Page 34 of Heartless Stepbrother

This wasn’t just about winning anymore.

No. This was something darker. Something deeper.

This was about control.

I had the upper hand. And I was going to keep it.

The noise around us swirled. Laughter, the low murmur of polite conversation, all of it faded into a dull roar behind the soundtrack that played only for me: Luna’s steady heartbeat thudding beneath her fragile exterior, the faintest tremor in her step as she tried to hold herself together.

I slid my hand casually into my pocket, my eyes never leaving her profile. The way the light caught the sun-kissed waves of her hair, the soft curve of her cheek, the way her mouth pressed into a determined line.

She was beautiful.

I had to admit that.

I could feel a dark thrill run through my veins at the thought of breaking her, of watching her fight and crumble and rise again, all because of me.

This was going to be anything but boring.

Because Luna was moving into my world, my house, my school, my life, and she had no idea what kind of chaos that was going to unleash.

“Hey, princess,” I said, voice low, gravelly with amusement, breaking the silence between us like a sharp blade cutting through silk.

She didn’t look at me.

“You don’t get to ignore me.” I added, more insistently.

Her eyes flicked briefly to mine, icy and hard, before darting back forward like I was some shadow she was desperate to escape.

“Whatever,” she muttered, voice tight with contempt.

That only made me grin wider.

“You really think you can hide from me?” I murmured, a faint laugh curling through my words. “I could make you look at me. Make youwantto. Even when you swear you don’t.”

Her breath hitched, barely audible, but enough to fuel the dark satisfaction blooming inside me. She swallowed hard, jaw clenched, fists tightening at her sides.

“Do what you have to. You don’t scare me,” she shot back, the tremor in her voice betraying her words.

That made me laugh. A deep, genuine sound that echoed between us like a challenge.

“Really?” I said, stepping just a fraction closer, my hand sliding to her waist with deliberate ease.

To anyone watching, it was nothing. A courteous touch, a new brother steadying his sister. But beneath that thin disguise, I let my fingers press harder, claiming space she hadn’t offered. I pulled her in until her body brushed mine, until the air between us stopped pretending to be neutral.

Her breath hitched, barely, but I caught it.

Harmless, they’d think.

But she knew better.

And so did I.

Her eyes flicked to mine and widened for a fraction of a second.

And then, just as quickly, she looked away.

The game had only just begun.