Snake (a Stepbrother Romance)(20)

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I did my best to expel all thoughts of Mila from my fuzzy head as I entered the house I shared with Monique, knowing if I didn’t stop thinking about all the forbidden things I wanted to do to her, I’d keep playing them over and over like a favourite song, and my face would give it all away.

“Where the hell have you been?” Monique’s accusatory voice greeted me as soon as I shut the back door behind me. With a heavy sigh, I walked into the living room, kicking off my shoes in the process.

“Don’t leave your stuff lying around,” Monique hissed behind me, putting the shoes in their place as I rolled onto the couch. She was always so prim and proper - never liked having a hair out of place.

Definitely not like Mila. Sweet, a little messy, perfectly disarrayed Mila. Fuck. I shook my head to get the thought of my stepsister out; sure as hell my expression was one of guilt as Monique walked back into the living room.

“I was worried,” she whined, and a pang of guilt shot through my chest. “Where were you? Mila wasn’t here either, did you know that?”

“She was with me,” I said in an attempt to be placating. “We were just so happy after we got the heads-up from the doctor, we wanted to celebrate.”

“Celebrate?” Monique’s eyes widened as if I’d just uttered the single dirtiest word in my vocabulary. “What is that supposed to mean?”

I knew telling Monique the truth would cause an uproar, but I felt like a stubborn child in that moment. I pursed my lips and told her a portion of what happened.

“I took her to dinner,” I said, not regretting my actions in the least. Not even kissing my stepsister. I could never regret feeling like a man for the first time in months.

“What did you have?” Monique’s tone was already threatening. Fuck, she would probably strangle me on the spot if she knew exactly what Mila and I had really been up to.

“We had burgers,” I said, my rebellious nature coming out to play as I stared Monique down, almost asking her to call me out on it. Her mouth pursed in a tight, unattractive line, but I wasn’t done yet. Call it an act of desperation. “We went to Mila’s favourite, Tasty Burger. I’d love to take you sometime.”

“You know I don’t eat meat anymore,” Monique spat out in horrified shock, her eyes widening at my confession. Here we go, I thought, already tired from the anticipation of the impending fight.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Dev?” she asked in an angry tone. “I told you the girl isn’t supposed to eat that shit. I don’t know which one of you is more stupid for going against my wishes.”

I was about to object, but she prattled on, calling me out on inconsequential stuff that shouldn’t have even made it into the conversation. I’d had enough of being scolded like a child and got up from the couch, one too many drinks making my head woozy. When I tried to leave the room, Monique walked right up to me.

“Don’t you fucking walk away from me – we aren’t done yet!”

Even though she was a head shorter, she held her ground, blocking my way.

Then I smelled something wafting from her.

A deep, pungent scent of spices and musk. Cologne. Most fucking definitely not mine, either.

“What’s that smell?” I asked before I could stop myself, the aroma that I’m sure was meant to be pleasant quickly becoming repulsive and overbearing in my nostrils.

“What?” Monique asked in confusion, cutting off her rant for a split second. I stared her down and saw her eyes widen and round out as she figured out what I meant.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she finally muttered and walked away from me, her tirade cut short. Now I was the one leading the game, and the bitterness took over my body as I walked over to Monique, my hands tightening into fists.

All the months, fuck, no - years of doing everything she said, obeying her on every step, were finally catching up to me. I was reaching my breaking point.

“Why do you reek of another man’s cologne, Monique?” I asked, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible. She wouldn’t meet my eye, turning her back towards me, but I saw how tense her shoulders were.

She was hiding something, and it fucking hurt knowing what it probably was, but until she admitted it out loud, I would not believe the worst of my wife.

“I was at the work thing,” Monique said, clearing her throat as she plumped a pillow I’d messed up by lying on the couch. “Someone probably stood too close to me. You know how friendly the partners like to get.”

“I’m sure they’re very friendly indeed,” I said sarcastically, but I couldn’t take it anymore. I strode over to her, placing my hands on her hips and gently made her turn around until we were face to face. Monique’s eyes were cast downward, but I tipped her chin back with my finger until she was forced to look at me.