Tarnished Embers: A Dark Stepbrother Fairytale Retelling (Dark Retellings)

We spend the rest of the morning strolling through the galleries, and I point out all of my favourite pieces. They all seem interested, especially Kit who turns out has a keen eye for art and architecture.

We stop for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, which the guys declare is their new favourite place to eat after enjoying the rock-inspired vibe and the yummy American-style food. Afterwards, I take them to see the sights of London, a whirlwind tour of all the major buildings, and by the afternoon, even I’m flagging. It was an amazing day though, being able to just be with the guys and not have to worry that someone will know we shouldn’t be acting so close. We even managed to keep ourselves in check, enjoying each others’ company as we gazed upon iconic buildings that make up my hometown.

The twins snag the seat either side of me for the drive back, and the movement of the car soon lulls me to sleep, my head drifting to Oct’s shoulder.

“We’re home, little sis,” he murmurs what feels like minutes later, and I blink, trying to focus my blurry vision. The sun is setting and the car is indeed pulled up outside of our front door.

“Maybe I should call you Sleeping Beauty,” Cas teases from behind me as the door opens and a blast of fresh spring air hits me in the face, waking me up.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“What’s the time?” I ask, my voice thick, and I swallow against the dryness in my mouth. Shit, what if I snored? Or dribbled on Oct? I glance to the side to check, not seeing any obvious wet patch on his shoulder, then let out a slow breath, aware of their eyes on me.

“It’s about five-thirty, I think,” Kit says, getting out of the car and holding his hand out for me. “Maybe an early dinner and then bed?”

Heat pools in my core when his storm-filled eyes look me over as he helps me out of the car. My fingers grip his tightly and he pulls me close, his scent enveloping me until it’s all I can smell. I sink into him, knowing that my dad and Odette are still out.

“Sounds good,” I reply, the rest of my tiredness disappearing as lust fills my veins, and I wonder who the fuck this brazen girl is. I know he had a double meaning, that he was hinting at the promise he and Oct made to me this morning, and rather than shy away like I know I should, like my mind tells me I should, I’m agreeing. Heat radiates through my chest, my limbs feeling light as I sink into the feeling of someone else taking over the reins of my life while I’m allowed to finally be myself.

“Sounds more than good, little sis,” Oct whispers in my ear, and a shiver has my nipples pebbling and goosebumps covering my skin.

“Come on, you two, let’s get Cinders inside and then we can see what happens later,” Cas says, ever looking out for me, and he pulls me from the twins towards the house. “Odette texted, she and your dad won’t be back ’til late, so it’s just us tonight.”

Oh god, my mind goes in all the wrong directions after he says that, dinner utterly forgotten as I imagine all the other things we could get up to. Seems like my new stepbrothers have turned me into a horny mess, and the worst part? I don’t even care.

I vowed to myself this year that I’d start living, that I’d embrace whatever life throws at me, and stop letting the death of my mother colour everything in shades of sadness. I wonder what she’d think of me and the guys. I think maybe she would’ve been happy, maybe even proud regardless of the taboo nature of the things that have happened between me and the guys so far.

She always used to tell me that life won’t wait around and that the only thing you can do is live. Plus, she was a massive hippy, and I think she’d subscribe wholeheartedly to the whole love is love thing.

“I could make something to eat, if you’d like?” I suggest to them as we enter the dark house and I lead them down the hallway towards the kitchen.

“You can cook?” Cas teases, his brows raised, and I huff out a laugh.

“What? Because I live in this big house there’s no way I know how to cook?” I question, pausing in the doorway to the kitchen, hand on my hip as he continues to clasp my other in his warm palm. “I’ll have you know, Cas I-don’t-know-your-last-name, that I make a mean omelette,” I tell him, flicking the light switch on.

“Scott. Caspian Rudy Scott and I’m from New York. My favorite food is pizza or pasta and my favorite color is red.” I giggle as he spins me, pulling me into his body in a way that has mine lighting up and leaving me breathless. “I love walking in Central Park, any Park or green space really, and I play the guitar.”

I squeal as I’m torn from his embrace, and Oct is suddenly there standing in front of me. “Octavius Dante Johnson and, as you know, I’m from the sunshine coast itself. I love walks on the beach, surfing, ice cream, and playing video games.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance.” I tease, my smile wide as he grins boyishly back at me.

There’s a warmth at my back and Oct turns me slowly until Kit is in front of me.

“Christopher–much prefer Kit–Adam Johnson, also from California. I like history, and discovering where we came from and who walked the earth before us fascinates me. I also enjoy going to the beach, sailing, and watching sunsets with pretty girls.” He swipes a piece of my hair behind my ear, and I feel the heat of a blush staining my cheeks.

Then I’m tugged from between the twins and Prince is standing in front of me. He’s the most mysterious to me since I barely know a thing about him, and I’m desperate for any scraps he gives me.

“Prince–I will never tell you my real name–Marshall Brown.” He yanks my hand again and I land against his chest, my palm splayed across the soft, cashmere jumper he’s wearing. My heart thuds loudly in my chest, anticipation leaving me giddy and breathless. “I enjoy getting new ink and giving people tattoos.” My eyes widen at his words, my mouth parting in delighted surprise. He’s an artist too? “That’s right, Sugar, I can draw too. I gave these assholes all their ink.” He smirks and the others chuckle. “And I’ll happily give you some, if you’re a good girl for me.” I take in a sharp breath, his jewel-like eyes roving over my face, drinking me in. “But I’ll choose the design.”

My spine snaps straight then, my lids lowering in a glare.

“It’s my body, Prince. If I want a tattoo, I’ll be the one to choose the design.” His nostrils flare and then his lips tilt up into a grin that shouldn’t be attractive but somehow is.

“Oh, darlin’,” he purrs, one hand coming up and lightly circling my throat, effectively scattering any brain cells I own to the four winds. “It may be your body, but it belongs to me, to us, so what happens to it is our choice.” I shouldn’t be turned on right now. He’s just taken my autonomy away. I should rage and be spitting mad, but the anger just won’t come. I feel myself relax in his hold, my body sinking into him, and his smirk turns into a wolfish grin that leaves my core clenching. “Exactly so. Now let’s see if we can’t rustle up something a little more exciting than an omelette for our girl, shall we?”

Our girl.

I can’t even register that he’s being offensive about my cooking skills. He called me their girl, and on top of all the other things they’ve said, the way they’ve claimed me so quickly, I’m starting to believe that maybe I do belong to them.

Does that mean they belong to me? That I own them back?

OCT

“Hey, stop thinking so hard, little sis,” I chide Ember as the others get to work on making our dinner. I’ve never been much of a cook, but Prince is a fucking genius in the kitchen, and Kit and Cas enjoy helping, so I’ll keep our girl entertained.

Our girl. I like the sound of it. I like having something that truly belongs to us, even if she was a gift from Odette, the wicked bitch from the west.

“It’s just, I only met you guys a little over twenty-four hours ago and now…” she trails off, and I take her hands in mine, rubbing her knuckles. I love touching her, can’t get enough of it.

“And now?” I prompt, finding that I’m curious about where her mind is at. I want to know everything about her, all of her secrets and fears, her hopes and dreams…I want it all. I want to know Ember better than I know myself, I need to know what makes her tick. I’m not sure if it’s just curiosity, or something deeper, a more primal need that won’t quieten until she’s in every fibre of my being.

She doesn’t know everything about you…a small voice in the back of my mind reminds me, a flash of guilt making my stomach churn, but all of that’s behind us now. All that shit is best left in the past.

She huffs a breath and glances at the others, who have paused in whatever it is they’re doing to look over at us, then she turns back to me. “And now it’s like we’ve known each other all our lives.”

My heart stutters in my chest because she’s just described exactly what I’m feeling. It’s so comfortable with her and it takes no effort to be around her. She slots in as if she’s been with us forever. I mean, we had a head start, knowing about her six months ago and being able to stalk her a little.

“We were just waiting for each other, baby,” I tell her, using my grip on her soft hands to draw her closer until our bodies touch. Then I release her hands and her arms immediately come around me, wrapping me in an embrace that has every atom of my being singing.

“You can’t say stuff like that, Oct.” She sighs but snuggles closer to me and my body heats at her contact, my dick twitching in my jeans.

“Why not? It’s the truth,” I reply, brushing my lips across the top of her head and breathing her in deeply. She smells of lavender and rosemary, of something that I’ve not dared to hope for in such a long time; home.

“And what happens when you leave? Or when my dad and Odette catch us?” Her body is stiff, her hands fisting the back of my jumper, and her rapid breathing speaks of a panic that stirs inside my chest when I think of anything happening to her to take her away from us. I pull away slightly, just enough to look at her perfect face and frame it with my hands.

“Look at me, Ember,” I command, my tone brokering no other option. My cock fills when she obeys immediately and without question, keeping her arms around me but pulling back enough to tip her face towards me. “We are not going anywhere, we’re family now and that shit’s for life,” I tell her, earning a small smile even though her brows are deeply furrowed. “And as for the other stuff, don’t worry about it. We’re not letting you go.”

She nibbles her lower lip in a way that makes me want to do the same, her eyes flicking between mine. “How can you be so sure, Oct? It’s been, like, a day. We’re practically strangers.”

“I’ve known you for months,” I inform her, my voice firm as I hold her suddenly wide stare. “I know about the time you snorted a wasp up your nose at age seven. I know that your favorite color has been yellow since you were little and that you like to sleep with the curtains open so you can wake up with the dawn.” Her eyes are even wider now, her lips parted, and it takes some effort not getting lost in her blue depths. “It may feel like only twenty-four hours to you, but it’s been fucking months of waiting for us, and to have you finally here, finally in front of us…fuck, Ember.”

I press my lips against hers, needing to taste her more than I need my next breath. Everything I said is true. Odette told us about her months ago when she first started seeing Richard, and we’ve been obsessed with her ever since, trying to find out everything we can about her. We’ve the resources and I’ve the hacking skills to discover all of her skeletons. All of her secrets. Well, the painting was a nice surprise, and hearing the way she spoke in the gallery about her mom, it damn near broke me, even though we’d all read up on how she was with her the entire time she was sick, never leaving her side.

I deepen the kiss, basking in how she melts for me. Her mind may only think she’s known us for less than a day, but her body knows who it belongs to.

“You know you sound like a stalker, right?” she asks when I pull away, her voice breathless, and I’m seconds away from saying fuck it, hoisting her up on the table and eating her for dinner. The noise around us resumes, the others continuing to prepare dinner.

“Oh, baby,” I say, deciding she needs to eat some real food more than I need to eat her pussy. So I pull her towards the island where the others are setting out steaming bowls. “A stalker has nothing on the depths we went to.” She swallows hard and blinks quickly, then those bright diamond eyes become dull, her expression going slack. “What just made you sad, little sis?” All noise stops, the others snapping their attention over to us once more as I pull her to a stop.

“It’s just,” she murmurs, pausing to take a breath. “I just don’t understand why you all knew about me but I knew nothing, not even that Dad was dating Odette, let alone it was serious enough for them to get married.”

My brows lower, the knowledge that Odette planned it this way, ensuring there were no hiccups to getting the ring on her finger, weighing heavily on me. “I don’t know, baby, but sometimes it’s best not to dwell on the past and keep moving forward.”

I give her a peck on the temple, breathing in her addictive scent, then help her onto the stool in front of one bowl, Prince, Cas, and Kit sitting down too. She takes a deep inhale before letting it out slowly, like she’s trying to let go of the hurt I know she’s feeling at being dismissed by her dad. Knowing this and seeing the pain that she is in makes me feel like an utter asshole for not giving her the truth. It’s better this way, because if she ever finds out about everything we’ve had to do the past few years, she’d never want us. Not to mention the suspicion I have that Odette targeted her dad because of his money and beautiful daughter. It would just cheapen what I feel, what we all feel for her.

“Chicken stir-fry…how did you know it was my favourite?” she asks, her forehead creased while she looks up at Prince, Cas, and Kit as they take their seats.

“How did we know it was one of your favorite dishes?” Kit teases, one of his brows raised.

“Fine, point taken,” she grumbles, and we all chuckle at her ire. The moan that she lets out a moment later has us all pausing, chopsticks halfway to our mouths as we each stare at her with matching expressions of hunger in our eyes. “These are the best fucking noodles I think I’ve ever had,” she gushes, taking another bite and groaning again.

“You keep making those noises, Sugar, and I won’t be held responsible for my actions,” Prince warns her in a dark tone, and I don’t miss the shiver that falls across her, chopsticks frozen midway to her mouth. She takes an unsteady breath, blowing it out through pursed lips, and my rapidly hardening dick twitches in my pants once more.

“I think she wants you to show her, Prince,” I say, filling my mouth with delicious noodles, and her cheeks bloom in that way they do.

“Well, she can eat her dinner like a good girl and then I’ll show her,” he replies, not taking his stare from her. The colour on her cheeks spreads down her neck at his words. Oh yeah, she enjoys being told what to do by Prince very much. Not that I can blame her, he’s one fucking hella persuasive Dom. “And don’t forget to drink your water, darlin’. You haven’t drunk nearly enough today to stay hydrated.”

“How do you know how much I’ve been drinking?” she quizzes, her spine snapping straight as she glares at him. It’s cute as fuck to watch her try to top him from the bottom, and by the twitch of Prince’s lips, he feels the same way. She’s like a kitten that sinks its teeth and claws into your hand when you rub its belly.

“Because, Sugar, I’m always watching you,” he deadpans while grabbing a whole load of noodles with his chopsticks, yet never taking his gaze off her.

“You’re all crazy fucking stalkers, you know that?” she sasses, looking at each of us with an accusing stare.

“Good, you finally understand,” Prince drawls, and I have to bite my lip at the bark of laughter that wants to escape at her incredulous look. “Now eat your noodles and drink your water like a good girl.”

She holds his stare for a second longer, her nostrils flared. Then she huffs out a breath before picking up her chopsticks and placing more noodles in her mouth, still giving Prince the stink eye.

“Happy?” she asks around a mouthful of noodles, the word muffled. Then she reaches for her water after swallowing and downs half the glass.

“Ecstatic,” he replies in a droll tone, finally looking away from her and at his meal.

Well, fuck me sideways, the tension between these two is something else and I can’t wait to be there when they explode.