MARKED BY MY STEPBROTHER

Chapter two

Sophie's POV

Damon’s hand was still on my hip, and I could feel his fingers digging into the silk of my robe like he owned me. My heart was hammering so hard I was sure Victor could hear it through the door.

“Damon?” Victor called again, sharper this time. “Open the door.”

Damon let out a low, frustrated growl. His silver eyes burned into mine with, so intense. For a second, I thought he might ignore his father completely and kiss me anyway. Then he released me and stepped back, running a hand through his tousled black hair.

“Stay quiet,” he whispered, harsh. “And so something about your robe.”

I quickly pulled the silk close around my body, my cheeks burning red. Damon opened the door just enough to slip out, but his shoulders filled the doorframe.

“Everything’s fine,” I heard him say, voice calm and controlled. “Sophie couldn’t sleep. I was just... checking on her.”

I couldn't hear what Victor said because it was too low for me to catch, but I could tell that he was suspicious. Their footsteps faded down the hallway.

I sank onto the edge of my bed, my legs shaking. What the hell was happening to me? I’d only been here one day and my stepbrother, my stepbrother!, had me shaking with just one touch. And that wolf, those eyes. It couldn’t be possible.

I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that big black wolf staring at me. Or was it Damon’s bare chest. Or the way his lips had brushed my ear.

The next morning, sunlight came through the tall windows as I made my way downstairs in jeans and a soft sweater. The house smelled like coffee and something delicious. Victor was already gone for business, according to the note on the kitchen island.

But Damon was there.

He stood at the stove, shirtless again, flipping eggs as if he had trained to be a chef sometime. The scratch mark on his side looked fresher during the day, angry and red. And the way the muscles on his back moved when he moved, I just couldn’t stop staring.

“Morning, little sister,” he said without turning around. His voice had that mocking edge again, but there was something else underneath it

“I told you not to call me that,” I said as I slid onto one of the barstools.

He turned and set a dish in front of me. His eyes dropped to my chest for a brief second before meeting my eyes. “Did you sleep well?”

“Not really.” I picked up my fork. “I saw...something last night. In the forest.”

Damon’s entire body went still. The playful visage was gone immediately. “What did you see?”

“A wolf. A huge one. With silver eyes. Just like yours.”

Silence. He leaned forward, placing both hands on the counter. “You need to forget what you saw.”

“I’m not crazy,” I shot back. “And you were in my room right after. Shirtless. With a fresh scratch on your side.”

“Drop it, Sophie.”

“No.” I stood up, refusing to back down even though that was clearly the smartest thing to do at the moment. “Tell me what’s going on. Or I’ll ask Victor.”

Bad idea.

Damon came towards me faster than I could notice. He came round the counter and backed me against the fridge. His body pressed against mine, hard and hot. One hand was beside my head while the other held my waist.

“You really want to play this game?” he asked me. “Asking questions gets people hurt. Especially curious little girls who don’t know what they’re dealing with.”

My breath went pit-a-pat. I could feel him, every inch of his muscular body against me. Heat pooled low in my belly. “I’m not a little girl.”

His eyes almost went dark. “No. You’re not.” His thumb brushed the exposed of skin where my sweater had shifted upwards. “You’re trouble. And you’re going to get us both killed if you don’t stay away from me.”

“Then stop coming into my room,” I whispered, even as my body gravitated toward him.

Damon’s forehead dropped to mine. His breathing was ragged now. “I can’t. The moon, it’s making everything worse. You smell too f*****g good.”

My cheeks went red instantly. Before I could respond, he kissed me.

It wasn’t gentle. It was hungry and desperate. His mouth devoured mine, tongue sweeping in like he needed to taste every inch of me. I moaned into the kiss, hands sliding up his bare chest. He moaned back against my lips and lifted me onto the counter, stepping between my thighs.

His hands were everywhere, squeezing my hips, sliding under my sweater to cup my breast. My n*****s hardened instantly under his rough palm. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer. The hard length of him pressed against me through his sweatpants, thick like an iron rod.

“f**k, Sophie,” he groaned, and bit on my lower lip. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

I moved against him, wanting that contact. I’d never felt anything like this before, this overwhelming need. His mouth moved to my neck, sucking hard enough to leave a mark. Just as his hand slid down toward the button of my jeans, the front door opened.

We froze.

“Damon? Sophie? I forgot some documents,” Victor called out cheerfully from the foyer.

Damon cursed and pulled away, helping me down from the counter. My legs felt like icecream, lips felt swollen, and there was definitely a hickey forming on my neck.

“Upstairs. Now,” Damon whispered urgently. “Don’t come down until I text you.”

I nodded, dazed, and hurried toward the stairs. Halfway up, I glanced back. Damon had pulled on a shirt and was now leaning against the counter like nothing happened.

But his silver eyes followed me with a promise, and a warning too.

I spent the rest of the morning in my room, heart beating fast every single time I heard footsteps. My body was still charged with desire, lingering on my skin, my sweat pore. I touched the mark on my neck and shivered.

By afternoon, I decided I needed air. I slipped out the back door and headed toward the forest edge, telling myself I just wanted to explore. The trees here we're thick and they looked very old. Mist still clung to the ground even in daylight.

I walked deeper than I wanted to, camera phone in hand, taking photos of the beautiful woods. That’s when I heard rustling.

I turned.

There was a different wolf, this one smaller, gray-brown, was watching me from between the trees. Its lips pulled back in a snarl.

I backed away slowly. “Nice wolf... good wolf...”

It stalked forward.

Then another sound, heavier footsteps. The massive black wolf from last night burst through the undergrowth, and planted itself between me and the gray wolf. A deep, terrifying growl erupted from its throat.

The gray wolf whined and retreated.

The black wolf turned toward me. Silver eyes locked on mine. Up close, it was even more scary, and beautiful.

“Damon?” I whispered, my voice shaking.

The wolf stepped closer. Its muzzle brushed my shaking hand. Then, right before my eyes, it began to shift.

Bones cracked, fur receded, and in seconds, Damon stood before me, completely naked, breaths coming out hard, every muscle polished with sweat. His silver eyes were still glowing.

“Sophie,” he rasped, voice hoarse from the shift. “You shouldn’t have come out here alone.”

I couldn’t stop my eyes from traveling down his body. Broad shoulders, well defined abs, then lower, my mouth went dry at the sight of him, thick and heavy even while soft.

He noticed this and a wicked smile curved his lips.

“You keep looking at me like that,” he said, stepping closer, completely unashamed of the fact that he was naked, “and I won’t be able to stop myself next time.”

Before I could respond, distant howls erupted from everywhere through the trees.

Damon’s expression changed instantly. “They’ve scented you.” He grabbed my hand, pulling me against his bare chest. “Run.”

We sprinted back toward the mansion, but I could hear the wolves coming behind us.

As we reached the tree line near the house, Damon suddenly stopped and pushed me behind him.

Three more wolves emerged from the shadows, eyes glowing with hostility.

Damon’s voice was surprisingly calm. “Stay behind me, Sophie. And whatever happens, you don’t run.”

One of the wolves lunged.