Home For The Holidays, Falling For Her Stepbrother

Declaration

Dana POV

God, I’m such an i***t. Of course, somebody as gorgeous as that man, Hunter, had somebody waiting for him at home. He probably thought I was an easy lay. I blushed, shaking my head, feeling like an i***t, my head throbbing painfully from the amount of alcohol I greedily consumed last night. After I’d snuck away during Hunter’s phone call, I’d grabbed Nova, and we’d gone to several bars before finally calling it a night. Now I was standing outside the house I shared with Jackson, feeling sick to my stomach as I slid the key in the lock and opened the door. I was hoping that he had the common sense to go to work and that the house was empty, but it looked as though there was no such luck.

"It’s about time you came home" Jackson snapped, rising from the couch as I stared at him irritably. "I’ve been waiting for you to come back for ages" he continued to complain, throwing his hands up and glaring at me. "You wouldn’t answer any of your calls" he grumbled while I tried to look past him.

Of course, I wasn’t answering any of his damn phone calls. The last thing I wanted to do was answer a phone call from a lying, cheating bastard like him. I rolled my eyes and went to sidle past him. He put out his hand, preventing me as I glowered at him. "Dana, just stop, please," he said, frowning, "at least have the decency to talk to me. We can move past this if you’re willing to try again", he beseeched "It was one little mistake, you shouldn't crucify me for it," he continued, looking exasperated.

Try again. Was he being serious? I looked at him in disbelief, "Jackson, you cheated on me with another woman, and you want me to forget about it and try again?" my tone was incredulous. "There is no way in hell that is happening," I told him grimly. "All I want is to grab my stuff and leave."

Never to return again, preferably.

“Where are you going to go?” he scoffed, looking at me with triumph, thinking that he had me.

I didn’t answer. Nova had offered to take me in until I got back on my feet, and I was going to take her up on it, but he didn’t need to know that. The last thing I wanted was for him to know where I was going and continue to hound me.

"None of your business," I answered heatedly, frustrated at this nonsensical conversation.

What was this? The Spanish Inquisition? I narrowed my eyes at him. "Please move aside", I requested between gritted teeth, "so that I can go upstairs and grab my clothes."

I had very little in the way of possessions. Less than most people do. Due to my upbringing, I tended not to put much value on things and kept to the bare minimum, in case I ever needed to be able to move from one place to another quickly. I don’t like to get bogged down with too much stuff. A lot of people found that off-putting, but it was just ingrained in me by now.

"Dana, stop it already." Jackson scowls. "You’re being ridiculous about all of this. I made one mistake" he said in annoyance, "and you’re ready to hang me for it. I was upset and sexually frustrated. I have needs," he added like the pompous ass he was, as I stiffened, "every hot-blooded male does. Did you expect me to hold out for your sake forever?" he said in disbelief.

"No Jackson, not forever," I said tightly, "just long enough to show me that you cared about me, and look how well that turned out" I added, glaring at him. "You showed me exactly how little I meant to you."

"Are you really willing to throw all these months away together, simply because of your stupid pride?" he accused, his voice a low growl.

My pride? Did he think it was merely my pride that was forcing me to break up with him? He didn’t understand the depth of betrayal I felt, and I doubted that he ever would. Somehow, I doubted he had ever been cheated on.

"Jackson, I don’t want to discuss this any further. I just want to get my things and go" I said firmly, looking him in the eyes, refusing to be intimidated as he towered over me "I’m not going to be too long…" I trailed off as he narrowed his eyes, a glint appearing in them.

I gave a small cry of shock as he suddenly yanked me towards him, his eyes darkening slightly as he looked at me. "You f*****g b***h" he snarled as I went motionless, "you think that you can just break up with me and that I’ll just let you? You’re mine, Dana. I won’t let you just walk away from me as though we meant nothing."

He began to press his lips against mine as I shoved at his chest, my heart pounding wildly. My fear began to overwhelm me. His grip on my hand tightened as I tried to move, trying to struggle against him. His strength easily overpowered mine. I gagged, feeling his tongue beginning to delve inside my mouth, my eyes watering as I went into shock. Jackson had never acted this possessive towards me before, this crazy, and I could feel myself growing panicked as I felt his kiss become more desperate and more harsh.

"Mmmph" I tried to push him again, shoving as hard as I could, while he grabbed the back of my head, yanking my hair hard as he continued to plunder my mouth against my will.

Get off me! I can hardly breathe! He’s crushing me and the pain…. I feel so violated.

I could feel tears gathering in my eyes. He pulled his lips away, and I panted, drawing in oxygen. He continued to grab my hair, pulling it ruthlessly as I tried to pull his hands away without success.

"Not so cocky now are you Dana," he mocked gloatingly.

"Let go, Jackson," I pleaded between trembling lips, "please, you’re hurting me" I shrieked as he pulled my hair roughly again, enjoying the sound of my cries.

He smirked, pulling even harder. A tear trailed down my cheek. He began to drag me towards the stairs with ease. I gave another scream while kicking and flailing, but he was directly behind me, and I couldn’t reach him in order to hurt him or force him to let me go. I sobbed, feeling defeated. Why hadn’t I insisted that Nova come with me when she offered? At least then there would have been two of us against him, instead of just me. How could I have been so stupid and so naive?

The door burst open with a loud banging sound, startling us both. Somebody had heard my screams and kicked the door in. Jackson halted at the base of the stairs, his hand still gripping my hair, as he glared towards the intruder, breathing heavily, his eyes narrowing.

The stranger spoke. My vision was blurred from the tears, I was sobbing, my head turned roughly to the side by Jackson’s hold. The stranger's voice, though, was eerily familiar.

"Let her go, you bastard. Take your hands off of her, you son of a bitch."

The voice is dripping with menace. My stomach clenches. Where have I heard this voice before? My head is throbbing so painfully that I fear I might throw up from the pain. Jackson laughs out loud, not cowed by the stranger in the slightest.

"Get the f**k out of my house you loser" he sneers. "This is none of your business anyway. This is between me and her" he added, as I gave another whimper.

"I’m going to give you one more chance to let her go before I force you to let her go."

The voice is deadly serious.

Jackson laughs. "Why do you give a damn about her? She’s nobody," he growls, and the stranger speaks.

"She’s family and I always take care of my family."

Family? I have no family, I think dazedly. Is he lying to get Jackson off guard? If so, it’s not going to work. Jackson knows I have no blood relatives and that I grew up in the foster care system. Jackson grins."“Nice try, but I happen to know she’s nothing but a foster kid. She doesn’t have any family" he spits out with glee.

It happened out of nowhere. I feel something hard, tackle Jackson, who releases his hold on me as he’s taken by surprise. I hit the ground with a heavy thud, my head hitting the floor painfully. I can hear the sounds of scuffling and fighting behind me in the distant background before my vision goes dim, and I succumb to the darkness, falling unconscious at the base of the stairs.