Page 33 of Cruel Steps

“You were taking too long, and I needed to shower.”

“So, instead of knocking and asking how long I’ll be, you decided to take one with me?” His eyes ran over my body, and my nipples pebbled at his notice.

“Exactly.” He licked his lips, and I blinked, unsure what was happening. The game we’d played on Friday seemed so long ago now.

Turning in a huff, I grabbed the conditioner and massaged it through my hair. Every part of me wanted to cover myself, but I focused on ignoring him and went about my business. I wouldn’t let him scare me off!

At his grunt, I turned despite my better judgment, and my eyes almost fell out of my head at the sight before me. Holden stood under the spray, the water sliding over his body in perfect rivets. It was a sight to behold.

But the thing that got me… his hand was wrapped around his dick as he stroked it from root to tip. His head was thrown back, and no matter how much I told myself to look away, I couldn’t.

What. The. Fuck.

Arousal spread through me, and my clit responded in kind. My pussy pulsed with need, and my body lit up with electricity. Every place the water touched ignited a burning deep in my belly, and I shifted my legs, seeking some friction. This was so wrong, but I couldn’t seem to remember why.

Biting my lip, I looked up and met his eyes. I gasped, not expecting them to be locked on mine. The blue intensified, his pupils blown, and I kept watching him stroke his cock faster before he erupted. Holden moaned so deep I felt it in my toes. Cum spurted out in thick ropes, spilling over his hand and landing on the shower wall, floor, and even me.

The entire time, we held eyes, like a game of sex chicken, where we waited for the other to bail first. I did not want to lose.

It had to be his pull over me, this connection between us that kept us locked in this battle. Because I couldn’t find any other logical reason I didn’t push him out of the shower the second he made himself known.

This was not step-sibling behavior, but I couldn’t find it in myself to care.

This feeling was better than the hopelessness I’d drowned in all weekend. In this shower, I felt alive, and I wanted to capture that for as long as I could.

My breaths were erratic, but it didn’t stop me. Keeping his eyes on me, I lifted my finger and spread the cum that had landed on me over my belly, marking myself with him. Holden swallowed, his throat bobbing as he watched. And if it was possible, his eyes dilated more.

He might hate me, but he wanted me, and that felt really fucking good.

Scooping what was left of his cum on my finger, I brought it to my mouth and sucked it off my finger. Salty bitterness spread over my tongue, and I moaned as I licked my finger clean. My eyes threatened to close in pleasure, but I forced them open, needing to win this round more than anything else.

Holden snapped and rushed forward, pushing me against the shower wall. His arms caged me in, his naked body touching me from head to toe, and his cock, already hard again, leaked against my stomach. He rested his forehead against mine and squeezed his eyes closed, a groan rumbling up his throat like he was tortured.

I stood stock still; the game had shifted now. I might have won that round of sex chicken, but I wasn’t confident I’d win this one. I wanted to rub against him, cling to his biceps, and climb him like a tree. Holden Adler was too fucking sexy, and I was only so strong.

“Fuck,” he muttered, hitting his fist against the wall. His nose nuzzled my neck, and I felt his nostrils flare as he inhaled me. I could practically hear his thoughts as he wrestled with them. Panting, I didn’t dare move. Holden wrapped his hand around my hip and squeezed. Hard. For a brief moment, I expected him to lift me and thrust into me—condoms be damned.

I was so lost to the arousal that I would’ve let him.

But that wasn’t what Holden did. With one squeeze of my hip, his fingers digging into my skin, the bastard sucked on my neck and marked me.

Crying out, I gasped and leaned into him, but as quick as he’d pounced, he was gone, and I was left gasping against the wall, the water cold as it ran over me. It took me another five minutes to leave the shower, and Holden was long gone by then.

I might’ve won round one of our new game, but there was no doubt he’d won round two. Would I survive a round three?

I should stay far away from Holden Adler. He was dangerous and a weakness I couldn’t afford. I needed to focus on Hope and proving she wasn’t the saint she claimed to be.

In spite of all that, I knew I wouldn’t.

Holden electrified me and brought me back to life. I couldn’t stop wanting him, regardless of who he was.

Dressed in black jeans with rips in the knees and a burgundy shirt, I entered my first class at Hayward. The classroom was full, so I took the empty seat in the middle between a guy and a girl. The girl ignored me, talking to her friend on her other side, and I tried to reassure myself it had nothing to do with Hope. Being the new kid sucked, no matter how old you were.

Setting up my laptop, I scanned the room to see if I recognized anyone. I hadn’t seen any of my classmates since graduation, but a familiar face was a familiar face.

“New here?” the guy on my left asked. I turned and took him in. He had chocolate brown hair and eyes to match, a kind smile, and an earnest look about him, like he was the type of guy to help little old ladies across the street and help you change your flat tire.

“That obvious?” I asked.

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