Stepbrother Soldier: A Forbidden Military Romance Novel by Emily Whittaker Read Free Book Online

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magnificence of his body. He was sculpted like a god. He was also covered in
tattoos that were usually hidden by clothes; military tattoos on his chest and
biceps that stood out brilliantly against his gently tanned skin.

 
    “What?” Ashton said, perturbed. I shook my head, realizing I’d been
just looking at him for way too long. I coughed.

 
    “Um, can we talk?” I said, peering past him into the room, which was
strewn with empty beer bottles and weight-lifting equipment. A cigarette was
burning in an ashtray on his desk. Ashton’s eyes narrowed.

 
    “About what?”

 
    “Listen, I heard you talking to the Admiral
earlier, and I just…can I come in?”

 
    Ashton studied me, as if trying to understand my motives. I didn’t
blame him. After all, last time we’d talked I’d ended up attacking him from
behind. Finally, he let the door swing all the way open and stepped to the
side. I walked into the room, my nose crinkling in response to the heavy odor
of cigarette smoke. Ashton closed the door behind me then brushed past me,
taking a seat on the room’s only chair. I resigned myself to sitting on the
bed, not my first choice by a wide margin, but I didn’t want to have the
conversation while standing over him.

 
    “I just, I wanted you to know I’m here. If you ever wanted to talk. I
mean, I know I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping, but when I heard you talking
I just thought maybe you could use a friend,” I said. I’d rehearsed it in my
head over the past hour, but now that I’d said the words they sounded flat and
unconvincing. Ashton cocked his head, his face blank.

 
    “Okay,” he said. That was all. We sat in silence
for a long moment.

 
    “Um, I mean, I know I can’t really relate at all, but I’ve read a lot
about the toll war takes on soldiers, and about PTSD and…”

 
    “No, you can’t really relate, can you?” Ashton interrupted, his gaze
growing cold. I almost shivered.

 
    “But I can listen,” I said, the words coming out before I really
thought about them. “I’m a good listener.”

 
    “Good for you,” Ashton said, a sneer coming to
his face. Maybe this was a bad idea, I
thought.

 
    “I’m just trying to say that I can be your friend, if you let me be,”
I squeaked, crumpling under his glare. I’d never felt so…small. I was a strong,
independent woman, but here I was barely able to form words in front of my
stepbrother.

 
    He didn’t reply, but he also looked away, freeing
me from his stare.

 
    “A person like you could never understand. You think you’re all high
and mighty with your political shit, your liberal shit, you think you know what
the hell war is, you don’t. I don’t give a damn about Democrats or Republicans.
I couldn’t give two shits about the government. I just want to live in peace,”
Ashton said, surprising me with his honesty. His voice rose as he spoke,
getting more riled up with each word. “I don’t know why people can’t just leave
me the fuck alone. I did my duty, I served my country, now leave me alone!”

 
    “If you feel that way, why are you staying in the military? You can go
anywhere, do anything. You don’t have to…”

 
    “Oh, I don’t? Tell that to my fucking father, Christy. You know my
fate as well as I do. There’s no escaping it. Not for me,” Ashton said, his
eyes full of hate. My heart broke for him.

 
    “You’re your own man. You don’t have to follow your father’s
footsteps,” I said, meekly. I realized that I wasn’t a therapist, or even a
counselor. I had no idea what to say to Ashton to help him.

 
    “What does it matter? I’m miserable here, I’ll be miserable there. I
might as well be making money being miserable. Get a nice fat pension like the
old man,” Ashton said, the fervor leaving his voice as he seemed to resign
himself. That almost worried more than when he’d been almost shouting.

 
    “But you…”

 
    “Shut up,