Belonging to the Steer Brothers (5 page)

A moan escaped between her lips, and at the moment she didn’t care as he leaned down to give her a kiss. She noted the way his lips were closed and his eyes firm. She knew he would try for a peck on the lips or a brush. She didn’t want a peck. Anna wanted it all.

His lips brushed hers. A brotherly or friend type kiss.  As he moved away her hand tightened around his neck refusing to let him go. She turned slightly in his arms so her body was in a better position to receive his kiss. Closing her eyes she deepened the kiss, opening her lips and running her tongue over his lips.

He pulled away. A hand on her cheek. “Anna, don’t do this.”

“Please, please. David, kiss me like you want too. Just once,” she begged.

“Anna, please. Don’t make me start something we won’t be able to finish.”

Hope sprang inside her. David felt something. “Then don’t stop, and let us continue until we finish.”

She watched as he closed his eyes. “Don’t say stuff you don’t mean.”

“I mean it. I want you David,” she said.  

For several moments he didn’t respond, remaining frozen solid. Anna was determined to evoke some emotion whether it was disgust at her assumption or the passion she knew was just beneath the surface.

The time seemed to last for an eternity. It was the longest wait for anything in her life.

She was rewarded as his free hand captured the back of her head and thrust his tongue between her lips. His hand on her waist spun her around, moving her flush against him. Her aching breasts full and round, her nipples budding to unbearable points as they pushed, trying to come through the fabric of her gown. David placed one hand to the back of her head, his fingers sinking into the length of hair which he fisted. Anna cried out from the pain opening her mouth wider for his invasion. The one on her waist moved down to her butt. He squeezed her ass, and she heard a growl escape between his fiery kisses. Anna circled both of her arms around his neck, holding on as desire and lust took over. She felt her dress being pulled up past her butt, exposing her virginal white panties. David was gathering her dress in his hands. The thrill sent delightful shivers all around her body.

As abruptly as it began she was suddenly thrust away from him. The movement shocking her, she had to catch herself before she fell in a heap on the ground.

“What the hell am I doing?” he cursed himself He ran erratic fingers through his hair. Not talking to her or looking at her. He looked crazy with longing.

Anna found herself panting and as she stood, straightening her body. The molten heat sizzling between them was making her pussy burn for this man.

“You want me,” she said, her hand going to her throat, trying to still her pounding pulse. This reaction was more than she could have asked for. She knew he cared, but to feel the heat of passion was such a relief. Her life, her birthday was perking up with every passing second. Three years of not seeing each other lay between them.

He shot her a glare and started to pace. Anna didn’t know what to do.

“What have I done wrong?” she asked him. Her desire, her love shouldn’t end like this. It couldn’t. Feeling the way he responded, being so close to having everything she ever wanted, Anna didn’t know if she could live with second best.

“Is it because I left?” she asked. Leaving and giving up for the past three years had been her biggest mistake and the one she regretted with all of her heart.

David stopped and moved toward her. “It’s not you.” He cupped her cheeks in his hands. “I can’t have you.”

“Why not?” Anna didn’t understand. She was offering him everything.

David didn’t have time to answer. 

“Because it’s not as simple as one brother for one woman in our family, is it, brother?” David and Anna started as they both turned to see Paul enter her room. He shut the door behind him. It was a strange action considering there was no one around. Everyone else was preparing for the party. Anna hadn’t wanted a party, but David had insisted on it as soon as he heard she would be returning home in time for it. 

“Don’t do this Paul,” David begged his brother.

“Why not?” Paul said coming to stand near the two.

Anna watched the older brother, and she couldn’t explain her reaction. Her body went on alert and for the first time she didn’t see a man who hated her. She saw a man who was watching her. The predator stalking his prey. There was more to his eyes, and she was ready to see more.

“Hello Paul,” she whispered. The previous night she hadn’t gotten the chance to talk to him. David had stopped by to say hello, but Paul had been busy.

Without taking his eyes from his brother, Paul said, “Happy birthday, Anna. Your party has started downstairs. You obviously didn’t hear the door.”

Anna blushed as she thought about the reason. She didn’t want to go downstairs. Staying with David and Paul and having her feeling put on the table for them to hear sounded like a better idea.

“I don’t want to go,” she said.

“Go. This party is for you. We’ll join you in a minute.”

She wanted to argue, but something in his expression warned her to do as she’d been told. Anna gave David one last lingering glance before she moved to the door.

She shut it behind her to give them privacy. Anna didn’t move on straight away but stood leaning against the wall, wanting the support. Whenever they were near, she turned to jelly. No man should have that kind of power over a woman, let alone two men having the same effect with her.

Sighing as she heard the music begin to play. She made her way to her party with the intention and hope of what she could find later. Old high-school friends stood in little groups drinking beer and having a good time. How long had she been upstairs with David? Closing her eyes she tried to build up some enthusiasm. It had been three years since she’d met any of them, besides Henry. She saw him in the corner sipping from a bottle.

“Hello, stranger, and happy birthday,” Henry said as she joined him.

“Hiya, Henry.” She brushed his hand aside and hugged him. “I’ve missed you.”

“Missed you, too.” He sipped more beer and kept glancing around.

“Why do you look nervous?” she asked.

Henry laughed. “Remember what happened the last time I was here? I don’t want to have to explain a shiner to my girlfriend.”

“Point taken.” She glanced around. Beer hadn’t ever appealed to her. “Who’s your girlfriend?”

“Tiffany Marshall.”

Anna couldn’t recall the name and left it at that. “You know they won’t hit you.”

“Maybe, maybe not. I don’t want to take the chance.”

She hid away next to Henry for the next half an hour, keeping her gaze on the room rather than on the stairwell.

“Anna, can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Have you come back to try and claim them?” One of the things she loved about Henry. He didn’t beat around the bush.

“I need to know.”

“What happens if they don’t want you?”

“Then I leave, but at least I won’t go through life wondering what might have been if I don’t try.”

“I’m rooting for you. They’re fools if they don’t see how wonderful you are.”

She smiled at his kind words. David and Paul were completely different. Only time would tell if they’d give her a chance.

Chapter Five

As soon as the door closed the brothers stopped staring at each other, and Paul went and sat on Anna’s bed, observing the younger man.

“We can’t do that to Anna,” David said as he turned away. Paul knew he was struggling to contain his raging desire as well as a serious hard-on. In truth, if he got a few minutes Paul wanted to go and relieve himself. He’d made every intention of coming to Anna’s room to make up and to offer to escort her to the party. Since the night he’d shouted at her they hadn’t properly made up. Instead he’d almost died on the spot. His brother had turned round and was pulling up her dress when Paul opened the door. He’d watched, holding himself back even though deep down he’d wanted to go in and join them. They looked hot together. David was the lighter of the two brothers with blonde hair and green eyes, while Paul had the darker hair and hard eyes. For many years he’d been told he was the darker and more serious of the brothers. That he had an intensity of darkness around him. Not the nicest of compliments. He wanted to be everything Anna needed. A shoulder for her to cry on and the lover she needed to give her pleasure.  

“You feel it, too?” Paul asked his brother, even though deep down he already knew the answer. He needed to hear the words from David’s lips before he could believe it.

“I feel the pull of her. I want her every time I see her. These past few years have been a nightmare without her near. I love her, Paul. I always have, and I feel sick because we knew and cared for her when she was so young. I mean, what would people think of us? This is CapeFalls. They won’t even give Dean and Laura peace, and they’ve been together for a few years now.”

Paul had spent a great deal of time considering the thoughts of the townspeople. The Steers had always been odd, but never before had any of the brothers considered making a woman nine years younger their wife. His mind had been plagued with that fucking diary he should never have read. Over the past three years he’d read the whole thing and realised it hadn’t been many women’s thoughts. Only one woman. One woman who’d been bitter as she wasn’t the woman the Steer men wanted. Paul cursed his stupidity. He had behaved like some abominable monster after reading that trash.  

Running a hand through his hair, Paul couldn’t believe the shit he was thinking. He wanted to turn round and say fuck the people and what they thought, but then he thought about Anna. How small and fragile she was, even though she had the body of a woman. He couldn’t bear to see her being treated as an outsider. She’d lost so much in her short life, and he couldn’t imagine causing her any more loss.

“We’ll figure something out,” Paul said in reply to his brother.

“Do you really love her? You treat her like shit.” Paul winced at the accusation. It was the blunt honest truth. No excuse would be good enough for the way he treated her. His heart and soul had bled more for treating her mean than it ever could have for loving her.

“I love her. I was just trying to protect her from this. From us.”

“How can we have treated her like anything but royalty? Come on, Paul. How could you think we’d treat her any different?” David asked.

“I had my reasons—”

“They weren’t bloody good ones. Anna left because of what you said. Because of what you did. Don’t fuck this up because if she leaves again....”

“You’ll what, David?”

“I’ll follow her and make her mine. I’m not going to deal with your shit. I love Anna, and I will have her.” David stormed out.

Paul watched him go. Paul’s heart was heavy. What he and David wanted from a woman was too much to ask any of anyone, let alone Anna. He wouldn’t force a life of ménage on Anna. Not before she’d lived and experienced life for herself. But could he live with her finding love with another man?

****

A few hours later the party was in full swing. A few of their old friends and business associates, along with a bunch of Anna’s old high school friends, were in attendance. Anna stood out from the crowd, and no matter what David tried to do to be distracted, his gaze would always find her in the room. He noted the amount of male appreciation she received and how she managed to dodge a few wavering hands and invitations to dance. She spent most of her time with Henry. Taking a long sip of his beer he glanced around and saw Paul watching her as well. There were times he hated his brother. Paul being the oldest caused so many problems. He didn’t know why his older brother had changed toward Anna, but he sure as hell wouldn’t accept it anymore. Anna was their woman, and if Paul didn’t see it, then he’d take his part of the inheritance and do something no other Steer man had ever done. He’d have her for his own. Thinking about the past David recalled the number of times Paul had been a little overbearing with their charge.

The rules had changed overnight when Anna came to stay. Her parents had died in a car crash, and they’d been the only family willing to take her in. No more women were allowed in the house. Anna was given a curfew, and either he or Paul was to take her to school or pick her up.

“Hiya, handsome, want some company?” David looked at the approaching woman. Her tits and ass were on display, and a few years ago he’d have been fucking her in the garden before the night was out. His scowl had her scampering away. No woman would be good enough for a quick tumble. The one-nighters were over.

He couldn’t help but think about how many times he’d used the very same look on Anna. She’d laughed at him, patted his chest and walked round him.

God, he loved her. He heard her laugh at one of the guy’s jokes, and tingles shot through his body down to his dick. Cursing, he stood off to the side so no one would notice his tightened jeans. Her laugh was deep and dirty, making him think of other sinful ways to put her mouth to good use.

Shit, he needed to get out of here and quick.

Placing his empty bottle on the side, he moved for the exit near the doors.

“Where are you going?” Paul stopped him with a hand on his arm.

“Getting some air. Is that all right, dad?” He growled at his brother, not caring about the disrespect in his voice. Pulling his arm away, David stormed out of the room pushing a few men out of his way on his way into the night.

Once outside he could relax and calm down. His hand moved to his cock pressing the firm shaft through the tight denim.

“Fuck, I want her so bad,” he cursed the empty night air. The stars stared back at him, twinkling and beautiful. He usually admired their beauty, but this time he couldn’t help but resent them as they appeared to be mocking him.

****

Anna watched David walk out of the room, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. Did he hate her for her response to him in the bedroom? Thinking about his arms wrapped around her and his mouth bruising hers made her pussy wet with want. Anna forced her mind to stay on track. Getting aroused while talking to an ex-girlfriend wouldn’t do.

She was pulled out of her thoughts as she watched Laura and Dean Riley enter the house. Laura had been a comforting support to her in the early stages of her parents’ death. There were only a few years that separated them.

Laura went straight to her and hugged her. Dean hovered behind. “I’m so pleased you came back.”

“Thanks. I am, too. I think.” Anna hugged the other woman and closed her eyes. A deep sense of belonging overcame her.

“I can’t stay long. Peter is caring for the little monster and begged us to not leave him alone for too long,” Laura said. Anna laughed thinking about the man being trapped with a young toddler.

“I’m so pleased you came.” Anna kissed Dean on the cheek and smiled. Paul moved behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders in the same way Dean had to Laura.

“Hello, Riley.”

“Are you really going to get all possessive on me, Steer?”

Anna and Laura watched the interaction between the two men and giggled.

“Come on. Let them catch up while you and I talk.” Laura took her hand and Anna led her to the quiet of the kitchen.

“Are you sure we should leave them together. They looked all mean at each other?” Anna asked.

“Leave them to it. Dean won’t do anything. I asked him not to. So, how are you?”

“I’m fine.”

Laura raised a brow, a little disbelieving.

“Okay, I’m nervous. I haven’t been here for three years, and I sense a difference. Paul doesn’t like me being left alone with men. David is fun still, but he holds himself back. It’s all different from when I was younger,” she said.

“Isn’t that going to be the case? You’re a woman now.”

Anna smiled. “Yes. Can I tell you something, and you won’t criticise me?”

“Do you even know who I am? I’m the slut who stole Dean Riley and seduced him. It doesn’t matter that I married him and have his child. I wouldn’t dream of being anything but supportive.”

“I’m in love with David...”

Before she could finish Laura interrupted her. “Great. How does David feel?”

A blush stained her cheeks as she recalled being in his arms. The dominance of his lips on hers.

“It’s not just David,” Anna said and let her words sink in.

“Oh.”

Anna licked her lips and glanced at the other woman. “Do you think worse of me?”

“No. I don’t. Strange, isn’t it? You’d think I’d be ranting and raving and calling you all sorts of names. Look, Anna, I’m a firm believer in going after what you want, providing it won’t hurt anyone in the process. If you love David and Paul, then go for it. I’ll still be your friend.”

Anna was grateful. Having Laura around made her happy. It wasn’t only Paul and David she’d missed; it was Laura as well.

They stayed in the kitchen and talked some before Dean found them.

“Sorry to bust up your reunion, but Peter is begging for us to get home. It would seem he can’t handle a little toddler.”

Anna smiled and went with them to show them out. Paul was nowhere to be seen. As the night wore on she didn’t see much of Paul and David. Actually, she didn’t even know if David had come in from the cold. Her friends hadn’t changed in the three years since she’d last seen them. In fact she was surprised by how childish they were.

Paul walked past, and she couldn’t stop the yearning inside. When would they have two minutes alone to be able to talk? The girls she was standing with stopped their conversation to admire his ass.

“I would love to try that guy out. I bet he is hung and knows how to use it,” her friend Daisy said as Paul walked past. Daisy had a bit of a reputation when it came to men. Anna didn’t like the way the other woman was eyeing up her man. “But from what I hear you take on both of the brothers.”

Anne was shocked the second time that night as a deep spike of jealousy overcame her. Paul was hers. David and Paul were both hers, and none of the women, or girls pretending to be women, should be looking at her men. No way should they be assessing their bedding value. Even if Anna did agree with the assessment.

“Excuse me?” she asked, the possession clear in her tone.

All the other girls and a couple of the boys looked over at her. Henry had left the part a while ago. As soon as Paul and David had joined the party, he’d been gone. Anna didn’t blame him. With the way they’d treated him last time she understood his need to leave.

“Come on, Anna, you must know these two boys are bad for a girl,” Daisy said, as if that explained it.

“I live with these two men.”

Maybe not for the last three years, but that didn’t count.

The others in the group looked like they were trying to find an escape route.

“Yeah, and you should know some of their history by now. I mean the whole town knows about it. I bet you’re one of their playthings if not the woman they’re preparing to make their wife.” Daisy sneered, her true colours finally coming through.

Putting her bottle of beer down, Anna, who was much shorter than Daisy, went toe to toe with the other girl. They may have been friends, but time had clearly changed the other girl; and Anna knew she was different. Bad-mouthing people wasn’t acceptable. “What the hell are you trying to say?”

The room around them went silent.

“Oh come on, you know the Steer men share their women. It’s been happening for generations. What, you think because times change their traditions don’t change? You’re just another Steer whore. My mum says you’re nothing better than the gutter.”

Anna went to retaliate. She got as far as raising her fist, but Paul intercepted holding her steady in his arms. She couldn’t understand where her reaction had come from. Protecting her men had been her primary goal.

“Daisy? Tracy McAllister’s daughter?” Paul asked the girl. Anna saw Daisy blush and retreat behind her shell.

“Yes,” she mumbled. Anna wished she could feel sorry for her, but Daisy had shown her true colours; and Anna felt nothing but spite for her.

“Send my regards, and get out of my house, all of you, out.” Anna stood in the protection of his arms as each of the guests made their way out of his house. Anna looked at the floor, saddened and mortified that her birthday had gone so disastrous. Daisy had once been a friend, and she was only saying the truth. Why had she responded like that? Because David and Paul were her men, and even if they didn’t want her, she knew she wanted them.

A few people stopped to offer their apologies and shake hands, the few who obviously accepted their way of life.

After around ten minutes, Anna remained in his arms, her heavy breathing the only sound to be heard. Everyone was gone. Her birthday had lasted a few short hours.

“I’m sorry about that, angel,” he whispered against her neck, his lips running along the smooth curve. Her stomach tightened, and her pussy pulsed as the contact at her neck zoomed southwards. She didn’t have a clue how the heat from his breath could affect the way she felt deep inside. The desire to cross her legs was strong.