Claimed By My Sister's Fiancé

Out of all the men in the world, the one I had hooked up with twelve hours ago was sitting across the table from me, sipping my father’s wine while discussing his engagement to my sister.

Yes, My Sister.

My chest tightened, and I felt my stomach drop. The fork in my hand trembled.

I stole a quick glance at them. His fingers were entwined with hers, a half-smile resting on his lips. The same fingers that had left marks around my neck. The same lips that had swept across my whole body.

I moved my hand to the hickey behind my neck and rubbed it gently. Our eyes met, and a flicker of something passed through his, causing a knot to form in my stomach.

I quickly looked away and stabbed at the beef on my plate, startling my mother.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

I wanted, so badly, to say no, I wasn’t. But my eyes caught his again, and I forced a bite, chewing slowly, feeling his gaze linger on me out of the corner of my eye.

Why wouldn’t he just fucking look away?

12 HOURS AGO

“FUCK!” I yelled, yanking the already burnt cake from the oven and dropping it onto the counter.

“What happened?” Lana asked, stepping into the kitchen now covered in smoke.

I groaned, dragging a hand over my face, disappointed in my nonexistent cooking skills.

“The cake’s burnt.”

Obviously.

I let out a long, exhausted sigh at my failed attempt to bake for Lana’s twenty-third birthday. I pulled off the oven mitts and tossed them beside the burnt offering.

“Rhea, you did not!” Lana laughed, a snort escaping her as she examined the cake.

“This is how you appreciate my effort?” I popped the Coke can I grabbed from the fridge to calm my nerves.

Lana snapped her head in my direction as I gulped the Coke in one go. “In what world has Rhea Bennett ever baked a fucking cake?” Her laughter filled the kitchen again, and I rolled my eyes, crushing the can and tossing it at her.

I hated to admit she was right. Growing up, I had never felt the need to prepare my meals. The Bennetts, my family, thought it was unnecessary for us to learn how to. Vanessa and I never really thought much of it. We had staff who did everything for us, even tying our shoelaces. Now I couldn’t even make noodles without reading the instructions twice.

“It’s okay. It’s the thought that matters,” Lana shrugged, smiling at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back.

Lana had been my best friend since fifth grade. We did everything together and were even called twins at some point, even though we looked nothing alike. She was the kind of pretty you only saw in magazines and on TV, blonde hair, blue eyes, and a figure that belonged on the front page of Vogue. Meanwhile, I was just a rich, average-looking girl.

Still, we bonded so much that we ended up applying to Columbia together, and sharing an apartment.

“At least you didn’t burn the house down.”

My smile faded instantly. I should’ve known it was sarcasm. “You’re fucking crazy, you know that?”

“I know, darling. I know,” she said, hiding a grin. “So… what are we going to do with your chocolate cake?”

I pressed my lips into a thin line, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s not chocolate,” I muttered under my breath, avoiding her eyes.

Lana scoffed, her eyes widening in disbelief. I didn’t blame her, it did look like a chocolate cake, even though it was supposed to be vanilla cream.

She lifted her chin. “Rhea, baby, don’t ever bake again. Okay?”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

My phone rang, and I quickly pulled it out of my joggers pocket. The name flashed across the screen, and I hesitated for a second before answering.

“Rhea, hey! How are you?” Vanessa’s voice came through the line.

“I’m good.... is there a problem?”

Vanessa rarely called me. Even though we were biological sisters, we acted more like strangers. So yeah, this was definitely about something.

“Mom, Dad, and I wanted to know if you were still coming for dinner tomorrow?”

Shit. I had completely forgotten.

I had been distant from my parents my whole life, and it got worse after I started school. They never really bothered to reach out, except now, apparently.

“You know, Darnell, my fiancé? He’s coming into town today. We were wondering if you could make it.”

I rolled my eyes, and beside me, Lana almost let out a laugh.

Vanessa had gotten engaged last week to some guy I didn’t even know, and now they suddenly wanted me there to complete some perfect little family portrait.

“I’ll think about it,” I said, even though there was maybe a one-percent chance I would actually show up.

I could hear her chewing gum through the phone.

“Okay. See you.”

I sighed, slipping my phone back into my pocket. “Family drama,” I muttered.

Lana laughed. “So…” she started, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “We’re going out.”

My brows furrowed as a hundred questions ran through my head. I wasn’t surprised, of course she wanted to party; it was her birthday. The problem was how, with the ankle monitor around her left leg.

“You know that’s not possible, right?”

“Who said it isn't?” she shrugged, completely unbothered, which only made my worry grow.

“It’s not!” I shot back, walking out of the kitchen, not willing to argue.

“Mike can override the system just for the night,” she called after me as I strolled into my room.

Lana was my best friend, but not calling her out when she was about to make a terrible decision made me a terrible friend. I had made that mistake once, I wasn’t doing it again.

“Come on, Rhea. It’s my birthday. I haven’t been out in weeks. I just want to celebrate!” She moved in front of me, blocking my path.

I stopped. Pity flooded my chest, and I knew we were about to make a terrible decision. “Lana… I don’t know.”

“Come on, Rhea, please.” She pouted, and I sighed, glancing around as if the walls could help me decide.

It had been exactly three weeks since I let her go out with her dumbass boyfriend, Mike. He let her get drunk as hell and then left her to drive, she hit a street sign. Thank God she survived, or I would’ve killed him myself.

“Just this once,” I finally agreed, and a wide smile spread across her face.

Fuck. I was a terrible friend.

“You’re the fucking best, you know that?” she said, wrapping me in a tight hug, squeezing the air out of my lungs.

“You can let me go now,” I wheezed.

“Oh shit.” She released me, and I sucked in a deep breath.

“We’re going on one condition,” I said, raising a finger.

She nodded eagerly. “Anything.”

“We get back before two.”

“Deal!”

I exhaled slowly, already regretting it. “Okay then.”

“Wait—there’s one more thing,” she said, rubbing the back of her neck.

“What?”

“Mike is coming too.”

My eyes squeezed shut as I tilted my head back, trying to keep my anger from spiraling out of control. I should’ve made it two conditions.

“Lana…” I warned quietly.

“He says he’s sorry. He’s made it up to me.”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me. You could’ve died!” I snapped.

“But I didn’t—and he’s sorry. Come on.”

Mike had been a pain in my ass since day one. He treated her like shit, but she stayed, blinded by love. Lana could have any guy she wanted, yet she kept going back to him.

“Okay,” I said finally, defeated.

A flicker of hope lit up her face. “Okay?”

I hated Mike, but I wasn’t going to let him ruin her birthday. “Yeah, okay. Whatever.”

Fuck Mike.

She beamed, and despite everything, the corner of my lips lifted too.

I hated parties, the noise, the smell of alcohol, and the people. Especially the people. I wasn’t an introvert, and I wasn’t exactly an extrovert either. I fell somewhere in between. As for Lana, who had been on the dance floor with Mike for the past two hours, I think she spoke for herself.

“You look beautiful, princesa,” a drunk Mexican man slurred, circling me.

“Thank you,” I replied, already uncomfortable. I stood about ten feet from Lana, keeping a close eye on her. God forbid I let anything happen to her again.

The man lingered, leaning in to sniff me, and I stepped back.

“I like your perfume. Do you want to dance?”

If I wanted to dance, I would’ve been on the dance floor.

“No,” I said bluntly, trying to block out the heavy tequila stench.

“You sure you don’t want to dance?” he pressed.

“She said no. Leave.”

Mike.

The man muttered something under his breath and stumbled away.

I turned to Mike with an irritated glare. “I didn’t ask for your help,” I snapped. Of all people to intervene, it had to be him.

“You need to chill out,” he said, grabbing a drink from the counter and downing it in one go.

“You don’t deserve her,” I shot back, folding my arms across my chest.

Mike chuckled, already on his third drink, and that was when it clicked. I turned sharply to where Lana had been just seconds ago.

She was gone.

“Where’s Lana?”

“Can you fucking relax? She’s in the bathroom. You’re being paranoid.”

My head snapped back, anger flooding my chest. “I should relax? She almost died because of you!”

Mike sighed, setting down what looked like his fifth glass before turning to face me. “I’m not going to lie, I don’t like you. You’re Lana’s friend, so I have to tolerate you. So please, leave me the fuck alone.”

I was about to fire back when Lana returned and immediately kissed him like she’d been starving for it. I wasn’t great at hiding my facial expressions.

She giggled, standing on her toes as he whispered something in her ear, his hand gripping her ass. I just stood there, watching, not jealousy, just irritation.

They finally pulled apart.

Thank God.

Lana looked at me like she already knew I wouldn’t like what she was about to say. “We’re going to a hotel.”

I shook my head in disapproval. “No. We came here together, we’re going home together,” I emphasized.

“She doesn’t need your approval,” Mike cut in, and I shot him a sharp side-eye.

“I’ll be fine,” Lana said, swaying slightly. “It’s my birthday. What’s the worst that can happen?”

She was drunk. Completely drunk.

Before I could argue, Mike grabbed her hand and led her out. She turned back just long enough to blow me a kiss before disappearing into the crowd.

I placed one hand on my waist and rubbed my temple with the other, trying to keep myself from losing it.

After a moment, I forced myself to calm down.

Then I headed to my car, following them.

The things we did for friendship.

The ride was about fifteen minutes. I reached two minutes after them, just in time to watch them step into the elevator.

Corny-ass Mike.

I felt a bit relieved that she was safe at least. It was past midnight, and the hotel was quiet.

My eyes drifted to the bar around the corner.

I could really use a drink.

I booked a room quickly and sat by the counter. “Coke, please,” I ordered, and the bartender poured it.

An exhausted yawn escaped me, and I noticed the man sipping his drink beside me.

Every detail was impossible to ignore, white button-down shirt, black trousers, sharp jawline, jet-black hair swept to one side.

“Your drink.” The bartender slid it to me, and my eyes finally drifted away from him.

"That’s not a good option.” A deep, calm, enticing voice said beside me, and I immediately turned to him.

The sexy looking man beside me.

“I didn’t ask your opinion,” I snapped, trying to sound confident, even though his voice did something to me.

He finally looked at me, and my throat tightened. Brown eyes, Cupid’s bow lips, stubble brushing his jaw, I felt my cheeks heat, but I couldn’t look away.

His gaze lingered on the slit in my dress, on my cleavage, before snapping back to my eyes.

Fuck. I was going to pee on myself.

He didn’t say a word, just faced forward again. I gulped down the rest of my drink, my heart racing. Whiskey. I needed whiskey.

I called for it, twirling the glass in my hands, and noticed him fiddling with something.

An AirPod.

Meaning... He wasn’t talking to me....

Fuck!

I had just made a fool out of myself.

I inhaled deeply, trying to calm my nerves, when I heard that voice again.

“Is it a habit of yours, speaking to strangers with such a tone?”

He heard me????

My lips parted. “I thought… you were…” My voice faltered. He didn’t react, only scrutinized me. “You look familiar,” he added.

I raised an eyebrow. I hadn’t seen him before, and yet, there was something unforgettable about him.

Before I could respond, he picked up his phone. That was the end of our conversation. I stared after him, annoyed and captivated at once. Fuck, he was handsome. Weird, but handsome.

He stood, walked toward the elevator, talking into the phone, and I slumped back against the counter.

I was exhausted.

I finished my drink, dropped a hundred-dollar bill, and headed for the elevator. The doors opened, and he was inside. I stepped in beside him, pressing the fourth floor. Standing this close, I realized I wasn’t as tall as I thought, I was about five-seven, and he was at least nine inches taller.

“We're forming an alliance, and I’ll take the risk,” he said to the person over the phone, and I had no idea what he was talking about.

Not that it was any of my business.

I tapped my foot impatiently waiting for the lift to reach my floor.

“Stop,” he muttered, clearly talking to me.

How rude.

I rolled my eyes.

I stepped out at my floor, 199, and heard his footsteps. Same floor. Coincidence.

I swiped my key card. Nothing. Again. Still nothing. Stress crept in as he took another step behind me.

Finally, the door opened, but not because of my card. A woman in a white robe stood there.

“What are you doing in my room?” I asked, confused.

“Darling, this isn’t your room,” she said, halfway closing the door.

“This is my room. I have the key.” I held it up, but she snatched it, flipped it over. “It says 661, not 199.”

She slammed the door. Damn. Two more floors. I turned and there he was, opening his room opposite hers. Our eyes locked, and I felt something heat through me.

“Do you want to come inside?”

Was I hallucinating or did he just invite me in?

My stomach twisted, my legs hesitated, but he didn't move. He just stood there, waiting, staring. My lips. My cleavage. And then back to my eyes.

"You know you want to," he said, his voice carrying that particular kind of hunger that I felt in places I hadn't felt anything in two years.

"I don't sleep with strangers," I whispered, already eye-fucking him. And he noticed.

A slow smile climbed his lips and reached his eyes. Brown and completely consuming. I felt something like a rope around my waist pulling me forward with a force I couldn't explain. Lord, what the actual fuck was happening to me right now?

"Okay," he murmured, and turned back to his door. He was stepping inside when the horny version of me took over completely.

"Wait," I said, and he turned back around still wearing that smile.

"You have ten seconds to make up your mind. One… Two…" he counted with a low voice, only we could hear.

I exhaled, whole body shaking, underwear getting wetter with each number.

"Six…"

This is a terrible idea. It's one night, Rhea. What's the actual harm? You don't know him. He doesn't know you. What if he finds out who you are? It could be a disaster for your family. But I am so horny I cannot think straight.

He tilted his head, watching me fight myself. "Nine…"

"If we do this," I started, and he stopped counting and made a low satisfied sound. "It stays here. Within these four walls. I don't want to know who you are and you shouldn't care who I am either. Are we clear?"

"Come here."

I hesitated for one second. Then my legs started moving on their own, each step making my heart beat harder, until I was standing directly in front of him. I looked up and his eyes were even more consuming up close.

He traced every inch of my face slowly, pulled one hand from his pocket, and held my chin up. "I'm so angry tonight," he murmured, dragging his thumb across my lips.

"Why?" I heard myself ask.

"I have to do something I don't want to because I'm obligated too. You know what that feels like?"

I shook my head slowly and he moved his hand to my neck, pressing it gently.

"Of course you don't," he whispered, gradually tightening his grip. "Why do you look so familiar?"

"We've never met before," I managed, eyes already starting to widen.

And I hope to God we never meet again after this.

He loosened his grip slowly and pushed the door open. I stepped inside, rubbing my neck, and he closed it behind us.

"Take off your clothes," he ordered, already working his buttons.

I reached for the hem of my dress and pulled it over my head, letting it drop to the floor.

"Everything."

I swallowed and unhooked my bra, pulling the straps down my arms. The cool air from the AC hit my bare nipples immediately. He stood by the window, watching me with amusement in his eyes like I was something on display.

He pointed at my underwear. "Including that."

I dipped my fingers into the band and pulled it down slowly, stepped out of it, and placed it beside my dress. Every alarm bell in my body was going off but I stood there anyway, letting his eyes move over me while his jaw ticked.

"Are we do—"

"Shh," he said, and walked toward me. "What's your name?"

"You don't need to know that," I replied, pressing my slicked thighs together.

He raised his fingers and traced them along my collarbone. "I like you and that's a problem."

A cold sensation followed every place he touched. "You don't even know me."

His face dropped closer to mine. His hot breath hit my cheeks and my eyes fell shut. "That's exactly why it's a problem." His lips grazed mine and I moved for them but he pulled back completely.

"Get on the bed."

I mourned the contact as he pulled his belt off with excessive force. I had no idea what kind of spell this man was using but I moved without a single complaint. I reached the bed and sat on it, watching him push his pants down. Then his briefs. And my mouth opened on its own as his very not-so-little brother came free.

The size of a forearm. Fully hard. Thick. I could see the veins running along it. He caught me staring and chuckled.

"First time seeing a dick?" he asked, walking toward me, it staying exactly where it was.

I pulled my eyes up and met his. "No."

First time seeing one of that particular magnitude though.

He reached where I sat and I kept my eyes on his biceps like that was safer. He tucked my hair behind my ear gently, then grabbed it from the root and pulled my head back.

"Ow."

His lips came down on mine in a heated, consuming kiss and I matched every movement. Then his mouth moved to my neck and found that spot that completely derailed me and I moaned into the room.

"Remember this stays—"

"Shut up." He tugged my hair harder and bit into my neck like he was starving.

I never thought this would turn out to be the night I'd spend the rest of my life regretting.

At the very least, it was worth it.