Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
This isn’t happening. This can’t be happening.
But I can’t stop it. Even when I try to force my feet down against the floor, they just slide, slipping against the floor that’s wet with spilled drinks.
“Please, just let me go,” I plead. “I need to get back to Emily—”
“Only place you’re going is out to my car,” he replies, rubbing his nostrils. “Just relax and enjoy yourself—”
I’m about to have a full-blown panic attack when something crazy happens.
A fist comes out of nowhere, soaring in like a meteor, and impacts Aaron’s nose.
His head snaps back, and he falls, pulling me down with him, but a set of strong hands catch me by the waist and hold me tight. I’m spun around, and even before I stare into the eyes of my savior, I know who it is, just by his smell.
“Jake…”
My voice is barely a whisper as I gaze at him, my heart racing, limbs shaking.
“What the…f-fuck?” Aaron stammers from the ground. He tries to get to his feet, reaching for the hem of my dress, but Jake kicks him back down and points a stern finger his way.
“Back off. This is my step-sister.”
His words set something off inside me. It feels like a thousand fireworks exploding, causing my stomach to tingle and twist delightfully.
Heat spreads across my face. I’m blushing. I feel safe but small. Protected.
“Son of a bitch…” Aaron mutters, stumbling off into the crowd. A few of them glance at us, but Jake just ignores them.
“Are you okay?” he asks, brushing my hair from my face. His hand on my lower back is warm and strong, and so comforting. I feel invulnerable as he holds me.
Feelings I’ve never felt before flow through me. My fingers are hot, and a tingling sensation spreads between my thighs.
Yeah, fine, Jake is gorgeous, but whatever I’m feeling right now cannot be happening. He’s my step-brother, for God’s sake!
“What are you doing here!?” I blurt out, much louder than I’d intended.
“What, a guy can’t get a drink?” His eyes sparkle with such intensity. Is he playing with me? “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
I’m in a daze as he leads me out the back to his car. He opens the door for me like a chauffeur, I slide in, and he closes it behind me. Gorgeous, dangerous, and a gentleman? That’s a lethal combination.
And quite a contrast between the prick who just tried to assault me. What was Emily thinking setting me up with him? We’re going to have a chat later.
It’s only a few minutes to the house, but just sitting beside Jake is impossible. Naughty thoughts I shouldn’t be having flood my mind. He has one hand on the wheel and one hand on the shifter stick thingy—which leaves no hand for my leg.
I shouldn’t want his hand on my leg though! Jake is my step-brother. So what if he’s gorgeous? You can’t want your step-brother…
…can you? I mean, we’re not blood-related. I barely even know him.
When we get home, I practically throw myself out of the car and race inside. I’m halfway up the stairs to my room when I hear the door shut behind me.
I turn and look down at him. He must be well over six feet, with muscles bulging out from beneath his T-shirt and a jawline that could put any male model to shame.
Something inside me is turning unstoppably. As hard as I try to ignore it, I just can’t. My lips move without me even thinking. “So you wanna watch a movie or something?”
Oh my God, did you seriously just say that?
Yeah, that’s how inexperienced I am. Netflix-and-chill. That’s the only thing I know to suggest.
Jake’s eyes narrow, his jaw clenches, almost like he’s going to yell at me, and I instantly regret asking.
“I mean—”
“No.” He shakes his head, grabbing his keys and opening the door again. “I’m gonna head out. You have a good night.”
And just like that, he’s gone, and I’m standing alone on the stairs like Cinderella after the ball. Only without a prince chasing after me.
3
JAKE
The next week is absolute torture.
Having Piper in the house with me is like a willpower test—one I’m quickly starting to fail.
All she does is prance around in outfits that feel like they were designed to tempt me. Short-shorts, crop-tops, belly shirts, lace. Hell, even when she wears PJs, they can’t hide her incredible figure. And bras? I’m not sure Piper even knows what a bra is, or at least doesn’t see them as a necessity when she’s home.
It’s like she’s intentionally trying to tempt me.
I try to keep my distance, but she spends so much time in the bathroom every morning—taking the longest shower imaginable, then taking forever to fix her hair and dry off. It’s inevitable that I’ll run into her.
I’ve even had to kick her out a few times so I could shower. Yesterday I just said fuck it and moved my stuff to the downstairs guest bathroom just so I could avoid running into her.