrant.
    So naked.
    Clearing his throat, Colin reached out and grabbed a towel from a hook behind the door, draping it around her. “Whatcha doing home, kiddo? I thought you were shopping with you’re your mom?”
    Adjusting the towel so she was fully concealed, Ashley shrugged. “One of her models had an emergency. Mom had to go.” she cocked her head and gave him an irreverent smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll pretend to be surprised.”
    Colin’s lip twisted wryly. “Don’t think there’s much point of that. I’m sure Steph heard you scream.”
    Ashley took another, smaller towel from a shelf by the sink and scrubbed it through her hair. “Naw. You can’t hear nothin’ from the kitchen. Hell, you can have sex in the hallway and no one would know unless they were standing right here.”
    Eyes wide, mouth dry, dick hard, Colin stared at her. Then he got mad. “How the hell would you know that?”
    Dropping the wet towel over the sink, Ashley gave him an odd look, then flushed. “Not ‘cause of anything I’ve done. My mom and Steph’s dad made up a few nights ago…in the hallway.” She grimaced. “If I had heard them before hand, I might not be scarred for life.”
    “Ah.” Colin didn’t know what to say. His stepfather fucking anyone wasn’t a mental image he wanted.
    Ashley giggled. “You should see the look on your face.” Her gaze traveled down to his chest. She tugged her lip between her teeth. “Shit. I’m sorry. I was all wet and I got you soaked.”
    Colin felt as though large hands had encircled his throat and were squeezing down. He licked his lips, letting his eyes roam. Strands of hair, almost black while wet, clung to her slender, pale shoulders. Her breasts, smaller than their stepsister’s, but still enough to be a handful, pressed against the white cloth of the tightly bound towel. Her legs. God her legs were so long.
    A snap of fingers brought his eyes back to her face. “Hey. What’s up with you?”
    Taking a deep breath Colin forced a smile. “Nothing. I’m just happy.” Saying so reminded him of how grateful he truly was, grateful to have her back, awake and well. “Come here.”
    Ashley went willingly into his arms, accepting his need to hold her, needing to be held. Colin tried to keep his thoughts on gratitude, on how wonderful it was to be able to hold her again. Hard as he tried they drifted back to how it had felt to have her pressed naked against him. So innocent, so trusting. With a bit of work…
    Angry with himself, Colin released Ashley and put some distance between them. It was bad enough that she’d lost two years of her life because of him. Now, to top it off, he was thinking of using her?
    Not gonna happen.
    Resolved to enjoy the party and then, when the time was right, convince Steph to show him her apartment—most importantly her bed—Colin made a vague motion from Ashley to her room. “You should get dressed. I don’t know who’s been invited, but…”
    Ashley nodded curtly and cut him off. “Oh everyone, I’m sure. Now that I look normal again, everyone will want to see me—tell me how much they prayed for me, tell me that they never gave up hope.” She smiled suddenly, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I should get dressed. Wouldn’t want to disappoint anyone by looking any less than my best.”
    Colin watched her turn. He wanted to stop her, to tell her she was wrong. He didn’t. She wasn’t and he wouldn’t lie to her. He had years to make up for and being anything less than honest wasn’t a good way to start.
    In her open doorway Ashley stopped and glanced back. “I know you gave up, Colin. I know and I understand. I don’t blame you. I’m just glad giving up didn’t get you killed.” she took a deep breath and met his eyes. “I. Don’t. Blame. You.”
    When the door closed Colin bent down slowly and grabbed his knife. Hands too shaky to even consider shaving, he turned away from the bathroom, stuffed his knife in his boot,