Chapter 3 Wanna Join Us?
979 Words
Cheryl's POV:
"Eric..."
Two summers ago, we became family.
Two years ago...
My mom, Rachel, remarried Ian Patro, and I moved in with her to his—no, my stepdad's—place.
We got out of the car at Ian's estate, and I saw two men standing by the front door of the villa, waiting for us. Rachel, not happy with how shy I looked, stepped aside and pushed me in front of the two tall men.
"This is your stepfather Ian, the one you've met before. And this is Eric," Rachel said, her smile soft, pointing at him.
"He's a third-year painting major at Aldridge University's School of Fine Arts. From now on, you two will be step-siblings, so make sure you get along."
She turned back, her tone carrying just a hint of command.
I gave Eric a quick look-over, taking in the man in front of me—his shirt so perfectly pressed, it could've been straight out of the box.
A painting major?
He looked so polished and put together that I had a hard time imagining him as an "artist."
But there was no denying that my new stepbrother was not only good-looking but also sharp.
Eric flashed a flawless smile. "It's an honor to be your stepbrother."
I forced a polite smile and extended my hand.
His hand brushed against mine in a quick, gentle touch, before he pulled it away, leaving only a brief warmth.
Ian put his arm around Eric's shoulder, looking proud as could be. Rachel was all smiles, talking to him with excitement, leaving me in the dust.
'Alright then. He's their perfect son, and I'm just the outsider.'
Rachel and Ian walked off, arm in arm, and I followed behind, zoned out. It wasn't until I stepped on something that I snapped back to reality. Just as I pulled my foot back, a blast of water sprayed straight at me!
My vision blurred as water soaked me, and I quickly wiped my eyes, realizing I had stepped on a sprinkler.
Whether it was triggered by a switch or on a timer, the water gushed out, drenching me from head to toe.
I muttered a curse under my breath, but before I could even react, I heard a whistle.
I turned to see Eric, grinning as he took in my drenched, pathetic appearance.
"Help me out, Eric. I can't find the switch," I said, crossing my arms and looking to my new stepbrother for help.
Instead, I heard the sound of a camera shutter.
I froze. Eric was holding up his phone, snapping pictures of me?
That smirk on his face confirmed it: he was enjoying seeing me like this.
Where did that polite Eric go? What was this, some kind of game?
But right now, I had bigger issues. I muttered another curse and rushed to snatch the phone out of his hands.
He caught my wrist effortlessly, pulling me closer with surprising strength.
"Oh? Lost cherry? How sweet," he said, laughing, his eyebrow arched in amusement.
Eric's eyes burned with a strange intensity, as if he could see straight through me.
My cheeks flushed, and I felt my ears turning red.
I dropped my gaze, feeling water drip from my hair onto my shoulders and chest, my tight clothes now outlining every curve.
Eric, too, was getting wet, his shirt sticking to his chest, revealing the hard lines of muscle beneath.
I instinctively pulled back, wanting to escape his grip, but his hand and gaze locked onto me.
His voice was low and almost teasing. "Sorry, but I just can't help myself when I see something beautiful. I can't resist wanting you on my canvas. Will you be my model?"
The freezing cold water contrasted sharply with the heat of his palm on my wrist. I couldn't look him in the eye, but I felt this intense, awkward mix of unease and something else I couldn't quite name. For some reason, I couldn't look away.
"You'll catch a cold." He finally let go of me, pulling up an app on his phone. With a tap, the water turned off.
I was so mad I kicked him in the leg.
*****
That night, the party was for Ian, Rachel, and their friends. They drank too much and sang off-key, and I felt completely out of place. So I quietly snuck away.
Before I knew it, I found myself in a quiet corner of the garden.
It was by a cherry tree, its branches stretching out just like the one my grandpa had planted when I was a baby.
Suddenly, I heard a strange sound, like furniture scraping across the floor. It was so out of place in the peaceful garden.
Then came rhythmic, moaning sounds.
Guests? Or...
The noises made my face burn, but I couldn't help being curious.
I followed the sound and crept closer to a bush—there was definitely something going on behind a hidden door.
It led into a glass greenhouse. Driven by curiosity, I pushed the door open just a crack and peered inside. The moment I saw what was happening, I froze.
In the middle of the room, two bodies were tangled up, both shirtless.
The sound of heavy breathing, moans, and the crash of an easel against the floor filled the air, making it hard to breathe.
The moonlight spilling through the glass walls illuminated the woman's face, showing pure pleasure and surrender.
The man on top of her was muscular, his every movement radiating power.
I couldn't help but notice his hand gripping her breast—his fingers long and firm. Just like...
The man suddenly turned his head.
When our eyes met, I gasped, quickly raising my hand to cover my mouth.
His expression was playful, but his words were anything but...
"Wanna join us, my dear... step-sister?"
- Writer
