Tempted: Stepbrother series, #1

By J.L. Ostle

Have you ever been tempted by something or someone you know you shouldn't have? Craved something so much, it overtakes every thought? I have.

I've recently moved in with my father and his new family. My father who I once saw as my hero, is now a stranger. It's been seven years since I last saw him, if it wasn't for my mother getting her new promotion, and me finishing senior year, I wouldn't be here.
The worst part is his new wife, my stepmother. She is warm and friendly and I hate that I like her, but it's her son, my stepbrother Aidan who I can't stand. He's a cocky a**hole who has found a new pleasure to get under my skin.
At school people treat him like he's some kind of God, women throw themselves at him, as the guys kiss his ass. Yes he has a delicious body you just want to lick all over, live out every dirty fantasy, but his attitude stinks. He pretends we don't live under the same roof, pretends I'm a complete stranger around others.
I hate him so much, hate how he teases me in front of his friends, throws himself into my personal space, yet my traitorous body reacts to him. I want him to touch me, feel me, taste me. Have him control my body, even though I know it's wrong, it makes me crave him to want me more.

I'm here for six months, surely I can handle six months living with him. Right?

New adult contemporary romance with mature content. Recommended for 17+ due to mature language and adult situations.

Warning ends with a cliffhanger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.L. Ostle
• Release date: Aug 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781386611004

Book preview

Dedicated

I want to dedicate always to my little boy Jake. Thank you for putting up with a busy Mummy. Love you so much.

I want to give a little shout-out to some of my friends Hannah Clarke, Lauren Haley, Bernie Ivison, Beth Ann Miller, Elmarie Pieterse, Paula Tarpley Genereau, Amanda Perrie, Naomi Dentith, Chloe Walsh, Fran Latimar, Autumn Bronson. You guys rock, thank you for believing in me.

Tempted

A Stepbrother Romance

Copyright 2015 J.L. Ostle

All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including but not limited to; photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, excerpt in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to peoples either living or deceased is purely coincidental. Names, places, and characters are figments of the authors imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously. The author recognizes the trademarks and copyrights of all registered products and works mentioned within this work.

All rights reserved.

Edited by Laura Hampton of Editing For You

Formatted by Pink Ink Designs

Cover by Kathryn Jacoby

Warning: 17+

Not appropriate for readers under 17.

Contains explicit language and descriptions of sexual situations.

Note from J.L. Ostle

Dear readers,

Thank you so much for reading Tempted. I hope you enjoy the story of Kacey and Aidan, as much as I enjoyed writing it. This is the first book I have written away from The Change series, so a little scary. The story was just based on Kacey’s point of view, but Aidan screamed in my head to let him have his say also.

If you enjoyed this book, I would really appreciate it if you could spare a few minutes and leave a review. Reviews help authors, and I love hearing what you think.

Thank you so much <3

Thank you again for giving this book a chance.

J.L. Ostle xoxo

Chapter 1

Kacey

Mother, please, I’m begging you. Don’t leave me here, let me come with you, or just let me stay at home. You know you can trust me, I have never done anything for you not to trust me, I plead with her, looking outside the car window at my new home for the next six months.

You know I trust you. I will never be home, it’s unsafe for you to be on your own. It’s only for a few months. I would never take you away from your home and friends if this weren't important. I sigh knowing she’s right. My mom got a big promotion at work, part of that means is for her to travel around, helping out new stores opening up.

I turn away from the window and look at my mom, seeing her eyes plead with mine. I look at her seeing my future self. We look so similar, with the long thick brown hair, the big brown eyes that you see every emotion. People can always tell by looking into our eyes what we are truly feeling. It sucks at times, especially when you’re upset and you don’t want to talk about it. We have a nice curvaceous figure. I am not into calorie counting, I enjoy my fatty foods, and nothing on this earth would change that.

I know, Mom. I’m sorry, it’s just harder than what I thought it would be. I look out the window again. I had to leave my life behind, my school, my friends. It was saying goodbye to them all that hurt the most, even though we will see each other again when I return, but we acted like I was never coming back. We promised to text, Facebook and phone each other as much as possible. My best friend Viv promised me she will Facebook me with all the latest gossip at school so I can keep in the loop, on what’s going on.

I know, sweetie, we knew this would take a while to get used to. He’s your father, he’s been begging to see you for years. My father, Marc Wright, left after the divorce to move out here to have a fresh start. I was eleven when he moved away, part of me hated him for leaving. Even now part of me still does. I knew my parents were no longer together, I accepted that, but I hated that he just left. I hated when I found out he moved on and bounced into another family. He wrote me letters, sent me birthday and Christmas cards with cheque’s, which I put in a savings account. I never touched a cent. 

Well he’s finally got his wish, I’m here, I say sarcastically. I am going to see my father after six years, and his new family. God, I’m not ready for this.

Kacey, look at me. I turn and face her again seeing the serious expression on her face. Your father and I have moved on with our lives, I have accepted it, you need to also. I want you to be polite and be the good girl we raised you to be.

I will, Mom. I better get moving so you can travel across America, which I’m jealous about. You sure you can’t take me with? I say being half serious.

Go on, get going. She says before we both walk out of the car and head to the trunk. Mom helps me get my suitcases and bags out. Most of my stuff was sent here already, but this is my main clothes and accessories.

I’m going to miss you, I say before I hug my mom in a death grip.

I will miss you, too. Remember if you need to talk to me, ring me anytime. Mom says before kissing my forehead and walking to her side of the car and getting in. I watch her wave to me and drive away, leaving me here. I watch till I can no longer see the car and decide I better move before the neighbors start thinking I’m the crazy girl, staring at nothing.

I put my bags over my shoulder and pull the two wheeled suitcases towards the big house that’s going to be my new home. I walk up the clean path until I’m standing in front of the blue door. I freeze, just staring at it. Part of me just wants to run, but I remind myself it’s just my father. I can do this.

Pick up your hand and knock, I tell myself.

I raise my hand and knock three times before taking a step back. I hear movement inside, I take a big breath in before the door opens.

I look up to see the person standing in front of me.

My father.

He looks the same, from what I remembered and the very few photos I still have of him. He has the same light brown hair, but he is starting to get the gray streaks through, giving him that mature older look. He has the same warm blue eyes smiling down at me. I don’t see any resemblance when it comes to looks. I inherited his intellect, but that’s it. He started his own electronics business and it blossomed, making him a very wealthy man. He never let money change him. He enjoyed the simple life, I respect him for it. He could have a mansion if he wanted, but he would rather have the family home. That brings sadness in me. He had a family home, but now he has another with a new family. I knew I could have visited, but I was stubborn. I was hurt finding out he was raising another kid. It just got harder the older I got.

Kacey, look at you. My father says before wrapping his arms around me, giving me a tight hug when he pulls back, he is still standing there staring at me, not believing what he’s seeing. I guess six years does change you. You look so beautiful, so grown up. Can’t believe it’s really you.

Thank you. I don’t know what else to say.

Come inside, let me get your things. He grabs my bags and suitcases and guides me inside his house. It looks bigger from the inside. It’s very clean and well kept. Everything in its place. I follow my dad into the living room where he puts my things down in the corner.

You hungry? Diana is baking some homemade cookies. That’s what I can smell? They smell amazing, definitely giving off that sweet home vibe. Straight away my stomach decides to grumble answering the question for me.

Yes please. I giggle as my dad chuckles and walks towards where I assume the kitchen is. Great, I just giggled like a little girl. When I walk into the kitchen, I notice a woman who I guess is Diana, wearing an apron setting cookies on a plate. Even though she has been baking, she looks perfect, flawless. If I ever bake I have flour all over me. Diana hasn’t got a mark on her.

Hi, please come and help yourself, Diana says giving me a warm smile. I politely smile back and walk forward grabbing a cookie off the plate and sitting on the stool near the counter. I take a bite and can’t help but groan with how amazing this tastes, so warm, so gooey.

This is amazing, thank you. Diana gives me a huge smile, telling me I’m welcome, then smiles at my dad pleased that she must’ve done something right.

Your dad has never mentioned how gorgeous you are, bet the boys are all over you? I know she’s being nice, but he has never mentioned how I look because he hasn’t seen me in years, I thought, but I’m not going to start being petty. I look at my dad from the corner of my eye then look at the ground, uncomfortable knowing he is thinking the same thing. I didn’t mean anything by it, I was just saying how beautiful you look. I didn’t think. I’m so sorry. She rambles on.

No, don’t be, it’s fine. Thank you for the compliment, though. Guys do notice me, but I’m picky, I say trying to get out of the awkward atmosphere. I know I’m decent looking. I have that innocent, girl next door kind of look.

So you should. Boys have only one thing on the mind half the time, so it’s good to be wary. I hear my dad groan, obviously not liking the conversation.

Can we talk about something else? I’m not ready to know about guys hitting on my daughter. I am not looking forward to the guy part. My dad says causing me and Diana to giggle at him. I like Diana, she seems really nice. Think my fear of what she would be like put me off on giving her a chance, but I think me living here won’t be as bad as I thought.

Nice to see I amuse both of you. My dad says chuckling with us. It’s weird how a few minutes ago I didn’t want to see him, but seeing the playful side of him reminds me of how much I have missed him.

We sit around the breakfast island having milk and cookies, I enjoy each second I take a bite. God I am going to gain so much weight while I’m here. They both start asking me questions about school and my friends but notice neither of them mentions my mother. When the topic about boyfriends came up, it was fun seeing my dad not wanting to know about my love life. I kept it PG-13, just mentioned I dated, but did have a boyfriend of six months, but we were better suited as just friends. There was no spark or lustful chemistry between us, but I don’t mention that part, though.

When we finished off all the cookies, Dad takes me upstairs to show me my room. If I ate any more, I was going to burst. Diana had given me a quick hug before we left, telling me she’s looking forward to spending more time with me. I have to be honest, I am looking forward to hanging out with her, too. She’s not the evil stepmother I imaged in my head.

Diana, seems nice, I say as we walk up the stairs, my dad in front with my suitcases, as I hold my bags.

Yeah she is lovely, I’m glad you two got along. Dad turns looking at me giving me a smile, which I return.

He walks me down a hallway pointing at his and Diana’s room, next door is a closet with towels and bedding. We walk further down and he points at one door, saying it’s Aidan’s room, my new stepbrother. Funny how they haven’t mentioned him yet. Opposite is my room, but he points at two more doors telling me it’s a spare room/study and the bathroom. When Dad opens my bedroom door, setting my stuff in the middle of the room, I can’t help but gasp at the size of it.

It’s huge, it looks like a suite at a hotel. I have a huge king-size bed with purple bedding, knowing that’s my favorite color, it’s nice knowing he remembered. Opposite the bed is a huge bookshelf with a 40 inch TV in the middle. I walk over to the window that’s opposite the door, it has a sitting nook, with a view of the garden. This is perfect for when I read on my Kindle. I have two bedside cabinets with a lamp on each one. I see a door near the TV/bookshelf. I open it up to see a walk in closet, blimey, even this is massive.

Is this okay? If you don’t like it, we can change it. I want you to feel like this is your room and you can do whatever you want to it. My dad says rubbing his neck, obviously a nervous habit.

You kidding? This is amazing. I love it. I especially love the reading nook, I point at the window area.

Yeah, we thought you would, even as a kid you loved your books. He says looking at the ground looking sad, which makes me feel bad as it wasn’t his fault he missed out on so much of my life. It was my fault for being a stubborn child. I hate that I never gave him a chance. I guess my anger just built and built, I took him for a monster for leaving Mom and me behind.

Dad, I’m sorry for not visiting you. It was just hard when you left, and I guess I kept hold of the hurt. I say looking out the window. I hate how I missed out on years being with him, I can’t help the tear that slides down my cheek, then I feel arms wrapping around me, hugging me. I hold him, missing his comfort. Don’t know how long we just stood there, me holding him, but him hugging me is him telling me he understands and that everything will be fine.

Dad left me alone to give me some privacy and space. I sit on the edge of my bed and I look at my surroundings. I still can’t believe I’m here. Part of me feels so stupid and I’m angry at myself that I missed so many years to spend with my dad. I can feel the tears well up behind my eyes, but I take a deep breath in, I don’t want to cry. I’m here now, I will try to get to know him again. When I look at him, he is still a stranger to me, but I need to make an effort to change that. His new wife, Diana, seems really nice, too, I think I am going to be okay here.

Chapter 2

I decide to unpack, I go through my suitcases and bags, hanging up my clothes and putting things away in the drawers. It only took me twenty minutes to do, so I quickly change out of my jeans and tank top and decide to put on a white summer dress for dinner. Spending sixteen hours in the car made me feel a little icky. I am meeting my new stepbrother and want to show them that I am making an effort. I wonder what he is like, I hope we get on, especially if we are stuck living here for the next few months together. I give my hair a quick brush and head downstairs.

Don’t you look very pretty, I hear Diana say from the kitchen.

I just wanted to make an effort for our first dinner, is there anything I can do to help?   Aren’t you sweet, you are our guest you don’t need to help.

I want to, though, you and Dad are very kind to let me stay here, so the least I could do is help.

You have very polite manners, with my boy I have to make him do things for stuff to get done, but maybe that’s just men in general. I can’t help but laugh at her playful tone.

What is your son like, if you don’t mind me asking? I am curious about what he is like, but if he is anything like his mother I’m sure I will get on amazingly with him.

Well he is very good looking, but don’t tell him that, he is bigheaded already, he loves sports, there’s no sport he can’t do. He is a good boy, but at times I feel like he has lost his way. I look up into Diana’s eyes and see the sadness there, but she shakes her head and puts on her warm smile again. I wonder what she means he lost his way.

What do you mean? I can’t help but speak out my thoughts, It’s made me even more curious to know my new stepbrother more.

When he was younger he was more easy going, more free spirited. When he got to high school he just started to change, he wanted to fit in. Sometimes I miss the little boy who didn’t give a damn what others thought. Anyway, let’s talk about something a bit less serious. Are you looking forward to your new school? I can’t help but groan, which, Diana chuckles at. I watch her knead some bread.

No, I hate the fact I have to be the new girl. I know after a few days it will feel like I have been there for years, but for now I am going to look like a lost lamb. I put my forehead against the breakfast island counter and let the cold surface cool me down. I feel Diana stroke my hair a few times, when I look up I see her smile at me and I can’t

Reviews for Tempted

[kendall · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm sort of confused. I thought the setting of this takes place in the United States and that all of the characters are American, unless I missed something. If that's the case, it was odd to read them speaking as if they were from England at times. Some of the phrases and such just popped out of the blue and threw me off lol. If it is American, the mummy and blimey should be omitted. I don't know anyone who speaks like that unless it's as a joke in a crappy rendition of an accent.