Owned In Secret: Daddy & Son

Chapter 5: Cornered

A few moments after slipping out of the pantry, Ava leaned against the hallway wall, her breath still ragged from the intensity of Ethan's kiss. The door had clicked shut behind her, sealing away the memory of his hands pinning her wrists, his body pressing her against the shelves, hips grinding in a rhythm that had set her skin on fire. Flour dusted her sweater, a innocent remnant of the "dinner prep" that had spiraled into something far more heated. Her n*****s ached against the fabric, her thighs still trembling from the near-climax he'd teased out of her with his touch. But then Liam had interrupted, his voice cutting through the haze, and Ethan had pulled away with a growl, storming off without a word.

The cabin felt oppressively warm now, the fire crackling in the living room a distant roar compared to the storm raging outside and inside her. Snow pelted the windows like accusations, the blizzard a white wall that trapped her here, amplifying every forbidden spark. What was she doing? This getaway was meant for peace, not this tangle of desire with two men who shared blood and a roof. Father and son. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, equal parts thrill and unease.

Footsteps approached from the kitchen light, confident. Ava straightened, smoothing her hair, but there was no time to compose herself fully. Liam rounded the corner, his lean frame filling the space, joggers slung low on his hips, his tattooed chest bare and taut. His dark hair was tousled, and those storm-gray eyes locked onto her with a mix of curiosity and heat. He leaned one shoulder against the opposite wall, effectively cornering her without a touch, his smirk playful but edged with something sharper.

"Hey," he said, voice low and teasing. "You and Dad disappear in there for a bit. Everything okay? Looked like he was in a hurry when he came out."

Ava's pulse spiked, panic flooding her like the snow outside. He knew. He must have seen through the door's crack, perhaps, or heard the muffled gasp she'd let slip as Ethan's thumb circled her n****e. The grind of his hips, the way her body had arched into him. Oh God, if Liam had witnessed it...

She forced her expression neutral, but her mind raced. "What do you mean? We were just grabbing more flour for the biscuits. Dinner's not going to make itself."

Liam's smirk deepened, his gaze flicking to the pantry door. "Flour, sure. But Dad seemed... tense. You sure there wasn't room for two in there?"

The phrase hit her "room for two" and the panic shifted. It was the same bold line he'd tossed out when he burst in, the one that had earned Ethan's sharp rebuke and dismissal. Not because Liam had caught them in the act, but because it was just Liam: flirtatious, shameless, always pushing with that cocky charm. He hadn't seen anything. This wasn't interrogation; it was his default mode, teasing and testing boundaries like it was a game.

Relief washed over her, cool and steadying, but it carried a undercurrent of opportunity and risk. She could come clean right now. Admit the kiss, the heat, the way Ethan's dominance had left her craving. It might halt this before it escalated, draw a clear boundary in the snow. Truth could reset everything, keep the cabin's fragile dynamic intact.

But the words stuck in her throat. Truth? It had a way of unraveling things, turning small sparks into infernos that burned everyone. Better to let it lie dormant, hidden where it couldn't harm. She wasn't hurting anyone not Ethan, not Liam, not their bond. This was just... survival in isolation. A secret to keep the peace.

Ava laughed softly, the sound light and deflecting, stepping a fraction closer to mirror his ease. "Room for two? In that cramped space? We'd be tripping over each other. No, it was just supplies. Your dad's intense about cooking, that's all."

The lie slipped out effortlessly, smooth as fresh snow. And in its wake, something shifted inside her a sense of safety, of control. It wasn't deceit; it was protection. Shielding Liam from jealousy, Ethan from complication, herself from the fallout if things went wrong. The cabin was their shared sanctuary against the storm; why shatter it with unnecessary revelations?

Liam's posture relaxed, his smirk turning genuine as he chuckled. "Intense, yeah. That's Dad for you. Always the boss." He reached out, his fingertip grazing the edge of her hoodie where flour still clung, brushing it away with a deliberate slowness that sent a spark through her. "You got a bit there. Messy work, huh?"

Ava's breath hitched at the touch, light but intentional. The air in the hallway thickened, the blizzard's howl fading to a background hum. Up close, Liam was overwhelming fresh soap scent mingling with the wood smoke from the fire, his tattoos curling over muscle that spoke of youthful strength. His eyes held hers, playful but probing, as if testing the waters she'd just muddied with her lie.

"Thanks," she murmured, her hand instinctively rising to cover the spot he'd touched, feeling the warmth linger. Confusion swirled in her chest. Ethan had just claimed her in that pantry, his kiss a command that still echoed in her body. Yet here was Liam, charming and bold, making her pulse quicken in a lighter, freer way. Both men pulled at her Ethan's quiet intensity, Liam's vibrant energy. How could she feel this draw to both? It was the isolation, she told herself, the storm amplifying everything. But the lie she'd just told... it bound her to the secret, deepening the tangle.

Liam didn't move away. His hand dropped, but his body stayed close, the hallway feeling narrower. "You know, if you ever need help with... supplies... just say the word." His voice dipped lower, laced with that shameless flirtation, but there was a hint of something else curiosity, perhaps, or genuine interest.

Ava nodded, forcing a smile. "I'll keep that in mind." But as he finally stepped back, giving her space to pass, guilt crept in like the cold seeping through the cabin's cracks. The lie had protected, yes, but it also isolated her further, a barrier she'd built herself. And confusion followed, hot on its heels who was she protecting, really? Them, or her own heart not knowing what it wants?

She moved toward the living room, the mug of cocoa forgotten in her earlier plan, but Liam's gaze followed her, heavy with unspoken questions. The night stretched ahead, full of shadows and secrets, and Ava wondered how many more lies it would take before the weight became too much.

The fire crackled invitingly as she entered the main room, Ethan already there, his back to her as he poked at the logs with more force than necessary. Tension radiated from him, his broad shoulders set in a rigid line. He didn't turn, didn't acknowledge her, but the air hummed with the unfinished business from the pantry. Ava hesitated in the doorway, her body still humming from his touch, but the lie to Liam echoed in her mind, a fresh layer of complexity.

She could bridge the gap now tell Ethan about the conversation, keep things transparent. But no. That would invite questions, risks. Better to let it lie.

Sinking onto the couch, Ava pulled a blanket over her legs, the wool scratching against her sensitized skin. The storm battered the windows, snow swirling in furious eddies, mirroring the chaos inside her. Ethan finally sat across from her, his storm-gray eyes flicking to hers briefly, dark with unresolved heat. "Dinner's almost ready," he muttered, voice gruff.

"Good," she replied, her tone even. But beneath it, guilt gnawed guilt for the lie, for the attraction to both him and his son, for the confusion that made her question everything. Who did she want? Ethan's commanding presence made her feel claimed, safe in a way that thrilled. Liam's playfulness sparked something lighter, freer. Both were lovely, charming in their contrasts, and the slow pull toward each felt natural, inevitable, like falling in love in stolen moments.

Liam joined them minutes later, carrying plates with a casual grin, as if the hallway exchange hadn't happened. "Biscuits are golden. Dig in." He handed her a plate, his fingers brushing hers deliberately, a secret spark amid the normalcy.

Ava ate in silence, the food tasting like cardboard as guilt and confusion churned. The lie had bought her time, but at what cost? The cabin's warmth pressed in, the fire casting flickering shadows that danced like unspoken truths. Outside, the blizzard showed no signs of letting up, and neither did the storm within her.

As the meal wound down, Liam leaned back, his foot nudging hers under the table playful, testing. Ethan's gaze caught it, his jaw tightening subtly. Ava pulled away, but the damage was done. Confusion bloomed fuller, guilt a heavy anchor. She'd lied to protect, but now she was adrift, torn between two men who each held a piece of her heart.

The night deepened, the fire dying to embers, and Ava retired to the couch that served as her bed, the blanket a poor shield against the chill of her deceptions. Sleep evaded her, the lie replaying in her mind, immediate guilt twisting like a knife. Who was she falling for Ethan's depth or Liam's light? Or both? The confusion wrapped around her, tight and unrelenting.