Page 40 of An Unexpected Encounter

I have a sinking feeling he doesn’t have boundaries. It was bad enough I fell asleep with him here. The whole time I was snoozing, he had free rein of my apartment to snoop.

A small part of me is paranoid that he did. That he may have found something to uncover my lies.

Opening my text thread with Sam, I message him.

Me: All three of them are here.

Sam: WTF

Sam: Are you okay?

Sam: Tell them to leave if they are bothering you.

Sam: You don’t need to be upset right now.

Me: No I’m fine. Just nervous. What if they find out I’m pregnant? Thankfully they believe my story about having a stomach bug.

Sam: I can come back. I don’t like you being there all alone and sick. Jose feels the same way before you even mention him.

Me: I’m fine and not alone. 3 men in my living room proves that. Just wanted to check in. love you.

Sam: I love you too. If you need me to come back I’ll be on the first plane.

Me: I know and it’s why you’re my best friend.

I put my phone back down and stand slowly, my body swaying as I do. Reaching forward, I take hold of the dresser, gripping it while I wait for the wave of dizziness to subside.

Once it’s gone, I open the drawer and pull out a pair of panties, some sleep shorts and a shirt. The thought of putting on a bra makes me sick, so I skip it, knowing I have a robe hanging on the back of my door.

I take my time walking over to it and slipping it on.

Time to face the men waiting in my living room.

I pad slowly and carefully down the hallway, keeping my hand where I can reach out and hold the wall for support if need be. As I pass the bathroom, my stomach churns and I fight to keep the non-existent contents in it from coming up.

I pause for a moment, deciding if I’ll be able to do it, or if I’m going to be praying to the porcelain god for the umpteenth time today.

When I’m positive I’m good, I continue to the living room, heading straight for the couch. I feel their gaze on me, but I avoid eye contact. I can’t face them. Not when I know I’m keeping something important from them.

I keep reminding myself this is for the best. If Mom found out, she’d never let me live it down. She’d use it as a chance to remind me of how all I want to do is ruin her happiness.

“Hey there, Cupcake.” Zeke waves, a broad smile covering his face. But I see how his eyes are watching my every movement.

I pull the robe tighter around me. I know I’m not showing yet. But I’m having twins and I know I will be sooner, more so than later.

“Hey. What are all of you doing here? I’ve been trying to get this one to leave. I wasn’t trying to get more of you to show up.”

Lowering myself down on the couch, I pull my legs up, taking hold of the blanket and pulling it around me. It’s my very own barrier to the world.

It’s how I’m going to protect myself. Even sick as a dog, all I want is them. It’s why it’s so hard to be around them. They consume my every thought and my body craves them. It yearns to feel them inside of me, taking me to another level of consciousness as I come undone.

They’re my stepbrothers, it’s forbidden.

I need to get a grip and calm down. Closing my eyes, I count to ten. Being with them is not worth the drama it would cause between them or with Mom.

“We wanted to see the most beautiful woman in the world before we head to work.” Zeke winks as he moves around the couch, sitting down beside me. So close that if I didn’t have my blanket barrier, his body would be flush with mine.

“I don’t exactly feel pretty and that’s not something you say to your sister.”

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