Page 2 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 3
For a second‚ he didn't move.
He didn't kiss me back.
Didn't push me away.
He just stood there‚ frozen‚ completely still‚ while my lips trembled against his.
And then‚ slowly‚ his breath hitched.His hands clenched at his sides.His body tensed in a way that made me feel everything he wasn't saying‚ all the restraint‚ all the struggle‚ all the things he was burying just to keep his composure.
When I pulled back‚ barely able to breathe‚ I finally looked up at him.
His face wasn't blank anymore.
There was something in his eyes I'd never seen before.Panic.Real panic.Like I'd just done the one thing he couldn't come back from.
His mouth parted‚ like he wanted to say something‚ but nothing came out.His eyes were burning into mine.His fingers gripped the handle of the suitcase tighter‚ his knuckles turning white.
"Anna‚" he breathed.
"I'm sorry‚" I whispered‚ already feeling the shame crawl into my throat."I just… I needed you to know.Before you left."
He didn't reply.He just stared.
Then‚ with one last look‚ God‚ that look‚ he turned around‚ opened the door‚ and walked out.
And that was the last time I saw Ryan.
Until five years later…
CHAPTER 112
Ryan's POV
"Oh yes… yes… fuck!Fuck!Fuck!"The girl on my TV screamed like her whole world was shattering apart from the way the guy was pounding into her‚ and for some stupid reason‚ I just sat there‚ staring at the screen like an idiot‚ letting the sounds get into my head while my eyes refused to blink‚ my jaw clenched so tight it hurt‚ and all I could think about was her.
anna.
I didn't even know when my hand started moving under the blanket or when my cock started getting hard again‚ but the second my fingers brushed over it‚ I cursed and yanked my hand away like I'd touched fire.I wasn't hard because of the stupid porn.Hell‚ I didn't even give a shit about the actors moaning like dying cats on screen.I was hard because I was thinking about my little sister.My fucking little sister.
I buried my face in my palms‚ groaning in pure frustration as I leaned back against the couch like the weight of the world was pressing down on me.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
I hated this.I hated myself.I hated how even after all this time‚ even after running halfway across the damn country‚ changing cities‚ drowning myself in work‚ I still couldn't get her out of my head.It didn't matter how much time passed‚ or how much I tried to stay away‚ anna was still in there, under my skin‚ in my blood‚ in the fucking beat of my heart.
I was twenty-three.acting CEO of Wolfe International's Nivelle branch.Smart.Disciplined.In control.at least that's what everyone believed.
But no one knew the truth.That I was barely holding it together.That I'd moved here not for independence or opportunity, but because I was scared.Scared of what I'd do if I ever got too close to anna again.
The girl I'd grown up calling my little sister.The girl who wasn't really my sister by blood‚ but had been raised like one.The girl who kissed me five years ago and ruined every fucking thing I thought I knew about myself.
I hadn't stepped foot in that house since the day I left for college.Not even after graduation.When Mom called and begged me to come home‚ I always had a reason.Work‚ deadlines‚ business meetings‚ travel.and she always let it slide‚ thinking I was just busy being successful‚ but the truth was… I was running.Running from anna.From myself.From what that kiss did to me.How it fucked me up in ways I couldn't even begin to explain.
and I knew‚ deep down‚ that it wasn't just about lust.
It was more.
Way more.