Kim Vs. Stepbrother

That voice.

It lulls me to sleep.

I was supposed to surprise her tomorrow.

But she's already here.

I can't help it.

"And why is that?" my Dad asks Kim.

"Because I love him," she says to him.

I can't help myself.

I reach out and touch her on the shoulder.

18

Kim

“Cody!” I cry out, jumping out from my chair. My eyes widen as I see him, and I feel tears welling up in my eyes. Pressing my body against hers, I wraps my arms around him and he just pulls me into him. He hugs me back and, with him so close to me, I realize that it was all worth it - all this wait, all the sacrifice… All the sleepless nights thinking of him… It was all worth it.

He became a different man - a man that I can love.

“I love you, Kim. So fucking much,” he whispers, holding me so tightly I can feel his heart beating.

“I love you too… And I… Oh, I’ve missed you so much, Cody,” I mutter, and he wipes the one tear falling out from the corner of my eyes.

“I’m here now,” he simply tells me, then looking back at his Dad. He’s sitting behind his massive oak desk, a proud smile on his face. Without a single word, he just nods at us both, approving of everything. He has been waiting for this moment for far too long - his son finally turned into a real man, and he found the right woman.

“Thank you, Dad. For everything,” Cody says as he takes his arms from around me.

“No. I should be the one thanking you both,” he says, and I notice that his eyes are watering. He’s so proud he’s close to crying. “You are making this old man really happy.” He stands up from his desk and, placing his hands on the flat surface, just gives us a wide smile.

“My limo’s downstairs, waiting for the two of you. Take it and go - wherever you want. You deserve it, both of you - go

celebrate. Your new life starts now.”

He doesn’t need to say it twice. Cody hugs him tightly and, a few minutes after that, we’re already cruising down the highway, heading to our destination.

Go anywhere, his Dad told us, but you know where we decided to go? No, it wasn’t Paris or anything like that. Nothing as fancy: just the Hamptons. And, as the limo stopped right in front of the beach house, we both knew this was the right place.

Coming back here was an easy decision. After all, it was here that everything started. I don’t really believe in destiny, but it’s kinda interesting how everything was set in motion by a pure coincidence. One trip here and both our lives were never the same.

That’s why we decided to return, as a celebration of sorts: it was here that we created our first memories together. And now, what better place to start creating new ones than the beach house where he saw me that first time?

This time we head straight to the master bedroom, leaving all of our bags in the middle of the living room. This time there’s no such thing as Cody’s room or Kim’s room - there’s just our room.

Without even bothering to shut the door behind us, Cody looks at me with a wicked smile. He pushes me back gently and I lay back on the mattress, looking up at him with eagerness.

“I love you, Kim,” he whispers and, right now, I feel like the most beautiful woman alive.

“I love you too,” I tell him, and happiness washes over me, covering me from head to toe.

Climbing up on top of me, he takes his hands to my shoulders and, grabbing the straps, pushes them down my arms. I feel the fabric sliding off my skin and down to my waist. I lift my ass up from the mattress and he just tugs the dress down my legs, throwing it somewhere to the floor.

He lays his lips on my neck and his hands move over the side of my body. Reaching behind my back, he unhooks my bra, pushing it down my arms and baring both my breasts.