Mess With My Stepbrother

Chapter 2

"Me! I'll do it," I answer quickly, attempting to regain my composure. My heart is still pounding wildly, like it's trying to escape my chest.

"I'll help her, Mom. Stay with Daniel. I can carry more wood than you can,

"

anyway.

Sarah starts to argue with him, but my dad pops into the conversation asking her to help him get the fishing gear ready so they can catch supper from the lake. She gives up after a few moments and waves us on our way.

As we begin our trek into the woods, the air around us becomes cooler under cover of the canopy of trees. The shade is a nice break from the sun that's been beating down on us all afternoon. I catch my breath, the scent of wet leaves and earth filling my nostrils. A mosquito hums too close to my ear and I swat myself a little too hard. It didn't even kill the mosquito as it's right back to humming in my other ear. Little bastard.

Ethan walks beside me, his strong arms brushing away branches as he navigates through the foliage. He holds the low hanging branches away from me, clearing the path.

I follow behind him, collecting small fallen limbs and bigger chunks of tree bark, piling them neatly in my arms. The quiet around us is only broken by the rustling of leaves and the crunch of our footsteps. The distant call of a bird. Occasionally, we pause to catch our breath, our shoulders rubbing against each other as we share the weight of the collected wood.

I catch him looking at me from the corner of my eye. "I think we've got enough. We'd better head back."

"Okay. Here, let me take part of the load before you tip over." Before I can protest, he's reaching for some of the wood in my arms.

His fingers graze my breast, and I feel a wave of heat rush through me. Instantly, my panties are ruined. I can't help but blush, feeling embarrassed and turned on at the same time. Ethan doesn't seem to notice, or if he does, he doesn't acknowledge it. He simply bends down to pick up another piece of wood, his movements smooth and graceful.

I struggle to regain my composure, trying to ignore the fluttering in my stomach. We continue gathering kindling in silence, our steps matching each other's as we navigate through the dense forest.

As we near the campsite, I notice a change in Ethan's demeanor. He seems more focused, his eyes scanning the area intently. I follow his gaze, searching for any signs of danger. "Is anything wrong?"

Ethan turns to me, his eyes full of concern. "I don't know, maybe," he admits, his voice tight. "Something feels...off. You should stay close to me."

I snort. "Are you messing with me? There's nothing out here but bugs."

He shrugs as he shifts the weight of the wood he's carrying. His biceps bulge and I'm once again caught admiring them. “Gotta be careful in the woods, Bookworm. Something may eat you.” My stepbrother's smile is slow and devastating to my nerves. It's almost like he knows what he's doing to me.

Ethan

I'm gonna burn in hell for all the filthy things I'm thinking about doing to my innocent little stepsister, but I can't help it. Haven't been able to for the last couple of years and constantly pushing her away is wearing on my last damned nerve. Claiming her might tear our family apart, but she's always been my Bookworm, ever since her dad started dating my mom and they finally decided to get married.

I've always been protective of Lily. She was a cute kid who needed a big brother to look out for her. My feelings were always strictly platonic when she was younger, but then puberty hit her and even though my intentions were still pure, my thoughts weren't. I came home from college the Thanksgiving right after she turned eighteen and spent the whole week hiding an inconvenient boner. I should be ashamed, but it's not like we're really related.

God, I wish I didn't feel this way. But it's too late now. Those long, long legs haunt my dreams. I want to feel them wrapped around my head, my waist, stretch them out while she rides me reading one of those filthy books I know she reads on the sly. My little Bookworm has her secrets, just like I have mine.

I want to feel those glorious tits pressed against my chest, hear her gasp as I push inside her. It's not just about sex. I love her. Have for years. On a gut deep level, I knew she was mine from the start, in one capacity or another, but a relationship between us would ruin everything.

Daniel would murder me in my sleep if he had any clue my feelings for his only daughter were more filthy and possessive than brotherly, and Mom... I'm not entirely sure she doesn't suspect something already. I've caught her watching me while I'm watching Lily, and I don't trust that beady-eyed glare she gets right before she barks out an order, then sends me in a different direction from my girl.

Lily isn't unaffected by me, either, which should probably make me feel even more guilty. It doesn't. She can't hide the way her pupils blow wide when she sees me or her breath hitches when I touch her. I've always protected her, even when she didn't know I was doing it. I really should be able to protect her from myself, but I don't think I can for much longer. I've grown tired of waiting.

I have to be careful with her. She's an innocent thing, and I should know. I've spent several years threatening every asshole in our hometown who came sniffing around that it'd be the last thing they did. Eventually, word got around, and they left her alone. I've caught her talking to her friends about it. None of them know why she's never been asked out. I do. And I'm taking that secret to my grave.

As we enter the campsite, Lily hesitates for a moment, her eyes searching the area for our parents. "Where did they go?"