Ice Vs Temptation: Training My Stepbrother

Chapter 5

Chloe

His words played over and over again. I didn't understand what the hell was going on.

“Did he just say he owned me?”

I felt my body tense.

“Well, I tried to return, but if you're going to keep doing this to me, then I guess I might as well—”

He inched his wheelchair close to where I was, forcefully pushing himself up.

My eyes widened, and I rushed to support him, my heart drumming. This was no place to do this.

“What the hell do you think you're doing? Are you trying to hurt yourself?”

I had so many questions, but he pinned me to the wall, eyes staring deep into mine.

“I want answers.”

“To what exactly? Please, sir, and I promise I'll crouch—”

He lost it. “You're doing it again; you're taking pity on me. Stop it!”

I pressed my lips together, breathing hard. The tension between us was too much, and I felt my body heat up.

“It's not pity, it's care. I'm your trainer, and I can't watch you put our few weeks of training to waste.”

He sighed, finally taking his seat, and I crouched down to his level.

I still didn't understand his sudden change. The way he talked to me was different, but after he got back on the wheelchair, he sighed.

“Nothing happened, and even when James is an exciting person to be around, I still don't think I can go on another date with him.”

His eyes widened. “Did he do anything to you?”

I shook my head.

“Then why did you make that decision? There's obviously something you're not telling me.”

I sighed. “I've told you everything I have to. There's nothing else.”

He hummed, then exhaled. “Good. I don't want you flirting with anyone else.”

My eyes widened. “Excuse me? I don't—”

He placed his index finger on my lips to stop me from speaking further.

I swallowed, feeling how my body stiffened. Was he trying to flirt with me?

“You need to get some rest. You had a long day, and—”

“Walk me to my room.”

At first, I wanted to object. It wasn't my assigned task, but I felt this was the moment he needed me the most, and I couldn't abandon him.

“Alright. Let's go.”

He didn't argue, and instead of letting him wheel himself, I decided to wheel him this time.

The silence was heart aching, and I wanted to start up a conversation, but I didn't know what to say.

“So, do you have any family here?” He asked, not sparing me a glance.

“Yeah, my mom, she's a widow who's hoping to find love.”

He hummed. “I guess we have something in common because my dad's also looking for a wife. He lost his wife six years ago.”

“I'm sorry you had to go through—”

“No, it's past now. I'm sorry about your loss too.”

I nodded, and the silence continued until we got to the entrance of the room.

“Okay, I'll be leaving—”

“Could you lay me on the bed? I might not be able to do that on my own, you know my legs still hurt.”

I felt my heart nearly leave my chest the moment he said that.

Adrian exhaled. “It's okay if you don't want to. I have a painful way to do it.”

He seemed to have noticed the hesitation I had towards him and tried to find his way around.

“No, I'll do it. Sorry, I'm not just used to doing this. I'm training based.”

He nodded, and I exhaled, wheeling him into the room. Once we were close enough to the bed, I made sure he hugged me well enough, then I tried to lift him, angling him in such a way that he wouldn't hurt his foot again.

“There.” I exhaled the moment I laid him on the bed, but my hair fell over his face.

“Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to—”

“No, they smell nice. What's the name of your shampoo?”

I was still so close to him our breaths fanned each other, and I could tell how much he was interested in whatever I was about to say.

“I can't recall.” I tried to pull myself away, but he held me and stared into my eyes.

“I have some questions for you.”

I felt sweat from my temples, and my heart drummed harder than normal.

“W-what would that be?”

“I want to know something new about you. Why did you apply to be a personal trainer?”

I sighed. “Can you at least let me go first? I feel like I'm leaning on you, and that's a bit dangerous.”

“Stop giving silly excuses and answer my question.”

I stammered, looking for the right words to put together. How was I supposed to think when his breath kept finding my face?

“I have to–”

I struggled, but his hands only tightened, pulling me closer. Our noses touched, and the tips of our lips were just inches apart.

“Are you trying to kiss me?” I asked, but the next words that left his lips made me swallow.

“Is it a crime to?”

I swallowed. Well, that was because I didn't know what to say. He was acting weird, and I wasn't used to this new part of him.

“Could you please let me go? I need to rest. We have another training session tomorrow. I don't want you getting too tired.”

“That's it.”

I furrowed my brows. “What?”

“That's how you're able to get me to give you the attention. Your care.”

I rolled my eyes, but he pulled me in, and this time, our lips brushed. I felt jolts of electricity pass through my spine, and I froze.

“Hmm, they are—”

The door suddenly opened, revealing the butler, and only then did he let me go.

I didn't bother to give me a second glance. I simply walked toward the door and past the butler like nothing happened.

As soon as I reached my room, I secured the lock and collapsed on my bed.

“What the hell just happened?”