My Toxic Stepbrother

Stolen Glances.

**Riley**

I sat in the campus coffee shop with Jade, trying to focus on her words. The place smelled like fresh espresso and warm pastries. Students laughed around us. My best friend leaned forward, her eyes bright.

“So, how’s the new house? Still hating it?” Jade asked, stirring her latte.I shrugged and took a sip of my iced coffee. “It’s huge. Cold. And Kai is everywhere.”Jade raised an eyebrow. “Kai? The tattooed stepbrother? Spill.”I looked down at my cup. “He’s arrogant. Always smirking. We argue all the time. Last night in the kitchen… things got weird.”“Weird how?” she pushed.I shook my head. “Just words. Nothing important.”

But my mind kept flashing back to Kai’s bare chest, his hand on my wrist, and how close his lips came to mine in the hallway. I pushed the thoughts away. “College is better. I need normal.”Jade smiled. “Good. Let’s hit a party this weekend. Get you out of that mansion.”I nodded, but my stomach twisted. The truth was, Kai filled my head even here. I kept seeing his grey eyes and the way he pinned me against the wall. I hated how my body reacted.We finished our drinks and walked to class. I tried to listen to the lecture, but my notes were messy. My phone buzzed once. No message from Kai, but I still checked.Later that afternoon, I drove back to the Voss mansion. The iron gates opened slowly. The house looked as cold as ever. I parked and grabbed my bag. Inside, the air felt heavy.I went upstairs to my room and dropped my books on the desk. Then I heard it — music from down the hall. Kai’s door stood half open. I told myself to ignore it and walk past. But my feet moved anyway.I glanced inside. Kai lay on his bed, shirtless again. His tattoos stood out against his skin. He wore only black sweatpants. One arm rested behind his head. His eyes were closed, earbuds in. He looked relaxed, dangerous even when still.I should have kept walking. Instead, I stood there longer than I meant to. My eyes traced the lines of ink on his chest and arms. Heat rose in my cheeks. I forced myself to turn away.But as I stepped back, the floor creaked. Kai’s eyes snapped open. He pulled out one earbud and smirked.“Enjoying the view, little sis?” he said, his voice low and mocking.My face burned. “I wasn’t looking. Your door was open. Close it next time.”Kai sat up slowly. His muscles shifted under the tattoos. “Why? Does it bother you?” He stood and walked toward the door, stopping just inside. “Or do you like what you see?”I crossed my arms. “You wish. I have better things to do.”He chuckled. “Sure you do. Run along then.”I turned and hurried to my room, slamming the door behind me. My heart raced. I hated how he got to me so easily. I changed into comfy clothes and tried to study, but the words blurred on the page.Hours passed. The house stayed quiet. My mother and Marcus were out for dinner. I went downstairs for a snack. When I came back up, the bathroom door in the hallway stood cracked open. Steam rolled out.I paused. Water ran inside. I knew I should keep going, but curiosity won. I glanced through the small opening.Kai stood in the shower. The glass door was foggy, but I could see his outline clearly. Water ran down his back and over his shoulders. His tattoos looked darker when wet. He turned slightly, and I caught the side of his face. He ran a hand through his hair.My breath caught. Heat flooded my body. I stared longer than I should have. Then Kai’s head turned toward the door. His eyes met mine through the steam.I jerked back fast. My foot hit the wall with a soft thud. I spun around and rushed to my room, face on fire. I closed the door and leaned against it, breathing hard.“s**t,” I whispered.Dinner came later. We sat at the big table again. My mother chatted about her day. Marcus nodded along. Kai sat across from me, dressed now in a black t-shirt that stretched across his chest.He kept looking at me with that same smirk. Every time our eyes met, I looked away first.“Riley, how was campus?” my mother asked.“It was fine,” I said quickly. “Classes are good.”Kai leaned back in his chair. “Riley seems distracted lately. Maybe too much time thinking about other things.”I glared at him. “I’m fine.”He smiled wider. “Sure. Just making sure my little sister is adjusting well.”Under the table, his foot brushed mine again. I pulled my legs back fast. My mother didn’t notice. Marcus talked about work.Kai’s voice dropped when my mother turned to Marcus. “Keep looking, Riley. I might let you touch next time.”My fork froze halfway to my mouth. I stared at him, heart pounding. His eyes held mine, dark and full of challenge.I wanted to snap back, but my mother laughed at something Marcus said. I stayed quiet instead. Heat crawled up my neck. After dinner, I helped clear the table. Kai stayed behind. When I walked past him toward the stairs, he stepped close. His hand brushed my arm on purpose.“Kai,” I warned under my breath.He leaned in, voice low so only I could hear. “Keep looking, Riley. I might let you touch next time.”I shoved past him and ran upstairs. My room felt too small. I locked the door and sat on the bed, breathing fast.I touched my lips again, remembering the almost-kiss in the hallway. Then I remembered the shower, the way water ran over his skin. My stomach twisted with something I didn’t want to name. I hated Kai Voss. I hated how he filled every thought. But worse, I hated how part of me waited for the next time he would corner me.The house felt smaller every day. And Kai was right — it wasn’t big enough to run from him.