"Nothing mom, just getting to know my soon to be step brothers."
"I taught you were already fighting with them, i saw you arguing."_
'You didn't see correctly,' I stepped in cutting her off. Good night mom. Reaching my lips on her cheek then i walked past her.
I woke up to sunlight and the smell of paint thinner.
My body aches. Last night comes flooding back-Asher's hands, his mouth, the way he looked at me.
Oh God.
I bolt upright, clutching a paint-splattered drop cloth. The studio is empty. Morning light streams through windows, illuminating the couch where I let Asher Stone take me apart.
Where I'm supposed to be his stepsister.
I need to leave. Now.
A sketch propped against the easel stops me. Me, asleep, curled on the couch.
A note pinned to the bottom: You're beautiful when you dream. No regrets. -A
My hands shake. No regrets? Easy for him to say.
I find my ruined dress and stuff it behind canvases. Asher's shirt hangs to mid-thigh. It'll have to do.
I crack the door. Empty hallway. Silent mansion.
I make it five steps before I hear footsteps.
Dominic rounds the corner.
We freeze.
He's in running clothes, sweat-soaked. His eyes travel down my body. Linger on Asher's shirt.
Something dangerous flashes across his face.
"Productive evening?"
"I don't owe you an explanation."
"No. You don't." He steps closer. "But you're going to give me one anyway."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll assume the worst. That my brother fucked you in his studio while I was downstairs drinking myself stupid because I couldn't stop thinking about how you tasted."
Heat floods my face.
"Dominic-"
"Tell me I'm wrong."
I can't.
Dominic's jaw clenches. "That's what I thought."
He moves to walk past. My hand shoots out, catching his wrist.
"It wasn't like that."
"No? Then what was it like? Because from where I'm standing, you let two brothers kiss you in one night. Tell me-are you going for the full set?"
The slap happens before I can think.
My palm connects with his cheek.
For three heartbeats, neither of us breathes.
Then his hand fists in Asher's shirt and he yanks me against him.
"You really need to stop hitting me. Because every time you do, I want to bend you over the nearest surface and make you scream my name until you forget you ever touched anyone else."
My knees go weak.
"We can't," I whisper.
"Can't we?" His hand slides down my spine, cups my hip. He's hard. "We're strangers forced into proximity."
"Dominic-"
"Say it again."
"What?"
"My name." His hand slides lower. "Say it the way you did in the elevator."
I should push him away.
But my body arches into his touch.
"Someone will see."
"Let them." His fingers trace my inner thigh. "Let them see exactly who you belong to."
"I don't belong to anyone."
"Keep telling yourself that." He finds the edge of my underwear. Pauses. "Tell me to stop, Maya. Because if I touch you and find you wet for me after spending the night with my brother, I'm going to lose what little control I have left."
My breath comes in short gasps.
"Maya? Is that you?"
My mother's voice.
Dominic releases me so fast I stumble. He's three feet away, face neutral except for his eyes.
"We're not done," he mouths.
Then he jogs away.
I barely have time to straighten the shirt before Mom appears, still in her robe.
"There you are! I was worried." Her eyes narrow. "Whose shirt is that?"
"I spilled wine. A staff member lent me this."
Mom is too busy glowing to notice the lie.
"Well, hurry and change. Richard wants us all together for brunch."
"I'll be down in five minutes."
She kisses my cheek and floats away.
I sprint to my bedroom, lock the door.
What am I doing?
A knock makes me jump.
"Maya?" Julian's voice. "We need to talk."
No. I can't handle him right now.
"I know you're in there. I can hear you breathing."
Damn it.
I crack the door.
Julian leans against the frame, still in last night's tuxedo pants and undershirt. Hair disheveled, eyes shadowed.
"You look like hell," I say.
"Didn't sleep." His gaze drops to my shirt-Asher's shirt. His jaw tightens. "Guess I'm not the only one."
"Julian-"
"Save it." He pushes past me, closing the door. "I'm not here to lecture you. I'm here because we need to talk about us."
"There is no us."
"Isn't there? You gave me your number, Maya. You wanted me before you knew who I was."
"And you lied."
"By omission." His hands come up. "You're right. I should have told you. But I panicked because the moment I saw you walk into that party, I knew I was fucked."
The raw honesty stops my anger.
"Julian..."
"I meant what I said at the coffee shop. Every word." He steps closer. "I've been watching you for weeks. The way you smile at regulars. How you remember orders. That crease between your eyebrows when you're concentrating."
His hand smooths that exact spot.
"You noticed all that?"
"I notice everything about you." His thumb traces my cheekbone. "Including the fact that you're covered in paint."
My breath catches.
"I'm not going to apologize."
"I'm not asking you to. I'm just asking for a chance."
Before I can respond, his phone buzzes.
He checks it. His expression shutters.
"What?"
"Father. He wants everyone in his study. Now." Julian looks at me, and fear flickers in his eyes. "Maya, whatever happens in there-don't agree to anything. Not without talking to me first."
"What are you talking about?"
But he's already heading for the door.
"Julian!"
He pauses. "When my father says he wants family time, he means business. And you, Maya Laurent, just became his most valuable asset."
The door closes.
I stand frozen.
My phone-the burner Asher gave me-buzzes.
One text. From an unknown number.
Whatever he offers you, say no. Your life depends on it. -V
I stare at the message.
Then I grab jeans, pull them on under Asher's shirt, and run.
