Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 3 I would never be able to survive in this house. Kester was no longer the big brother I used to know. He'd beccold and distant. His presence scared me.

I barely survived his presence in the kitchen earlier. The way he looked atas if I was skind of... I don't know... A prostitute? I know he had warnedseveral times about wearing such clothes, but I was in his house, and there was no one else there. His guards were stationed outside the house and with the way Kester was, I knew they'd never dare enter into the house without his permission.

Maybe he should tellif he also doesn't wantwearing them around his house. I'd just stick to wearing them right here in my room because these are the only kind of clothes I feel comfortable in whenever I am at home.

We barely exchanged pleasantries when he excused himself and went into his room. I wasn't wrong. His room was the one just beside mine.

I was ready to sleep, but the hotness of the room was becoming unbearable. I had thought I'd be able to ignore it, as the air conditioner wasn't on. The remote control was broken.

I didn't want anything that would makeface Kester tonight, but I guess I don't have a choice.

Adjusting my nightgown, which stopped mid-thigh, I grabbed the remote control and headed to his room.

I took in a shuddering sigh as I knocked gently on the door, but there was no response. I knocked again, but there was no response. I twisted the doorknob, and surprisingly, the door wasn't locked.

Could he be asleep? Well, he had to wake up and helpfix this. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to sleep. When I entered his room, a small gasp left my lips as I closed the door behind me.

His room was large. His neatly arranged king-sized bed beckoned onto have a feel, but I resisted the urge to lay on it.

The ambience of the room... Everything mirrored Kester's personality. It was beautiful. Although it was dark, all the bright lights were turned off except for two dim lights, which slightly illuminated the room.

Wait.

I almost got carried away, forgetting why I was there. The bed which I had just admired was empty. Meaning he wasn't sleeping.

"Kester?" I called in a whisper but got no response.

Perhaps he was downstairs. I turned to leave, but something caught my attention. It was a portrait.

A portrait of a naked woman.

I couldn't get a good view of it because of the slight darkness of the room, but... It looked like a portrait of...

Wait. Is that a portrait of me? No. It couldn't be. Kester couldn't have a portrait ofnaked in his room.

Just as I was about to go forward to get a closer look, I heard the familiar, deep, baritone voice from behind.

"You need something?" He asked, and I turned around immediately, chest heaving frantically. My gaze rested on him... My eyes snapped wide with terror at the sight before me.

Water droplets trickled down his broad chest. His short dark hair fell over the side of his face, stopping just above his brows.

The faint hint of his body wash hitimmediately, and I didn't need to be told that he had just cout of the bathroom.

My pulse quickened even more.

His white towel, which hung loosely around his waist, was on the verge of slipping out, pulling attention to his ripped abdomen and the path leading down the V of his lower region...

Goddess.

My mouth went dry. My skin got so heated up that my blood boiled until I was left with nothing but vapors.

I turned tomato-red with embarrassment. I didn't know he was in the bathroom.

This would be the first tI'd ever stand this close to a naked man. Of course... I've never been allowed to keep a boyfriend. I was a total virgin. Didn't know a thing about being around a man.

He looked atlike I had invaded his private space, and, yes, I had. Otherwise, I wouldn't be standing face-to- face with my half-naked stepbrother in his own room.

"I - I am sorry, Kester..." I stuttered, my eyes stinging with tears of embarrassment. "I'll just..." The words didn't cout as I gestured toward the door, about to leave, when he stopped me.

"Mine?" He called me, and I paused, "You need something?" He asked again; this time, his voice was softer than the first.

Years ago, I'd blush and giggle whenever he calledthe pet nhe had carved out of my name, 'Mine.' I'd playfully tell him he was pronouncing it all wrong as the 'Mine' at the end of my ndidn't sound like the possessive pronoun 'Mine', which he had decided to call me.

He'd shrug and say it didn't matter, that I was his sister, after all, and that I belonged to him.

Mine bechis pet nfor me. But for the past three years, I felt rather disturbed than flattered whenever he calledthat.

It sounded... Personal? "Yes. Uhm. The AC remote is broken. I was hoping you'd helpfix it." I said when I cleared my throat, forcing my voice to remain steady.

"Letsee," He seemed not to know the storm raging insideat our proximity.

I stretched out my trembling hand, handing the remote to him.

He received it from me, examined it carefully, and walked toward his closet, "You've been in your room all day. Why is that?" he asked casually, his back still turned onas he pulled something out from the drawer in his closet. "Nothing. I've been uh... I've been getting prepared for my first day at work," I lied. He was quiet for a moment before he spoke again, "What kind of preparations?" "Nothing much. Just... Girly stuff,” I replied, peeping to see what he was doing. I was eager to leave his presence.

"Okay. Here you go," He handed the remote to me, "The battery was dead. It should work now," he added.

"Thank you," I said, "Good night." I turned to leave, but he stopped me.

"Mine?" He called, and I felt that odd that od sense of disturbance at the name, N but brushed it off and turned to face him. He slowly closed the distance between us, and for reasons I couldn't tell, I felt my skin burning under the scrutiny of his unreadable stare. He cto a stop before me. I could feel his body heat radiating off him, makingfurther aware of my surroundings.

He placed both his hands on my shoulders, and I lifted my eyes to look him in his face, but I couldn't hold his intense gaze for more than three seconds before looking away and swallowing a dry lump in my throat.

What is he doing? Why is he so close to me? Why isn't he saying anything? I could swear he heard the rapid beating of my heart.

"You don't always have to be this tensed around me. I don't bite. I am still your big brother, Kasmine," he said almostin a whisper, "You've becso distant, and I don't like it. This is your house. Feel free. Watch movies, cook, and cinto my room anytyou want. Be you." I was at a loss for words. What was I meant to say? How should I respond to this? I opened my mouth to speak, but no words cout.

"Do I scare you?" He asked as if sensing my thoughts, and I nodded frantically, looking up at him.

"You do. You've changed, Kes. You killed that man..." I licked my dry lips, "I don't know 'you anymore."

He scoffed in slight amusement, "I am sorry. All I want is to keep you safe. That man had bad intentions ad: toward you. I am an Alpha. I sensed it," He shrugged letting go of my shoulders, "As for your posting, I just thought we could use the opportunity to spend more ttogether. You know? I've missed my little sister. I know you were mad when you found out," he smiled, his green eyes lighting up in a way I hadn't noticed in a long time. My brother had one of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen. He was so perfectly made that it should be illegal.

Sometimes, I wished he wasn't my brother. I swear I would have willingly thrown myself at him by now.

"You should have said so," I said with an eye roll, feeling more at ease now.

"I know how stubborn you can be. You wouldn't blme," he casually strode to his bed, the muscles on his back flexing with each movement he made.

The night got better, and as it did, I began to doubt my judgment of my stepbrother. I had been the one misunderstanding him all along. He hadn't changed. He was still the sweet, big brother I used to know.