Page 1 of My Forbidden Boss

1

Damals

Brianna

Islammed the refrigerator door shut, a sigh slipping from my lips. I was going to murder Elliot. With my bare hands and as slowly as possible.

Laughter and blaring music echoed from behind the cellar door that led downstairs from the kitchen, further fueling my rage. Briefly, I considered if I should dare enter the stinking cave that was my brother’s domain, but my anger overrode the hesitation.

I stomped through the room, flung open the door, and descended the stairs. Our dad had renovated the basement as a gift for Elliot’s sixteenth birthday a bit over a year ago. It was not just to give him more space, but also because his former room had been right next to mine. His failed, pitiful attempts to become the country’s new DJ in the middle of the night had been unbearable. Additionally, there were the constant visits from his best friend, Wesley. Wesley Crush, just his name was enough to make the girls at our school sigh dreamily. Everyone except me. Well, at least on the outside. In reality, I was just as entranced by his deep gazes from icy blue eyes that contrasted with his pitch-black hair and his dark aura. Once you caught sight of his dangerously handsome face, you wanted to hold his attention a bit longer. But unlike the other girls at our school, I at least knew how to hide my feelings from him. To him, I was merely the younger sister of his friend. Barely fifteen, unkissed, the ugly duckling who would never blossom into a swan. I readjusted the frames of my glasses on my nose and continued to stomp down the stairs. Just because Wesley was present, I would not be deterred from giving my brother a piece of my mind.

As I reached the bottom landing, a sneaker flew in my direction and I leaned back to avoid it. »Elliot!« I snapped.

My brother and Wesley were sprawled on the couch, engrossed in some game on Elliot’s Playstation. The music was ear-splittingly loud, and I marched over to the stereo next to the TV and turned it off.

»What the hell?« My brother shot me an angry look, and I crossed my arms in response.

»Mom and Dad explicitly said that the food is for both of us until they return tomorrow!« My gaze fell on the heap of dirty dishes, and I scrunched up my nose until I spotted the plate on the floor that was supposed to hold my lasagna for the evening. I looked up and straight into Wesley’s eyes. A tingling restlessness immediately spread through me, one I could barely suppress. His face remained impassive. You rarely saw him genuinely laugh. Or even smile. Maybe that was what attracted most girls. They wanted to heal the handsome, sad boy. Something that usually only works in movies. There was a reason Wesley was constantly at our house, and I doubted it was solely because of my annoying brother. There was something more.

»All you think about is food, right?« Elliot asked, grinning widely at me as he ran his hand through his shaggy dark brown hair. »Skipping a meal tonight will do you good.«

I flipped him the bird. »And a haircut wouldn’t hurt you, Chewbacca.« Although it was true I wasn’t exactly a size zero, I had absolutely no problem with my curves. And whatever my brother said was, in most cases, utter nonsense anyway. »And wow, really, pulling the weight card, how original. Can’t you think of anything else, Stinker? You should go take a shower and air this place out.« I wrinkled my nose. And indeed, I heard a soft chuckle from Wesley’s corner. When I glanced at him, his expression was as stone-like as ever, so I must have imagined it.

»Get lost!« My brother hurled one of his dirty shirts at me, and I barely managed to dodge it. »Now, immediately! No one here values your presence, Sis.«

Without uttering another word, knowing it wouldn’t make a difference anyway, I stormed out of Elliot’s room and slammed the door shut once I reached the kitchen. I’d just make myself a sandwich then, even though I’d been looking forward to Dad’s lasagna all day. With his Italian roots, he was born to cook, and not only was his lasagna the best, but his pizza too. Unfortunately, Elliot had also devoured that like a starved beast.

The music started blaring again, and I rolled my eyes as I sliced a tomato and laid some toast on a plate. I quietly mumbled curses to myself, eagerly awaiting the day when Elliot would go off to college, and I could enjoy the peace of our parents‹ house for at least two years. The music increased in volume momentarily, and I assumed my brother either wanted to irritate me further or had to go to the bathroom, so I didn’t turn around to face him.

Instead, Wesley slid in next to me, leaning casually against the kitchen counter. I hoped he couldn’t hear my heart rate suddenly accelerating in surprise. »I’m sorry I ate your food.« His voice was gruff and deep. Cautiously, I dared to take a glance and instantly regretted it. Not only did Wesley’s aura draw you in irresistibly, but his body was tall and broad. Strong enough to lift me with ease. Dear God, why was I even thinking about such things? He was into slender blonde cheerleaders, not girls from the debate club.

»It’s okay,« I managed to squeeze out. »As you can see, I won’t starve,« I added, pointing at the half-finished sandwich. Wesley’s mouth corner lifted for a fleeting moment, his broad arms crossed in front of his chest, and he was so close that I could smell his shower gel. He was definitely not the reason why Elliot’s room stank so bad.

»Elliot’s my best friend,« he said, lowering his voice. »But sometimes, he’s an idiot.« I stared at him in disbelief, and it’s quite possible my mouth dropped open in that moment. Was Wesley not only physically more mature than the boys at our school, but mentally as well? »If he had told me the food was yours, I wouldn’t have eaten it.«

I set the knife aside and turned to face him. »Wesley,« I voiced his name for the first time, and suddenly something in his facial expression shifted. I couldn’t read it, but it sent a sensual shiver down my skin. »Is this some sort of bet with Elliot? Seeing if you can hook up with the chubby little sister and then laugh your asses off?«

His brow furrowed, his eyebrows knitted close together as though he was even something like angry. »Do you think that of me? That I would do something like that?«

I shrugged. »To be honest, I have no idea. You’re my brother’s friend, but aside from hello and goodbye, we haven’t exactly had deep conversations, you have to admit that.«

This time he really laughed, moving even closer to me. Gently, he took a strand of my dark brown hair that hung over my shoulder into his hand. »Do you want that?« he asked gruffly, and I had to swallow. »Do you want to have deep conversations with me?«

He let go of me but didn’t increase the distance between us. On the contrary, he moved closer, or was it I who was leaning into him? Damn. If this really was a bet, I’d be screwed and have fallen for it completely. Probably Elliot would jump out of the basement, laughing and whooping. »I... I don’t know,« I stuttered. »Do you want that?«

He nodded slowly. »You have something that fascinates me, Bri.« His hand cupped my cheek, his thumb rough as it traced over my lips. Damn it, my heart was pounding in my chest, and I had forgotten how to even breathe. »And I can’t deny that I think about you every now and then.«

»About me?« came out as a squeaky question from my mouth. Very eloquent, Brianna, absolutely fantastic. The guy everyone’s into tells you he thinks about you, and what do you do? You’re exactly the clumsy, little girl you don’t want to be.

Again, his mouth corner twitched, his hand continued its journey over my cheek to my hair. My fingers were damp, and everything within me tightened. I had never felt this before, it was utterly insane, made me restless and yet, all I wanted was one thing: for him to finally kiss me. For the first time, I wanted someone to kiss me.

»Do you see anyone else here besides us?« he asked. I shook my head, unable to respond. »There you go,« he whispered, and his gaze dropped to my lips. »May I kiss you, Bri?« he murmured. Yes, yes, please kiss me! I silently pleaded within. I want it, I don’t care if it’s a bet or a test, I just want this kiss! »Just once,« he whispered, and I became oblivious to anything other than him. Gathering newfound courage, I placed my hands on his shoulders and slid even closer. I couldn’t speak, but he read my answer from my eyes. Slowly, he bent down, lightly brushing my mouth corner with his soft lips. I inhaled his scent, waiting for the moment he would really kiss me, the way I had often imagined. He moved to the other side, nipping lightly at my lower lip until I whimpered, barely able to stand it any longer. And suddenly, it was as if nothing could stop us from surrendering completely to each other. He kissed me, hard, until I opened my mouth for him, and he slipped his tongue inside, tasting and taking me until I was nothing more than a pleading gasp. Softly growling, he pressed me against the kitchen counter, and I met him halfway, craving more of the intoxicating sensation he bestowed upon me, wanting more of him. More. Still more. Everything.

»Bri,« he rasped, kissing me again as if there was nothing he wanted more than me in that moment. His hands traveled down my back, settling just above my bottom and pulling me into him, while his lips moved as if it were a matter of life and death for him. I had anticipated many things when I thought about how Wesley Crush would kiss, but not that it would be with so much passion and his entire soul. Or was it just me? Us? I wanted to convince myself that he only kissed me like this, only wanted me like this, and for a fleeting moment, the thought felt bittersweet and incredibly perfect.

Loud thumping echoed from the stairs, and Wesley pulled away from me as if he had been burned. My lips pulsed hot and swollen while we still gazed at each other, breathless. But now, Wesley had put as much distance between us as possible in the kitchen.

Elliot flung the door open. »Dude, where are you? I’m done with playing, let’s go to Julie’s, she’s throwing a party.« He came closer, and fortunately, my brother was so focused on himself that he didn’t notice how agitated Wesley and I were. Or at least I was. Wesley put on his hardened mask, looking as if nothing had happened at all, while I was melting in place. Elliot slapped him lightly on the back. »A farewell party.« He winked at Wesley. »I think there’s something going on for you with Julie tonight, Wes.«

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