Chapter One

God, I was so screwed in every possible way.

I lay on my back in the massive king-sized bed that still didn’t feel like mine, staring at the fancy ceiling lights in my room of the Harrington mansion. London rain hammered the windows like it was trying to break in. My body was buzzing, skin still hot and sticky even after the quick cleanup. Liam had just left the bed, and already I missed it. Pathetic, right?

He was pulling his black sweatpants back on, the ones that hung low on his hips, showing the sharp V-line and the edge of that tattoo that hid below his waistband. Twenty-two years old, three years older than me, and built like he spent half his life in the gym or behind the wheel of those illegal street cars he raced. He was my step brother… and my dirty little secret.

“Fuck, that was close,” Liam muttered, running a hand through his messy dark hair. His gray eyes flicked toward the door like he expected his dad to bust in any second. “William was still up when I snuck out. Had to wait forever.”

I got myself up on my elbows, not bothering to cover my bare chest. My voice came out breathy, still trying to recover. “You could’ve just stayed and pretended like e were bonding or some shit.”

Liam shot me that look… the  half warning, half hunger look. He leaned down, bracing one hand beside my head, and kissed me hard.. His tongue pushed in like he owned me, biting my lower lip before pulling back. “You know we can’t, Alex. Not yet. If my father finds out his nineteen-year-old stepson is getting railed by his actual son every other night…” He shook his head, jaw tight. “It’d blow up the company image, the family rep, everything.”

I rolled my eyes, even though my heart did that annoying flip thing it always did when he got all protective and broody. “We’ve been doing this for two months already, Liam. Sneaking around like horny idiots. I’m not a kid and you’re not exactly ancient. Three years isn’t some crazy age gap.”

“Still too risky,” he said, but his hand was already sliding down my stomach, fingers brushing over the fresh marks he’d left on my hips. His voice dropped lower, that rough London accent making it sound filthy. “Doesn’t stop me from wanting you every damn minute though.”

Heat pooled in my gut again as I grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him back down. Our mouths crashed together, tongues sliding hot and wet. I could still taste myself on him from earlier when he’d gone down on me like a starving man. My legs wrapped around his waist instinctively, grinding up against the growing bulge in his sweatpants.

“Alex…” he groaned against my mouth. “We can’t go again. It’s too loud when you get like that.”

“Then make me stay quiet,” I challenged, nipping at his jaw. My hand slipped between us, palming him through the fabric. He was rock hard again, thick and hot. I loved how fast he got worked up for me.

Liam cursed under his breath and shoved my hand away, but only so he could yank my boxers down and wrap his long fingers around me. He stroked slow and firm, thumb circling the tip where I was already leaking. “You’re such a greedy little shit,” he whispered, voice husky. “Came twice already and still want more?”

“Yeah,” I breathed, hips bucking into his fist. “Want you inside me again.”

He kissed me to shut me up, pumping me faster. The slick sound filled the room, mixed with my muffled moans. I was horny as hell, and completely addicted to my own stepbrother. The taboo made it ten times hotter, knowing we could get caught any second only pushed me closer to the edge.

Liam’s free hand covered my mouth as I got louder. “Shh, baby. Don’t want the staff hearing you moan my name again.”

That did it. I came hard, spilling over his fingers with a choked whimper. He worked me through it, murmuring dirty praise against my neck… “Good boy, that’s it, look so fucking pretty when you come for me.”

When I finally stopped shaking, he pulled his hand away and licked it clean right in front of me. The sight made my wasted dick twitch. He smirked, that cocky bad-boy grin that always got me in trouble.

But then the smirk faded. He stood up, wiping his hand on his pants and grabbing his t-shirt. “I gotta go back to my room. Can’t risk staying till morning.”

I sat up, the post-nut clarity hitting like a truck. “Liam… when are we gonna stop hiding? This sucks. Sneaking around in my own house, pretending I hate you at breakfast while you’re still inside me from the night before.”

He paused at the door, his back muscles tense. “Soon. I just need more time. The company merger is happening next month. Dad’s already stressed so if this gets out now, it ruins everything we’ve built.”

“Everything you’ve built,” I muttered. “I’m just the American charity case who showed up and stole his precious son.”

Liam turned, eyes softening just a bit. He crossed back to the bed and cupped my face, kissing me softer this time. “You didn’t steal me. I gave myself to you but we have to be smart. I’m not losing you, Alex, not over this.”

I really wanted to believe him but the secrecy was starting to feel like a cage.

“Fine. Go,” I said, trying to sound casual.

He hesitated, then slipped out the door, closing it silently behind him.

I flopped back onto the pillows, staring at the ceiling again. My body felt used in the best way, but my chest ached. Two months of stolen nights, risky quickies in the library, blowjobs in the garage while he worked on his car. It was hot as hell, but I was tired of being his secret.

The mansion was quiet now, just the rain and my racing thoughts. I grabbed my phone, scrolling through the secret album of photos I had of us, Liam smiling lazily after we’d fucked, his arm around me in bed, us kissing in the dark.

A soft creak in the hallway made me freeze. Then I heard slow, careful footsteps stopping right outside my door.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I quickly deleted the photos from the recent views and shoved my phone under the pillow, pulling the sheets up to my chin. The handle on my door jiggled slightly, like someone testing if it was locked.

Oh shit.

Was it William? One of the staff? Or worse, had they heard us?

I held my breath, waiting for the worst.

The footsteps lingered for what felt like forever, then finally moved away.

I let out a shaky exhale, but the adrenaline was pumping. This was getting too dangerous anf if we kept going like this, someone was going to catch us for real.

And when they did… Liam might choose the family name over me.

I closed my eyes, body still humming from his touch, but sleep wouldn’t come easy tonight.