Billionaire Rancher Stepbrother Read online

  "Okay." Sarah tried not to show how scared she was at no longer being in the safe haven of his arms. "Just don't go anywhere I can't see you."

  "I promise."

  Damian pressed a quick kiss to her forehead, and Sarah didn't dare take her gaze off his back as he walked away. The billionaire probably didn't know it, but she had an accident similar to this when she was seven. It had just been her and her dad skiing, but because he had been drunk that time, he had somehow lost sight of her, and she had ended up crying and shivering in the cold for hours. Although Naomi hadn't even blamed Sarah's father for the accident and only asked that he went to rehab, he had done a runner on them instead.

  Sarah's anxiety eased when Damian trudged back to her, but the grim look on his face made her relief short-lived. "You didn't get any signal?"

  Instead of answering her, he asked, "What about your phone?"

  "I don't have it with me," Sarah admitted tremulously. "I left it charging in my room."

  "I see."

  I see? Frustration welled up inside of her. Why did he keep saying that? "Did you get to—-" That was when the billionaire showed her his phone, and the words died in her throat. Its screen was completely smashed to pieces, and she gulped hard.

  Damian crouched down. "Sarah?" Something felt wrong, and then he saw the way her face started losing color and almost swore. "Breathe, Sarah! Breathe, goddammit!"

  She found herself clinging to the command in his voice, and miraculously enough, the tightness in her chest started loosening gradually.

  "Good girl." Damian's voice was tight but controlled. He had a feeling any trace of fear from him could set her off, and he needed her calm and relaxed. "Slow and deep, love. That's right." And he started breathing easily as well when he saw her finally regain color in her cheeks. "You're doing great, Sarah. That's it, love." He cupped her chin to lift her gaze to his. "You're with me, and I'm going to take care of you. Nothing will happen to us. Got that?"

  If she showed the slightest bit of fear, Damian brooded, he would call the whole fucking thing off. But if she didn't...

  Sarah could actually feel the terror peeling off her skin as she lost herself in the blazing assurance in Damian's blue eyes. "I got it." And as soon as the words were out, she realized that she had spoken the truth. If Damian told her it would be alright, then it would be, and as she started to relax, logic also eventually reasserted itself and a chagrined expression fell over her face. "I was being silly, wasn't I?"

  "Not at all."

  She snorted. "Liar."

  "Seeing that you're feeling good enough to argue with me..." Damian offered her his hand and helped Sarah to her feet, saying briefly, "We should look for somewhere to hole up. It's not good to be exposed too long out here."

  Sarah tried not to think about how glaringly white everything was around them as they started moving. She had no idea how Damian knew which direction to trek, but then, he had always been the outdoorsy type, the kind that knew the right end of a compass and was able to tell the time just by looking at the sun's position in the sky.

  After almost twenty minutes of treading their way through woods that eerily reminded her of the Blair Witch, they finally made their way out, and the first thing Sarah saw had her rubbing her eyes several times, just to make sure she wasn't seeing some kind of mirage.

  And yet...the log cabin remained unwavering in her sight, and she turned to Damian, eyes glowing with excitement. "You're seeing what I'm seeing, right?"

  "No."

  But the gleam in his eyes assured her he was only joking, and she let out a peal of laughter. "Oh, thank God!" She ran towards the log cabin and let out a squeal when she saw the fresh tire tracks on the snow. "Are you seeing this, Damian?"

  "I'll go in first," was all the billionaire said. "Stay behind me."

  It was still warm and cozy inside, with just the faintest hint of smoke from the fireplace, but it was only after Damian had checked the whole house out and declared it a safe place to hole up did she allow herself to breathe a sigh of relief. Oh, thank God. Thank You, Thank You, God. She sent a teasing look at the billionaire, asking, "Were you worried you'd find Leatherface hiding in some corner?"

  "If I did, rest assured I'll offer you in exchange."

  She laughed. "Jerk!"

  But Damian didn't smile back, and upon reaching her, he asked seriously, "How are you holding up?"

  "I'm good." And after a moment's hesitation, she said simply, "Thank you for bearing with me." She rose on her toes to kiss him on the cheek, but Damian deliberately turned his head, and her lips directly landed over his instead.

  Her toes curled hard, her whole body freezing in shock at the unexpected kiss.

  But when she felt him start to pull away, she reacted instinctively, her arms going around his neck as she whispered, "No." After all that they had been through, it suddenly felt right, and more than that, being with him like this felt necessary. She didn't care about the fact that this wasn't their house or that their rescuers could already be on their way right that very moment. All she wanted, all she needed was to be one with him, and she didn't hesitate to make this clear by pressing her already swollen breasts closer to his chest. "Please, Damian."

  A muscle started ticking on his jaw. "I don't want to take advantage—-"

  "Then I'll take advantage."

  He half-laughed, half-groaned. "Goddammit, Sarah—-"

  "Make love to me." And before he could say anything else, a smile wobbled to her lips as she said, "And yes, I'll remember that I was the one who wanted this."

  The significance of the words wasn't lost on him at all, and with a harsh groan, Damian grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her head back just as his mouth crushed hers in a deep, hard kiss.

  Sixteen

  The first kiss was almost bruising in its wildness. It was almost savage, as if both of them had an uncontrollable need to eat each other up. Their pants soon filled the air, punctuated only by the crackling sounds coming from the fireplace, and it was only when they both had to gasp for air that Damian regained some sense of rationality. He tried to slow things down, thinking she deserved something gentle and tender for their first time. Unfortunately, his little Sarah had other plans. She wanted it hard and fast, and she made her desire known just by meeting his gaze...as her nails raked over his chest.

  Fear and excitement snaked through her blood when Damian's fingers suddenly curled around her wrist to keep her hand from moving. Her heart thundered against her chest as she slowly looked up, and she could only gulp at the savage blaze of lust in his eyes.

  And then he was kissing her again, his tongue thrusting hard into her mouth, and she could only moan as she wound her arms back around his neck. Her handsome Dom was having his way of her, and it was exactly how she wanted their first time to be.

  This time, their kiss was fierce and raw, and it had her writhing against him in moments, her need quickly hitting a feverish peak. She would've been happy if the kiss never ended, but when it did, it was only for the better, with the billionaire tearing his mouth off as he ordered Sarah to get rid of her clothes.

  Her fingers shook as she did as he ordered, and they shook even more when she saw him stripping himself of his clothes at the same time. He proved more efficient at it, too, and Sarah could only swallow hard when she saw Damian standing before her completely naked, his thick, hard cock already jutting up in arousal.

  It looked so much bigger than she remembered, and she could feel herself getting wet at the thought of her pussy taking all of it in. It's going to fit, she told herself. It had to. Since her mouth was able to take all of it, her own cunt shouldn't have any problems doing the same. Right?

  By the time she stepped out of her panties, all the thinking she had done about the size of his penis had left her underwear completely drenched, and she could feel herself turning pink when she saw where he was looking.

  "Do you want me that much, love?"

  She could only nod, fin
ding it impossible to deny this.

  After arranging their clothes on the rug to form a makeshift bed, Damian crooked a finger at her, and her heart started thudding hard again as she slowly made her way to him. She was still a couple of steps away when his arms shot out, and she could only whimper in stunned, dazed pleasure as he yanked her close, and every inch of her body was suddenly plastered against the hot, throbbing hardness of his figure.

  His eyes locking with hers, he slowly adjusted his hold on her, and she caught her breath when the new position had his cock sliding up and down against her already wet and throbbing folds. "D-Damian..."

  His arousal grew at the way her eyes closed and her head fell back.

  "Oh God, Damian." If the mere sliding motions of his cock felt this good, how much more incredible would it feel, once he finally made her his?

  When Damian felt her fingers dig deep into his back, he took it as his cue and bent his head to recapture her mouth. She moaned immediately, and the sound was more than gratifying, forcing him to strove for control as he guided her down until she was lying on her back on their pile of clothes.

  He kissed her harder as his full weight rested down on hers, and she moaned against his lips while instinctively wrapping her legs around his waist. The new position caused the head of his cock to slip in, and both of them jerked against each other. A moment later, another inch slipped in, and when he raised his head to gauge her reaction, it was to see her eyes looking up at him...

  And goddammit, but he could almost believe that she was in love with him again.

  "Sarah."

  He had to say her name.

  "I love you, Sarah."

  And he could no longer control himself.

  He penetrated her with a single, forceful thrust, his cock driving past her hymen, and he couldn't take his gaze off her face as he watched her gasp and catch her breath at the pain of her deflowering. Maybe...just maybe, he really was the sadist and Dom she teased him to be. Because instead of feel regret at the pain he caused her, he had found himself relishing it—-

  And the way she was looking at him now, it did seem she was also the masochistic sub she liked roleplaying as when they were together.

  "It hurt," she whispered.

  "I know."

  "You're not going to say sorry?"

  "I'd be lying if I did."

  A choked laugh escaped her, but it quickly turned into a whimper when he started moving. "Damian!" Her eyes flew up to him. "It's too soon—-"

  "Is it?" And still he kept moving, his cock pulling almost all the way out before sliding back in. "You'll get used to it soon enough."

  Her nails raked over his back. "Sadist."

  "I guess I am," he crooned. "And doesn't that make you happy?" He grasped one rounded cheek of her ass as he spoke and punctuated his words by pushing her up as he plunged back down with another deep, forceful thrust.

  "Damian!"

  "Am I hurting you?"

  "Yes!"

  "And do you like it?"

  Her body shuddered at the question, but with his cock still relentlessly plowing her cunt, Sarah could only sob her answer out. "Yes." She stopped thinking after that, the pleasure of his possession completely dominating her senses. And when at one point, he had reversed their positions, and he had pinched her ass before ordering her to ride him, she actually found herself crying out in pleasure as she submitted herself to his demand. She rode him, milked him, and it was while she was arched over his body, her breasts bouncing with every thrust, it was then she felt him starting to swell, and her body starting to tighten—-

  Their gazes met.

  And suddenly, it was all too clear.

  "I love you, Damian."

  To which he had the perfect answer a moment later.

  "Fuck."

  Classic Damian, and she found herself laughing and crying and moaning as both of them started cumming at the same time. She could feel him watching her, and she let him, not making the slightest attempt to hide anything from his hungry gaze.

  "I love you," she whispered again.

  After that, it was just one happy moment blurring into another, simply because everything Damian said and did, and everything that was by him, of him, and about him really - all of it made her happy. She loved the strength he displayed when carrying her in his arms and the quiet reverence in his touch as he bathed her. She loved the way he couldn't seem to get enough of her now, with the way he would frequently reach for her just to brush his lips over her hair or shower her face with kisses. And most of all, she couldn't deny how happy she was when he invited her to step out to gaze at the stars, and after a few moments, it was to hear the whirring sound of a chopper's rotor blades as it flew above them—-

  The doors opened, and she saw a grinning Tommy crouching down just before a banner rolled out from the chopper, and Sarah started crying when she read what the gold-painted letters spelled out. All at once, she understood several things: they could've been rescued a lot earlier, this cabin didn't just happen to be conveniently empty, and Damian had made all of it happen...probably before he had smashed his own phone to pieces.

  Turning to him, she said with a sniff, "You're insane."

  Damian only smiled. "In my defense, my love, I only wanted us talk in a place where you wouldn't have anywhere to run away to. It was your idea, however, to fu—-"

  She cut him off, asking hastily, "Don't you have something to give me?"

  "You mean this?"

  The billionaire unzipped his ski jacket to retrieve a small, velvet box, and an incredulous laugh escaped her. "How..."

  "I can't take credit for making the avalanche happen," he said dryly, "but I did have this with me for a while now." And as he spoke, Damian went down on one knee before opening the box to reveal a diamond ring.

  "It's perfect, Damian," she said shakily.

  "It will be..." He reached for her hand. "—-when it's on your finger." Looking up, he asked simply, "Will you marry me, Sarah Jeanne Clarke?"

  She could only nod, too emotional to speak as she watched him carefully slide the ring down her finger. It fit perfectly, and its weight on her finger felt so wonderfully right.

  Later, Damian held her hand throughout the flight back to Fox Lodge, and she found herself momentarily closing her eyes to whisper to God, I'm sorry I doubted You. And thank You.

  It was, however, a prayer that would turn out to be painfully premature.

  Although their parents and Naomi's guests hadn't a clue about their near brush with death and the marriage proposal that followed, key members of Damian's staff had been properly apprised, and they surged forward with a wide range of concerns as soon as the chopper landed and the billionaire carefully guided his stepsister, now also his fiancée, as she followed him out.

  "Go on," Sarah urged, seeing the number of employees waiting to speak to Damian. "I'll wait for you at my room."

  "I'll be with you in a moment," Damian promised, "and then we'll make the announcement together."

  Sarah unplugged her phone as soon as she made it back to her room, and the first thing she saw was all the calls she had missed from Hardy. Shit. He must be frantic by now, and that wasn't good. She tried calling him, but when all she got was his voicemail, she finally decided to leave a voice message.

  Hey, Hardy. I'm sorry I missed your call. I know you're worried about me, but there's no need to be. I give you my word. Everything's great, really great, even better than I imagined. Call me as soon as you get this, alright? Miss you, and love you always. I'll see you soon.

  After ending the call, she quickly changed into something pretty and sparkly, one that would properly reflect her mood, and since it seemed Damian wouldn't be with her anytime soon, she also spent a few minutes applying makeup, wanting to look her very best once the world knew she would soon be Mrs. Damian Fox.

  But the moment never came.

  Minutes passed, one after another, and it was as if she suddenly felt she had been shot, the pain s
o intense that it nearly had her crying out. Something was wrong. And she found herself rushing out of her room and running down the stairs. Something was wrong. And when she made it to the lobby, it was to see Damian stepping out of the doors, with a limousine waiting for him outside.

  "Wait!"

  And it was just like before, and she was running for him again.

  "Wait!"

  Something was wrong.

  So, so very wrong.

  She saw him getting inside the limousine, and in her panic, she lost her footing just as she reached the steps. When she started to fall, a sob escaped her, because she knew then. She was too late. She would never catch him again—-

  But this, too, was just like before.

  Damian reached her in time, his arms catching her before her head could hit the ground.

  Everything was almost the same, everything was almost just like before...except for the look in his eyes.

  And it was then she realized.

  Even if she had stopped Damian from leaving—-

  She was already too late.

  The look on his achingly beautiful face said it all.

  "You changed your mind," she whispered numbly. "You don't...you d-don't want to be married anymore. You r-realized you n-never loved me—-" Her voice caught. "Didn't you?"

  And to it all, the only thing he said was, "I'm sorry," and oh God, it just made her want to laugh and cry, and in a moment, she found herself doing just that. Laughing. Crying. And it just went on and on, louder and louder, that it had the people around them, people who had worked for them for years, people who knew how long she had loved and chased after Damian—-

  It was the first time she saw these people look away, the first time they found the sight of her love too uncomfortable to bear, and it just drove the point home.

  "I told you before, didn't I?" she heard Damian say tightly. "You've got an asshole for a stepbrother."

  And then he was walking away.

  Again.

  She tried not to cry. Tried so hard not to cry, but she just couldn't hold the tears back.