006

AVA

For a second, I forgot how to breathe.

Caden's arm was wrapped firmly around my waist while I was pressed against him…close, too close with our lips almost touching.

A part of me wished it would, I mean, my lips were aching badly to meet with his, but no.

He was no longer my crush; he was now my stepbrother. One who seemed determined to frustrate the living hell out of me.

Those delusions had to end.

That's what I kept repeating in my head.

Yet neither of us pulled away.

His thumb brushed against my lips as he raised my chin to meet his gray eyes. “Are you this clumsy?” He began, his voice dangerously low. “Or perhaps this is one of your schemes?”

I blinked.

"You must be delusional if you think I intentionally let myself fall,” I shot back.

“I mean, you came out from your room with nothing but a towel.”

“That's because you stopped the water while I was bathing,” I spat.

He took a step closer, as if we weren't already too close. “How about showing yourself off to my friends?”

“You're unbelievable. You guys were making noise; I had to study!”

“Excuses! But all I see is you trying to be in my space constantly, Avaline.”

“It's Ava,” I corrected sharply. “And you know what? Fuck you. I'm done explaining shit to your self-absorbed ass.”

I was about to break away from his hold when his grip tightened around my waist.

“We aren't done here,” he rasped.

“Let go of me, Caden.”

He tilted my chin.

“Is that what you really want?”

I let out a deep breath I didn't know I was holding. “What else would I want?”

“You've been looking at my lips,” he whispered.

“Oh no!” I exclaimed, my voice higher than intended. “You've been gawking at my lips shamelessly, and your hands still tight around my waist. Tell me, is that the action of someone who wants me to be away from him?!”

Silence.

A long tense one, that made the beating of my chest suddenly feel loud.

Caden’s eyes didn't leave mine, and I too refused to be intimidated.

But this look didn't look like intimidation. It was intense, like a predator hunting its prey, and it was igniting sparks in my body I couldn't control.

“You're still holding me,” I managed to say. “Let go.”

His gaze darkened. “Is that what you really need?”

“What else would I need?”

A faint smile formed on his lips. “I think I know.”

He leaned in again, slower this time.

I held my breath. “What are you doing?”

Our noses brushed. “What does it look like?”

“I’m your step-sister,” I muttered, hating how my whole body was begging for his touch.

“Step—” he repeated, eyes dropping briefly to my lips again. “They are dry; I think it needs a little bit of moisture.”

“Not from your lips.”

“Yeah, I know,” his voice was low. “My tongue will do a much better job.”

Heat rushed straight to my face, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of what his words were doing to my body.

“You're a disgusting piece of shit!” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

He chuckled…a low, mocking one. “Consider today your unlucky day, Ava.” His gaze flickered to my lips again. “But for the future, I don't think walking around my house in a towel is a good idea.”

I wasn't sure my body could survive another word from him…

The moment his grip loosened from my waist, I moved; cool and steady at first, but as soon as I got to the hallways, I ran—straight to my room, shutting the door with a loud bang.

What the hell was that?

I slid against the door until I was on the floor, trying to calm my beating chest..

“What the fuck just happened now?” I whispered.

Was he implying that…? No, he despised me. But why did he suddenly become flirty? Why did it look like he really wanted to...

So many questions...and worse, my body was still on fire. In between my legs was still quivering for his touch.

My hands moved slowly until I reached my pants. And goodness, Lord, I was soaked!

Just Caden Duke’s words were able to leave me in a mess, then imagine what his tongu—”Get a grip, Ava!” I scolded myself, rushing towards the bathroom.

Because the only thing that could save me was a COLD shower.

~~~~

The water helped, only that it couldn't erase my memory.

I couldn't sleep, nor could I write. I just lay in my bed, imagining different scenarios of what I should write next.

I reached for my laptop again. “He pinned her against the kitchen counter, his tongue trailing down her body, until it reached her—”

No…that's too far.

I deleted it.

“My tongue would do a much better job,” Cade Hunter said, his voice low and husky.

Avaline moved closer, until their lips were inches apart. “I'd like to be the judge of that.”

Maybe if I had said this, then Caden might have— I slammed my laptop shut, burying my face into my pillow.

Writing wasn't helping.

I didn't know how long I kept tossing around, but I ended up sleeping around 2am.

The next morning I woke up late with heavy eyes. My activities were simple: bath, dress, and coffee.

I arrived at the kitchen, and of course, he was already seated there.

I ignored him as usual, picked up my cup, and was about to head towards the coffee machine when I noticed

something—it wasn't there.

I looked around; still nothing.

Fucking asshole, he probably hid her or something.

I turned. “The coffee machine, where is it?”

He glanced at me briefly. “I got rid of it.”

For a second, my brain refused to process the words.

“You… what?”

“I trashed it in the bin.”

I blinked. “Why would you do that?”

He flashed a smirk on his face. “I don’t like coffee.”

I stared at him with blazing eyes, considering if to throw this cup at his head.

“So because you don’t like coffee, you decided nobody else in this house is allowed to drink it?”

He looked at me like I was the one being unreasonable. “My house, my rules.”

Something inside me snapped.

I opened my mouth, ready to unleash every insult I knew, but then stopped myself mid-breath.

Because that was exactly what he wanted.

Instead, I walked out, poking my middle finger right in front of him.

“You wish, freak,” he muttered, causing me to slam the door loudly.

*****

I arrived at school just in time for our lectures. Mira was already waiting at our spot.

“Omg, last night's game was the best; you really missed out on it!” Mira squealed as soon as she saw me.

I rolled my eyes, already dreading how today's conversation will be Caden-centered.

“Caden was the star of the game. You had to see him, Ava,”

Yeah. I see him every fucking day, and he's an arrogant jerk.

“He guided the puck with so much pride, and aura, and he didn't miss, not one time,” she continued as we headed to our class. “The other team didn't stand a chance, and after the game, our eyes locked…”

Here we go...another delusional night. I couldn't judge, because I was once like her…maybe I'm still.

“He turned towards the crowd, Ava, but he looked directly at me. That front seat is a lifesaver, and for the next game—”

“I won't be attending,” I cut in, just as we sat. “In fact I'm no longer a fan of Caden, and please don't ask me why.”

“Why?”

The lecturer walked in just in time, saving me from countless questions from Mira. The lecturer went on, and almost at the end of the period Mrs. “You'll be working in pairs for your project.”

She began calling names. “Mira and James, Samantha and Philip.”

I wasn't really paying attention until—“Caden, you're paired with Ma…no, Ava.”

Fuck no.

Why did it have to be him?!