STEPBROTHERS (3 Book Stepbrother Romance Collection) (27 page)

I swallowed the lump in my throat and dared to ask, “What is it? Oh my god, is he OK?” It felt like déjà vu, but instead of coming to my house to tell me, they were doing it over the phone. Had I lost him just when I realised I’d found him?

“I’m afraid Mr Guyer has been in an accident.”

My throat swelled and I couldn’t speak. Everything fell silent around me, and the phone slipped out of my hands, bouncing as it made contact with the floor.

“Mrs Chambers? Hello? Are you still there?”

T
he drive
to the hospital was painful. My fingers clenched my purse tightly as the taxi driver did his best to avoid the traffic jams. I drummed the pads of my fingers against the leather, and my teeth sank down on my bottom lip in desperation, willing the cars to move. I’d almost got out to walk a few times, but each time we’d suddenly start moving again, inching closer to my destination, so I sat trapped inside the stuffy vehicle that smelled of sweat and cigarettes.

“Is there not a shortcut we could take?” I asked.

“Nope. This is the only way to the hospital.” The taxi driver sent me an apologetic smile. “We’ll get there.”

The other vehicles started rolling again, and we were on our way. The outside blurred by through a fog of tears, but I didn’t pay attention; I was restless and so frightened. In my shell-shocked state, I forgot to find out if Harvey was OK. I’d abandoned my phone in the middle of the floor as I fled the office. I grabbed only my purse, ran for the lift and jumped into the first taxi I saw.

No, he’s going to be fine. He promised me he would be there for me… no matter what
.

It was a foolish thought. Not even Harvey could stop a freak accident or death knocking at the door, but I kept on telling myself this, anyway; it was a mantra stuck on repeat. The cabbie pulled up to the kerb, and the passenger doors automatically unlocked once I flung my money at him, not caring if I overpaid. My fingers shook as I grabbed the handle and let myself out.

I hurried toward the hospital’s emergency entrance, half walking half running, speeding up then slowing down as I figured out in my panic which way I needed to go. Finally I saw the main reception desk ahead.

“Where is Harvey Guyer, please?” I asked, my voice trembling, barely holding back the tears.

The nurse smiled at me and after some infuriating questions—“hospital policy” nonsense—she told me the room number and floor. Waving her arm, she pointed me in the right direction.

He has a room… he must be alive.
Oh, god. Don’t you dare be fucking dead, Harvey!

I twisted my head from side to side, desperately looking for the room, trying to make sense of the numbers outside each door, as if I’d forgotten what numbers even were.

Eventually my subconscious mind solved the Arabic numerical puzzle, and I found the right room. I stopped dead in the doorway. The breath that left my lips was almost a moan as my eyes focused on Harvey’s bulky form on the bed. Like a beacon, monotonous beeping guided me toward him. The small machine signalled from beside his bed.

I reached out to touch his hand, and the tears that I’d tried to hold back fell silently down my cheeks. I took his fingers in mine and squeezed, then studied his bruised face. His eyes were closed, moving beneath their lids; I saw the occasional flutter or twitch of an eyelash.

“Don’t you die, Harvey. Don’t you dare. I can’t lose you, too. I need you.”

I paused and looked down to his hands held within mine.

“I love you too much,” I said.

The three little words that had been on the tip of my tongue, ready to be said at the right time, slipped out. And I was so distracted in my own thoughts, my own despair and panic, that it took me a minute before I realised the light pressure of Harvey’s fingers on mine. I looked up from our hands and stared at him with wide eyes. He stared back at me with a smug look on his face. The corners of his lips tilted, and his mouth moved as it formed a few words.

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

I smiled as he lifted our linked hands to his mouth, pressing a chaste kiss on my palm before he brought it to the centre of his heart. From where I stood, I could see a faint line of bruises and other battered spots marring his beautiful skin.

“Don’t you ever do that to me again,” I whispered. “I was so scared.”

“I know, baby.” He tried to smile but could only wince, and I could tell he was struggling to stay awake.

“Careful,” I warned. “Rest, go back to sleep, I’ll be here when you wake up. We can talk then.”

As soon as his breathing evened out and his eyes were closed, I untangled our hands and snuck out of the room to find a nurse or doctor who could tell me more.

“What happened? What’s wrong with him? Is he going to be OK?” I asked at the nurse’s station.

“The paramedics told us he was hit by a speeding car at a junction. He ran in front of it to push a kid out the way, but there’s not too much damage. He’s a survivor and a hero. He’s got a mild concussion, a broken wrist and a few broken ribs on his right side, but they should heal nicely—all clean breaks. Other than that, he’s fine.”

I nodded, “When can he leave?”

“We’re monitoring the head injury, and we’d like to keep him overnight at least, but he should be good to go in a day or so as long as the doctor gives the all-clear.”

My shoulders dropped in relief, and I went back to Harvey’s room and spent the rest of the day watching over him.

“
I
think
it’s best if you stay with me at my house, Harvey. Even Sadie thinks so,” I said.

He peered at me, “You just want to take advantage of me in my injured state… play nurse.” He winked. I waved the suggestion away with a laugh, but I wouldn’t mind giving him a sponge bath or two, I thought wickedly.

“I won’t take no for an answer. Either that or Humbug and I will come stay with you at your place. It’s my turn to look after you. So decide, mine or yours?”

“You’ve got better things to do than stay home and baby me.”

“It’s OK, I’ve got a lenient boss; she won’t mind me taking the time off. And anyway, this is just a small way for me to give back to you after you helped me out so much.”

“No, babe,” he shook his head in a jerky manner. “You’re my responsibility. I like looking after
you
. Not the other way around.”

“Hey, hey,” I tutted, “we look after each other, all right? I already told you, anyway, I’m not taking no for an answer.”

He pulled me to him, though I knew it pained him to do so.

“You win this round…” he said, giving in. I grinned at him, his mouth so close to mine. After he’d awoken, we both skirted around the elephant in the room. Our love had been declared, and that was all that mattered, but it still felt like we needed to have that conversation about what we were to each other, what the next step was going to be.

“Harvey?”

“Yes?” he said, his eyes pinned to my mouth.

“Are we really doing this?”

His lips moved forward and brushed mine, slowly, gently. His tongue wetted my bottom lip and I moaned.

“Does that answer your question?”

I giggled, “I guess so.”

Suddenly his face fell, and he turned sombre, the same look he’d the night before the accident.

“Tell me,” I whispered. “You can trust me. Whatever it is, we can handle it together. Trust me, Harvey.”

He looked away for a moment, and I thought he was going to clam up again or try to flee, but my arms were wrapped around his neck, and I wasn’t about to let him go anywhere.

His eyes met mine. “You might not want me after I tell you, though.”

I shook my head, and pressed my forehead to his. “I’ll never stop wanting you.”

He sighed. I leaned back and watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed at his throat. “I can’t have kids, Sara…” His eyes glistened, and I held my breath. “I can never give you another baby. Or be a father.”

I exhaled, not expecting that, but I looked into his sad, blue eyes, determined to make him see that my words were true: I’d always want him. “Do you remember what you said to me? That you’d always be there for me, no matter what?” I said and squeezed his hand.

“I do…”

“Well, I want you to know I feel the same. I’ll be by your side no matter what.” I took a breath. “I’m not going to lie to you and pretend that it doesn’t upset me that one day
we
can’t have a baby together, but Harvey, my love, can’t you see, you can and will be a father?” I said as I moved his hand onto my belly, the little bump that had started to show around my middle.

“I didn’t want to presume…” he said, shaking his head and looking in wonder as he stroked the bump.

“We both need you,” I said.

“Then I’ll spend the rest of my life looking after the both of you.”

“That sounds like an oath.”

“It is,” he confirmed.

“
R
eady to go home
?”

Harvey nodded from the wheelchair, and I grabbed a duffel bag filled with his belongings Sadie had kindly brought. I swung the strap around my shoulder, not minding the hefty weight as I steered him from the hospital room.

“You sure you can carry that?” Harvey asked.

I nodded and flashed him a reassuring smile. “Yeah, I’m good. Stop worrying.”

“But you’re pregnant,” he scowled up at me. “You’re not supposed to carry anything heavy.”

“Well, it’s not that heavy.”

“Fine,” he grumbled. It was killing him being in the wheelchair, helpless, but the hospital’s bureaucratic rules dictated that he remain there till we were outside.

I rolled him past a group of doctors and nurses who waved at us, asking a few questions here and there before we walked out. The heavy scent of bleach and antiseptic faded as we stepped out of the building. Harvey sprang up as soon as the main entrance door swooshed closed.

“Finally!” he said and grabbed the duffel off my shoulders.

“Careful, your wrist.”

We found our way to my car and got in. Harvey’s hand sneakily found its way onto my thigh as we drove. I still couldn’t believe it: my stepbrother and I were actually going to do it, be together, raise a child. It was insane.

I pulled the car to a stop at a traffic light and turned my head to the side to see Harvey staring at me, an intense emotion flaring in the depths of his blue eyes.

“What?” I asked. “Do I have something on my face?” I pulled down the driver’s mirror to check and reached out to touch my face, convinced I had a spot on my chin.

He shook his head. “Nope, you’re fine.”

“Then why are you looking at me like that?” I pressed.

He smiled; his mouth looked soft and inviting. “Because you’re a beautiful woman. And I’m never going to get used to you being mine.”

My fingers caressed his whiskered cheek; the pad of my thumb grazed along his jawline.

“I want you with me always,” he said. His expression turned sober, his mouth losing its smile as he regarded me seriously.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” I said.

“No,” he uttered, “I want you always with me. No matter what happens, Sara, I want you with me. For the rest of our lives. Forever.”

His sweet words set off a stinging feeling at the back of my eyes. “Forever seems an awfully long time,” I said, teasing.

He shrugged, “I don’t take no for an answer, babe.”

“In that case, it looks like I have no choice. Oh, well,” I joked.

“Good.”

“By the way. What was it that you wanted to tell me? Back in the office, I mean,” I said, my forefinger stroking his hand on top of my thigh.

“Oh, that. I’d totally forgotten. Good thing you reminded me.” He chuckled softly, then his voice turned serious. “Eric never meant to leave you, Sara.”

“What do you mean?” I asked and quickly found a place to pull over.

“He didn’t kill himself. The mechanic who took a closer look at the car, the second one, told me that there was a fault with the brake line. So it was an accident. And I’d already contacted the insurance company that morning. I threatened to take legal action, because I found out that Bluelife has a bit of a history of not investigating cases thoroughly. Anyway, they’ve agreed to pay the life insurance.”

Rolls of tears began to pour down my face. “Thank you for doing that. And thank you for looking after me these past few months. I wouldn’t have made it without you.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love you too damn much.”

“
H
ere’s the paper
,” I said and gave it to him. He was all cosied up on my bed, Humbug nestled alongside him, keeping him company. Nothing had happened the night before. Harvey had taken the meds they’d given him, and he fell asleep almost as soon as I tucked him in. “You hungry? You want me to make you some breakfast before I go?”

“Come here,” he whispered and I stepped forward, closer to the edge of the bed.

“I can make you eggs and bacon. Or just some toast?”

His hand reached out and ran up my bare thigh—I hadn’t changed for work yet and was wearing a soft cotton nightie.

He reached around and squeezed my backside. “I’m not hungry for food.”

“Harvey!” I gasped as his hand moved and was now skidding up between my thighs, his thumb gently exploring the thin material of my panties beneath. I moaned and closed my eyes; it’d been an age since I was touched there. “You’re going to make me late,” I whispered.

I shivered all over as he pulled the crotch of my panties to the side, his finger exploring my swelling pussy. “I don’t care. Sadie will understand.”

The tips of his other fingers, the ones peeking out of the cast on his wrist, encouraged me to lean forward to kiss him, and with a sweep of his tongue my lips parted. A low growl sounded out in the back of his throat; our mouths moved, and his finger breached my entrance.

“Harvey,” I moaned against his lips.

“Tell me you want this. Tell me you want me,” he said between kisses, asking for permission.

“Yes,” I whispered. “I want this, and I want you.”

His finger drove into me, my pussy wet and dripping all over his hand.

“Open your legs wider,” he commanded. I did what I was told, and he slid another finger in beside the first. His thumb brushed over my clit, tapping it ever so slightly, working it till I thought my head was going to explode.

“Oh, god.”

“Come for me, baby…”

“Oh god, Harvey, faster!” His movements sped up, his fingers thrusting inside me, and I could feel the spiral begin to unwind. A whole firework display appeared before my eyes, and my legs began to convulse as a thundering orgasm nearly ripped me in two.

With my breath ragged, I was hungry for more. I needed him to see all of me; without him asking, I found the edges of my nightgown and pulled it over my head, the material clinging for a second as it caught on the underside of my heavy breasts before leaving my body.

“I wish I had more hands. You’re stunning,” he said under his breath as he stared openly at my nakedness. “Come here so I can taste you.”

I pulled back the duvet and saw how ready and hard he was for me. He’d been naked beneath the sheets all this time—somehow he’d managed to strip himself, on his own, despite his cast and without me noticing. I grinned at him slyly, got onto the bed and straddled him, his hand in my hair as we kissed. His head dipped to my collarbone, planting kisses all along it, then finally working down to my breasts. He teased a nipple with one hand and licked and nibbled the other. I threw my head back and ground against his cock. I needed him in me…

At my sudden movements, he winced.

“Are you OK?” I breathed. I was about to jump off—I didn’t want to hurt him—but with a clamped hand, he kept me still.

“Don’t you dare leave this bed,” he warned, his tone serious and his eyes blazing with lust.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You couldn’t hurt a fly,” he whispered.

He tugged me back into his arms, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, careful not to put too much pressure on his ribs.

Before I could ask more questions, his hips tilted, and I felt his rigid cock nudge against my apex and slip between my lips to press against my clit. My mouth parted in pleasure when he started grinding against me. My wetness covered his erection; I was ready for him to be inside me. My sensitive nub ached and throbbed from the intense friction, and finally, after I never thought it would happen, Harvey’s cock slid inside me. I rolled my eyes as he spread my pussy wide, torturing me with his shaft as rocked his hips.

I arched my back; my nipples jutted out and begged to feel his mouth on them.

Reading my mind, he brought his head down and captured one of my rosy peaks. Drawing it inside his mouth, his tongue flicked the tip and suckled it softly. A rush of new moans slid free from my lips, causing him to suck even harder.

With hands upon his shoulders, I found myself wanting to be in control of the pace, and using the power from my thighs I started to ride him hard.

“You’re driving me crazy,” he said.

The passion that ignited between us grew stronger. His pace picked up alongside mine, and before long, my body started to shake, an approaching orgasm steaming along like an unstoppable freight train. I cried out in surprise as he manoeuvred me with ease beneath him on the bed, with no thought to his injuries at all. With his cast braced against the mattress near the side of my head, I wrapped my legs around him as he drove his cock into me.

“Harvey…” I cried, burying my face into his neck. “Fuck me, harder. Oh, god. Yes!”

My internal muscles contracted, spasming out of control, and a muffled curse busted free from my mouth. My legs spread even wider for him as I tried to take him in deeper. I felt the welcoming and familiar build-up in the pit of my belly. Harvey picked up the speed and settled into a fast, hard tempo that got me crying out, panting with my mouth open. My chest heaved with the lack of air as my orgasm was ripped out of me. I came so hard that I saw stars. Harvey gripped hold of one of my bouncing tits and roared as he came a second later, his hot come filling me up, making me his forever.