Chapter 5

KESTER.

It took all the self-control I could muster to stay away from the house all weekend. I could have done something I might end up regretting.

Whatever unholy feelings I was developing for Kasmine were beginning to get out of hand, and I didn't know for how much longer I could hold back.

I returned home just this morning to get ready for work.

I stood in front of Kasmine's door, contemplating whether to knock or not. I was, no doubt, ashamed of what had happened on Saturday. She felt my hard cock, and it was super embarrassing.

But, fuck it. Now wasn't the time for regrets. It was getting late, and we had to leave for the office.

Just as I was about to knock, the door pulled open, revealing my little sister - my obsession.

I froze.

She stood there, framed by the soft morning light spilling into the hallway. Her rich, brown hair cascaded over her shoulders in loose waves, a few strands catching the sunlight.

She looked... stunning. No, beyond stunning. Her blouse, a soft cream color, clung to her frame in all the wrong—or maybe right—ways. The buttons strained slightly across her chest, teasing the curves I had no right to notice. She'd tucked it neatly into a dark pencil skirt that emphasized the perfect line of her hips and ended just above her knees, revealing the smooth, toned length of her legs.

She was so beautiful that it felt sinful.

I felt my mouth go dry as my gaze dropped, tracing the shape of her body before snapping back up to meet her eyes.

Too late. The damage was already done. My pulse quickened, and my traitorous body reacted almost immediately.

A twitch in my pants made me curse silently. Fuck it. Not now.

My length strained so hard in my trousers that it made shame bloom hot across my chest.

"Kester?" Kasmine called. Her voice was soft and confused, and she cleared her throat. "Are you okay?"

I blinked, snapping out of whatever trance I had fallen into. Her brows furrowed slightly; her lips parted as if she were about to say more.

"What the hell are you wearing?" I blurted, my voice harsher than I intended.

Kasmine's eyes widened, and she stepped back instinctively, crossing her arms over her chest. "Excuse me?"

"That—" I gestured vaguely at her outfit, struggling to keep my eyes on her face. "That skirt is too tight. And that blouse..." I swallowed hard, "It's inappropriate for work."

Her expression shifted from confusion to incredulity. "What? Kester, this is professional. It's just a blouse and a skirt! What's your problem?"

"It's distracting," I snapped, my frustration spilling over.

"Distracting?" Kasmine's lips curved into a disbelieving smile, "For who, exactly?"

There she got me. Of course, I was the one she was distracting.

"Just... change into something else," I said, my voice lower now, barely masking the strain.

Kasmine's jaw tightened, and she tilted her head. "You can't be serious. You're my brother and my temporal boss, not my wardrobe consultant. I'm not changing."

This stubbornness of hers was going to get her into real trouble with me.

"You live under my roof, Kasmine," I shot back, "You'll do as I say."

"Just... change into something else," he said, his voice lower now, barely masking the strain.

Kasmine's jaw tightened, and she tilted her head. "You can't be serious. You're my boss, not my wardrobe consultant. I'm not changing."

"You live under my roof, Kasmine," I shot back, taking a step toward her as she took two steps backward, "You'll do exactly as I say. Go in there and change into something else, and meet me in the car," I ordered and walked out on her.

I felt more at ease as I stared at her through the glass pane separating my office from hers. She sat at her desk, her hair swept over one shoulder.

I had put her right next to my office where I could see and know what she was up to every time.

She was putting on something more... Decent? Not that the first outfit wasn't decent. I just couldn't bear the thought of having my baby sister flaunting all those curves for hungry eyes to see.

"You keep living in self-denial, Kes," My wolf, Zeth, said with a snarl.

"She's my sister, Zeth. Stop having nasty thoughts about her." I retorted.

Zeth had remained silent since the previous weekend when he almost took control and scared Mine to death. He had almost claimed her. I was so pissed at him.

I know my feelings for her were becoming a concern I needed to work on, but I've never thought of acting on those feelings.

She was my sister, for fuck's sake!

My countenance turned sour immediately as my eyes caught an unpleasant sight.

Karl.

My jaw tightened as I watched.

The kid was barely in his twenties, a fresh intern with an awkward haircut and far too much confidence for my liking. He walked into her office with that cocky grin plastered across his face, leaning casually against her desk like he belonged there.

And then, Kasmine smiled at him.

Not just any smile—a soft, genuine one that made her eyes light up. The kind of smile that was rare, precious. The kind of smile I hadn't seen directed at me in a long time.

Fuck.

My chest tightened, a sharp ache slicing through me, followed swiftly by a wave of irrational rage. My hands clenched into fists, my nails biting into my palms as I tried to rein it in. But the longer I watched, the more unbearable it became.

The boy was laughing now, saying something that made her tilt her head, her smile widening. And she was laughing too; the sound muted through the glass but no less maddening.

Something inside me snapped.

I didn't even realize I was moving until I was standing in her office doorway. The lighthearted atmosphere evaporated instantly. Karl froze mid-laugh, his grin faltering as he turned to face me.

"Karl," I called, my voice low and cold, every syllable dripping with restrained fury. "Do you not have any work to do?"

The boy visibly swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing as he straightened up. "Uh, I was just—"

"You were just being irrelevant in my company? Is that what you were hired for? To socialize?" I stepped into the room; my hands balled into a fist in my pockets - good thing they were in there.

Kasmine's brows furrowed, "Kester... He was just..." She tried to defend him, but it only enraged me more.

I ignored her, my focus solely on the boy. Karl stammered something incoherent, his confidence crumbling under my glare. "I—I'll get back to work," he muttered, retreating so quickly he nearly tripped over his own feet.

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving just Kasmine and me in the room.

She crossed her arms, fixing me with a look that was equal parts confusion and irritation. "What the hell was that about?"

I turned my gaze to her, my jaw still clenched. "He had no business being in here."

Her lips parted, a flash of disbelief crossing her face. "He's an intern, Kester, just like me. He came to ask about the report I was working on and probably make a new friend, too."

"I didn't bring you here to make friends. Get back to work." I said coldly and turned to leave, but her next words halted me.

"Why? Why do you keep treating me this way? Why don't you allow me to befriend guys? It's not right, Kes!"

I could hear the hurt and frustration in her tone, but I couldn't cared less as I walked out without sparing her another glance.