Page 3 of Curvy Girl for the Stepbrother

I pad downstairs on bare feet, the cool hardwood floors sending shivers up my spine. As I round the corner into the kitchen, I freeze.

Ethan stands at the counter, his back to me, wearing nothing but a pair of low-slung sweatpants. The muscles of his shoulders and back ripple as he reaches for a glass from the cupboard. My mouth goes dry, my pulse thrumming in my ears.

He turns, and our eyes lock. Surprise flickers across his face, quickly replaced by something darker, hungrier. "Lila," he says, his voice a low rumble that sends heat coursing through my veins.

"I...I couldn't sleep," I stammer, suddenly acutely aware of my thin tank top and shorts. "I thought I'd get a snack."

Then I instantly hate myself because why am I explaining myself to him? This is my home—not his.

Ethan's gaze rakes over me, lingering on the curves of my breasts, my hips. "Looks like we had the same idea."

He takes a step closer, and I instinctively back up until I'm pressed against the counter. He braces his hands on either side of me, caging me in. I can feel the heat radiating off his bare chest, smell the intoxicating scent of his skin.

"Ethan stop," I whisper, even as my body arches toward his.

“Stop what?” He blicks at me innocently.

I motion between us. “This.”

“Why?” He’s obstinately stubborn.

“B-because,” I stutter. "It's wrong."

"Is it?" His breath fans across my cheek as he leans in, his lips a hairsbreadth from mine. "Then why does it feel so right?"

I close my eyes, fighting the urge to surrender, to let him take what we both so desperately want. "Ethan, please..."

He pulls back slightly, his expression torn. "Tell me to stop, Lila. Tell me you don't want this, and I'll walk away."

I open my mouth, but no words come out. Because the truth is, I do want this. I want him, with every fiber of my being.

But I can't. We can't.

Ethan sees the answer in my eyes. With a muttered curse, he pushes away from the counter and stalks out of the kitchen, leaving me shaken and aching with unfulfilled need.

I stumble back to my room, my heart pounding, my skin tingling with the memory of his touch. As I crawl into bed, I know one thing with absolute certainty.

I'm in trouble. Big, big trouble.

three

. . .

Ethan

The sun glimmers off her curves as Lila lounges by the pool, her revealing swimsuit leaving little to the imagination. I can't tear my eyes away from her supple body, glistening with beads of water. Forbidden desire courses through my veins. She's my stepsister, but goddamn, I want her.

I slip into the pool, the cool water doing nothing to quench the fire inside me. "Looking good, sis," I remark with a smirk, letting my gaze roam over her figure.

Lila raises an eyebrow, a reluctant smile playing at her luscious lips. "You're not so bad yourself. Been working out?" Her eyes linger on my chiseled abs.

"Maybe I have. Gotta impress the ladies, you know." I move closer, the water swirling between us. The tension is electric.

She laughs, a melodic sound. "Oh, I'm sure you have no trouble in that department, Ethan."

"Well, there's only one girl I'm interested in impressing right now." My voice is low and husky. I reach out, skimming my fingers along her arm. Her skin is soft as silk.

Lila shivers at my touch, her green eyes darkening with desire, but she pulls away. "Stop that."

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