Page 18 of My Shining Stepbrother

“I was still worried.” He places two fingers under my chin and tips my head up to look into my eyes.

“I know, and I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention. How about the next time I run away, I take you with me?” I say teasingly, and he shakes his head with a smile again.

I filled him in on Damian and I’s conversation and me asking him to please not hurt my mother despite everything that happened. He was just as shocked as Damian, but I think he understood in the end.

“What about us, Rose?” The hopefulness lies on his face.

“We need to talk and figure that out. I can't run away and avoid sleep every night. I want this. I want us.” I place my hand on his chest and feel his erratic heartbeat.

“I understand.” He nods and takes a step forward. “I want to figure this out too. I want us just as much.”

“I do, too, but for now, we both need sleep. I am off tomorrow from both jobs, so that helps, but I cannot deal with her until I have some sleep.” I move my hand from his chest to his jaw. My finger slides over his bottom lip, and he closes his eyes as he leans into my touch.

“You both are more than welcome to stay here. I have two guest rooms, so pick one. Do you need me to find something for you to sleep in, Rose?” He directs the response more toward me than Reese.

I shake my head and smile. “No, I have a bag in my car with some clothes. Thank you, Damian. I appreciate this.” I drop my hand from Reese’s jaw and stand from the chair.

I give Damian a warm hug before walking outside to my car. I take in the late-night air, feeling refreshed. I feel more at home with Reese than in my house for years. How does he make me feel better?

Walking back into the house, I am greeted by Reese waiting on the other side of the door, leaning against the back of the couch. I shake my head with a grin as he takes my bag from me and grabs my hand with his empty one.

“Did you think I wasn’t coming back?” I ask teasingly.

“I can never be too sure with you.” We both laugh and shake our heads.

“I told you I’m not running from you anymore, Reese. This is what I want. It’s going to be a battle, though. Are you prepared for that?” I wish I were joking, but I know I’m not. We have to be able to defend and protect against her.

“Oh, honey… I love a good fight.” Something in his eyes has an evil shine inside of them. It doesn’t worry me or scare me away. Instead, it draws me in closer.

He spins me into his chest and kisses me deeply. As if he is starving for my kiss. It quickly becomes heat and needy, but when Damian clears his throat, it breaks us apart. I drop my head to Reese’s chest and close my eyes, begging for this to be a joke.

I turn around slowly and look to see Damian smiling at the two of us. My face instantly gets heated as the embarrassment takes over. “I’m so sorry!” I feel Reese’s hand tense in mine, unwilling to let me go.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Sweetheart.” Damian walks over and kisses my forehead before walking down a hallway leading to what I assume is his room.

Reese tugs my arms lightly. “Let’s go to our rooms, okay?” I nod as he leads me up the stairs and down a hall.

Two doors sit across the hall from one another. I look at each door now, suddenly feeling awkward. Does he usually prefer a specific room when he stays? Should I ask?

“I guess I will just take this one, then.” I point to one of the doors in front of us, and he nods.

A moment of awkward silence stretches between us before he sets the bag down and kisses my cheek telling me goodnight. I watch as he walks through that door and into the room.

Once his door closes, I pick up my bag and walk inside the room. I shut the door and dropped my bag before leaning my back against the wall. This strange feeling begins to bubble inside me, and I feel alone. Reese is just across the hall, but I miss him for some reason.

My thoughts are interrupted when my phone pings. I pull it from my pocket and smile as I read the text.

“Goodnight, my Goddess. Sleep tight, beautiful.”

My heart races and flutters as I read his words over and over. I type out my response with a broad smile.

“Goodnight, my God.”

No sooner than I sit my phone down on the dresser, it pings again.

“It’s going to be tough sleeping when I know you are across the hall instead of in my arms.”

Fuck… This man is perfect in every sense. I decide to risk all other feelings, to be damned, and tell him what I want.

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