Tasting 71

71–It’s Getting Hotter And My Stepbrother Is The Reason.

Nora:

I buried my face in my hands when Cain revealed to my mate that he sensed the bond with me. I

couldn’t even bring myself to look at either of them. I expected Ryker to acknowledge feeling it too,

but Ryker kept surprising me.

“When…” There was a slight hesitation in Ryker’s voice as he asked his brother the question. I was

in the middle feeling like a guilty one.

“The other day in the woods,” Cain sighed, taking deep breaths and pacing while running his hands

through his hair. I uncovered my face and saw Ryker staring at me.

I felt so guilty, as if it was up to me to choose whoever I wanted to feel the mate bond with.

“So, what are you going to do now? Are you going to reject her?” Ryker asked, almost suggesting it,

and goosebumps covered my skin.

Even if I wanted him to reject me, I couldn’t. For the rejection to take effect. I would have to remove

my ring, and I’m afraid Akira might take the rejection badly and channel that energy into a quick

transition.

“I don’t know.” Cain sighed, stopping near the wall in front of me and leaning against it. His eyes

scanned me strangely.

“I just don’t understand why I would feel it with my stepsister?” Cain’s voice held a hint of disgust as

he asked himself that question.

“Because she’s not our stepsister by blood. We didn’t grow up with her.

nor were our parents married. That tag is just a loosely based title to give her a family,” Ryker

quickly explained, making me wonder if he was making up that excuse for himself or for his brother.

“Hmm! You’re right,” Cain uttered. I noticed that Cain sounded too exhausted and probably

overwhelmed when talking about the mate bond.

“So, what’s the plan?” Ryker asked once again. We three were standing far apart, facing each other

but hesitant to make direct eye contact.

“I’m not sure. It’s just that—we brothers haven’t been able to find mates. It was like a curse, and

suddenly I feel a mate bond. I don’t know—you know me, Ryker. It’s not easy for me,” Cain

grumbled and quickly walked away to stand by the window. I noticed the rise and fall of his chest

from his back movement and could tell he was in some sort of pain.

“Do you want to have a physical relationship with her?” The moment Ryker asked that question, I

frowned and snapped my fingers. I wouldn’t let them talk about that matter without me.

“Don’t say that. I’m not some toy your brother bought and is planning to use,” I hissed at Ryker,

approaching him aggressively. Cain turned around and raised his brow, so my aggression faded.

“I mean, it’s odd. He’s my stepbrother, and he’s very rude and inappropriate,” I scoffed as I stomped

my foot on the ground.

“Why? What did he do?” Ryker raised his brow, staring at his brother with excitement.

“I didn’t do anything,” Cain eyed me, extending his arm to hush me down.

(HSDer And My Stepbrother Is The Reason

“Tell me, what did he do?” The way Ryker kept asking me that

question was an obvious sign of him trying to get under his brother’s skin.

“He said he doesn’t care if he felt the mate bond with me or not, I’m just another girl he’s going to

use anyway,” I exaggerated his mockery, using a rather high–pitched tone as I recalled how rudely

he said that. Cain shook his head in disapproval, whereas Ryker’s face lost its color.

“Do you think that’s nice?” I asked Ryker, who shook his head steadily.

“Say sorry to her,” Ryker told his brother, and I was shocked. The atmosphere and the dynamics of

the studio had changed so much.

“No! You know me,” Cain shook his head.

“Fine. I don’t need his apology anyway. I’m headed to my room because I don’t want to deal with

this whole nonsense. Just know that I’m not just another she–wolf that you can take advantage of,” I

looked Cain in the eyes before I left his studio.

Once I was in the hallway, I decided to go grab myself some ice cream. I wasn’t feeling well. Deep

down inside, I just couldn’t fathom what had just happened. Cain shamelessly told his brother we

were mates. Ryker didn’t tell his side. Cain didn’t say he wanted to reject me, and neither did he

show much disgust to the idea of being mates with me. But then again, why did Ryker lie about my

wolf?

As I was in the kitchen, I felt someone stand behind me near the refrigerator, and before I could turn

around, I found my body being pushed to the side and against the wall. I quickly placed my hands

on the wall and gasped when I smelled Ryker’s usual enticing scent.

He always smelled so good.

“Ryker!” I yelped, trying to understand what had happened to him. He had his hands over mine,

tightly holding them against the wall while pressing his body against mine from the back. He didn’t

even utter a single word and started kissing me all over my earlobe and my check. As much as I

wanted to resist, I couldn’t. His scent and strong muscles were making me feel intoxicated.

“Ryker!” I uttered again, so confused by what had happened to him all of a sudden.

“Don’t stop me tonight,” he whispered, sending shivers down my spine.

Him losing his control for the first time was surprising. But I had questions for him, and I didn’t know

if I wanted to be seduced by anyone in this state, especially someone everyone called my

stepbrother.

“Oh Nora!” he uttered as his lips pressed hard against my cheek.

“Ryker!” Finally, I managed to move, and his grip over my hand and his body pressed against mine

began to fade away. I quickly turned around and faced him. His hands were still on the wall, caging

me in between as we stared into each other’s eyes, letting our heavy breaths take control over our

bodies.