My Step Father's Son

Chapter 13 - Hold Me Close

Ava Summer.

Joe asked me to go to a pub and spend the night together with him. I agreed and told my mother that I'd be staying at Emily.

I need some time to have fun after what happened with me and Rhys. I want to forget it. And I hope that spending more time with Joe will make me forget about him.

Rhys has been driving me crazy whenever I think about him. I hate him for using me. But honestly, I can't forget that moment I had with him. It made me feel uneasy, and everything has seemed out of line ever since.

We're drinking and talking at first. And then, I asked Joe to dance. Oh yeah, I'm really good at dancing, and it makes me happy.

I was dancing with Joe when I first saw Rhys. He was sitting with his friend, Mike.

I didn't know how long he'd been staring at me, but I felt his gaze in every move I made.

He didn't do anything at first; he was just staring at me with his sharp eyes. If looks could kill, I should have been dead many times.

At first, I felt uncomfortable. But as time passes, I feel a little bit braver. I started to dance seductively, letting myself be free to move as I pleased.

By that, I wanted Rhys to see that I could be with someone else. If he has Alicia, I have Joe.

I want to show him that I don't need to flirt with his friend or imagine him because I have Joe. And what happened to us that morning in his apartment was nothing. I wanna show him that I've moved on and forgotten about it.

I sway my hips, thighs, and arms in seductive ways. I was deliberately teasing Joe and giving him intimate gestures.

Joe was excited. I can tell he's been arouse as he touched me even more. He even asked me to end our dance and go back to his apartment.

But I haven't done yet. I need a little bit more time to tease Rhys, because I'm so mad at him. I was mad at what he said the other day.

I was about to end my dance with Joe when Rhys suddenly dragged me out of the dance floor.

He said he wanted to talk, but we ended up dancing together. I don't know why I couldn't say no to him. Probably the ambiance and the music affect me.

Rhys held me gently. He moved, following the song. He acted as if he expressed his feelings through the song.

I'm probably crazy to think that he would do that, right?

Anyway, Rhys asked me to go home with him because he told me that he didn't like me being with Joe. Isn't that ridiculous? What right does he have to tell me what to do?

So I left him.

But I messed up again.

I don't know what is wrong with me that I enjoyed dancing with him and being close with him. I even kissed him back!

Yes, I kissed him back when he kissed me!

I hope he didn't notice since it was a quick kiss and it happened quite fast.

After my short meeting with Rhys, I went back to Joe and asked him to take me home. But Rhys insisted on asking me to go home with him. He almost fought with Joe, and it scared me. Good thing Mike was there to separate them.

After Rhys is gone, Joe and I decide to stay for awhile longer. We ordered drinks and calmed ourselves after what happened. But the truth is, even though I'm with Joe, I can't stop thinking about Rhys. I'm worried about him. He didn't look good when he left. Is he okay?

"What are you thinking?" Joe's question brings me back of my zone out.

"Nothing. I'm just thinking about what happened." I take a sip of my drink to hide my uneasiness.

"Rhys?" he asks again, and I nod.

"What were you two talking about anyway?" He stares at me, making me feel uncomfortable. Did he find out something?

"It's nothing. He just wanted me to go home because it's late. That's all," I answer.

"He's your brother, but he acts like a jealous boyfriend." Joe mutters, dissatisfied. He's upset with what Rhys did.

"He's just trying to protect me."

"Ava, did you agree to his action? Did you want to go home with him?" Joe says it with a little bit of a high intonation. He seems angry with my response.

"No, Joe. You saw me; I told him to go." I try to defend myself. I can't let him become suspicious. Deep down, I feel guilty.

"That's not what you said just now." He snaps. He really is upset.

"Oh, Joe, please!" I don't want to talk about this or fight because of it. I want him to stop.

I take my half-glass of long Island tea and finish it. Talking about Rhys always makes me lose my mind.

"Seriously, Ava, what is wrong with you and him? Is there something that happens between you two?" he asks me suspiciously.

"What? No!" I deny. I look the other way, unable to face him.

I'm so nervous, worried, and uneasy. Without thinking, I take Joe's whisky and gulp it down.

Joe stares at me, observing me. Now it's him who is scrutinizing me. I should have been dead twice tonight.

"What if--he has feelings for you, Ava? What will you do?" he asks without batting an eye.

"Joe, please.." I beg him to stop talking about it.

"Did you two sleep together?" He doesn't stop.

"Joe, what are you thinking?" I snapped out of fear and nervousness.

I can't take this anymore. I don't want to lie, but I can't tell him what happened.

I'm afraid, and I'm not ready. I don't know how to explain it to him. I don't even know what happened between Rhys and me.

"I'm going home." I decide to call it a day and go home.

"I'll drive you." Joe suddenly grabs my hand and takes me.

"No! Just--just leave me alone," I refuse as I let go of my hand. I walk to the nearest cab parking lot outside the pub.

I can still hear Joe's voice calling me when the cab starts to move. He tries to call my phone a few times, but I'm not picking it up.

I need time to clear my head.

I need time to end this.

I need to talk to Rhys.

"Where to miss?" the cab driver's question pulls me in.

I give the driver Rhys's apartment address without a doubt.

We arrive there in 10 minutes. Fortunately, I still remember his apartment unit.

It's almost 10 p.m. when I reach for his unit and knock on his door.

Rhys is surprised when he opens the door and sees me.

"Av--"

"We need to talk!" I say before he finished his words. I walk inside without waiting for him to let me in.

After closing the door, he follows me in. I stop in his living room and turn around to face him. I don't take the seat and just stand there.

"What do you want to talk about?" he asks first before continuing to walk, passing me to the kitchen.

"What do you want from me, Rhys?" I ask. My gaze follows where he moves.

Rhys pours two glasses of whisky and walks back to me. He stops in front of me and says, "You."

I'm dumbfounded. Did he just say that he wanted me?

I try to look into his eyes, wanting to know his intentions. Is he joking?

"It's you that I want." As if he knows what I've been thinking, he repeats his answer. Clear and sound.

Hearing him say he wants me, I feel warm all over me.

I take a glass of whisky from his hand and drink it all in one go. Surprise and worry are reflected in his face.

"Why?" I ask him as I stare at him.

He drinks the glass in his hand in one go, just like I did earlier. And then he sits and leans on the couch.

I wait for him to answer my question with jittery, nervous, and warm all in one.

He raises his head to face me. "Because I love you."

I feel like the world stops spinning at that very second.

He--he--loves me? But--

Even my inner thoughts can't find the right word.

"No, you are not!" I refuse as I walk forth and back. We can't be in love with each other!

"I am. I'm falling in love with you." He keeps telling me.

"No-- no-- Please don't say that. Please don't say you love me," I mutter as I walk in jittery

"Ava--"

"Damn it, Rhys!" I yell, cutting off his words. I stride towards him before sitting on his lap, straddling him.

Our foreheads meet, and I circle my arms around his neck. "Rhys, don't say you love me! Don't!" My voice is trembling when I say that.

I don't know how to respond to his confession. I'm scared, freaked out, and panicked, not because I don't want his love. No, that's not it.

It's because, deep down, I know I feel the same. I know I love him, but I can't let myself admit it. Because he is my brother. How can I be with him?

"I can't," he says, shaking his head. "Because I truly love you. And I can't pretend that I don't." He pulls me closer, gently caressing my back.

"No, Rhys, just say-- just say you lust for me, okay? We did it because of lust." I still can't admit my feelings towards him.

My body has been a traitor when it comes to Rhys, as I start to kiss him on the lips.

I can feel myself trembling because of the struggle inside me. I want him badly, but my head is still denying it.

"It's fine, Ava; I won't force you," he says as he caress my trembling face before landing a kiss on my forehead.

"I'm scare. I don't know what to do," I say with heavy breath in close distance. I don't want to let go. I want to be with him.

"It's okay, baby; don't be afraid. I'm here with you, okay?" I can feel his heavy breath as our faces brush against each other.

Yet, the proximity gives us a sensuality and intimacy that are hard to resist.

"I--I--want you." I confess. I feel warm all over. I'm not sure if it's because of the liquor I drank or because his presence has become an aphrodisiac for me.

All I want is for him to touch me. Right here, right now.

"Baby, I want you too," he replies as he stares at me with his darker eyes. The next second, his lips crush mine, and his hands pull me closer, closing the gap between us.

The fear inside me dissipated as our kiss became more and more passionate. Leaving everything behind—only me and him.

"I want to make love to you," he whispers with his heavy-hoarse voice, while his hands pull down my dress's zipper and take off my dress.

He turns me over on the leather couch, pinning me underneath him.

He started to kiss my lips down to my neck, paying attention to my sensitive spot there, while his hand unclasped my bra before taking it off. Soon, his lips devoured my breast. Sucking, nibbling, and biting them alternately.

I groan in pleasure and reach for his face. I bring it closer and kiss his lips. "Make love to me, Rhys."

He kisses every inch of my skin, giving a tingling sensation to all my nerves.

And then, when I'm craving more, he takes off all his clothes in front of me.

I swallowed hard, looking at him. I could never get enough of watching his bare figure, from his chest muscle down to his abs and V torso, and lowering down, his big-sticking out hardness.

I sit down on the couch and wait impatiently while he wears protection.

He raises his gaze and smirks when he looks at me.

"Missing me, love?" he says as he moves closer and lays me down. Holding my hands above my head, he starts to kiss me.

"Always," I reply as I take a deep breath and curl up my back to give him more ways to explore my skin. I close my eyes, and I feel that my nerves are more sensitive to his touch.

Starting tonight, to me, he's not only my brother. He is something else. He's someone I've been waiting for all this time.

We make love all night, changing to different intimate positions every few minutes and exploring each other's senses. And he took me higher every time we made love.

I've lost count of how many times he said I love you to my ear or how many times I reached my peak.

We only stop at wee hours when we are both worn out.

We lay on the couch with my back facing him, and he circled my waist with his arms.

In a daze, I remember when we walked to the bay that afternoon. He told me that he is in his prime, and I should try to do it with someone in his prime.

I chuckle lightly, realizing that I really did it with him.

He's actually in his prime. He's strong and able to do anything he wants. He gives me multiple pleasures I have never had before. I even feel my legs giving away. I don't know if I'll be able to walk tomorrow.

And the most important thing is that I feel his love.

"What's so funny?" he asks as he raises his head slightly to look at my face.

I turn my face slightly to the side and smile at him. "Nothing. It's just that I don't know if I'll be able to go home--"

"Stay with me tonight," he says, not letting me finish my words.

I smile. Even if I want to go home, I won't be able to move. Nevertheless, I'll stay because this is what I want. I want to be with him tonight.

"Just hold me close, Rhys." I say it slowly as I turn to face him.

"Of course, baby." He embraces me and kisses the top of my head.

I breathe in his masculine scent and hear his heart beat. It's like a calming scent and music in my ear, making me close my eyes with a smile on my face.