Forbidden Steps: A Stepbrother Romance by Bianca Sommerland Page A

innocence. The bubbles that smelled like the shampoo she’d used for her hair, sweet and floral, had faded to almost nothing. He let his gaze travel over her. And smiled.
    She had shaved.
    “How are you gonna prove me wrong?”
    “Uncross your legs and put your arms at your sides.” He counted to ten in his head. She didn’t move. “I won’t ask again. I’ll just assume you’re not ready, or that you don’t want me.”
    The water slapped against the sides of the bath as she let her arms fall and parted her thighs.
    “Good girl.” He put his hand on her knee and squeezed. “Now tell me, what was it like with Bob? How did you feel when he touched you—say here.”
    He slid his hand down to her inner thigh. Her muscles clenched.
    “I felt…” Her hips shifted and her head thunked against the bath as his hand drifted up to her knee and down her other thigh. “God, not like this. I just wanted him to get it over with.”
    “Hmm.” He let his hand pass just over the juncture of her thighs before moving back up. “Did you even get wet?”
    “Not really.” Her thighs tried to close over his hand. They shook as she forced them apart. “He had to use lube.”
    Bastard . Grinding his teeth, Colin inhaled deep. “Are you wet now?”
    She laughed. “I’m sitting in a bath full of water. What do you think?”
    “You know what I mean.”
    Her knees knocked when she snapped her thighs together. “I’m not sure.”
    “Should I check?” He held his breath. Last chance, baby girl. If this isn’t what you want, please tell me now .
    “Just promise me something.” She sounded so unsure, so vulnerable, Colin almost jerked his hand away and called the whole thing off. But her thighs trapped him.
    So he closed his eyes and inclined his head. “Anything.”
    “Don’t take it personally if you can’t…well, you know.” When he looked at her, her lips were set in a tight smile. “It’s my problem, not yours. But either way, I want this. At least once.”
    It was his turn to groan. “Ashley, I will prove you wrong. And once I do, I won’t be satisfied with just once. I hope you’re sure…”
    “I am.”
    “Good.” He shoved her thighs apart and bent over, both arms in the bath now, one hand covering her smooth little pussy. “Now stop talking and let me take care of you.” He chuckled when she rolled her eyes. Then his fingers found her clit. He circled it until her eyes glazed. “And Ashley…”
    Her hands gripped to the side of the bath. She gasped. “What?”
    “Try not to scream when you come.”
     
    * * * *
     
    A delicious little quiver of fear rode up Ashley’s spine. Shamelessly sprawled out in the bath, with Colin’s hand covering her, she wondered what would happen if someone walked in. Not that anyone knew they were there besides Steph, but what if someone found out?
    Or what if Steph walked in? The muscles in her belly clenched. She suddenly felt a little sick. Colin was Steph’s lover. And Ashley was sneaking around with him. So wrong, on so many levels.
    But Steph wanted them to be together. Unless Ashley had misunderstood. Maybe Steph just wanted someone she could talk to about the relationship.
    Screw what Steph wants. It’s not like she owns him. They can’t ever get married.
    Can they?
    “What are you thinking about?”
    She blinked and looked up at him. His big chest loomed over her. Little droplets of water clung to the high slopes of his pecs. She watched one trickle down and flushed when she noticed the lump pressing against the zipper of his jeans. Her eyes skidded up to his square jaw. Then locked on his dark frown.
    “Nothing.” She forced a smile. “Ready to give up?” Please say no. “We can just do it you know. I don’t mind.”
    He actually growled. “I don’t think so.”
    Christ. She’d pissed him off. Great. Now he’d go back and get what he wanted from Steph.
    His hand wrapped around her hip and he jerked her down. His finger dipped into her and her