My Toxic Stepbrother

First Blood.

** Riley **

The dining room of the Voss mansion was too large, too quiet, and smelled too much like expensive lemon polish. My mother, Elena, sat across from Marcus, her face glowing with a fragile sort of happiness that made my stomach turn. She was playing house, and she was doing it well.

"The salmon is delicious, Marcus," she said, her voice bright. "Riley, isn’t it wonderful? A real family dinner."

"Thrilling," I muttered, pushing a piece of asparagus around my plate.

Beside me, Kai sat like a predator draped in a designer shirt. He hadn't said a word since we sat down, but his presence was a heavy weight against my side. He leaned back, his shoulder brushing mine. I shifted away, nearly falling off my chair, but he didn't blink.

"So, Kai," Marcus said, his voice deep and authoritative. "I expect you to help Riley find her way around the campus tomorrow. You know the layout better than anyone."

Kai’s fork scraped against his plate, a sharp, grating sound. "Sure, Dad. I’ll show my little sister exactly where she belongs."

The way he said it made my skin crawl. It wasn't a promise; it was a threat.

Under the table, I felt something move. A heavy weight pressed against my shin. I froze. Kai’s boot was nudging mine. I pulled my legs back, tucking them under my chair, but he was relentless. He stretched his long legs out, his calf sliding firmly against mine.

I looked at him, my eyes wide and pleading for him to stop, but he wasn't looking at me. He was staring at his father, a bored expression on his face, while his leg continued to rub against mine in slow, deliberate strokes.

"Riley?" my mother asked. "You're very quiet. Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," I said, my voice coming out an octave too high.

Kai’s foot moved higher. His boot was gone now; I felt the friction of his denim jeans against my bare skin. He was sliding his leg up my calf, his touch hot and possessive. My heart started to hammer against my ribs. I tried to kick him away, but he caught my ankle between his feet, trapping me.

The heat was unbearable. I reached for my water glass, my hands shaking so hard the ice rattled.

"Is the room hot?" Kai asked suddenly, his voice smooth and mocking. He finally looked at me, his dark eyes hooded. "You look a little flushed, Riley."

"I'm just... thirsty," I choked out.

As I lifted the glass to my lips, Kai’s foot gave a sharp, sudden shove against my knee. The water slopped over the rim, splashing down the front of my white silk blouse. The cold liquid soaked through the thin fabric instantly, making it cling to my skin.

"Oh! Riley!" My mother stood up, reaching for a napkin.

I shoved my chair back, the legs screeching against the hardwood floor. I didn't look at her. I didn't look at Marcus. I glared at Kai, who was leaning back with a slow, devastating smirk. He looked satisfied. He looked like he’d just won a prize.

"I'm going to change," I snapped.

I bolted from the room, my heels clicking rapidly as I fled up the grand staircase. I didn't stop until I reached the upstairs hallway, my breath coming in short, jagged gasps. I looked down at my shirt. The wet silk was translucent, showing the lace of my bra.

"You're a mess," a voice drawled from the shadows.

I whirled around. Kai was standing at the top of the stairs. He must have followed me immediately. He walked toward me with a slow, predatory grace, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

"Stay away from me," I hissed, backing up until my spine hit the cold plaster of the wall.

"Why? We're family now, aren't we?" He stopped inches away, his scent—something like sandalwood and expensive tobacco—filling my lungs. He was so tall I had to crane my neck to look at him.

"Don't touch me under the table again," I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. "Don't touch me at all. There are boundaries, Kai. This is a house, not a playground for your twisted games."

He laughed, a low, dark sound that vibrated in his chest. He stepped closer, pinning me against the wall. He didn't use his hands; he just used his body, his chest inches from mine. I could feel the heat radiating off him.

"Boundaries?" he whispered, leaning down until his lips were brushing the shell of my ear. "You think a door and a lock make you safe? You think words are going to stop me?"

"I'll tell them," I threatened, though we both knew I wouldn't. My mother was finally happy. I couldn't ruin it.

"Tell them what? That I accidentally bumped into you?" He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes. His gaze dropped to my wet shirt, lingering on the damp fabric. "You talk a lot for someone who can’t stop staring, Riley."

"I'm not staring," I lied, my voice a breathy whisper.

"Liars go to hell," he murmured. He reached out, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw. His touch was electric, sending a jolt through me that made my knees weak. "And I think you’re already halfway there."

The arrogance in his voice snapped something inside me. I found a burst of strength and shoved his chest with both hands. He wasn't expecting it, and he stumbled back a step, surprise flickering in his dark eyes.

"Get lost, Kai!" I yelled.

I didn't wait for a response. I turned and ran for my bedroom, my heart racing so fast it felt like it might burst. I reached my door, flew inside, and slammed it shut. I turned the lock with trembling fingers, the click sounding like a gunshot in the quiet hall.

I leaned my forehead against the cool wood of the door, trying to steady my breathing. My skin still felt like it was on fire where he had touched me. I hated him. I loathed his tattoos, his smirk, and the way he looked at me like I was something he already owned.

Then, I heard it.

A low, amused laugh from the other side of the door. It was quiet, but in the silence of the mansion, it felt like he was right there next to me.

"Run all you want, little sis," Kai’s voice came through the wood, dark and full of promise. "This house isn’t big enough."