I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my phone. The screen glowed, showing the time. 1:55 AM. I’d told myself that I wouldn’t wait up for him, that I didn’t care if Lucas showed up or not. But here I was, counting down the minutes, my stomach in knots. It was stupid. I knew it was. I didn’t want this, didn’t want him. At least that’s what I kept telling myself whenever bits of consciousness kicked in to let me know that I kissed his brother, the same day. My fingers hovered over the phone, and the urge to send him a message rang when I saw he was online on I*******m. But what would I even say? Ask where he was? Or why he hadn’t bothered to text? No. That would make it seem like I cared too much. Like I was waiting for him. And I couldn’t give him that kind of satisfaction. Different thoughts and questions came to my mind. I fell on my bed telling myself that I was being stupid. That it wasn't me. I couldn't possibly wait for a man, especially Lucas, to show up and pla
I stood on the balcony, arms folded on the railing, staring out at the quiet forest. The cool night air brushed against my skin, but I barely felt it. My mind was spinning, replaying the kiss I had shared with Caspian just moments ago. I could still feel the heat of his lips on mine, the electric sensation that surged through my body when he touched me. I wasn't sure what I was feeling—anger, confusion, desire-all of it swirled together in a way that left me disoriented. I didn't want this. I shouldn't want this. But I did. And now, he was asking me to come to his office, and I knew deep down that nothing good was going to come of it. My heart pounded in my chest, and for a moment, I considered staying out here, staying safe. But something was pulling me, dragging me back inside. The way he kissed me, the way he looked at me, as though he saw right through the careful facade I was trying to build for myself. I couldn't resist the pull. Five minutes, he had said. Five min
I stared at him, locked in my place as his fingers softly brushed against my neck. It made my skin prickle. “Do you want this?” Caspian’s voice was a low rumble, the words hanging between us. He didn’t need to elaborate on what he was asking; I knew. My gaze flicked away from him for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts, but my heart hammered so loudly I was sure he was hearing every single beat. “I know this must be very confusing for you,” he continued, his voice softer now, more coaxing. “But this is me, Kat. The real me.”I realised he wasn’t just asking about what was happening now—he was asking if I was ready to dive into the depths of who he truly was, no matter how dark or complicated that might be.My throat was dry. I tried to swallow but couldn’t. “What... what am I supposed to do?”The words came out small, trembling with the fear and curiosity coursing through me. My eyes flicked nervously over the room again, taking in the dim lighting and the air thick with anticip
I woke up with a start the next morning, the remnants of the previous night clinging to me like shadows. The room was bathed in morning light, but it did little to chase away the haze of my thoughts. I lay still, staring at the ceiling as memories of Caspian flooded back—his voice, his touch, the intensity in his eyes. It played in an endless loop in my mind, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake it. ‘What have I done?’ The question that had lingered since I first arrived in Washington once again echoed in my head. “What have I done?” I mumbled it, thinking maybe saying it out loud would make me stop doing what I was doing. It was one of the worst feelings—to do something in the heat of the moment and then question or regret it in the days that followed. For the last three days, I had been grappling with this, my interactions with Caspian and the other brothers replaying incessantly in my mind. Sitting up, I ran my hands through my disheveled hair, trying to ground
I paced back and forth in the forest, behind the house, my phone clutched tightly in my hand. The silence of the house felt suffocating after Neel and Harry had left. I needed to talk to someone—someone outside this tangled web of confusion I’d woven around myself. My mind kept spiraling back to Caspian, then to Lucas, and to all the moments that had left me reeling over the past few days.I scrolled through my contacts, hesitating before tapping on Camila’s name. She was the only person I could truly open up to, the only one who would understand and give me some reality check. She might not have a satisfactory solution, but I was sure she would listen without judging me.My heart raced as the phone rang.“Hey, stranger!” Camila’s cheerful voice filled my ears, offering a moment of relief. “I’ve been wondering when you’d call. What’s up?”“You could have called me, too,” I tried to gather my thoughts. Dumping all my problems on her the second she picked up the phone would’ve been a b
I stood in the driveway, my mind racing with the conversation I had with Camila and Phineas. I glanced up at Lucas’ balcony again, seeing his familiar silhouette disappear behind the glass door. My heartbeat quickened at the thought of what could happen if I let myself follow the heat I felt whenever he was near. I took a deep breath. ‘You’re allowed to explore. You’re not in a relationship with anyone. They’re not really your brothers,’ I reminded myself. Meanwhile, my pulse was racing like I was about to run a marathon. Steeling myself, I went inside the house and walked through the hallways. It was still very quiet inside, so I checked in the Kitchen for Dev and took the stairs two at a time when I didn't find him there. As I neared the second floor, my heart was pounding in my chest. Within a minute, I reached Lucas' bedroom and, without hesitation, knocked on the door. The excitement underneath it all kept me going. The door to his room was slightly ajar, and I could hea
As I straddled Lucas, a surge of adrenaline rushed through me. The power I felt in that moment was exhilarating like I had finally broken free from the invisible shackles that had been holding me back. I’d always been cautious, always second-guessing myself. But not anymore.“Are you sure about this?” Lucas questioned, not trying to free his hand or move. He lay there beneath me, his dark green eyes wide, reflecting a mix of surprise and amusement. His usual confidence seemed to falter, and for once, I had the upper hand.“I’m serious, Lucas,” I said, leaning closer, my hands resting on his chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken beneath my palms. “No games, no pretence. I want to be in control this time.”His lips curved into a slow, mischievous smile. “Well, this is definitely a side of you I haven’t seen before.”I raised an eyebrow. “You and me both, but this is what I want from you.”He chuckled, his hand sliding up to grip my waist. “So, what now, Katherine? Are you going to act
The late afternoon sun filtered through the balcony, casting a golden glow across Lucas's bedroom. My body was still flushed from the heat of the moment, lying next to him, our breaths evening out in unison. For a brief moment, there was nothing but the sound of our breathing, and I let myself sink into the strange comfort of his presence. But the weight of reality was creeping back in, like a cold draft sneaking under the door. Lucas turned to me, his hand brushing lightly against my arm. “You’re quiet.” I forced a small smile. “Just... thinking about some stuff.” He chuckled, propping himself up on his elbow. “Thinking about what, exactly? Your dominance was pretty sexy.” His teasing tone made me smile for real this time, but beneath the surface, I felt something gnawing at me. It was easier to say I was exploring, but the guilt that followed couldn’t be ignored because I was still hiding everything from them. The web I was weaving was getting messier by the day, and I didn’
“Kat? What’s wrong?”I stared at him without saying anything. He looked hot without his glasses and perfectly combed hair. He was in a T-shirt and a pair of joggers. His hair was ruffled and I almost felt sorry for waking him up just because I was feeling hot. I wasn't even sure if he would fuck me, but I had no other option. I couldn't go to Lucas or Harry in that condition; Dev was the only one I felt would understand the condition I was in and wouldn't judge me for it. “Can I come inside?” I questioned and he nodded his head, pulling the door all the way. “Come in...” He stopped when he noticed I was only wearing the top, and nothing else. It was one of those oversized tops, so he didn't notice much when I was in the darkness of the hallway, but in his room, under the bright lights, he saw it, and his cheeks turned red. He looked at me in confusion, like a deer caught in the headlight. “Thank you,” I said, biting my lips seductively. “And sorry for waking you up.” “What is go
“One...” I was able to speak it out, raising my ass due to the sting that I felt afterwards. It hurt! It really did hurt! “Good! You remembered the rules.” He sounded almost impressed, and for some reason, that brought a smile to my face. “Not many remember the rules on their first time. I guess the internet articles did teach you a few things.” I was about to respond when without warning he spanked my other butt with the same force, if not more. I felt the vibration of the impact travelling up to my heart, and down to my crotch. I moaned. “Ah… two!” I remembered to count, clenching my jaw to hold back the cry. I wanted to turn back and finger myself because the sexual tension in my core was rising to a new height. “I thought you would forget about the rule, and I will get to hit you double the amount,” he said mockingly, and I braced myself for the next impact. “Not my day, I guess. Well, in that case, I've to make these forty spanks worthwhile.” The next hit didn't come
Caspian was sitting on my bed, leaning back a little with his strong arms at his sides. His legs were spread to give me a good look at his package. His features were sharp and flawless. He was truly God's sexiest creation and the most handsome among all the brothers. His forest-like dark green eyes undoubtedly beckoned me to be drawn into them since the first day I saw him. I couldn't wait to run my hand through his dishevelled, dark-brown hair, but somehow I felt like he was planning something else. I felt butterflies in my stomach seeing the first few buttons on his white shirt undone, revealing his bare chest. Just a glimpse of the muscular chest behind the fabric made me feel hot. I felt the urge to run my tongue down his body. He glanced at his wristwatch and then up at me, causing me to close my eyes in anticipation. He knew what he was doing to me, coming dressed up in his work clothes instead of the jeans and T-shirt he was wearing during dinner. “I-I… I don't know wha
“You knew he was watching us?” I didn't know what to think anymore. Caspian’s confession hit me like a blow to the chest. My trust in him, the way I defended him against Lucas, suddenly felt like a mistake. That familiar nagging voice, the ‘what if’ in the back of my mind, screamed louder than ever. I couldn't completely let go of the doubts, and Caspian saying he knew Lucas was watching us in the backyard brought back the fear. I took a deep breath and turned toward him. Caspian, who usually carried an air of confidence and control, now looked almost… remorseful. His head was down, and his eyes downcast as if he could already read my thoughts. “Don’t,” he whispered, his voice breaking as he continued. “Please, Kat. Don’t go there.” “W-why?” My voice was barely steady when I questioned, because my emotions were in a chaotic swirl. “Why didn’t you stop when you saw him? Why didn’t you tell me then?” He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his dark hair before sitting dow
The dining room was alive with chatter, the brothers bouncing between casual banter and stories while Mom and Derek listened with amused smiles. The long table was set with a spread that smelled heavenly—roast chicken, fried rice, creamy mashed potatoes, spicy crabs and grilled vegetables. Normally, the warm, lively atmosphere would have made me feel comfortable, but things were different that night. While I was extra cautious with Ian sitting beside me, nervously scratching his knuckles, I also had to deal with Caspian, who was directly across from me. He wore a dangerous smirk, and every so often, he would run his toes along the length of my legs. On the other hand, since the start Lucas had been quiet. He wasn’t talking like the others. Even Ian made a few comments when Derek addressed him, but Lucas just shrugged whenever someone asked him something. Instead, he’d been watching me. More specifically, he’d been watching Caspian, whose occasional glances my way seemed to int
Harry’s eyes looked for answers when he stepped into Ian’s room. His gaze was bouncing between the two of us like he’d stumbled upon something scandalous. “What’s going on here?” he asked his tone light but carrying the curiosity of someone who definitely knew something was brewing between them but wasn't sure. “Is everything alright? Ian?” I glanced at Ian, who had stiffened at the question. His fingers were fidgeting with the edge of his shirt, and the nervous energy radiating off him was almost visible. He didn’t want to talk about what had just happened, and I couldn’t blame him.I knew I couldn't leave it to him to answer because if he was socially awkward, there was also a huge possibility that he had trouble lying. I never had that difficulty, maybe because I was born to two of the biggest liars in the world. “It’s nothing important,” I said quickly, offering Harry a small smile. I stood, brushing imaginary dust off my jeans. “I was just asking him if there was something he
The moment I stepped back into the house, I felt a sense of relief. The cool air brushed against my heated skin, and I felt the shift in energy. My earlier interaction with Caspian still lingered in my thoughts, but as I walked toward the kitchen, I noticed Ian standing near the counter. He was pouring a glass of water, his shoulders stiff and his movements looked almost robotic. His silver hair was slightly dishevelled, and when he turned briefly to glance at me, I caught the telltale redness in his puffy eyes. My heart tightened. Ian rarely showed any vulnerability, preferring to stay quiet and blend into the background. Seeing him like this sent alarm bells ringing in my head. I forgot about Caspian almost instantly and walked towards him. “Ian,” I called gently, trying to understand what must have happened. He froze, his glass of water clutched tightly in his hand. He didn’t meet my eyes. Instead, he turned to stare at the counter as though it might give him an escape. “I
Mom was talking animatedly to Dev, her laughter light and carefree, while Derek engaged Caspian in a conversation about work. I sat there, feeling like an outsider, as Mom and Dev talked about the places she visited with Derek. It hurt me to see that Dev knew more about her than I did, and the way she talked with him showed how strong their relationship was. However, she read my mind because her eyes lit up all of a sudden as she forced the conversation towards me. It was a hollow try, but I let her, to see what she had for me. Just ten minutes ago, she commented about us making plans for the day, but she already forgot about it and made plans with Leo to check out a local spa and then cook dinner with Dev and Derek. “Kat,” her voice drew attention, her manicured hand on my arm. “Do you need anything, sweetheart? You’ve been awfully quiet.” I shook my head, managing a small smile. “No, I’m fine. Just a little tired, that's all.” Derek glanced over, his brows furrowing. “Y
The morning light stirred me awake, and I yawned, blinking at the warm haze filling my room. It was a Saturday, meaning no classes. Thus, I was planning to sleep till the afternoon, or at least stay in bed. But, that changed when I heard muffled sounds coming from below—voices, laughter, and some shuffling. I sat up, listened closely, and felt a slight tug of curiosity gnawing at the edges of my sleepy mind.After brushing my teeth and splashing some cold water on my face to wake up, I quietly made my way down the hallway, the gentle hum of conversation growing louder with each step. As I descended the staircase, I slowed, catching a glimpse of the scene unfolding in the entrance hall.There, sitting together on the long couch, were Derek and… my mother.I stopped short, taking in the sight of her. It felt like ages since I’d last seen her. She looked different, almost like a stranger wearing my mother’s face. She seemed… lighter somehow, more carefree. Her features were softened b