I Tempted My Brother-in-Law

When I got into university, I ended up in the same city where my older sister Claire Hayes lived. When she found out the dorm conditions at my school were awful, she insisted I move into her home instead. But right before I graduated, Claire died in a car accident. After that, it was just Ethan Cole and me living under the same roof. We rarely talked. Most days, we felt more like strangers sharing a house than family. When I got home that evening, I found Ethan already busy in the kitchen. "Ellie Hayes, you're back. Dinner's almost ready." I answered softly before heading to my room to grab some clothes for a shower. By the time I finished washing up and changed into my pajamas, Ethan was calling me out for dinner. I sat at the table and watched him moving around the kitchen, serving dishes one after another. For a moment, it felt like the old days, like Claire was still here. The warmth of home lingered in every little detail. "Go on, eat while it's hot." We sat across from each other in silence, neither of us speaking much. After dinner, I went straight back to my room. Sometime after midnight, I woke up needing to use the bathroom. As I stepped into the hallway, I noticed the bathroom door wasn't fully closed. It was cracked open just enough to leave a narrow gap. From inside came faint, uneven breathing. Almost without thinking, I glanced through the opening. Ethan's hand moved rapidly. His face was flushed red, sweat beading across his forehead. His bare upper body was tense under the dim light, sharp abs visible beneath damp skin. Heat radiated off him, thick with raw masculine energy. Outside the door, my own face instantly burned. Hearing his heavy breathing, I felt my knees weaken before I even realized what was happening. I hurried to leave, but in my panic, I accidentally bumped into the cabinet behind me. The sharp sound shattered the silence. "Who's there?" Ethan immediately strode out of the bathroom. Startled, I froze before I could hide. My back pressed against the cabinet, every muscle tightening as I looked at him helplessly. "Ethan..."