Stepbrother Confessions (BBW Contemporary Stepbrother Romance) by Ava May Page B

felt like hours before I felt Gabriel climb the rope latter into my haven. He knocked on the wood and I glanced at him.
    “Can I come in?”
    I sighed and shrugged.
    He ducked his head and sat down sitting Indian style. His knuckles were bruised and swollen, but he had washed the blood away.
    “Are you okay?” I asked.
    He laughed humorlessly. “I should be asking you the same thing, Brenna.”
    “Please don’t tell anyone.”
    “That’s why you stopped coming home? Your boyfriend was beating on you and—” he said, disgusted, and even though he didn’t finish his thought I knew what he was going to say.
    “Partially. I was ashamed, and I didn’t know how to stop it.”
    “Well, I stopped it. If that motherfucker comes near you again, I want you to call me and scream. Why didn’t you scream?”
    I wiped my eyes trying to keep the tears away. “I didn’t want my mom to know, or your dad.” I looked at him. “I knew your dad would tell you. He’s got that some protectiveness you have, and I knew this would happen if you knew.”
    “Damn straight, no one is allowed to touch you that way. Ever.”
    I sighed. “You can’t do that again, Gabriel—”
    “Gabe.”
    “Fine. Gabe. You could lose everything you’ve worked so hard for if it gets back to your trainer. I won’t be the reason you can’t fight.”
    He scooted closer and gripped my hand. “It would be worth it though. You’re more important than fighting.”
    I laughed. “Fighting is your life.” He was too close. I could smell his cologne mixed with the scent of cloves.
    He looked at me with that same look he always had when I actually saw him. “If you’d stop fuckin’ avoiding me, that would change and you know it, Brenna.”
    I pulled my hand back, but he didn’t let go. “We can’t.”
    “Why not?”
    “You know why.”
    “Hell, Brenna, we aren’t related. Your mom married my father before I even knew he was my dad.”
    “What would people think?”
    “That we’re fucking crazy about each other. I know you feel the same; I just wish you would stop denying it. You end up with assholes like Jacob because you’re afraid of your feelings for me.”
    I sucked in a breath surprised by how close he’d come to the truth. He tugged me close, and I gasped again but this time in pain. I bit my lip hoping to hide it but he noticed. He did.
    “Did he hurt you?”
    “It’s nothing.”
    “Bullshit, show me.”
    “Everything is fine, really Gabe, I took care of it myself.”
    “Where did he hurt you sweetheart?” He face hovered near mine and his breath whispered against my skin.
    I was lost in how close he was. Normally I kept my distance. “Ribs.”
    He nodded and pushed my shoulder back urging me to lie back. I sighed knowing he wouldn’t let it go and grimaced when he went to lift my shirt. I didn’t want him seeing my body. I instinctively held my shirt down and blushed.
    “Stop your perfect.” He slid my shirt up and growled at my wrap. “Did you wrap them?”
    “Yeah, it hasn’t helped though.”
    “That’s because it’s too tight. Here sit up. Let me make sure none are broken, and then I’ll fix it.”
    I eyed him suspiciously.
    “I know a thing or two about ribs because of my line of work.”
    Sitting up I groaned. He pulled my shirt off, and I shivered when his fingers grazed my bare skin. He undid the bandage slowly pulling it free from around my ribs carefully.
    “Okay lie back down. It’s going to hurt but I have to push a little okay?”
    I nodded and bit my lip. He pressed to fingers against my sore rib and I cried out.
    “Sorry, baby.”
    I did my best to ignore his slip, but my stomach flip-flopped. I enjoyed his attention too much. He pressed along the swollen area and nodded.
    “They’re bruised pretty badly, but nothing is broken or cracked. He's one lucky bastard. If I had to take you to the hospital, I would hunt him down and break his ribs.”
    I laughed and then held my side. It hurt to