Forbidden Ties

Chapter 2; Burning Bridges, Crossing Lines.

I’m alone in my room, the low hum of the house making everything feel surreal. Unpacking the last few boxes, I try to keep myself busy, to stop my mind from wandering. Every time I think I’ve got a hold on the situation, I find myself thinking about Jax again. About the way he looks at me, the way his presence feels like a spark just waiting to ignite everything.

The brief kiss we shared earlier—just a game, nothing more, I told myself—keeps replaying in my mind. The heat of his lips on mine, the way his hands had felt against my back, the way he pulled me in, like he was already losing control. It had been a tease, a moment of weakness. But now, I can’t stop thinking about it.

I glance toward the door of my room, knowing he’s out there somewhere in the house. The tension is building, thick and heavy, and I can’t stop the pull I feel toward him. What’s worse, I don’t want to.

I hear footsteps approaching, and before I can process anything, the door creaks open. My breath hitches. There he is. Jax. His tall frame fills the doorway, his eyes dark, studying me in a way that sends a shiver through my spine.

I freeze. My heart races, my thoughts muddled as my mind drifts back to that kiss, that fleeting moment earlier. I told myself it didn’t mean anything. It was a game, a playful mistake. But now, standing in front of him, I can’t shake the feeling that it meant more. I know I shouldn’t feel this way. I should pull back. But everything inside me tells me to move forward.

We stand there in silence for what feels like an eternity, the air between us crackling with unspoken words, emotions we both pretend not to feel. He’s just standing there, watching me, and something inside me snaps. Without thinking, I take a step toward him, and in the next instant, we’re crashing into each other.

His lips are on mine, and everything fades away. My heart races as his hands grip my back, pulling me closer, like he’s trying to fuse our bodies together. I can feel the heat of his skin through the thin fabric of my shirt. The kiss is urgent, messy, hungry, like we both know we can’t go on pretending anymore.

It’s not just the kiss from before, it’s the longing that had been building up since that moment. The touch of his lips, the way he tasted, the way I had wanted more but had pulled away. Now, all of that is unleashed, and I can’t control it. I don’t want to.

My hands are tangled in his hair, tugging him closer as my pulse spikes, racing, out of control. His lips trail down to my neck, and I feel a warmth spread through my chest, a desire so strong it almost overwhelms me. The faint trace of that game-kiss from before lingers in my mind, stoking the fire in my chest.

But before I can get lost in it, I hear the unmistakable sound of footsteps coming from the hall. My heart stops.

“Sam?” My mom’s voice calls from the hallway, soft but sharp with concern.

I jerk back, eyes wide. Panic floods my veins. I can’t think. I can’t breathe. I scramble away from Jax, feeling my face flush as I try to regain some control over the situation.

“I’m in here, Mom,” I call out, my voice barely above a whisper. I quickly step away from Jax, subtly wiping my lips with the back of my hand, praying my mom won’t notice anything off. I can feel Jax’s presence behind me, still close, but I know I have to keep my distance now.

The door creaks open, and there she is—my mom. She steps into the room, and her eyes immediately flick from me to Jax, her expression unreadable, but something shifts in the air between us. She stands in the doorway, arms crossed, her gaze lingering on me for a second longer than normal.

“What’s he doing in your bedroom, Sam?” she asks, her voice soft, but there’s an edge to it I can’t ignore.

I glance at Jax, and he gives me a silent, understanding look, before nodding and leaving the room without saying a word. As soon as the door closes behind him, I feel the tension in my shoulders loosen a little, but only a little.

I turn back to my mom, who’s watching me carefully, as if she’s waiting for an answer.

“It’s not like anything can happen between us, Mom,” I say, doing my best to sound casual. “We’re practically family now, right?”

Her eyes narrow ever so slightly as she steps further into the room, and I notice how she crosses her arms over her chest, like she’s preparing for something more serious. She’s not saying much, but I can feel the weight of her concern, even if she’s not verbalizing it.

“I think boundaries might be necessary between the two of you,” she says, her voice quiet but firm.

I try to hide the frustration rising within me. She’s worried, and I get it, but this feels like more than just concern—it feels like a warning.

“Come on, Mom, don’t you think you’re overreacting a bit?” I laugh lightly, trying to brush away the tension. “Besides, the whole school knows how much of a player your new stepson is. And players are definitely not my type.”

I flash her a playful smile, but inside, I feel something twist. It’s one thing to joke about it. It’s another thing to pretend I’m not already feeling something I shouldn’t.

Her eyes meet mine, weighing my words carefully. She uncrosses her arms, exhales slowly, and I can almost feel her hesitation.

“Alright,” she says, her tone still soft but with a subtle caution. “But just... be careful, Sam. I don’t want you getting caught up in something that’s not good for you.”

I nod quickly, the pit in my stomach deepening. “I will, Mom. I promise.”

She watches me for another beat, as if trying to decide whether to say more, but then turns to leave. Before she closes the door, though, she glances back, eyes flicking toward the hallway where Jax just left.

“I’m not saying you can’t trust him, but... keep your guard up,” she says, her voice quieter now, as if she’s speaking more to herself than to me.

The door clicks shut, and I let out the breath I didn’t even know I was holding.

The room feels too small. The tension that had momentarily faded comes rushing back, tenfold. I know my mom’s right to be worried. I know this is messy. But right now, with Jax still fresh on my mind, I can’t seem to care.

As my mom’s footsteps fade down the hallway, I stand there for a moment, frozen in the stillness of my room. Everything that just happened feels like a blur—Jax’s kiss, my mom’s warning, the way my pulse still hasn’t slowed. The air in here is thick with unspoken things, things I’m not ready to confront but can’t seem to avoid.

I lean back against the edge of my bed, trying to gather my thoughts, but all I can think about is how much I want to see him again. Jax. The boy who both terrifies and excites me in ways I can’t explain. The boy who might just be the one thing that messes up everything I thought I knew about my life.

I run a hand through my hair, the memory of his touch still lingering on my skin. The kiss wasn’t just a mistake. It felt too real, too raw. And now I’m caught between the pull of something I can’t control and the fear of where it might take me.

But I know one thing for sure: I can’t keep pretending it doesn’t matter.

As I glance toward the door, I wonder if he’s out there, waiting for me to make the next move. Maybe I’ll go find him. Maybe I’ll just wait for the next inevitable collision, because I know deep down, there’s no escaping it.

I’m already in too deep.

And that kiss? It was only the beginning.