Chapter 3
LILY
The heat is unbearable, beating down on me like the air itself is on fire. My sheets are twisted around my legs, damp with sweat, and every breath I take is hot and heavy. The ancient air conditioner rattled to its death hours ago, leaving me restless and baking as I try to sleep.
But it’s not just the temperature that’s keeping me awake.
It’s him. Colt.
God, the way he looked at me today when I brought him his sandwich in the garage—like he wanted to kill me and protect me at the same time. He doesn’t want me in his space, that much is for sure.
It’s been three days since our parents left, and the tension in the house has risen to an almost tangible level. Every room crackles with energy. I nearly fainted several times when our hands brushed against each other in passing, when his eyes met mine.
His gorgeous face swims through my mind. Just being here alone with him is killing me. If only he’d put a shirt on, maybe then things would be a little easier on me.
I shouldn’t be having these thoughts, but I can’t help it. Cautiously, I reach down between my tingling thighs. My panties are soaked, and it’s not from sweat. It’s my arousal, and that’s not my fault, it’s his.
Gently, I slip a finger down the hem of my underwear. My voice rattles in my mind over and over. Don’t, Lily. Just don’t. But what if Colt was here right now? And my finger was his, and he was peeling my panties off while he loomed over me, the moonlight catching on his massive muscles.
A moan slips from my lips, and I quickly kick the sheets off entirely and race to the window.
No. That can’t happen.
The lake stretches out beautifully below, the full moon glazing its surface with silver. Before I can think twice, I’m padding out of my room and downstairs, my bare feet quiet on the old wooden floors.
The house is nearly silent, but I can feel Colt’s presence in the air like electricity. His door is closed, and I see no light underneath, but I’d bet money he’s awake. He’s always awake—always prowling the house at night like some kind of fierce predator.
I’ve heard him plenty of times. The creak of the floorboards, the sound of weights clanking in the garage as he works out, the back door opening and closing as he escapes outside for some fresh air.
Tonight, I’m the one escaping.
The grass is cool under my feet as I walk quickly down to the dock. I’m wearing just my underwear and a worn-out sleep shirt—an oversized tee with a logo for some baseball team I don’t know.
The night air is a wonderful relief from the stifling heat inside. I breathe deep, cooling my body as I try to force Colt from my mind. What’s he doing in his bedroom?
The wooden planks of the dock are still warm from today’s sun. I walk to the edge and curl my toes over it. Next thing I know, I’m diving into the water.
The cold shock against my skin is pure bliss.
The lake is so cool it actually steals my breath away, clearing my mind of everything but the sensation.
Gasping, I surface and brush my wet hair from my face, feeling like for just a moment, I’ve managed to escape the torture of being stuck here with a man I should not want.
My shirt clings to me as I pull myself back onto the dock, soaked and see-through. What do I care? Not like there’s anyone here to see.
Or so I think.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Colt’s voice cuts through the night like a saw.
I whirl to find him standing on the dock, every muscle in his body taut with tension. Like me, he’s barely clothed, wearing only black boxer briefs. The moon turns his skin to marble, like a Renaissance statue of Adonis, highlighting every ridge of his ripped physique.
My heartbeat accelerates as I stare at him. His eyes are so intense I can barely breathe. How does such a man exist?
“S–swimming,” I stammer, trying to keep my voice steady despite my heart pounding against my ribs. “It’s hot.”
“It’s dangerous. Go inside. Now.”
His voice is so commanding. It should make me obey, but instead, I feel a pulsing sensation in my belly. “No.”
What am I doing? I absolutely should go inside and get away from him. But a defiance is rising within me. Who is he to boss me around—tell me what to do?
But Colt takes a step closer, his hands clenched into tight fists. “I’m not playing around, Lily. The water is deep here and—”
“Then come in with me,” I reply before I can stop myself. “Unless you’re…scared?”
His expression shifts—darkens, becomes more dangerous. For some reason, it sends tingles down my spine. “Scared? Do I look like a little boy to you?”
I shake my head instantly. “You do not.”
“I’m supposed to be looking after you.”
“Then you shouldn’t be scared to come swimming with me.” I turn and dive back into the water, hearing him curse behind me. When I look back, I’m smiling.
“Get out, Lily.”
I paddle backward, away from the dock, away from him. “Make me.”
Colt lets out a growl that is almost inhuman, like he’s a wolf holding back a howl. Then he’s diving into the water, swimming toward me with powerful strokes. In seconds, he’s got his hands around my waist, holding me against his solid body as he drags me back to the dock.
“Wow, you’re strong.” I’m trying to tease, but at the same time, I’m nearly losing control. My body is so hot I’m shocked there’s not steam rising from the water.
“You think this is a game.” His voice is rough. Water droplets cling to him, beading off his skin, causing his body to gleam in the moonlight. “You think if you tease me long enough, I’ll just what? Give in?”
Coyly, I shrug, fluttering my eyelids at him. What’s come over me? I’ve never behaved like this before. Men have always scared me. I’ve never even had a boyfriend. Now I’m acting like I actually know what I’m doing.
“You want to give in.” My voice comes out breathy, like I’m doing an impression of a goddess trying to seduce the valiant warrior in front of me. He still has his hands on my waist, sending heat pulsing through me, despite the chill of the water.
“You know what I want?” He stops himself, his throat tight and his jaw clenched. This close, I can see the internal struggle playing out in his eyes.
“Just say it, Colt.” I reach up, my fingers finding the sharp edge of his jaw. “Tell me what you want.”
Suddenly, his control snaps. He closes in on me, pressing his body against mine, forcing me to feel every hard line made by his muscles.
The thin fabric between us does nothing to hide his powerful arousal, bulging between his legs like a massive knot made by a thick rope.
Just the feeling causes something inside me to stir.
“I want to mark every inch of your skin, Lily. Mark it until they all know you’re mine.” My jaw drops. My body begins to tremble. “You’re so innocent, and I want to corrupt you, worship your sweet body and ruin you until you can’t remember a time when you didn’t bow at my feet and belong to me.”
Colt’s words should scare me. Instead, they ignite me. Passion flares deep down in my core. I know it’s wrong. It’s bad. But what am I supposed to do? I can’t control this, these feelings. Even if we are going to be family soon—technically family.
“Well…why don’t you?” I ask, feeling bolder than ever. Maybe it’s the tremors shaking courage out of me. Or the ache spreading through me like my blood is on fire. Or the tight grip Colt has on me that’s making me feel like he already owns me.
But instead of making his move, Colt groans and looks away. “Because you’re my stepsister, Lily. You’re eighteen—”
“We’re alone, Colt,” I whisper. “For more than two weeks.”
For a split second, I’m sure he’s going to kiss me.
His mouth hovers over mine, sharing my breath, seductively invading my space.
But then, lightning flashes overhead, and a crash of thunder rattles through us.
The sky opens with a crash, and rain pelts down in heavy sheets like a hose was turned on above us.
“Inside!” Colt calls over the sound of the pour.
He lifts me by the waist onto the dock. Climbing out, I slip on the wet wood, but he’s right there to catch me, both his strong arms around me, lifting me to safety.
I can smell him as he pulls me toward the house, my hand in his, the rough skin gripping mine.
The world shudders past me as I race up toward the house, rain pattering against my skin, my feet moving automatically. It’s like I’m in the middle of a dream where Colt is pulling me along with him and I’m more than willing to follow him wherever he wants to go.
A jolt snaps me out of it as the front door slams shut behind us, and I find myself standing dripping in the living room as rain pounds against the windows.
Neither of us speaks. We just look at each other, my shirt totally transparent, clinging to my body, and Colt’s briefs barely hiding his massive arousal.
His severe gaze keeps dropping as he looks at me.
“You’re shaking. You’re going to freeze.”
“I’m not cold,” I counter.
He swallows hard. “Lily—”
“You almost kissed me.” I’m pretty much bragging.
“No, I—” He squishes his lips together, closes his eyes, and shakes his head. “That was a mistake.”
“No.” I step closer. Water drips at our feet. “The mistake is pretending nothing is happening here. Pretending you don’t feel what I feel.”
“And what you feel is—?”
“Real.” I reach for his hand and somehow find the courage to put it to my chest, directly over my racing heart. This is the most a man has ever touched me before. “This is real, Colt.”
He stands there for a moment, frozen, palm against my breast, feeling the frantic rhythm of my heart. Then he jerks away like I’ve burned him and backs up.
“Stay away from me. I mean it.”
He disappears into the shadows of the house, leaving me standing there, soaking wet and shaking. But more than ever, I’m determined. Because for just a moment, when his hand was on my chest, I saw his walls come down. And what I saw there matched the fire swirling inside me.
You want me too, Colt.
He can run, but he can’t hide forever. Not while we’re stuck here together.
The storm continues to rage outside, but it’s nothing compared to what was just going on between us. I trace my lower lip with my tongue, imagining the kiss that almost was.
Colt might just be the strongest man I’ve ever met, but he can’t fight fate.
And we are fated, whether he wants to admit it or not.