O N E

ARABELLA. 

"Peter. " I moan when he pulls away from the kiss, and slowly opens his eyes to meet mine. They are darkened; desire and lust swimming in them and my heart thunders in my chest because I'm sure mine are the same. 

"Ara. " He calls my name softly and I can no longer hold back. I grip the front of his shirt and pull his mouth back to mine. A groan leaves his lips as I force them open, and slide my tongue inside; my hands now moving from his shoulders to his chest, trailing down his body and stopping at the hem of his shirt. 

His hand curls around the back of my head as he slowly lowers me on the bed, and a jolt of excitement runs across my body when my back hits against the soft mattress, warmth pooling in my lower belly. 

It's happening. It's really happening. We're finally crossing that one line. 

All thoughts evaporate when Pete removes his mouth from mine to litter kisses across my neck. I bite down on my lips to suppress the loud moan that threatens to break out as I feel his hand moves closer to my chest, and my hand on his shirt slips further down, till I'm met with the waistband of his pants and when his teeth scapes against the skin of my neck, eliciting a whimper out of me; my hand rubs over the obvious erection that presses against his pants. 

In a beat of a second, Pete pulls away from me with panicked eyes and my breath comes out in short pants as I wait for him to move over again, but he doesn't. He remains standing over me with wide eyes, and then he's pulling out of bed. 

"Pete?" I call in confusion as I prop my elbows against the mattress and he shakes his head, "I'm so sorry, Ara. I'm so sorry. I don't know what got over me. "

"What? What are you talking about, Pete? Come back here. " I extend my hand in an attempt to grab him, but he backs further away, and my chest drops, all flames of excitement leaving my body at the thought that this is happening again. 

He turns me on. Brings me closer to the edge, and then snatches it all from me. Of course, this was going to happen. It's what he always does. 

"We shouldn't, Ara. We can't. " His words bring my attention to him and I sit upright on the bed, "Are we honestly going through this again?"

"You have to understand me, Ara. We—"

"And I've tried!" I raise my voice, the pent up sexual frustration and sudden anger taking over my senses. When Pete pushes his head back, as if he'd just been hit. I take a breath and start again, "I've tried Pete. I've tried to understand you, but I don't get what it is. I've told you numerous times that I'm alright with this. I'm ready to take the next step with you, but why do you keep holding back? Why do you getting my hopes up, only to crash them all? Are you not attracted to me in that way? Is that what it is? I'm not attractive enough to touch?"

"Of course not, baby. That's not it. That's never it. " He assures and I say, "Then what's it? Why don't you want to go further than a kiss? Why do you keep holding back with me?"

"You have to understand me, Ara. " He murmurs as he steps closer. He bends over the edge of the bed, and holds out his hands to me. When I place mine over them, he rubs my knuckles and smiles at me, "I know you want this, but you have to trust me; this isn't the right time. "

"Then when's the right time?" I lift a brow, my voice soft and he lifts one of his hands to cup my cheek. "It'll be here, and when it comes; I promise to make up for every single time I've denied you what you want, but for now; I just need you to trust me. Hmmm?"

When I don't give a response, he lifts my other hand and pouts, and with a sigh, I say, "Okay. I trust you. " 

"I know you do. " He beams, bringing his face closer and I lower my head for him to press a kiss to my forehead before he starts to pull me out of bed. "Come on. Let's leave your room. It seems as though the temptation is in here. " He chuckles. 

"When will they be back?" Pete asks as we walk out of my room and down the hallway that leads us to the living room. 

"They should be here any minute from now. " I respond to his question as we arrive in the living room, and I drop my hand from his to walk to the kitchen. Pouring myself a glass of water, I down the content in one shot and swipe my hand across my lips, my chest falling in a sigh as I stand there with my hands pressed to the counter. After a few seconds, I return the glass and stride back to the living room, to see Peter moving out of the couch. 

"I think I should start leaving. Dara just texted. " He says when I arrive in front of him and I hum, "You should leave then. You don't want to keep her waiting. "

He nods, then surprises me by sliding his hand around my waist, pulling me to his chest. "You're not like... Mad at me, are you?"

"I'm not. " I assure him with a small smile, giving his arm a caress and his smile grows as he angles his head to the side and meets my lips. It's a short peck, and then he leans back. 

"I'll see you at school tomorrow, yeah?" He whispers and when I nod, he presses his lips to the tip of my nose before he releases his grip on me. 

I turn around on the spot as I watch him leave, waving at him and he's about to walk out when the door opens; Sinclair and Ashley walking inside with baby Winnie. 

A smile lifts to my face as they exchange greetings, and not without my brother boring holes into the back of his head as Pete finally disappears out of the house. 

"You're back. " I speak when the door closes and all gazes drop on me. 

"You were with him, again?" My brother is the first to speak as they start to move towards me and I say, "He's my boyfriend. When will you get used to him coming here to see me?"

"Never. " He answers as he loosens his tie. "The only reason he's always walking out of here alive is because of Little Greene. " I shake my head as I take the baby from Ashley, and she ruffles my hair. 

"How was the meeting?" I ask her and she grins, "Awesome. Tiring, but awesome. I had a lot of fun. "

"I hope he didn't try to cross a line?" Clair's voice interrupts us and Ashley laughs as I take a breath at my brother's usual overprotectiveness again. 

I turn to him. "He didn't. And even if he did, I can take care of myself. I'm eighteen, Clair. Not six. Stop being so overprotective. "

"You're eighteen and you live under my roof. " He points out and Ashley beats me to speak, "I can still remember what we did when I was her age, Sin. Let the girl live her life. "

"She's like this because you keep encouraging her. " He scoffs and she says, "Maybe you should try to do the same thing. It's more exciting that way. "

"You're saying that because—" Sinclair doesn't get to finish his words as Ashley steps closer to him, and holds the front of his jacket. "Shhh, baby. We're not arguing over this again, are we?"

I place Winnie against my shoulder as I watch my brother melts to the touch and loving gaze of his wife. He holds her face as he opens his mouth, "No. No, we're not. I'm powerless against you. "

Ashley chuckles, going on her toes to reach him and I roll my eyes, turning away from them as they close their mouths together, knowing they're about to go into their own world again. Ignoring and forgetting everything and everyone else around them. 

"I'll take Winnie to bed. " I announce, and I'm not surprised when I don't receive a response. I've been living with this couple since I was five, and I swear it's like their love for each other grows even more with each year that passes by. You'd think after marriage and a six-year-old kid, they'd tone out the heaviness of desire and adoration for each other, but they don't. I've watched them be and grow in love for years, and I can never admire their love more than I already do. 

After tucking Winnie into bed and living her teddy beside her, I proceed to walk out of her room, and back into the living room to see Ashley pressed to the back of the couch with Clair hovering over her, the sounds of their mouths smacking loud in the air. And there goes the usual scenery I get from a couple that finds it hard to keep their hands off each other. 

"I'm in here. " I voice out, causing them to break away. When my brother looks back at me, I say, "That's another one for get a room. "

He chuckles and looks back at his wife, who says, "Where's my daughter?"

"I tucked her in bed. " I answer and she nods, pressing her lips to his one more time before she moves away from him. "I should prepare dinner. What do you want to eat, babe?"

"You. " I hear him respond and I roll my eyes as they fall into another one of their flirty conversations while I walk to the couch. At the sound of a peep, I take out my phone and a sigh leaves my lips at the sight of my boyfriend's name. 

PETE: I'm home. What are you up to?

I angle my head to the two who stand in the middle of the room, cradled against each other before I look back to my screen, and with a bite of my lips; I start to type out a reply. 

~

"Ara! Are you coming down?" I hear the sound of Ashley and I yell back, "I am! On my way. " Giving one glance at the mirror next to my bed, I pull at the edge of my shoe before I grab my bag and walk out of my room. 

I'm only a step away from the living room when my phone vibrates and I frown at the text across my screen. 

DEX: I'm afraid I can't pick you up today, babe. Think you could get here yourself?

ME: What's wrong? Is everything alright?

"Why are you frowning?" I raise my head at the sound of Ashley's voice and I say, "It's Dex. He said he can't pick me up. "

"Oh, is he alright? He never fails to pick you up. " She asks as she stretches the bowl to me and I pick a slice of apple with the fork. "Same thing I asked him. "

She's about to speak again when my phone vibrates and she gestures for me to check. 

DEX: Everything is. Just mom's usual moments. You don't have to worry about me, though. I'll meet you at school. 

ME: Alright, be careful with her. 

"It's just his mom. " I inform Ashley when I lift my head to grab a slice of watermelon and she says, "That's unavoidable then. "

"I know. " I sigh, picking a cucumber before I leave the fork. " I guess I'll have to get to school on my own. "

"Sin can take you. " She says and my eyes widen, "He didn't leave yet?"

Her cheeks redden as she part her lips. "I might have taken a minute or two out of his time. "

"Why am I not surprised?" I shake my head and she laughs as she turns back in the direction of the kitchen. "Where's my Winnie?" I call out to her and she responds with, "She's still asleep. "

I hum as I stride to the couch and press my back against it. Ashley moves from the kitchen, and she throws me a smile as she walks up the stairs. In no less than a minute, she arrives back in the living room with a suitcase and some files in hand. 

"I'll help you with that. " I tell her and move closer to take the flies from her before we turn in the direction of the door. Ashley steps in front of me and throws the suitcase in the bag, and I'm about to lower my head when my eyes catch the sight of a figure. 

Straightening my back, I look ahead of me to see a guy standing next to a bike. His head snaps to me, and a cold shiver runs across my body as he gives me once over before he turns his head away and gets on his bike. 

"Ara. " I jump at the sound of Ashley's voice to see her standing next to me with narrowed eyes. "Why did you freeze?"

"I didn't. " I argue and she persists, "You did. What were you looking at?"

Without much thought, I direct my eyes back to the previous spot, and open my mouth, "Who's that? Do we have someone new moving it?"

Ashley shifts closer to the side, before she turns back to me. "Oh, him. Your brother said there'd be someone new moving in. "

"When?" I ask her and she lifts a brow, "Why are you so bothered about it?"

"I'm not. " I shake my head, tearing my gaze away from her as I throw the files into the seat and I hear her chuckle behind me. "You sound so. "

"I'm not. " I insist when I meet her eyes again, "I'm merely curious. Nothing more. It's just strange to see someone new around here. "

"What are you two talking about?" Ashley turns away from me at the sound of my brother's voice, and I look back to the spot again, slowly rubbing my hand across my chest before I shake my head and slide into the car. 

What the hell was that feeling?