Unhealthy Obsession

By JL Paul

It was sick, really, how into him I was. I mean, sure, I was head over heels in love with him, but to not be able to keep my hands off of him?
Yeah, he struggled, too. He wanted me as much as I wanted him.
Although this was an off and on sort of thing that had been happening for a few years, it really had no future.
And, man, it was not good for us.
We both tried to move on and see other people, but that attraction was just too damn strong.
Still, it had to stop. It couldn’t continue.
It was unhealthy.
You see, he’s my stepbrother...

• Language: English
• Publisher: JL Paul
• Release date: Nov 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370181773

JL Paul

I've been writing for years mostly as a hobby. I read constantly, although I'm pretty particular about what I read. I do not have a website for my work yet (yeah, I know, what is wrong with me, right?) but once I do, I'll post the link here.

Book preview

Unhealthy obsession

JL Paul

Copyright © 2016 .JL Paul

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All characters in this book are entirely imaginary and any resemblance to persons living or dead or actual events is purely coincidental.

Prologue

What in the hell?

A laugh escaped my lips, even though not a single thing about the situation was funny. As I stood on the porch, bathed in yellow from the dirty light bulb, the slight drizzle continued to soak me, making me shiver all the more.

Hey, Nick, I said as casual as if we’d run into each other at the supermarket.

Holy shit, Rylan, he said, snatching up a fistful of wet material of my sleeve. Get in the house. You’re soaked.

Ya think, I muttered as I allowed him to pull me inside.

He scrunched up his nose. You reek!

Thanks.

Shaking his head, he released a sigh. Hang on, I’ll get you a towel.

Nodding, I stood on the worn rug in the entryway of the little house he rented. It wasn’t the most glamorous of places, but it sure beat where I’d come from.

Is there a problem, Nicky? It was a lilting female voice coming from the living room. Ugh. I hated it when people called him Nicky. So did he.

Hang on a second, I heard him call from somewhere in the house.

What’s the matter? the female asked as she appeared in the entryway, glass of red wine in her hand. Tall and slim with smooth, blonde hair, she appraised me with the eye of a fashionista. And you are?

Rylan, I said, suddenly aware that my drenched turtle neck and soaked jeans were dripping on the rug.

Oh, hey, Felicity, Nick said as he reappeared, holding out a blue towel. This is Rylan, my stepsister.

Rolling my eyes, I snatched the towel and rubbed my hair, letting the material cover my face. I didn’t want to look at the pretty woman dressed in a fitted blue dress that hugged her curves and highlighted her breasts. Nick had an eye for that sort.

It’s nice to meet you, Rylan, Felicity said, which in no way, whatsoever, sounded sincere. Felicity – ugh!

You, too, I said as I pulled the towel off my face.

Come with me, Nick said, nodding down the hall. You can shower and crash in the guest room.

Thanks, I said, throwing a sarcastic smile in Felicity’s direction. I do know the way. I don’t want to interrupt your evening.

I’ll get you something dry, Nick said, ignoring my words.

I traipsed behind him, the towel slung around my shoulders, until we reached the bathroom. Flipping the switch, he pointed at the room.

You know where the towels are, he said, avoiding my eyes. Do you still have clothes here?

I don’t know, I said with a shrug. Probably some jeans or something.

I’ll get something of mine for you to wear, he said, leaning in the doorway as I tossed the wet towel over the shower door. You can crash in the guest room. We can talk in the morning.

Great, I said, crossing my arms. Um, sure. I’m just gonna hop in the shower now.

Okay, he said, pushing away from the door frame. I’ll throw the clothes in the bathroom.

Nodding, I waited until he shut the door before I turned on the taps, as hot as I could stand it. Peeling off my wet clothes, I dropped them on the floor, setting my phone and purse on the counter and stepped into the shower, closing my eyes as the hot water warmed my skin.

I tried to empty my mind of the horrible evening and keep it from wandering down the hall to where Felicity was waiting for Nick. I just wanted to get warm and ease the aches from my body- especially my throat. I wanted to sleep and wake to a new day.

I didn’t hear Nick toss the clean clothes into the bathroom, but when I turned off the taps and wrapped a fresh towel around my body, a t-shirt and a pair of drawstring sweats were waiting for me.

After shrugging into his too large clothes, I tripped down the hall to the room I’d crashed in several times before.

It wasn’t a particularly large room and was sparsely furnished, but it had provided comfort to me in the past. The light blue walls and heavy, white curtains and bedding gave me a sense of warmth. The bed was a twin and the only other furniture was a tall dresser and a night stand.

Setting my phone on the nightstand, I crossed the wood floor to the dresser. Pulling open the top drawer, I found two clean pairs of panties, three pairs of socks, and a bra.

Huh, I said, screwing my face up in concentration. That’s where that bra went.

Closing the drawer, I opened the next where there was indeed a pair of jeans and also a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. The rest of the drawers were empty.

Spinning away from the dresser, I turned out the light and sat on the bed, wondering if Felicity was still there. Were they enjoying their romantic evening or had I ruined that?

The spiteful side of me hoped that I had interrupted it.

But the other side, the side that cared for Nick, hoped that she was a good, nice person that he could fall in love with and have a happy life.

I’m so stupid, I muttered, falling back on the bed. I closed my eyes for a few before scooting up and crawling under the blankets. I needed sleep and I needed it badly.

My eyes grew heavy and I slipped off to sleep.

It felt as if I hadn’t been out long and, after checking my phone, I discovered that I hadn’t been. I sat up, listening to the subtle sounds of the house settling around me. I couldn’t hear voices, but that didn’t mean Felicity wasn’t still there.

My heart thumped in my chest as the events of the evening caught up with me – the party, the argument, the drink thrown in my face, the hands around my neck…

Sleep eluded me.

Creeping off the bed, I carefully opened the door and paused to listen. When I heard nothing, I stepped into the hall and walked past the closed door of the room that Nick used as an office and paused before the last door. Pressing my ear to the wood like an idiot, I strained to hear voices or movements or anything.

Nothing.

Taking a deep breath, I tapped on the door, releasing the breath slowly.

Come in, Ry, came the sleepy reply.

I pushed open the door and waited for my eyes to adjust to the dark. In that moment, I could just make out the shadowy figure on the bed.

What’s the matter? he asked, sitting up.

Rough night, I said in a scratchy voice.

A pause.

Come on, he said with a sigh.

I didn’t wait to be asked twice.

He held up the blanket and I scrabbled in beside him. As soon as I snuggled into his side, he wrapped an arm around me.

What happened tonight? he asked.

Closing my eyes, I fought the tired, frustrated tears that threatened to fill my eyes and fall down my cheeks.

Oh, you know, I said in an airy voice. The usual.

Rylan, tell me, he said.

Well, you see, what had happened was, I said, knowing that I’d drawn a smile to his face with that particular phrase. For some reason, he thought that was funny. Um, I went to a party with a…friend. It seemed okay. I was taking it easy, drinking only about a beer and a half, but my…friend had gotten a little…

Drunk? High? Nick asked.

Yeah, that, I said. He’s not a good drunk and tried to pick a fight with me. When I didn’t rise, he threw a drink in my face. Beer burns the eyes.

Rylan, he sighed in frustration.

Well, I was not going to stand around and take that. I moved away from him but he grabbed my arm and, well, things got ugly.

Nick tensed. Did he hit you?

Nah, I said. I twisted out of his grip and ran. I ran about ten blocks until I found a bus stop and then I rode it as close to your house as I could get.

The nearest stop to this place is about a half a mile from here, he said.

Yeah, well, it is about time for me to start exercising, I said in an effort to joke.

Rylan, he said, pulling me closer. What the hell are you doing?

Rolling to my side, I placed a hand on his chest. Trying to forget about this…

Don’t, he groaned, but he didn’t move away. Instead, he held me tighter. I can’t stand the guilt tonight.

There’s nothing for you to feel guilty about, I said as I kissed his cheek. Nothing at all.

His free hand found my cheek and his thumb lightly stroked my skin. I don’t know why we can’t stop this.

Me, either, I said, leaning closer. Gluttons for punishment?

Maybe, he said and then kissed me.

Closing my eyes, I sank into him, my heart pounding a happy beat. Before I knew what I was doing, I kicked off the too large sweats and rolled on top of him.

Rylan, he breathed as his hands crept under my shirt, drawing goose bumps to my skin. He deepened the kiss, groaning into my mouth as I pressed against him. His hands reached my sides, his thumbs rubbing the sides of my breasts as I did my own exploring, discovering that he wasn’t wearing shorts to