Page 9

Cody

My hands trembled as I pulled the chicken from the oven. I was still reeling from the fight with Rafael. I’d expected a fierce battle, and when we arrived at the court, my body was ready for it. An electric current surged through my veins, filling me with power. I channeled that energy into the game, wanting to show Rafael just who he was messing with. If he thought I was some pushover who would let him walk all over me, he had another thing coming.

When we rolled down the hill, the heat raging inside me flowed to my hands and gathered in my fists. My body was primed, my goal was clear—I was ready to thump Rafael once and for all.

Then he pinned me to the ground, and the heat started drifting to other parts of my body before pooling at the base of my stomach. That’s when my body almost betrayed me.

I freaked out. I kicked him and ran away, returning home to take a cold shower.

I was carving chicken and stacking the slices neatly on a plate, while Mom set the table. It was nothing, I told myself. We were rolling around on the ground, fighting each other. That’s all.

“Honey, can you get Rafael?” Mom asked. “I think he’d rather you get him than Hank or me.”

My stomach flipped at the request, but I nodded and made my way upstairs. Rafael hadn’t come into the house for three hours after I left him. He must have skated around the park or something. When Rafael finally returned, he looked awful. He ignored everyone and went to his room, where he’d been for the last few hours.

I approached his door and knocked, standing outside his room for a few moments waiting for him to scream something shitty from inside. Nothing. I did it again, but there was still no answer.

“Rafael. Dinner’s ready,” I called out—still nothing.

I should have just turned my ass around and walked downstairs and told them he was sleeping or something, but, like the dutiful son I was, I opened his door to check on him.

Rafael lay on his bed, completely naked, listening to music through his earbuds. His eyes were closed, and a hand rested on his chest. Dark hair dusted his pecs, and his abs clenched as he yawned. My eyes couldn’t stop drinking in his olive skin. The veins on his arms bulged, and his hands were massive. Nestled between the thickest thighs I’d ever seen laid his cock. Even though it was soft, it looked enormous. I couldn’t take my eyes off Rafael’s cock. Why can’t I take my eyes off Rafael’s cock? I don’t know how long I stood there, silently creeping on my stepbrother, but his voice snapped me out of my trance.

“Whatcha looking at, Cody?”

My eyes bolted to his, and I swallowed. Hard. Hard enough that I started choking on saliva.

His blue eyes grew wide as he watched me choking like a fucking idiot in his doorway.

“What the hell is happening to you?” he asked.

I gasped for air. I heaved and tried to speak, but couldn’t. I coughed again and finally croaked out the word dinner.

“Fine! Just close the fucking door you freak. I’ll be down in a second.”

I did just that and ran downstairs.

Fuck. My. Life.

I reached the bottom of the stairs and leaned against the wall before sliding down it. What was that? What just happened to me? I walked in on Rafael naked. I should have slammed his door shut and turned in the opposite direction, but instead, I froze. My feet sealed to the floor, my breathing stopped, and I became hot. Really hot.

No. No, that didn’t just happen. What’s the matter with me? And he saw me! Please, God, don’t let this be happening. Please let me wake up in my bed and let this all be a horrible nightmare.