Despite the sweet pleasure of luxury, the money only made things harder.  David had made it clear when he married my mother later that year that he wouldn’t give her a penny.  She signed a prenuptial agreement and if they ever split up or he died, she would stand to inherit nothing.  Perhaps that was his way of ensuring that he was marrying a woman full of love rather than greed.  For me however, the ultimatum had been made on my eighteenth birthday.  David and my mother would help me until I turned 20, more than I should have expected, but then the money would be cut off.  Then, it was up to me to make a life for myself.  After having been spoiled so completely, I dreaded the end of each day that brought my 20th birthday closer.

—————

The boys had long since moved out, but they were coming home for Christmas, and as my mother busied herself with decorations and gift-wrap I tried filling out a college application.  It was now or never, and I had to get things set up or I’d be out on my ass in less than six months.

I couldn’t help my mind from straying to the boys.  I hadn’t seen Matthew or Eric in almost two years.  The last time I saw Conner was on my birthday in August.  He’d been home visiting and it’d been the first time that I’d really had a chance to get to know him.  I mean, we’d lived together for years, but when my stepbrothers were together it was different.  They’d all have their own private jokes, usually at my expense, and none of them ever opened up to me.  Conner had seemed different when we were alone, and he’d grown up to be a handsome man.  I’d found it difficult not to notice just how attractive my stepbrother had become.

Connor was the first to come home, and as I saw him there through the window my heart skipped a beat.  I flushed with embarrassment as I realized that I was actually excited to see my step.  I sat still and pretended not to notice as he walked in and greeted my mother and stepfather.

“Hey there Sis, aren’t you going to give me a hug?”

I looked up, my cheeks instantly red as I thought about pressing myself up against his body.  He’d filled out more than the last time I saw him, and his muscular frame showed through the tight shirt that clung to his tanned skin.  I jumped up from the couch and stretched my arms out welcoming him in for a hug.

“Damn sis…  You’ve really turned into a woman…”  He said quietly into my ear, only loud enough for me to hear.

I quickly released him and went back to my seat while he wandered off with his father.   Did that really just happen?  I wondered to myself.  And if it did, what exactly did he mean by that.  Was I imagining that he was being a little bit…naughty?

I tried to put the thought out of my mind.  He was my stepbrother and he probably meant nothing by it at all.  Despite that, I couldn’t help but wish that he’d come back and spend some time with me before the other guys got here.  Unfortunately for me, that just wasn’t the case.  Instead of alone time I was bombarded by the whole troop an hour later Conner, Matthew and Eric came in laughing and talking in some man-code that I wasn’t privy to.

“Hey there Katya!”

“Hey Sis.”

They all greeted me brightly, and each of them made their way over for hugs, including Conner who winked at me as he pulled me into his arms.

“We’re going to dinner, why don’t you come out with us…  We’re buying.”  They all laughed, at my expense as usual.

“Really guys, you don’t have to pay me to spend time with you, you’re not that bad…”  I retorted, trying to get a jab in myself.

On the way to dinner I had a chance to get a good look at all of them.  They had become men since the last time I’d seen them.  Each of them with dark hair, blue eyes, and a hint of a beard that was just damned sexy.  As we walked through the restaurant I could see the women in the place turning to stare at my stepbrothers.  The way the women looked at them, and then at me made me want to laugh.  A Plain-Jane like me here with a couple of hunks—I could easily see why they were all gawking.

“So how have you been Katya? Tell us about the last two years!”  Conner said, invitingly.

The dynamic between us all had changed. Perhaps it was for maturity, or for simply having been apart for so long, but it seemed to me that each of them were looking at me in a way I’d never seen before.  We laughed, we reminisced, and we shared.  It was so different than before.

“So are you seeing anyone Katya?”  Eric asked.

His eyes wandered down to my breasts, making me look at Matthew as I attempted to not notice.  Unfortunately Matthews' eyes were also staring down at my chest.  I looked down, wondering if I’d spilled something on my shirt that would explain things…  The boys started laughing all at once.

“What?”  I cried, suddenly embarrassed.

“It’s just…  You’ve really grown up.”  Matthew said, jutting his chin out at my chest.

“Ya Katya, it’s hard not to notice your curves, you’re not just a skinny kid anymore.”  Conner added.

Oh god.   I thought, feeling instantly ashamed of my body.  I had changed and I knew that, but I hadn’t expected my own stepbrothers to point it out.

“So… Are you?”

I looked at Eric blankly

“Dating anyone?  No, I’m not seeing anyone.  You know dad won’t let me date anyhow.”

“That’s what we thought.”

We?  What did he mean?  Had they honestly been talking about whether or not I’d been seeing anyone?  Things were suddenly feeling awkward.  Three sets of blue eyes were staring at me deviously as I nervously flittered glances between my water glass and their deep blue eyes.

“Have you ever thought about what is going to happen to you once you turn twenty Katya?”  Eric asked with a smile.

“Ya Katya, it’s going to be pretty hard to manage to keep up this sort of lifestyle when you’re out on your ass.”  Matthew agreed nodding to both of his brothers.

I jumped as I felt Conner's cool touch on my thigh, too high on my thigh for a brother to touch, but then again, he was my STEPbrother.

“It would be a whole lot easier if someone wanted to help you out financially…”  Conner was leaning in close to me and his hand slowly massaged the inside of my thigh.

I let out a soft whimper.  He was so gorgeous, they all were, and as I heard the words I realized that more than just one fantasy could be fulfilled by their vulgar offer.

“What do you mean help me out financially?”

“You see Katya, we have all thought about it, and we know you have too.  We’ve seen the way you stare, the way your hugs last a little longer than they should…”

“We’ve even seen it in your diary.”  Eric chimed in with a devilish grin.

I could feel my cheeks burning instantly.  It was true, I had written about them in my diary.  The details of which were private, and knowing that they’d seen it made me want to run and hide out of shame.  I’d written things, naughty things, fantasies that were meant for my eyes only.  I swallowed hard and tried to forget that he’d ever mentioned it.

“We have fantasies too.”  Said Matthew as his fingers reached out and traced the soft skin at my neck.

“But more importantly, we don’t want to see you suffer, we want to make sure you and

“It is going to cost you something though little sister…”  Eric said.

“My virginity.”  I whispered softly.  My mom had always said that the most valuable thing I had was my innocence, and I knew that was what they all wanted.

“VIRGINITY?”  They exclaimed in unison much to loudly for the quiet restaurant.  I felt the eyes of every table fall onto us.

The boys huddled their heads closely to one another and whispers were exchanged.

“Katya, we had no idea…”  Conner said gently.

“We just assumed.”  Eric added.

If not my virginity, then what?  What did I really have to offer anyhow?  I was just a poor girl living lavishly on their daddies’ dime.