Forbidden to Love My Stepbrother

Chapter 2

By evening, the ballroom swells with guests. Elegance everywhere, draped gowns, black tuxedos, the clink of champagne flutes. Old men arrive with their polished sons and daughters in tow, teaching them how to network, how to groom themselves for the business world.

Boring. If it weren’t for Grey, I wouldn’t step foot in this suffocating room.

But I’m here. The red dress hugs my body, revealing a teasing curve of cleavage and the length of my thighs beneath sheer black lace leggings. I know I look stunning. My coils are twisted up to the side of my head, sexy and yet cute.

I lean against the railing, scanning the crowd.

Grey isn’t here.

A frown crests my carefully drawn brows, until my gaze snags on Miles.

Baby curls. Smiley face. Except tonight he’s in a tuxedo. I almost choke. I’ve only ever seen this i***t in shorts and T-shirts, trying too hard to act like he’s from the hood, or in sweaty tank tops. But a suit? A suit makes him look like a toddler shoved into a trench coat. Hilarious. I smother a laugh into my hand.

His eyes flick up and land on me. The smile dies. He glares. I glare back. The usual.

Miles Kreeve and I have hated each other forever. He’s sunshine to everyone else but when it comes to me, he spits fire, and I return it gladly.

He stomps for the stairs, charging toward me like he’s about to level an accusation.

“Little Monster.” His grin is forced, tight. “Haven’t seen you in ages.”

“No wonder my life’s been so peaceful. Why’d you have to ruin it by showing up?” I bite back.

“You think I came here for you?” His scowl deepens. “Where’s your brother? Haven’t seen Grey in forever. Where’s my bro?”

“Gross. He’s not your bro.” I wrinkle my nose, aiming straight for his fragile ego.

He scoffs, throwing me a vicious look. “You’re just his little monstrous sister. What would you know?”

“Forgotten how I shaved off all that baby-soft hair of yours?” I grin as his body goes stiff, somehow my threats still work on him after so long.

“Don’t remind me,” he grits out, jaw tight. " Every time I see you, I still want to strangle you.”

“Strangle me then. I dare you.” I step closer, daring him outright. One move, and Grey would destroy him.

A deep voice breaks through our standoff. “I see nothing’s changed between you two.”

I spin around.

Grey. He is standing behind me, wearing only the waistcoat of his suit, his shirt sleeves cuffed and neat, his hair loose instead of tied back. The dark strands fall past his shoulders, longer and thicker than mine, a silken curtain I ache to run my fingers through.

"Grey, yo! My man!" Miles ruins the moment with his obnoxious shout, rushing over to do their secret handshake.

I cross my arms, annoyance radiating off me. This isn’t the time for their bromance, I have something to say to Grey.

"Miles, you really did grow taller." Grey towers over him, the words sounding more like mockery than praise, but of course the airhead doesn’t notice.

"I know, right? And look at you, those workouts finally paid off. I would’ve thought you were prepping for war instead of coming back as heir apparent. What happened?"

Grey’s eyes flick to me and lock me in place. Something about his next words seize my breath. "You know, Miles… some things might not look like war on the surface, but they actually are."

Yeah, that flies right over Miles’s head. "Whatever. You’re back, and we’ve got catching up to do. Let’s go downstairs."

"You go, Miles. I want to speak to my sister."

The way he says sister makes my heart stutter. I swallow, hoping the i***t will read the room. He doesn’t.

"Huh? You’re gonna see her every day now. Even if you don’t want to, she’ll always be there, like a ghost haunting you."

"Shut up, fart-face," I snap, wishing I could grab him by the hair and hurl him over the railing.

"You shut up, little monster," he glares back. Ugh. He really can’t read the damn room. If only I had a stick. Or a shoe. Something to throw at his head.

"It’s okay, Miles. It won’t take long," Grey pats his shoulder before stepping toward me. His words make my stomach drop. Won’t take long? I’ve waited for this moment for so long, I want it to last forever.

"Alright, my man." They do another secret handshake, which pisses me off even more, but finally Miles leaves. At last it’s just the two of us.

I can’t take it anymore, I want to hug him right now. I raise my arms, ready to close the space, but he lifts a hand between us, stopping me cold.