Stepbrother's Unbridled Passion Boxed Set (7 page)

"But you’re not supposed to leave for another half hour," she protested, a frown on her lips. She didn’t want him leaving while they were in the middle of an argument. That was always how it went down with her father and mother. Her father would storm out mid-argument leaving her mother fuming and anxious, and she knew how that love story ended. She didn’t want to make the same mistake with Ryker that her parents made.

He frowned, his eyes apologetic. "I gotta go to work. Adam called. They need an extra car out immediately. We’ll talk tonight. Okay?"

"Oh..." Chloe gave him a weak smile, trying to mask her upset.

"I'll be home for supper and I'll make it up to you. I promise."

Chloe sucked down her disappointment and nodded, standing and walking around the table to stand before him. "It's okay. We have the evening together, I'm okay with that. We can talk then."

He leaned down and gave her a kiss. "All right. But there’s nothing really to talk about. Let’s just leave all the shit in the past, okay? I’m sorry for the grief I caused you, but it all ended as it should. We’re together, right?"

“You’re right.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “It was a stupid thing to get worked up about. I’m sorry.”

Giving her a quick peck on the cheek, he turned and strode out the door without another look back.

~*~ TT ~*~

Ryker

"So what happened?"

Ryker glanced over at his partner in the passenger seat. "What do you mean?"

"Oh for God’s sakes, you know what I mean. You seem in a better mood, so I'm assuming things were worked out with your sister?"

"Hmmm. Well, we had a chat."

Adam huffed. "That so? Just a chat, huh?"

"I'm really beginning to regret having that hypothetical conversation with you."

Despite his words, he was grateful for the conversation he had with Adam the previous evening. He needed the reconfirmation from an impartial party that what he was feeling toward Chloe was fine. Slightly forbidden sure, but if he was honest with himself, the minor taboo element was slightly exciting to him. Chloe had been right, he imagined that their parents would need to take some time to get used to the idea and would have a million and one questions, especially his mother, but they’d come around. It wasn’t the ordeal she was hyping herself up for it to be.

"Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but did our conversation not help you with your little dilemma, and by the goofy smile you had on your face earlier, I'm thinking laid as well. Which is more than I accomplished last night," he grumbled, the last sentence under his breath.

Ryker grinned, imagining Adam trying to pick up the women who were nearly twenty years his junior. "They weren't digging ya, huh?"

"Nah, got shot down and went home with a hard-on that could break bricks."

"Too much information, Adam."

"Don't suppose you have any other sisters that I might have a crack at?"

Grinning, Ryker raised a brow at him and glanced at Adam from the corner of his eye. "If I did, you'd be the last one I'd be introducing her to."

Adam laughed, not fazed by the insult in the least.

Looking down at the digital clock on the dashboard, Ryker sighed; another four hours and he'd be home with Chloe. His shift couldn't end quickly enough as far as he was concerned. Normally he liked quiet days like today, but he was so anxious to be home he found himself silently hoping for some action to pass the time.

~*~ TT ~*~

Chloe

Once she had supper cooking, Chloe rushed into her bedroom to get dressed. She'd taken the time while Ryker was working to pick up ingredients for the seafood chowder. She knew it was his favourite and while on her way to the store, she decided to buy something sexy to wear for him. Buying two outfits in a matter of a few days was excessive considering her limited funds, but she promised herself this was the last of her splurge spending. She loved the way his eyes had devoured every inch of her body when she had the silk nighty on, so as she pulled on the tight red leather and satin corset, red satin panties and black thigh-high leather boots, she was confident that he would love it.

Once the outfit was on she walked over to the full-length mirror on the inside of her closet door and eyed herself. Her breasts were pushed up high, nearly spilling from the corset, and as she turned she loved the way the high-heeled boots gave her bottom the lift it needed to look round and pert.

She rarely wore makeup, but for tonight she went all out. Her dark eyes were lined and liner flared out into a smoky cat’s-eye look. However that wasn’t all, her lips had a crimson colour to match the red in her corset, a complete contrast to her pale ivory skin.

As she gave herself a final inspection a knock sounded at the apartment door. Glancing over her shoulder at the night table clock it stated 5pm, which was when he was due to be home. A wide smile touched her lips as she rushed to the door. Just as she grabbed the door handle it occurred to her that if it was Ryker on the other side he wouldn't be knocking.

Shit, shit, shit
.

A second series of knocks sounded.

She contemplated not answering it, but worrying it may be important she rushed to the coat closet and pulled her overcoat on over her outfit. She managed to open the door on the third knock, not bothering to call out to find out who was on the other side.

Swinging open the door, her jaw dropped as she eyes set upon Sylvia, the blonde from the previous week. The other woman was wearing a trench coat pulled tight around her and Chloe suspected nothing else under it.

Neither she nor Ryker – from her knowledge – had given Sylvia any thought since she'd stormed off. So why was she there?

The woman eyes scanned Chloe from head to toe and back up again, the hostility from the previous week present in her gaze. "Where's Ryker?" she finally asked, skipping any form of pleasantries, which didn't surprise Chloe.

"He's not here."

"When's he back? I'll wait." She attempted to enter the apartment, but Chloe quickly blocked her path.

"Like I say. He's not here."

"I think he'd be pleased to see me when he gets home." The woman made another attempt to enter, again to be blocked by Chloe. There was no way that bitch was getting in and ruining her planned night with him. No way. Chloe wasn't much for conflict, especially over a man, but she refused to be a doormat to some woman Ryker had a one-night stand with.

"I promise you, Sylvia. He will not want to see you. Besides he has a girlfriend now, so you won't be needed." As soon as she spoke the words she felt a warmth spread through her at the realization that she and Ryker were a couple. She never imagined that would ever happen, but it was true. He was
hers
.

The other woman huffed and took a step back, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed Chloe once more. A sarcastic smile touched her lips. “Considering we’ve fucked almost every night this week, I would wager a guess it isn’t a very strong relationship.”

Chloe felt like she’d been punched in the stomach. For a moment she stood staring at the other woman, speechless. “You’re lying.” Ryker wouldn’t do that, well, wouldn’t do that to her. She refused to believe it. Of course they hadn’t actually been together when he’d finger fucked her. But that was it, finger fucking someone hardly made a relationship. And he had been avoiding her, maybe he hadn’t been avoiding as much as he was getting his relief somewhere else?

Sylvia’s smirk widened as her eyes did a closer examination of Chloe, from head to toe and back up again. “Why would I lie about that?”

“Because you have mental issues? How should I know?” Chloe was about to slam the door in the other woman’s face, but Sylvia was too quick for her, stepping forward and blocking her from closing it.

“Big talk from a little girl who seems to have some weird crush on her big brother, wouldn’t you say?"

Chloe's jaw clenched. She didn't like how the other woman said it, as if the words were vile in her mouth. What she really wanted to do was grab that snarky little bitch by the hair and lead her from the building, but she controlled the urge. She’d never stooped as low as to get into a catfight over a man before and she preferred not to start now, especially since school started in a couple of days and going to classes on her first day with cuts and bruises wouldn’t give off a very good impression.

"I think you need to step out of the doorway. You were a one-night fuck, that’s it. But no worries, I’m sure there are more men looking for an easy lay. I suggest you go find them.”

The other woman's hands balled into fists at her sides and the tension between the two women intensified. Chloe braced herself for the oncoming assault. She had no idea how to fight, but by God, she'd give it her best shot. As a teenager she'd been pushed around by the hot, popular girls. Girls like Sylvia, and she'd let them. However, she had a fresh start, and she wasn't going to allow herself to be pushed around anymore, especially when it was over something that she truly cared about – Ryker.

"Sylvia, what are you doing here?" Ryker's voice broke the tension, seconds before the tension came to a breaking point.

Sylvia twirled around, her golden hair fanning out around her, a wide smile spreading across her lips. "Ryker, baby. So glad to see you."

He glanced over at Chloe and then down at Sylvia, who had strutted up to him and pressed her body against his. He took a step back, distancing himself from her. "Why are you here? I thought you said you were done? I wasn't worth your time and effort. Something like that. Not that it mattered." He shrugged.

"I was being hasty. I came over thinking we could –" she shrugged, giving him a seductive smile that Chloe imagined turned most men to Jell-O. "Get to know each other better."

"Well, Sylvia, I can tell you right now that’s not going to happen. I had a okay time with you last week, but... I'm with someone now. I'm sorry." Ryker nodded toward Chloe and gave her a soft smile before turning his focus back to Sylvia, who was beginning to become visibly enraged. It was apparent that she was used to getting her own way, and rejection was not something she got often – if ever.

"But Ryker. Come on," she said, turning to face Chloe with contempt in her expression. "
Her?
Are you serious!” Her voice was laced with disbelief and anger. “Your sister?"

"Stepsister," Chloe cut in.

Sylvia looked from Ryker to Chloe and then back again. A scowl crossed her face and she shook her head. "Well to hell with you then. Fucking twisted sister fucker." She stormed off without another look back.

Ryker and Chloe watched her disappear down the flight of stairs in silence.

Letting out a loud huff, Ryker raked a hand through his hair and gave Chloe a sympathetic smile. "I'm so sorry about that."

Chloe sighed. "It doesn't matter." As she said the words she knew it was true. It had been in the back of her mind, the taboo element of their relationship, but the truth was that she didn't care. What mattered was her and Ryker and how good they were together. If other people couldn't handle it, that was their problem, not hers.

Ryker strode over to her, gathering her in his arms. "I am sorry."

"You don't have any more women out there waiting to come out of the woodwork do you?" Chloe teased, stretching up against him and kissing him tenderly.

"Nah, you're the one and only."

"Hmm. I like the sound of that." She stepped back from him so she could get a good look at him from head to toe. "You know there's nothing sexier than a man in uniform." And she meant it. She was getting wet just looking at him in his blues, gun strapped to his belt, looking so domineering official. She loved it.

Ryker caught sight of her hooker-style boots and grinned. "Hey, take off that jacket."

She flushed slightly, as she chewed at her lower lip and undid the belt of the overcoat. She let the garment drop to the floor to display her newly acquired outfit.

"Mmm. I... I... really, really like that. Had you worn this the first night you were here, I don’t think I’d have been able to remain such a gentleman this past week."

A sense of pride and desirability raced through her. She loved the fire in his eyes as he looked at her and gently pushed her into the apartment, closing the door behind them.

"And I have another surprise for you in the kitchen."

Oh my God, the kitchen! The chowder!
Spinning on her heel she raced into the kitchen to see smoke rising up from the pot heating the chowder.

"Oh no!" As she attempted to salvage the chowder she heard chuckling coming from the kitchen entranceway. "It's not funny, I tried really hard on this. I just wanted to make you happy," she huffed, shaking her head at her ruined chowder.

He crossed the kitchen to wrap his arms around her waist and pull her tight against his front. Pushing her hair to the side, he nuzzled her neck.