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My eyes fly open, waking me from a deep sleep and I smile at the memory of James teaching me how to drive two years ago. He’d come home from New York for a week to help me prepare for my driving test and even came home the day I took it. He went with me to the exam and then took me out to dinner to celebrate when I passed. Even then, I knew how sweet and amazing that was because who used their vacation time to help teach their little sister to drive? I sit up in bed and bite my bottom lip, trying to conjure a sexy scenario that has us turning one of those driving lessons into a different kind of ride.
Great. I need to come again, now.
The next morning, I wake to the sound of my alarm blaring through the room. I’m one of those people that set their alarm for the last possible second leaving no time for the snooze button, so I hop up quickly and move to the bathroom in the hall. I’m in the shower when the thoughts of last night come flooding back. Did I really consider confessing the truth? I have got to get these feelings under control. Gabrielle, you’re eighteen and James is thirty. Even if he wasn’t your brother, what makes you think he’d be interested in you? You’re in your freshman year of college and he’s climbing the ranks of a Fortune 500 company. He has his own apartment and lives by himself. You live in a dormitory with a roommate.
He’s your brother.
You’re his sister.
It’s incest.
Sort of?
You could never.
He would never.
It isn’t natural.
And yet, loving him feels as natural as breathing.
I head out of the bathroom, my towel wrapped firmly around me and my shower cap still planted on my head when James all but runs past me towards the kitchen. I can smell that he’s showered, and I take a deep breath, inhaling the sexy scent. I frown when he doesn’t even utter a hello, but I shrug it off knowing that James is even more useless than I am without at least one cup of coffee.
“Make me one, splash of cream no sugar please!” I call after him as I move into the guest room to get ready for the day. I’m surprisingly not nervous about the exam, but my nerves are still all over the place about last night. After pulling on a pair of tights and a plaid tight mini skirt paired with an oversized sweater, I run my straightener I keep at his apartment over my tresses a few times before running my hands through it. I apply my usual makeup, spending a little extra time on my mascara to make my lashes appear even longer before heading into the kitchen where I see James completely dressed. He’s wearing a navy suit with a white button down shirt and a vest underneath as well as a tie. I try my hardest not to bite my lip in response to the lust coursing through me over how handsome he looks. Not to mention the confidence he exudes which is just as sexy.
“You look nice.” Understatement of the century. I set my bag on the counter and grab the coffee that he made for me.
“Thanks.” He grunts without looking up from his phone and I narrow my gaze at the fact. If James and I are in the same room, his focus is usually on me. So for him to not even look up when he’s talking to me? Weird.
“You okay?” I ask him, and part of me hates that I feel the need to ask. He’s your brother, not your man. Who cares if he’s in a mood or woke up on the wrong side of the bed or whatever the fuck?
His eyes dart up to meet mine and I see a small smile pulls at his lips. “Yes Gab, fine. Just a lot on my mind.”
I’m slightly appeased by his answer and although I want to press him, I know right before my toughest exam of the semester is not the time.
“If you can’t take me—” I start and he scoffs before the sentence even leaves my mouth.
“Gab, stop.”
“I just mean, I don’t want to stress you out or if you need to be at work now…”
“What did I say?” he snaps and my eyes widen. “Stop pressing it.” He takes a long sip of his coffee and sets his empty cup down, harder than usual and I wince at this aggression. His eyes, which are still staring at his phone, widen and his nostrils flare. His lips part and I watch as his tongue darts out to wet his lips.
What is his deal?
“Okay, well I’m ready when you are.”
“Great, I’ll be ready in five minutes.” He walks by me without even a glance in my direction.
The car ride is quiet, almost awkwardly so, and things are never awkward between me and James. The sky is gray, preparing for the snow they’re predicting for tomorrow, and I’m less than excited than I was before to spend the night at James’ apartment before we go home tomorrow. Especially now that he’s in some sort of mood. I hold onto hope that he’ll be in better spirits later. We move a little quicker through the salted streets and I catch a glance at James. His jaw is tight like he’s gritting his teeth and he lets out a deep breath through his nose like he’s a bull ready to charge.
“You’re so tense.” I look at his hand resting on the gear shift and part of me wants to reach for it. I want to stroke the skin and bring it to my mouth. I want to tell him everything is going to be fine and that we can work out whatever is bothering him especially if it has to do with me.
“It’s work.”
Do I believe that? “I see. Well, do you want to talk about it?”
“Nope.”
