Hurricane Stepbrother Read Online Free Page B

the conversation.
    “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that people can change. I’m really glad to hear that Gerald did.”
    “If you had known that he’d changed, would you have come back?”
    Erik laughed lightly, but there was nothing humorous in the sound. “Even though I’m aware that people can change, my memories of my father would have never allowed me to come back and get to know him again. I knew all I needed to know about the man he was.”
    There was a sense of finality in his tone that gave me the impression that this conversation was over. I was torn between being grateful that Erik hadn’t elaborated on whatever it was Gerald had done to him and his mother to cause such a rift, and being saddened that a man I thought I knew had obviously treated the family he had before us so terribly.
    I didn’t want to think poorly of Gerald, especially right after his death, but I had a nagging suspicion that he wasn’t the man I thought he was.
    But then again, like Erik pointed out, people changed.
    “It’s getting pretty late. Are you tired?”
    I snapped out of my depressing thoughts and looked up at Erik’s inquiring face. “Yeah, but I won’t be able to sleep. Not until the thunder calms down at least.”
    He looked hesitant, obviously wanting to say something but not sure if he should. I cocked my head to the side, silently inviting him to say whatever it was that was on his mind.
    “If it’ll help... I’ll stay with you.”
    It took me a moment to fully grasp the concept of what exactly he was offering. I was torn yet again, wanting nothing more than to curl up in his arms and hide there from the sounds of the storm but also concerned about the possibility of developing even more of a crush on him than I already had.
    My head and my heart were at war but neither of them stopped me as I opened my mouth and said, “I’d like that.”
    The smile he gave me was genuine and he reached out to me with the hand that wasn’t holding the candle. I slid my palm into his and stood up, grabbing a candle for myself before letting go of his hand and leading him down the hallway.
    Once we were outside my bedroom door, I turned to him with a questioning look and asked, “Are you sure you don’t mind? I can sleep on the floor in your room if that works better.”
    The look of nervousness on his face slightly put me at ease. “You don’t have a boyfriend who’s going to kill me for sleeping in your bed, right?”
    I shook my head, smiling a little before asking, “Are you fishing?”
    “It was a legitimate question,” he replied with a grin before nodding his head towards the guest room. “Let me change and I’ll be right in.”
    “Okay,” I said quietly, nerves pulsing through me as he turned to walk away. I entered my room and quickly placed the candle on the dresser before opening the drawers and looking for a pair of pajamas that weren’t totally embarrassing.
    I slipped out of my clothes and into a pair of black silk shorts and a white tank top. I mentally anguished for a moment about leaving my bra on, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I did. I reached behind me and unhooked the garment, pulling it off beneath my shirt and tossing it into my laundry hamper. I hopped into bed and pulled the flat sheet up to my chest, hoping he wouldn’t notice.
    A few moments later there was a tentative knock on the door followed by a muffled, “Kristen? You decent?”
    “Yeah,” I called back, turning on my side and refusing to look at him as he entered. I didn’t want to see what kind of pajamas he had on, too afraid that it’d reveal enough of his skin to tempt me into doing something I knew I shouldn’t.
    The light dimmed in the room as he blew out the candle on my dresser. The soft pad of his footsteps coming towards the bed made my heart flutter and I felt him pull back the sheet and sit down, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight.
    “It’s probably going to get hot with