unspoken words that had filled the space between us had started to lessen, replaced by quiet understanding. We spent more time together than before, sharing moments that felt natural, ev

retreat into his world when things became too heavy, his mind clearly grappling with the mess inside him that he wasn't ready to share. And I had learned to respect his space. But I also knew that with every passing day, I was start

spine. A look that lingered too long, as though he was seeing me, truly seeing me, for the

day. As much as I fought it, there was no denying that Patrick was starting to change how I viewed him-not as the awkward, distant

rning, and I had used the time to do some cleaning and run errands. When he returned, the tension that had been simmering between us

enter. I didn't look up right away, pretending to focus on what I

ce was low, al

, not looking up

e, just on the other side of the kitchen. My heart raced,

his arms crossed in front of him, his eyes studying me intently. There was something differ

ked softly, trying to gauge the

ough his hair. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, his voic

my tone neutral, though I couldn't hid

ew steps into the kitchen, his gaze not

catching in my throat. What was

overwhelming in a way I hadn't anticipated. My heart pounded in my chest, and I f

ck with something I couldn't quite place. "I don't know

of his words, his hand reached out to brush a stray lock of hair from

y voice trembling slightl

t, sinking deep. This wasn't just a passing moment, a fleeting feeling. There wa

moment, I felt like time had slowed down. Every second stretched out, the space between us seeming s

at were we doing? This was wrong. He was my stepbrother, and I couldn't let myself cross tha

I stammered, taking a st

me back to him. "Why not?" he asked softly, his voice thick with

y we couldn't go there, why we couldn't allow ourselves to feel this. But the truth

pered, my voice shaky.

rm against my skin. His hand slid up my arm, his fingers grazing my shoulder as

the words caught in my throat. The intensity in his eyes was overwhelming,

trick leaned down, his lips brushi

s met, it was as if the world stopped spinning. All of the doubts, all of the fears, disappeared. The k

red. There was no stepbrother and stepsis

aving as I looked up at him in a daze. His expression mirr

eathed, my voic

ed at me, his eyes searching mine as though he was try

happen," he finally said, h

heart pounding in my chest. "Bu

was certain-we had crossed a line. And whateve

-

above mine, and the air between us seemed thick with something we couldn't name. His hand lingered on my cheek, fingers warm against my sk

g. "We... we can't do this," I whispered, my voice strained. I didn't want to

t kissed me, something that felt like an answer to a question neither of us had dared to ask out loud until now. But that question was bigger than the moment. It was

eyes never wavered. "But I don't know how to s

The truth was, there was a part of me that didn't want him to stop, that wanted to give in to whatever

, as if speaking them aloud could somehow make this moment feel less real. "We ca

ed pushing him away. His eyes darkened with frustration, but it was quickly replaced by something I cou

"But I don't think I can deny what I feel for you anymor

hands trembling slightly at my sides. This was all happening too fast, but I couldn't escape the pull. The attraction, the chemi

th that?" I whispered, my voice wavering. "This... whatever this is, it's not

t answer right away, and I knew that he, too, was grappling with the enormity of what had just happened. Neither

itted. "But I don't wa

everything between us by making impulsive decisions. But how could we keep pretending that nothing had changed? I

ietly, my voice trembling des

of frustration. He took a step back, the space between us growing once more. I could feel the shift in the roo

l give you time. But don't think this will go

truggled to process what was ha

ll I could hear was the thundering of my own heart. But eventually, Patr

-

ck had opened a door I wasn't sure I could close. And even though I wanted to fight it, I knew I had to confront the reality of what was happening between us. The m

of it, but the truth was,

rous path and couldn't afford to go down it. But then, when I saw Patrick across the room or heard hi

indow, staring out at the backyard. I hadn't heard him approach, but

voice like a caress in the quiet room. "But I

was impossible to ignore. He looked tired-his shoulders were heavy with something I couldn't quite plac

happened between us-it doesn't just go away. I don't want to pretend like it's no

ight anymore. All I knew was that the pull I felt toward him wasn't something I could dismi

my voice hoarse. "I don'

presence overwhelming. He reached out, his fingers brushing the

t want to be scared anymore. I don't want to walk away f

ty, and the things that connected us. But no matter how much I tr

I asked, my voice bare

as feeling, everything I wanted but couldn't say. And then, without another word, he kissed me again. Onl

was no turning back now. We had crossed a line

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