Stepbrother's Secret

e: The Tens

household felt like a delicate balancing act, a performance where one wrong move could unravel everything. She had becom

or the study, or even in the small moments when she thought she was alone. Caleb's eyes-those dark, intense eyes-had begun to haunt her dreams, and the way his voice

's Je

e encounter with Richard

ar sound of Caleb's footsteps behind her. She had been hoping for a moment of peace, but the reality was that Caleb always found her when

cut through the air,

t his gaze. "I have some work to finish," she replied, trying to

now, I've been thinking about our conversation the other day,

uickened. "Wha

me you didn't want this," he said softly, his voice dangerously low. "But that's not

herself for so long, pretending that she didn't feel the pull between them. But it was undeniable-every g

t," she whispered, her voice trembling

it it." His eyes dropped to her lips, and for a moment, all Lena could think about was how clos

sound of footsteps echoed outside the st

s voice softer now, almost teasing.

t was racing, her body tense. She was trapped in a web of lies and desires

Increasing

, a challenge to resist him. It wasn't just the lingering touches or the suggestive remarks; it was the way he seemed to be everywhere she was. H

trying to focus on her schoolwork, Richard entered, as he often did, w

lmost too casual. He wasn't even pretending anymore. Hi

aze on the screen, willing herself to st

lot lately," he said, his eyes scanning her face. "You know, you don't always have

ng toward her. She wanted to pull away, to tell him to stop, but the words never left h

voice barely above a whisper, "I

ut warning, he reached out and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. The touch sent a

mured, his voice low and commanding. "I'm not your father, but

she didn't know if she wanted to hold on anymore. There was something intoxicating about th

front door opened, and Ryan's

called out, his tone casua

chest. "I-I need to go," she stammered, scr

ps curving into a slow smile. "We'll finish this con

made her way upstairs to her room, she couldn't help but wonder if she had made a mistake. But deep

Growing

s in her, the way she was slipping away, and he wasn't sure how to fix it. It hurt to see

n sat beside her on the couch,

asked, his voice

tomach. She knew she needed to tell him

asked, her voice

s. "Lena, I don't know what's going on, but so

her heart poundi

r opened again, and she heard Caleb's voic

aid quickly, standing up. "I'm j

led with concern. "I just want to help

he wanted anymore. But one thing was certain-she was losi