Brother After Dark

Chapter Twenty-Four

Zach.

It was forbidden. She was forbidden.

She was still my adoptive parents’ daughter. The society still saw us as siblings. We lived in the same house. Her blood relatives still saw me as their own. There were still some things that people around us couldn’t understand. Our parents would not accept this. Dad wouldn’t. And I was more afraid of what he would do to her. He loved me. But he didn’t love her.

I didn’t care what they’ll do or say to me or about me. I was only worried about her. As her big brother, it was left up to me to protect her reputation, her dignity. I was the last person expected to corrupt her innocence.

And I did just that the past few months. I was in the shadows, watching over her, watching who moved within her circle. Shoo away any guy who may be interested in her, threaten them if necessary. Like I said, I was possessive that way. And if I couldn’t have her, no one could! It’s hard enough for me to deal with not having her. Imagine how I’d be, dealing with somebody kissing her right under my nose.

Nobody in school knew we were brother and sister. We had different surnames now. And I didn’t really mind if they didn’t learn that. That was plan B. This game we’re playing—I didn’t know where it was headed. But just in case, I was destined to be damned for the rest of my life. The less people who knew of our relationship, the better. I didn’t know how long I could keep up with this brother-and-sister thing she was forcing upon us. I tried staying away. It didn’t work. I wasn’t sure what would work now that I was no longer trying to stay away from her.

“It’s done,” I heard her call.

I let go of the controller and sat on the barstool in the kitchen counter. I watched her go through the plates and utensils, tiptoeing and reaching up the cupboards. The sweater she was wearing rode up her thighs, reminding me once again what gorgeous legs she had and the forbidden treasure I tasted once when I had no idea it was off-limits to me. And now that I knew, heaven help me!

She turned around and caught me checking her out. Instead of being embarrassed, I stared back at her and gave her a wink. She blushed a deep shade of red. What was the point of denying it? She already knew I wanted her.

That made it so fucking hard because, as a sister, I loved her with all my heart. As a man, I wanted her! With. Every. Fiber. Of. My. Damned. Soul! And I wasn’t sure how long I could protect her from the beast inside me that craved her like a hopeless addict craving for heroine!

When she served the bowl of soup, I noticed her hands were trembling. And suddenly, I felt guilty. I had no right to do this to her! I touched her hand, kept it steady. She looked up at me, her beautiful amber eyes were brimming with tears.

“Hey,” I whispered.

I took her hands in mine and pulled her toward me. She hesitated for a while. I stood up from my seat and closed the distance between us. I hugged her to me, cradled her head against my shoulder. I buried my face in the mass of her thick ash-blond hair.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Done what?”

I took a deep breath. “Check you out. Sometimes, I can’t help myself. You’re too damn beautiful not to… admire.”

“Ogle,” she corrected me quietly.

I laughed. I pulled away from her. I was not going to deny that. I stared down at her beautiful face. If there was something more beautiful than her body, it was her face. She had the face of an angel and the body of a she-devil! Yep! I’d be damned!

“You know how I feel for you, baby girl,” I said. “As a sister, I love you so much. But I also meant every word I said to you that night we met at the concert.”

She raised a brow at me. “You promised me a lot of things that night.”

I nodded. “And I’m still not sure I won’t be keeping them.”

Her eyes widened. And I knew we both had the same thing in our minds.

“Zachary…”

“Zach,” I corrected here again. And I will keep doing so until she learned to call me the same way she called me that night.

“Zach, you said you only wanted to be my brother.”

“Because you asked me to,” I said.

“If I didn’t?”

I raised a brow at her. “If you didn’t, then we wouldn’t be standing here having a snack, baby girl. We’d be upstairs.” I gave her a dark, sober look before I leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “And I will be sliding myself deep within you, taking you, making you scream again.”

“Zach…” It sounded like a moan. I couldn’t help the blood that rushed through my cock, turning me from semi-hard state to rock solid.

I hugged her to me. Not caring that she would feel the hard evidence of just how much I wanted her.

“Zach, you’re…” she said.

“I know. You have this effect on me, baby girl,” I admitted. Then I took a deep breath and asked, “Do I affect you the same way? Any way other than a brother?”

I held my breath for her answer. I realized I wanted her to say she desperately wanted me the same way I wanted her. So at least I would feel just a little less guilty about wanting to covet her innocence.

I felt her wrap her arms around my neck, and she buried her face on my shoulder. “You know how I feel.”

“Still, I’d like to hear you say it so I would feel less of a monster for wanting you too damn much.”

She sighed. “Yes. I feel the same way about you. I love you as a brother. But I want you beyond our sibling bond.”

I pulled away from her so I could stare down her face. There was sadness in her eyes, and suddenly, I felt like my heart was breaking along with hers.

I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. I struggled for control. Because what I really wanted to do was ravish her red, pouty lips and teach it to scream my name over and over.

I was going to do just that. But it was as if someone from above did not agree with what I was going to do. Thunder roared angrily in the skies, causing Blaire to jump.

I immediately hugged her, holding her close to me. She hugged me and buried her face against my chest.

“Shh,” I whispered against her ear. “I’m here, baby girl. I won’t leave you. I’ll always be here to protect you.”

Damn it! As if I needed another reminder that that’s what I was supposed to do. That’s what I will always be to her—her big brother.