Claimed By My Mafia Stepbrother

6: Denial

Lisa's POV.

In the past week, I've been explaining myself, which only made matters worse.

"It's not what you think," I tried my best to convince him for the past hour that the whole scenario between Xander and I was just a misconception.

"What do you know that i think?" Dax tilted his head, looking over my shoulder. I could tell that Xander was behind me.

He was making a fuss out of nothing, but practically, I reminded myself that I still needed to stay away from Xander. So far away.

"Don't you belong to me?" Dax tone had switched octaves, and he cupped my cheeks.

I flickered my eyes to Xander, whose veins were popping, I wasn't so sure about Dax anymore like it was six years ago. Things had changed between them, our bond had worn off, and the only thing that was left was just denial to leave one another.

A sigh left my lips, and I nodded my head, forcing a smile to my face just to leave him satisfied, and I could see it swirling in his eyes already.

"I love you, okay?" Dax’s thumb played with my earlobes, the one spot that had me melting every time I made a resolve.

"I love you too," my voice was barely a whisper. I closed my eyes so he could savour the taste of my lips.

The stench of strong whisky hit my nose and ran down my spine, making me wince and pull back from the kiss.

"It's time to go, Lisa." One swift tug from Xander, and next, I was inside the car.

An awkward silence had taken over the ride, but the F.M. jam from the music box didn't make the tension so choking.

"You don't get to make me jealous like that," For the first time since the ride, he spoke, and I glanced his way to see him gripping the wheel so firmly.

I wandered what it would feel like to have those hands run over my body and spank my ass...

Lisa

"What do you mean?" I demanded as I took a sip from the drink in the smoothie cup.

"Dax? The kiss?" A scowl had settled on his face, and the first time that I acknowledged a man's beauty even with a scowl on. The lines on his forehead drew together, giving highlights to the thick brows and thick fringe of lashes that fluttered.

"Any of that shouldn't affect you. You have a girlfriend, and we are siblings," i made it clear for him as well as myself so my mind could process it and fully accept the fact that Xander was forbidden, far beyond my reach.

"That is just a mere title which you're using to knock yourself of the fantasies you have of me behind closed doors." How in the hell does he know all of these about me. Not even Shonda does…

My lips went dry, and the only thing I could think about was grasping the plastic cup in my hands and sucking out all the juice that's left inside.

I wanted the earth to open and swallow me cause my silence gave me out already alongside the pink hue on my cheeks.

"I... don't do..." Words weren't forthcoming, so I sealed my lips and looked down at my pale palms.

"Tell me that I'm lying, Babygirl." The endearment sank deep into my nerve, soothing the once aching nerve of mine.

"You are lying," they weren't even convincing enough for me even.

I ran my fingers through my strands so I could look convincing enough for Xander, but his chuckle rang in my ears. They were the most beautiful melody I have heard except forTaylor Swift's.

"Bad at lying, i see." Xander had moved closer to me. Our faces were just inches away from mine, and I could feel his hot breath fan my face. The distance made my thighs clench and my n*****s to graze against the polo I had on. This was something that I had never felt with Dax before.

I wanted to be explored. With the way he was this close, I felt like we were going to kiss again, so I parted my lips to welcome his.

The softness of his lips lightly touched my now chapped ones. It was barely a touch, but I knew that I felt the need in them. It sparked up and was about to burn me whole before he retracted and dusted his shirt and held the wheel to hit the road.

From the corner of my eyes and the mirror, I stole glimpses of his side profile.

I kept yelling it in my head to get over him and focus on getting married to Dax. A year from now, my life would change. I would have a ring around my finger and revel in whatever our marriage bore, but I was certain that it would only end up being the same as always.

Me being his boxing bag and then behaving like a perfect power couple in public. Dax wasn't going to change, but it was still that iota of love that lingered from our wonderful days back at college that made believe that he is the right one for me and not even Xander can decide that.

My head rested on the window pane as I watched the cars run by and the trees go by.

The only thing that has bugged me for so long is holding unto Xander. He didn't deny about the girlfriend's topic, and it took a while for me to digest it and get used to things being this way. Awkward.

My thoughts raced back to my birthday six years ago to capture the girl I have unknowingly battled with to have Xander to myself. His hand settled on the small of her back, and the heaven's knew it irked me to the very last even till this very moment.

It has been her that made him glance away and to always look down on me. Maybe cause I didn’t have a hot summer body or perky peaches and glass like skin back then.

The thoughts of it had me curling in the corner and sticking my face to the window to avoid any contact with him anymore. I just couldn't wait for the ride to come to an end, and I would lock myself away for a week, or more, anything that would keep me away from him for a long time.

"I admire you, you know," I paid no attention to anything he had to say.

I pushed the door open, but his grip around my wrist pulled back in, and his soft lips met the spot underneath my chin before he drove off.