The Step Dare (Peach State Stepbros #3)

Chapter 12

12

Brenner

I t’s been a long month…a long five weeks?…since the threesome that will go down in Brenner’s Book of Sexual Escapades as one of the hottest experiences of my life. Strangely, quite a few of them involve Taylor, even though our experience together is pretty limited. Something about our hookups is always different, this mixture of fun, sexy, and just…next level? For whatever reason, touching him is better than when I hook up with someone else.

Something I haven’t done since the last school year. It was one thing when I was having regular orgasms with him, but I haven’t had one with anyone other than myself in too long. Hence why it feels like it’s been a long five hundred years…

The incident with the picture nearly did me in. I’m not sure if Taylor knows just what he’s doing to me. I swear I haven’t walked around with a boner this often since I first started jerking off and discovered the joy of orgasms. I wanted him to fuck me so bad, still do. I’m vers and love both giving and receiving, but the thought of taking Taylor’s cock makes my whole body come alive. Like, I swear, it alters my brain chemistry, turning everything up a notch, and for someone like me, who’s typically already running on a higher frequency, it’s a lot. I’m more than a little obsessed with the idea, so I have to constantly remind myself why we can’t.

I should also be focusing on the lecture my professor is giving in my Regional Infrastructures class rather than thinking about Taylor’s dick.

I force myself to pay attention to Prof. Rector, and eventually lose myself in what he’s saying. I really do love this, both the theoretical and the practical aspects. I always have. My dad owns a construction company, one that does a lot of large contracts and big designs. While he’s always been the builder, I’ve always been more interested in design, which is why I’m majoring in architecture. When I was a kid, Mom used to buy me every possible kind of Lego, robotics kits, and these little gear things where I could build just about anything. I was always creating something, then taking it apart to build something new. When I got older, I would draw out my plans and then construct them—houses, skyscrapers, whatever I could think of. It’s always been a natural thing that keeps my brain engaged.

After class, my last of the day, I’m halfway through the quad when my phone rings. Dad flashes across the screen, the photo of me, him, and Mom when I was a kid making me smile. It’s one of my favorite photos of us. We’re at the beach, and we look over the moon… Dad looks so happy, and I remind myself that Nicole makes him feel like that again.

“Hey, old man,” I tease.

“You’re only as young as you feel, kiddo.”

I grin at the kiddo . “So that makes you eighty?”

“Hey now. Maybe a year ago, but not anymore. I’m living my life, remember? We went on a cruise, and Nic and I are already planning our European honeymoon.”

Emotions fucking suck. It’s so hard to feel a sting of pain while simultaneously being happy as hell for someone. I don’t get how it’s often so easy to feel more than one emotion. “Europe, huh?” He’s always wanted to go. I tried to talk him into taking a trip when I left for college, but he never did.

“Yeah. She’s never been either. It’ll be an adventure. That’s not why I called, though. I’m in town. I had a single-day conference. I expected it to go longer, but it’s done, so I thought we could meet up for an early dinner before I head home. Do you have time?”

That’s how my dad is. He’s the type who wants to spend time with me every moment he can. I really did get lucky in the father department, unlike Tay. My dad is the kind of person who would always put me first, who has always put me first. That’s why it’s so important to me to put him first now.

“Eh, I can squeeze you into my busy schedule,” I tease. “But only if we go to that Korean BBQ place I like.”

“You say that like there’s anywhere else I would take you to eat.”

We both chuckle, say our goodbyes, and I hop into my truck and drive over to meet him at the restaurant.

Me: Hey…I’m having dinner with my dad…our dad? Too soon? Anyway, he’s in town for the evening. Want me to bring you food?

Tay: Good stepbros always bring their brothers dinner.

Me: Do good stepbros also dick each other down? Because if so, I definitely want to be the best stepbrother there is.

Tay: Now I’m getting a semi at work.

Me: Good. I like you that way.

I add a winky-face emoji, then stuff my phone into my pocket. If I don’t, I’ll spend most of my dinner with my dad sexting with his fiancée’s son.

Dad pulls up beside me as soon as I get out of my truck. It might sound cheesy, but it really feels like he has an extra pep in his step. If I’m honest, I’ll admit it’s something I noticed even before we walked in on him and Nicole. Dad had seemed different, but I just didn’t stop to wonder what that meant.

“What?” he asks as we walk toward the building. “You’re looking at me funny.”

“You just seem happy, is all.”

He gives me an almost sad smile then, one that says he’s happy but worries he should feel guilty for that.

“She would want you to move on,” I tell him. “She’d probably kick your ass that you didn’t do it sooner.”

He chuckles, and we lean against the wall before going inside. “She definitely would. That’s how we know ghosts aren’t real. She would have haunted my ass until I started to live my life more.”

The cool thing is that we’re not exaggerating. That’s the kind of woman she was. She would have hated the idea of Dad being alone all these years. “I miss her,” I admit.

“I know. Me too.”

I turn to look at him. His hair is dark like mine, except for that little bit of salt mixed into the strands. He has a few wrinkles around his eyes—which seem less deep now that he’s with Nicole. A question sits on the tip of my tongue, but I’m not sure if I should ask it, if bringing it up makes me an asshole.

“What is it, Bren?”

“Even now that you’re in love with Nicole? You still miss her?” I feel like a kid. It’s so fucking dumb to act this way, but sometimes my emotions are so big, I can’t keep them locked away like I normally do.

“Of course. That won’t change, no matter how much I love Nicole. And you know what’s really cool? Nicole knows that. She understands it. She asks me about Mom. We talk about her—her and you. I hope you know she would never try to take Mom’s place.”

“It’s stupid of me to ask that.” I swipe at a stray tear. “I’m an adult. I shouldn’t worry about someone trying to take Mom’s place.”

“You’re allowed to feel what you feel. It’s valid. Your mom will always hold a special place in my heart. Her memory and the love I had for her won’t get erased by what I feel for Nic.”

Sometimes you need to hear something you already know, and this is one of those moments for me. Hearing him say the words helps ease the weight I keep pretending I’m not carrying. “You’re right. I know that. I’m sorry. I don’t want you to think I’m not happy for you or that I don’t love Nicole.” I think about everything she’s been through with her ex, how much she loves Tay, and how good she is to her son…and my dad. “I’m glad it’s her.”

“I love you, kiddo.” He wraps an arm around me, pulling me close. “I’m glad it’s her too. And look at what this means for you and Taylor. He’s been your best friend for a long time, and now he’s going to be your brother. There’s always been a special bond between you two, and now you get to see how that transforms into something new.”

If only he knew how deep the bond is between us and all the ways it’s transformed into something new the past few months. “Stepbrother…yeah. That’ll be fun.” If a constant case of blue balls is fun.

“It’s going to be great. I know it. We’ll take more trips together, like the cruise. We’re going to be one big happy family.” Which is what Dad has always wanted.

Only I can’t stop jonesing for my stepbro’s cock, and I’m scared to death it will mess up everything.

*

“I got you fried rice, spicy chicken, with zucchini, broccoli, and onions,” I tell Taylor when I get home. He’s sitting on the couch, shirtless, with his laptop and schoolbooks around him.

He whips his head in my direction, and I have to bite my cheeks so I don’t smile. “Onions?”

“Extra,” I lie. I’m not an idiot. Well, at least not when it comes to Tay, who has a deep aversion to onions.

“Shut up. You asshole.” He gives me the finger, and I laugh.

“I can’t believe you almost fell for that. Do you even know me at all?” I place the container on the coffee table in front of him.

“I thought for a minute you didn’t know me .”

“But I do.” I sit down beside him. “What do you want to do?”

His brows draw together. “Um…eat and do my homework. You just got home, and you’re already trying to figure out something to do?”

“Ugh. Fine. You’re so boring.” It technically is homework time for me too, but luckily, I don’t have anything that needs to be done today.

He cocks his head slightly, his eyes doing that thing they do when he’s trying to read between the lines. Fucking best friends. They can be so annoying.

“Are you okay? Did something happen with your dad?”

I shake my head. “No. I mean, nothing happened with him, and I’m okay. We had a good talk. I feel even better than before about things, but you know how talking about Mom gets me.”

“All up in that head of yours.” I’m surprised when he reaches out and pushes the hair off my forehead. “It’s busy in there.”

“And I’m horny.”

“You’re changing the subject.”

“Sex is a good distraction.”

Taylor snickers and takes his laptop off his thighs, putting it on the table.

“Oh God. You’re gonna do that thing where you try to get me to talk about my feelings, aren’t you? You’re the worst best friend and stepbro ever. I wish you didn’t know me so well.”

“No you don’t.”

No. I don’t. He’s right.

“Talk to me, Bren. Dare you.” He reaches over, placing his hand on the tiger tattoo on my chest, maybe to remind me of the reason I got it.

“Oh, I see how you are. Gotta bring out the dares, huh?” I ask, instead of mentioning that I know what he’s doing with his hand placement and how much it means to me.

“They haven’t steered us wrong yet.” His hand lowers to my thigh, and blood rushes toward my groin. Damn him and the effect he has on me.

“For someone who keeps reminding me how this is a bad idea, you end up touching me an awful lot.”

“Want me to stop?” He draws circles on my thigh, getting higher and higher.

“No.” I drop my head back.

“Tell me.”

So I do. I share the conversation we had about Mom and Nicole and all that shit. What’s the point in pretending that Taylor wouldn’t get it out of me? That he doesn’t always know when something is going on inside my head?

The good thing is, he keeps getting closer and closer to my dick, which probably means I shouldn’t be as honest as I’m about to be. “Then he started talking about how great it’ll be to be one big happy family. All these family vacations we’ll go on, and how awesome it will be for me to have a brother.”

“Oh.” Taylor’s hand stops moving, and damn it, why did I tell him?

“Yeah… oh is right. They really owe us. We’re excellent fucking sons.”

“Fucking sons?” Taylor asks, and we laugh together the way we’re so good at doing.

I sigh, then drop my head on his shoulder. “Even though I’m dying for you to fuck me, and this sibling thing is both hot and a pain in my ass…I’m glad it’s you, Tay.” Because that makes moving on easier.

“I’m glad it’s you too,” he replies, with something in his voice I can’t read. I lift my head, look at him, and he seems almost sad for a moment, but then shakes it off. “Movie marathon?”

“Yeah,” I reply, giving him space to sort out what’s in his head, before I try to get him to do the talking thing too.