The Line We Crossed.
POV: HAZEL
Nick...
His name fell from my lips in a broken whisper as his mouth trailed a hot path down the side of my neck. My step brother. The one person I was never supposed to want.
We’d been circling each other for days. Late night walks by the pool, the way his eyes lingered half a second too long.
But tonight the line blurred.
With him, I lost control. Every rule, every boundary I’d ever had burned away under his touch.
“Louder,” he murmured against my skin, his hands gripping my waist like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. The apartment was silent except for our breathing. My mind went blank. The world narrowed to just us. To the risk we were taking and the way my body betrayed every smart decision I’d ever made for him.
“Do you want more?” His voice was low, dangerous, right against my ear.
I nodded, barely breathing. “Yes.”
His fingers dragged slowly, maddeningly down my side. My breath hitched. Shame and want tangled together until I couldn’t tell which was stronger. This was Nick. My step brother.The guy who called me childish infornt of everyone.
And then he stopped.
Cold air hit my skin. Confusion slammed into me as I opened my eyes.
Nick pulled back, jaw tight, eyes dark with something I couldn’t name. Regret. Fear. Hunger. A cruel smirk touched his lips but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Hazel.”
“Get out.”
The word hit me like a slap. Shame burned my cheeks. Anger followed right after, hot and fast.
I raised my hand and the sound cracked through the room before I could stop myself.
“I promise you, Nick,” I said, voice shaking but steadying. “You’ll regret this. You’ll think of me every night.”
I ran. Straight to the bathroom, locking the door behind me, letting the hot water try to wash away the ache and the humiliation. He made me want him. He pulled back. Now it was my turn to make him burn.
I leaned my forehead against the tile. We’d been doing this during the whole wedding preparations .The way he looked at me when he thought I wasn’t watching.
I turned the water colder. I wouldn’t be the one to break first. Not this time.
By the time I got out, the room was dark. His door was closed. I could still feel his hands on me. I hated that. I hated that I wanted him to knock.
I slid into bed and stared at the ceiling until sunrise.
POV: NICK
The door slammed. Silence.
Fuck.
I wanted her. God help me, I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anyone. Hazel with her sharp mind and those eyes that saw right through every lie I told myself.
I dragged a hand through my hair and punched the wall. The drywall gave with a dull thud. Why did we have to be step siblings? Why did she have to walk into my life with that mouth and that brain and that stubborn streak that made me want to argue with her for hours?
She’s 18. She’s off limits. Not because of law, but because if we did this and it went wrong, I’d lose the best thing in my life. She's my step sister.
But my body didn’t care about consequences.
I stepped into the shower, trying to drown the memory of her. The first time I saw her, I knew I was in trouble. Arrogance, elegance, and fire all in one girl. She was beautiful. Too beautiful to be even real.
Now she was here. In my house. Off limits.
And I had no idea how much longer I could pretend I didn’t want her.
The water was scalding. It didn’t help. I could still taste her on my mouth. I could still hear her say yes.
I braced my hands against the wall. I’d spent years building walls around myself. Hazel climbed them without even trying.
When I finally got out, I was finally able to breathe now.
That night I sat on the couch. A mug filled with coffee still on the counter, cold now.
My phone buzzed. Unknown number.
You win. I’m thinking of you.
Hazel. I went downstairs to make another coffee.
I didn’t reply. Not yet. If I did, there’d be no going back.
