Page 26 of Wrapped Up

Jack, his fingers tangled in my hair as I take him in my mouth, his groans of pleasure sending shivers down my spine.

I collapse back onto the couch, breath coming in short pants. This is madness. I barely know him. He could break my heart just like—

But a small voice whispers,What if he's not? What if this time is different?

I groan, burying my face in a throw pillow. It's been so long since I've felt this way—this intoxicating mix of desire and possibility. Part of me wants to run to protect myself from the potential pain.

But a larger part, growing stronger by the minute, wants to dive in headfirst. To feel Jack's hands on my skin again, to lose myself in his kisses, to explore every inch of him until we're both breathless and sated.

A sharp knock jolts me from my heated reverie. I freeze, heart hammering against my ribs. Who could it be? Jack? No, he doesn't even know where I live. I rise on shaky legs, smoothing my hair and praying my flushed cheeks aren't too obvious.

I open the door and nearly choke on my own tongue. It's her. The stunning blonde from the bar. Jack's... girlfriend? My stomach twists with a sickening combination of dread and jealousy, but before I can slam the door shut, she flashes me a megawatt smile that catches me off guard.

“Hi! I'm Honey Daniels. Jack's stepsister. Can I come in? I promise I'm not crazy; I just really need to talk to you.”

She doesn't wait for an answer, breezing past me in a cloud of expensive perfume. I blink, trying to catch up with the unexpected turn of events, my mind racing to make sense of the situation.

“I... what?”

Honey turns to face me, her blue eyes burning with determination. “I know what you're thinking, but please hear me out. Jack is really my stepbrother. When I heard what happened at the club, I had to set things straight.”

My brain goes haywire. She really is his stepsister? Not his girlfriend?

“I mean, don't get me wrong,” Honey says, wrinkling her nose. “Jack's a total dreamboat, but ew. In no universe would I ever be interested in him like that. It'd be like making out with a golden retriever.”

I cannot help but chuckle at the image she is painting.

Honey grins at me, her playful demeanor putting me more at ease.

“Seriously, though. Give the guy a chance. He's been a miserable, moody ass of a stepbrother this past month. You should've seen him after his ex—a total bitch, by the way—broke his heart. But Jack? He'd never cheat. Sure, he's a charming bastard, but he's loyal to the bone.”

Her defense of his character is compelling, and I find myself wanting to give him the benefit of the doubt. But cynicism has become second nature to me.

“If he's so great,” I say sarcastically, raising an eyebrow, “why isn't he here defending himself?”

The words slip out before I can stop them, and I instantly regret it. It’s not fair, and I know it. Jack did try to explain at the dinner, his eyes pleading with me to understand. But I’d been too hurt and too scared to listen.

Honey narrows her eyes, her lips pursing into a thin line. “He already did, sweetheart. But you wouldn't believe him, would you? That's why I'm here.”

Heat creeps up my neck, but I can't back down now. “Oh, so he sent his sister to fight his battles? How chivalrous.”

“Please,” Honey scoffs, rolling her eyes. “As if Jack could make me do anything I didn't want to. I'm here because I care about the idiot, and I'm tired of watching him mope around like a kicked puppy.”

I cross my arms, trying to ignore the way my heart clenches at the image. “Well, maybe he should've thought of that before—”

“Before what?” Honey interrupts, her voice sharp. “Before his well-meaning but admittedly impulsive stepsister caused a misunderstanding? Or before he tried to prove to you that he's not the asshole you seem determined to paint him as?”

Her words hit me like a slap, and I falter. Honey's right, and we both know it. But admitting that means facing the possibility that I've been wrong. That I've been pushing away something—someone—that could be amazing.

Honey's expression softens, and she takes a step closer. “Look, I get it. You're scared. But Jack? He's the real deal. And I think you know that, or you wouldn't be fighting so hard against it.”

A laugh bubbles up in my throat, unexpected and slightly hysterical. “God, do you ever let up?”

“Nope,” Honey grins, popping the 'p'. “It's part of my charm.”

And just like that, the tension dissipates. We both burst into laughter, the absurdity of the situation finally hitting us. The gorgeous blonde who I thought was my almost-lover's girlfriend is now lecturing me in my living room.

As our giggles subside, I find myself studying Honey. There's something refreshing about her bluntness, her unwavering loyalty to her stepbrother. It's a far cry from the cattiness I've come to expect from other women.

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