Free SNAKE (a Stepbrother Romance) by Emilia Beaumont

chaos.
    Mila.
    Beautiful, laughing, pure Mila, who made me feel like I was worth something, and whose seductive body felt so goddamn right under the tips of my fingers.
    Why did it have to be her that I wanted?
    Why couldn’t I stay true to the vows I’d made to Monique?
    Why did I want what I couldn’t have?

11

Mila
    M y head was pounding as I woke. As soon as I opened my eyes, it felt like the sunlight was slicing right through my head, the shaft of light pummelling its way into my skull like an unrelenting power drill. Groaning, I got up and shut the drapes to reclaim the soothing darkness.
    Just as I started to move back to the bed, my eyes widened as I remembered everything that had happened. Seeing Monique with another man, breaking her rules by eating junk food and drinking, and then, oh fuck… Kissing Devan.
    My hand flew up to cover my mouth as the memories started trickling in. Dread caused my hand to tremble.
    I needed to get ready for work, but just the thought of seeing either Devan or Monique so soon after last night made my stomach churn; I was petrified of going downstairs to use the bathroom and kitchen in the main house.
    Desperate and annoyed with myself, I groaned inwardly, cursing the fact that there was no bathroom and kitchen in the studio above the garage. Going into Dev and Monique’s home to pee had been awkward enough before, but with the added discomfort of her affair and the kiss I had shared with Dev, my anxiety levels were spiking through the roof.
    Had Devan told her about last night? Our kiss? Had he come clean?
    Fuck, what if he had? I thought as my eyes widened. I shook my head. Monique would’ve bashed the door down, interrupting my morning sleep, if all had been revealed the night before.
    I thought about my options for a second, wondering what I could do. Obviously, I could grab a bite on the way to work instead of making breakfast downstairs, but I desperately needed to pee and brush my teeth. With a heavy sigh, I gulped down the lump in my throat and headed on shaky legs towards the back door below.
    If she knew, then I would face the music. I wasn’t a coward, afraid to admit when I’d fucked up.
    Trying to be as quiet as possible, I moved into the kitchen, and even though I needed to pee, I needed to quench the lifeless desert that had set up camp in my mouth first. I poured myself a glass of cold water and gulped it down in long, thirsty sips.
    “It’s good to stay hydrated.”
    The cold voice that came from behind my back startled me, and I nearly choked. I turned around slowly, doing my best to fake a smile as my eyes landed on Monique.
    She looked a little worse for wear, her eyes puffy and swollen like she’d been crying or had a bad night’s sleep. My stomach dropped, and the water inside my belly threatened to make reappearance.
    God, did she know?
    Monique remained quiet, not giving me any clues as to my fate, and busied herself by preparing a slice of toast while I tried to make myself invisible. Just as I was going to sneak out of the kitchen unnoticed, her voice interrupted again.
    “How did the Doctor’s visit go?” she asked.
    Letting out a controlled breath, realizing she wouldn’t be asking about the appointment if Devan had revealed all to her, I turned around slowly, finding her leaning against the countertop as she now fiddled with the coffee machine.
    My mouth salivated at the mere smell of the decaf, and the feeling of guilt was instantly replaced with anger and jealousy due to the fact that I couldn’t have any. Coffee was on the banned list, even decaf, along with my precious burgers.
    Not that I was a coffee addict, but at least I usually had the option of having it, and before it was forbidden, it was a taste I craved.
    “I got the all clear,” I said and nodded, choosing my words carefully as I met Monique’s gaze. She let out a strange sound, something between a gasp and a cry of delight, turned around, and enveloped me in a quick hug,