Chapter 1

Stepbrother’s Forbidden Claim

Chapter 1

Lila slammed the front door harder than she meant to. Rain still clung to her skin and the thin fabric of her shirt. She was barely inside the grand foyer when she felt it. That heavy stare burning into her from above.

Damon leaned against the banister at the top of the stairs like he owned the entire world. His white dress shirt hung open at the collar revealing smooth tanned skin and the edge of what looked like a tattoo. His eyes dark and unreadable swept over her soaked body slowly.

“Welcome home princess,” he drawled. His voice carried that lazy arrogance that always set her teeth on edge.

She ignored the way her nipples hardened under his gaze and pushed wet strands of hair from her face. “Dont call me that Damon. This is not my home.”

He descended the stairs one slow step at a time. Each movement made the muscles in his thighs flex against his tailored pants. Lila forced herself to look away but her body remembered every accidental brush against him at the wedding reception weeks ago. The way his hand had lingered on her lower back. The way her breath had caught even then.

“Too bad,” he said stopping just inches away. “Because you are stuck here now. Same house. Same dinners. Same everything.”

The air between them crackled. Lila could smell his cologne mixed with the faint scent of whiskey. She hated how good he smelled. Hated how tall he was. Hated most of all how her pulse raced whenever he got this close.

She stepped back. “I need to change.”

His hand shot out catching her elbow. Not hard enough to hurt but firm enough to stop her. Heat shot straight down her spine. “You look better wet.”

Her mouth fell open. “You are disgusting.”

“Am I?” He leaned in until his lips nearly brushed her ear. “Then why are you breathing like you just ran a mile?”

Lila jerked free and practically ran up the stairs to her room. She locked the door and leaned against it trying to calm her racing heart. This was insane. He was her stepbrother now. Her mothers new husbands son. Off limits in every possible way.

Yet her body didnt seem to care.

She stripped off the wet clothes and stood in front of the mirror. Her full breasts felt heavy. Her thighs pressed together against the ache building there. She touched her bottom lip where his breath had ghosted across it.

No. She would not let him get to her.

Downstairs at dinner the tension only grew worse. Their parents laughed and chatted about their honeymoon plans completely oblivious. Damon sat directly across from her. Every time she looked up his eyes were on her. When she reached for the wine his foot brushed hers under the table and stayed there.

Lila nearly dropped her glass. She shot him a glare but he only smirked and pressed his foot higher along her calf. The touch was deliberate. Teasing. Her skin burned everywhere he touched.

“Pass the salt Lila,” he said innocently.

She did. Their fingers brushed and electricity shot up her arm. She pulled back fast knocking over her water glass.

“Clumsy tonight arent we?” Damon murmured as he helped mop it up. His hand grazed her thigh under the tablecloth. High enough that her breath hitched.

Later that night she couldnt sleep. The house was quiet except for the rain pattering against the windows. Lila tossed and turned in her big bed wearing only a thin tank top and panties. Her mind kept replaying every look every touch.

She slid her hand down her stomach slipping beneath the waistband of her panties. She was soaked. Her fingers circled her clit slowly imagining it was Damons hand instead. A soft moan escaped her.

The door to her room opened.

Lila yanked her hand away and sat up fast. Damon stood there silhouetted in the doorway wearing only gray sweatpants that hung low on his hips. The outline of his cock was unmistakable. Hard and thick.

“How did you get in?” she whispered furiously.

He held up a key. “Master set remember?” He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “Couldnt sleep either?”

“Get out.” But her voice lacked conviction.

Damon crossed to the bed and sat on the edge. Close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his bare chest. “I heard you moan my name.”

“I did not.”

He chuckled low. “Liar.” His hand reached out and traced a single finger down her arm leaving goosebumps. “Tell me to leave again and I will.”

Lila opened her mouth but no words came. Instead she stared at his lips. At the way his eyes had gone almost black with want.

He leaned in slowly giving her every chance to pull away. When she didnt his mouth claimed hers. The kiss started hungry and deep. His tongue swept inside tasting her like he had been starving for her. Lila whimpered into it grabbing his shoulders.

Damon groaned and pulled her closer. His hands roamed down her back cupping her ass and squeezing. She could feel how hard he was against her thigh. So big. So ready.

He broke the kiss only to trail his mouth down her neck sucking lightly. “You taste even better than I imagined.”

Lila arched against him as his hand slipped under her tank top. Rough palms cupped her bare breast thumb flicking over her nipple until it peaked. She bit her lip to hold back another moan.

“Damon we shouldnt,” she breathed even as her hips rolled against him seeking friction.

“Tell me to stop then.” His other hand dipped between her legs rubbing her through the soaked panties. “Fuck Lila youre dripping for me.”

Two fingers pushed the fabric aside and slid along her slick folds. He circled her clit with perfect pressure making her tremble. Lila gripped his arm nails digging in as pleasure built fast.

He kissed her again swallowing her cries as he worked her closer to the edge. Just when she thought she might come he slowed down teasing her.

“Please,” she whispered against his mouth.

Damon pulled back slightly eyes blazing. “Not yet princess. When I finally fuck you I want you to beg for every inch.”

He kissed her one last time hard and possessive then stood up. His cock strained obviously against his sweatpants.

“Sleep well Lila.” He left her there panting and aching and more confused than ever.

Lila flopped back on the bed staring at the ceiling. Her body hummed with unmet need. This was dangerous. This was wrong.

But as she touched herself again finishing what he started she knew one thing for certain.

She was already addicted.

And Damon knew it too.