His Forbidden Cravings

Beginning

The rain always brought back the memories. Every single time. The sound of water hitting the roof. The smell of wet pavement. The flashes of headlights reflecting through glass. It always brought her back to that night.

Oxygen Stanford stood motionless beside her bedroom window, staring at the storm outside. Thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked down at the photograph she held in her trembling hands.

A bitter smile tugged at Oxygen’s lips.

“Happy birthday, Mom.” The words barely left her mouth before her throat tightened.

The sound of her bedroom door opening pulled her from her thoughts.

“Oxy?” Her father stood at the doorway. "Dinner's ready."

Oxygen forced herself to smile back. “I’m not hungry.”

“You said that yesterday.” Her father sighed. “And the day before that.”

After a moment, he walked into the room. His gaze landed on the photograph in her hands. Understanding immediately filled his face.

“Your mom would’ve hated seeing you cry on her birthday.”

Oxygen laughed weakly. “Mom hated seeing anyone cry.”

Her father squeezed her shoulder. But neither of them said what they were really thinking. Because there was one name neither of them wanted to bring up.

Heart.

The missing piece of their family. The wound that never stopped bleeding. After her mother’s death, everything changed.

Her father cleared his throat. “I’ll save you some food.”

"Okay, thanks." she nodded.

"Oxy.” He hesitated before leaving. “The accident wasn’t your fault."

Then her father left, closing the door quietly behind him. Though, Oxygen stared at the floor, never believe in them...

A sudden vibration interrupted her thoughts. She frowned, looking at her phone cause nobody ever texted her this late. A notification appeared on her screen.

Unknown Number.

I’m coming home.

For a moment, the words made her freeze, her heartbeat quickened. Oxygen simply stared at the message, reading it again as her hands started shaking because there was only one person who ever called their house home.

Heart, her older sister.

The phone vibrated again.

I'll be there tomorrow...

Somewhere deep inside her chest, a feeling she hadn’t experienced in years slowly began to awaken. Oxygen looked back at the message, her fingers hovered over the screen. A dozen responses formed in her mind.

Where have you been?

Why did you leave me?

Are you staying here for good?

Despite everything, somehow they hurt more than silence, she lowered her phone. She closes her eyes, leaving the future tomorrow once her sister comes back.

~

The next morning arrived too quickly. Oxygen woke before sunrise, something that never happened. She spent nearly an hour deciding what to wear then another thirty minutes changed her mind. By the time she finally came downstairs, her father was already making breakfast.

"Oxy," he smiled. "You looks excited..."

"Of course, Dad! She's coming home after so many years..." she paused and get anxious. "Do I look okay?"

Her father nodded. "You're beautiful..."

Both of them when a car pulled into the driveway, Oxygen's heart nearly exploded. Her father stood so quickly his chair almost fell over only because her sister is back. She rushed toward the front door, her father is right behind her.

Outside, a sleek black SUV came to a stop.

The driver's door opens first, a man steps out not Heart, her sister. The man is someone unfamiliar, he wore a dark suit that made him look more like a bodyguard. Oxygen frowned.

"Who are—"

She wasn't able to finish her question when the passenger door opened and her older sister, Heart came out.

In a second, she ran. "Heart!"

A moment later, she crashed into her sister’s arms. Heart staggered slightly then hugged her back. So tightly Oxygen thought she might break. And for the first time in years…

Tears escaped her eyes, falling down to her rosy cheeks. "I missed you so much..."

Heart’s arms tightened. “I know.”

Eventually they pulled apart and they were both wiping tears. Their father joined them moments later, the reunion was emotional but it got interrupted by the man named Lewis.

Heart's husband.

"Hello everyone..." his voice is deep.

For a moment, Oxygen thought he looked unreal like someone sculpted from perfection. Yet it wasn’t his appearance that caught her attention. It was his eyes...

A chill traveled down her spine, the man stared at her.

Heart noticed so she reached his hands. "Oxy, I want you to meet Lewis, my husband."

Oxygen stared. Husband?

The man extended his hands at her. "Lewis Darkmoore."

Oxygen stared at his hand for a second before shaking it. The instant their skin touched—

Something happened, a strange sensation shot through her body so she slowly pulled her hand away.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to," Lewis calmly said as his jaw tightened.

Oxygen tried to read his mind. "Really, huh?"

"Alright, that's enough..." Heart meddled between them. "Apologies but husband is a little bit stiff around, forgive him Oxygen."

Since it was Heart who says sorry, she let it slides but still something feels off about her sister's husband. Yet before she could think about it further, her father was speaking.

"Why don't we just go inside and eat? I'm sure you're two are hungry, right?"

Everyone nodded, decided to go inside but across from Oxygen, Lewis smirked when he heard the word hungry cause he knew that there's only one he is craving for.

The woman who is his wife's sister.

Oxygen Stanford, his forbidden cravings.