Page 4 of Rejected by My Stepbrother Alpha (Billionaire Shifter Club #1)

T he Wrong Key Card

Ivy

My feet were killing me, this random businessman wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise, and all I wanted to do was lie down in my comfortable-looking hotel bed and fall asleep.

But I was determined to impress Russell by charming all of his colleagues.

I blinked and tried to focus on what the man in front of me was saying.

“That's when I told Jefferson…you know Jefferson, right? He's the one in charge of risk management at my company. I think he's here tonight…”

The man looked around the almost empty ballroom, pieces of his carefully arranged blonde hair falling onto his forehead.

I didn't know Jefferson. In fact, I didn't even know the man's name who was standing in front of me.

He must have told me at some point, but his name got lost amidst the handful of others that I had learned tonight.

I was thankful that I had stopped drinking after those two glasses of champagne in my hotel room.

I needed to keep a clear head after my encounter with Asher in the hallway.

There had been a moment when I had leaned in for a kiss.

Before I had shut my eyes, I thought Asher had leaned in too, but I knew that was just wishful thinking on my part.

What the hell had I been thinking? What if someone were to stumble across me leaning in to kiss him?

I tried to forget about Asher during the gala and focus on charming the important business people around me.

But the speech that he had made about his father at the beginning hit me like an arrow to the heart.

Asher talked about his dad with such respect and love that anyone listening would know how much Russell meant to him.

Hearing Asher speak so eloquently about his dad—who I also admired—made my infatuation with my stepbrother grow.

I spent the rest of the night talking to anyone who came up to me—mostly men.

All of them offered me more sparkling water when my glass was empty.

I tried my best to be charming and friendly to everyone because I didn't want to embarrass Russell, and I didn't want to deal with my mother's wrath if I accidentally made a social blunder.

But it was hard to focus on anything else when the entire night, I only felt Asher's presence.

It was the same way that I was always aware of him when he was in my general vicinity, but there was something different about tonight.

The energy zipping between us during the gala was electric, and I was terrified that I was the only one experiencing it.

But there were times when our eyes would meet across the ballroom when Asher's gaze would hold the lust I had seen in his eyes when we had met in the hallway after his shower, and he'd been half naked.

During these times, Asher would always look quickly away.

Was I being delusional in thinking that there was any lust in his eyes?

Were my fantasies obscuring my reality? Was my mind bringing my daydreams to life and making me imagine things?

Even now, my skin was still tingling from Asher’s presence, even though he had left the ballroom already.

He must have been drinking because he had stumbled out.

The gala had officially ended thirty minutes ago, but this guy just kept talking to me.

I hadn't found a polite way to exit the conversation yet.

My mother had left twenty minutes ago, giving me a rare kiss on the cheek that I knew was only because we were in public.

Russell had given me a hug, and his face had grown red when I told him I was proud of everything he had accomplished so far in his life.

When the band stopped playing, I knew it was time to call it a night. I made an excuse to the man who was still blabbering about Jefferson. I left the ballroom, making sure to smile and nod at the few people who were still milling about.

As soon as I got to the safety of the elevator, I let out a long, slow breath. I'd managed to survive the night without embarrassing myself.

I leaned my forehead against one of the cool walls of the elevator.

Socializing all night had robbed me of my energy.

I couldn't wait to call Maeve and tell her about the night.

When the elevator came to a stop, I straightened up and stepped out.

As I walked down the empty hallway, I wondered if Maeve would still be up at this time of night or if I should wait until the morning to call her.

Should I tell her about my obsession with my stepbrother?

As usual, my mind wandered to Asher. Was he already asleep?

My body grew warm as I thought about what he wore to bed.

Did he sleep in his boxers? Or did he wear nothing at all?

Was there nothing between his naked body and the cool white sheets?

What I wouldn't give to be in his bed just for one night…

A loud thumping sound interrupted my thoughts. I looked up, and my heart stopped.

Asher was in front of his hotel room door with his key card in his hand.

His black suit jacket was discarded on the ground next to him, his shirt sleeves were rolled up, and his silver tie that matched my dress was loose around his neck.

I could see the defined muscles through his white shirt, and my heart began to beat frantically.

Asher tried to slide his key card into the slot again, but he couldn't manage it.

He lifted his hand and banged on the door with his fist in frustration and mumbled under his breath.

So, that was what the thumping sound had been.

Irrational anger flowed through me. Why couldn't he just be in his room asleep?

Why did he have to be right next to my room, looking so disheveled and handsome?

And why the hell did he seem resentful toward me?

What did I ever do to him? But the thing that I was most angry with him for was something that neither of us could control.

Why did Asher Callahan have to be my stepbrother?

“Asher, what the hell are you doing?” I hissed and made my way over to him. “You're going to wake up the entire floor if you keep it up.”

He turned toward me, and the expression on his face made me pause. The look in Asher's eyes wasn't the usual icy indifference that they held whenever he glanced my way. His hazel eyes were full of heat and longing as they slowly traveled down my body.

Oh…

His eyes scanning my body made my hands shake, and I forgot why I had been so mad at him a moment ago. For a second, I forgot my own name.

As my stepbrother eyed my cleavage, a lazy grin crossed his face.

“Hello, Ivy,” he said, like we were old friends.

Or lovers.

Don't even go there. Don't even hope.

Asher was off-limits. Nothing could happen between us for so many reasons.

“Uh, hi,” I replied. “Having trouble getting into your room?”

“Yep. They must have given me the wrong…what's the word for this?” He pointed to the key card in his hand.

Before I could answer him, he swayed slightly, and I had to grab his forearms to hold him steady. An electric shock went through me at the contact.

His red and watery eyes shot down to my lips, and I had to clear my throat and drop my hands before I did something I'd regret.

“Goddess, Asher. How much did you have to drink?” I asked.

“Only…uh, one glass.” He shrugged and scrubbed a hand down his flushed face.

I snorted.

Well, I guess he was still sober enough to mess with me. It was true that I didn't see him drink much throughout the night, but what other reason could there be for him to be acting this way?

“Here, give me your key card, and I'll open your door,” I said. “They didn't give you the wrong key card. You just aren't using it right.”

“Key card! That's the name!” Asher said and fumbled with the key card before handing it over .

Goddess, his words were slurred.

It took me two tries to fit the key card into the thin slot, but I managed to get it open.

“Come on, let's get you inside,” I said, leaning down to pick up Asher's crumpled suit jacket, then taking his hand and dragging him through the door.

I flipped on the light switch and blinked at the sudden brightness as the door closed shut behind us.

His room was a carbon copy of mine. Everything was ivory-colored—the walls, the large reading chair in the corner, and the vanity table, which only held a black comb.

The far wall was mostly taken up by a large window overlooking the city.

Since it was nighttime, all I could see were hundreds of small twinkling lights.

But all I could focus on was the king-sized bed in the middle of his room. The image of Asher's naked body sliding under his sheets came into my mind, and my grip on his arm tightened.

What would his mouth feel like against mine?

Stop imagining kissing your stepbrother!

I guided Asher to the bed, and he slumped back, leaning on his elbows, smirking up at me. Asher's body was long, muscular, and perfect. His brown hair flopped over his forehead, and the way his hazel eyes studied my body made me shiver.

He was so sexy.

I took off my heels, biting my lip so I wouldn't moan out loud at the instant relief I felt.

In the minifridge, I found water bottles and grabbed two for me and two for Asher.

I opened the bottle of water for him since he hadn't been able to manage getting into his room.

When I handed him his, our hands brushed, and my stomach dropped.

Our eyes locked, and even when he drained the contents of his water bottle, he didn't look away from me.

Now that he was safe in his room, I should leave, right?

But I didn't want to.

My heart was pulling me toward Asher, insistently tugging me in his direction.

I didn't want to leave just yet. And why should I leave?

My whole life, I had felt like I'd been making decisions based on what would please my mother, trying like hell to earn her approval.

Well, those days were over. I was going to do something for myself for once.

I sat down on the bed next to him, our knees touching. My right arm was pressed against his left, and the warmth of his body made me shiver. This moment felt dreamlike. Could my unrealistic fantasy actually become a reality?

I didn't dare to even hope.

Our heads turned toward each other at the same time, and a jolt went down my spine when I realized his face was only an inch away from mine.

More than close enough to kiss.

“How are you feeling?” I whispered, my eyes on his mouth.

“Better now that you're sitting beside me.”

Oh my Goddess!

Did he actually just say that?

His hand reached out, and he put it on my upper thigh.

I sharply inhaled, and then I forgot how to breathe. What if I passed out right here because I forgot how to exhale?

“Thank you for helping me get into my room tonight,” Asher said. His voice was the deepest I'd ever heard it.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” I asked before I could think better of it.

One of his dark eyebrows raised, and he opened his mouth, but I kept going before I lost my nerve.

“I know that you don't like me,” I admitted and dropped my gaze to his hand that was still on my thigh, afraid to look directly into his eyes.

“I can tell by the resentment-filled looks you give me and the way you always avoid me.” I glanced back up, squared my shoulders, and looked into his eyes.

“I don't know where all this animosity is coming from.

I try my best to be a good daughter and sister.

Especially tonight. I understand that you and your father are important people in our community.

I want you to know that I'd never do anything to embarrass either of you.

Aren't we supposed to look out for each other as brother and sister?”

I was proud of myself for speaking my mind. I hoped that I would feel the same way in the light of day .

Asher was silent for a full minute, and my anxiety spiked with each passing second. I'd give anything just to know what he was thinking.

“You're wrong,” he finally replied.

Fury tore through my body, and I shoved his hand off my thigh.

“What the hell do you mean? I try my best every—”

Asher cut me off.

“No, you're wrong because you aren't my sister, Ivy.”

Before I could even fully process his words, Asher grabbed the back of my head, and kissed me.