Romance

WADE’S POV
Coming to this party wasn’t a bad idea. I had the opportunity to leave the house and meet new people; hopefully, one of them is interesting enough to take my mind off the one girl I shouldn’t be thinking about. Speaking of her, where was she?
A quick scan of the living room told me that she wasn't there. Leslie was gone.
“Excuse me,” I muttered, pushing past the small group of girls around me. They groaned their displeasure but let me through.
I checked the kitchen, hoping that she had gone to get a drink and that my paranoia was pointless.
But f*ck this, this feeling, this protectiveness, I’ve only felt this before for Caroline. I thought an elder brother can also have a protective instinct towards his younger sister, right?
For Caroline,everyone knows how we ended.
She was the last and only girl I loved with everything in me. Until, she went behind my back and cheated with t

LESLIE’S POV
“I can have you screaming my name in ways you've never considered, honey.”
Oh, I've considered that alright. But I was too mad to let his words travel down my stomach where I would feel funny things.
Why was he acting like such an older brother? And still not one, at the same time?
I hated it. I hated it so f*cking much.
After my mother scolded me for letting a boy touch me and for talking rudely to Wade, she gave me a lecture on s*x and babies that I swear I could have lived life happily without knowing.
I counted the seconds until Wade would come in to sleep. Surprisingly, he knocked on the door. I turned the other way just before he opened the door.
“Leslie,” he called softly.
I ignored him. I didn’t want to talk to him right now. I was pissed and I didn’t trust myself enough not to angry cry at how frustrating he was. I wasn’t in the mood to talk.
“Leslie, look, I’m sorr

Leslie's POV:
I gasped, waking up.
It was morning. I was in my room, alone. Wade was gone. It was all a dream. But my n*pples were stiff peaks and warmth flooded between my legs.
Did I just have a wet dream about my step-brother?
I was mortified. Embarassed. No one could find out about this. Not my mother, not Brandon and certainly, not Wade.
I washed up and quickly got ready for school, skipping breakfast and texting Tamara to pack me something. I didn’t want to run into Wade after what I’d just done. He’d gone for a run so I just wanted to leave before he returned.
Ilyssa was parked outside, waiting for me. As I buckled in, she asked, “Isn’t that your hot step-brother?”
I looked in the direction she was looking. Wade wore a sleeveless shirt, sweat gathered around his neck. His face glistened under the morning sun. I should be irritated but, why did I think he looked like a greek god?
He looked in our direction as we drove past. Time seemed to slow as our eyes met. Maybe I was over thinking but I could swear that his eyes lingered on me before he turned away.
I swallowed. “Yeah, that's him.”
***
“You slept together?!” Tamara shrieked as we walked through the hallway.
I slapped my palm over her mouth and looked around, checking to see if anyone had overheard her. “I said we shared the same room,” I hissed.
“Your super hot step brother, who is very rich, might I add. I was drunk at the wedding but not too drunk to notice how good he looked. Damn, Leslie, you got lucky,” she said. I could see her swooning over him.
I rolled my eyes. “You mean unlucky.” I told her.
She paused, grabbing my arm to stop me. “Don’t tell me…” she gasped and looked around, “you like him!”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” I said, slapping my hand over his mouth. “I think that he’s annoying. But, I can’t also deny the fact that he’s good looking – too good looking, if I’m being honest.” I continued. “And besides, just a few more months of playing step sibling and I'll be gone to college. I’ll find a new boy to like. It’ll be Wade doesn’t exist.”
“You’re being delusional,” Ilyssa replied as we kept walking. “You do realize that you're family now. You're going to see Wade on almost literally every holiday.”
I shrugged, heading for class. “Like I said, doesn’t exist.”
After the final bell for school rang, I followed Ilyssa to the parking lot. Tamara had gone to meet Matt who would drive her home. We would see each other at the party later tonight. I said goodbye to Ilyssa. Mom usually picks me up from school.
I checked the time on my phone. She was late.
I sighed. I’d wait thirty more minutes before deciding to ride the bus.
A car’s horn blared, catching my attention. I looked up. There, leaning against a black car, wearing a navy blue polo shirt and black trousers was Wade. His green eyes were hidden behind dark shades. His hands were folded across his chest and it just made his muscles much more prominent.
God, he was hot.
“Need a ride?” He asked, snapping me out. I was checking him out.
My cheeks burned and I hoped they weren’t visibly red. I gripped the handle of my backpack tighter and walked towards him. “Where’s my mom?”
“You look a little red, are you okay?” he asked.
Bury me now. “It’s the sun. I’ve been waiting for my mom.” It wasn’t a total lie.
I noticed that people were staring at us. I’m not popular so it had to be because I was standing next to a hot boy with an expensive ride. Of course.
Wade didn’t seem to notice. He unlocked the door for me, holding it open. “The question would be, why can’t you drive?”
I got in and he slammed the door shut, walking over to the other side, I reached over without thinking and unlocked it. He lifted his brow slightly but said nothing.
“I failed my driving test. Like, twice.” I told him, holding up two fingers.
“That’s embarrassing,” he replied, starting the car. “Seatbelt.”
“I’m aware,” I deadpanned, reaching for the seatbelt. I fumbled a bit and with a sigh, Wade undid his and helped me out. I sucked in a breath as his fingers brushed my thigh. I could feel my face getting warmer and my heart beating faster.He didn't seem to notice.
“Do you usually stop by somewhere to get lunch like normal girls your age or you just head straight home?” Wade asked as he began to drive us home.
“You’re not that much older than me, you know. You're what, twenty?” I asked.
“Twenty-one. Took a gap year,” He explained.
“Smoothie and fries,” I answered his question about lunch. “And you didn’t tell me where my mom is.”
“Susan’s fine,” Wade replied. “My dad wants her to rest and apparently, since I have nothing to do, my dad made me the designated driver.”
“So, she’s home with your dad?” I asked.
Wade shuddered, “Home.” he repeated with scorn.
I frowned. I didn’t need to be reminded that they were significantly wealthier than my mom and I. Our house probably didn’t meet up to his standard. But, I wasn’t going to let him talk down on something my mom had worked hard to get for both of us.I didn’t want anyone to look down upon my mom’s efforts. I felt offended.
“It might not be much to you because you’re used to living in a huge mansion but that's my home,” I said, pointedly.
“I didn't mean—”
“Yeah, you didn't,” I cut him off, ending the conversation. PickingHe picking me up from school was a terrible idea.
Wade shut his mouth, keeping whatever he wanted to say to himself. We drove for a while in deafening silence, neither of us exchanging so much as a look at the other.
“I guess that means no smoothie or fries, then,” he said, after a while.
I said nothing, keeping my eyes outside the window. I leaned my head against the cool glass. Wade didn’t say anything else for the rest of the drive home. When he pulled over in front of my house, I got out quickly, hitching my backpack higher on my shoulder.
He was silent for the rest of the drive home. When he pulled over in front of the house, I got out quickly.
“Leslie, wait,” he called. Despite how much I wanted to ignore him, I stopped by the door. “You misunderstood me. I didn't say it in a bad way. I was just surprised that I was calling your home, a strange place, my home. It’s kind of nice.”
“Okay,” I replied.
“Okay?”
“Okay.” I said with a smile this time. I closed the door, walking back into our house. I didn’t know ,that might be our gap in some aspects.
***
The time to leave for the party had come. I chose a black asymmetrical dress, one that clung to my waist and stopped inches above my knees. It had a sweetheart neckline that plunged low enough to look modest, yet sexy. I hoped I wasn't overdressed and everyone didn't end up wearing a shirt and jeans.
I glanced at myself in the mirror one last time, touching up on my lip gloss and mascara before walking into the living room. That was when I noticed that my mom and Brandon were all dressed up.
“Look at you,” Brandon said, taking my hand and spinning me. I laughed. “You look amazing, Leslie.”
“Are you going somewhere?” Mom asked, fixing her earrings. Brandon let go of me.
“Yeah,” I replied. “The girls and I got invited to this thing by someone from school-”
“I'm sorry, honey. Brandon and I have this function to be at tonight and I wanted you to hang out with Wade,”
“Mom, no, I have this party—” I started to say, my heart dropping in my stomach. I didn’t want to stay home with him.I knew I didn’t want to face, whether it was embarrassment or Wade.
“Oh? Well then, take Wade with you. He can drive you there. Or you can stay home together.” My mom said just as Wade emerged from the garage.
His eyes found me and they roamed my body. I noticed a look pass between his eyes as he took in my outfit. I pretended not to notice.
“Fine. Wade, get dressed. We have a party to attend,” I stomped out of the house to wait by his car.
Wade didn’t seem to have a problem with driving me around this time. In fact, he told Brandon he would keep an eye on me. He opened the car door for me and I thanked him quietly. He got in, I gave him the address and he used the map.
I was a bit livid. The only reason Mom had him come with me wasn’t because she didn’t want him home alone. He was a full blown adult for crying out loud. Mom just didn’t want me going to a party unsupervised. Wade was her card.
“You look…,” he said, his voice thick with something I couldn’t decipher. “…amazing, Leslie.”
I was taken aback. I expected him to make a snide comment instead. Maybe something about being a child in adult clothes. He pulled over close to the house. We could hear the music coming from here.
Just as I reached out to get the door, Wade stopped me. His hand reached up and he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. His eyes flitted down to my lips and then my eyes. “Perfect.”
My stomach started to feel funny and my heart began to race. He got out of the car and walked over to my side, opening it. He held his hand to me. The moment I took it, electricity shot through my body. I pulled my hand away quickly.
Ilyssa, Tamara and Matt joined us, ruining the moment. Wade went to grab a drink (I hope he was joking and it was just water because he was supposed to drive us home) while we went deeper into the party.
Two or three refills of alcohol in my cup later, Ilyssa got carried away by a few people from school while Tamara and Matt made out on the couch like they were trying to eat each other.
I, on the other hand, was thinking about Wade. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him. He was blending in, attracting the girls once they knew he was in college.
I hated it.
But after that weird dream this morning, I had to find a way to get Wade out of my mind. What I needed was a distraction and he just walked into the party: Adrian McCabe, the hot jock from school who had invited us.
It wasn't hard. The moment he saw me staring, he came to me. “I’m so glad you could make it,” he took my hand in his gently.
“It was hard to turn down an invitation when you did it right after winning the last game,” I smiled, letting him guide me through the house.
He chuckled. “I mean, this was the first time you sat through one of my games.”
“You’ve been paying attention, haven’t you?”
“You’re a hard person to ignore,” Adrian replied. He got himself a solo cup of alcohol and we stuck around in the party, talking and laughing.
After a while, he leaned closer to me, “Want to go somewhere quiet?”
I glanced at Wade who leaned down for a girl to whisper something in his ear. He smiled. This action made me feel a little uncomfortable. Yes, he was handsome. It was not hard for me to tell that he was a playboy, always chatting up pretty girls. That was a common occurrence for him.
Jealous? No way. After all, I'm not bad either.
I tore my eyes away and smiled at Adrian, “Sure, where?”
Adrian took me to an unoccupied room upstairs. He didn't even say another word. His lips met mine. He kissed me in a boyish way, almost like he didn't know what to do. But that was impossible. This was Adrian.
Still, I guided his hand to rest on my breast and pressed my palm against his chest. This was it, exactly what I needed.
I needed to f*ck Wade out of my mind.
Adrian kissed my neck, sucking on that spot that made a moan slip through my lips. He kissed me, guiding me to rest my back against the bed.
I knew I shouldn't have inappropriate thoughts about my stepbrother. A normal romantic relationship would make me normal. His hands caressed my breasts, waist, and hips, but without the fluttering feeling I had when Wade touched me. I didn't blush or feel my heart race; I just wasn't repulsed. I should learn to shift my gaze to someone else. His hand slid up my thigh, dangerously touching my underwear. No, no, I wasn't ready for this. Just as I was about to push him away, a hand suddenly and forcefully pulled Adrian away from me.
Wade.
“What the f*ck do you think you’re doing?”

WADE’S POV
Coming to this party wasn’t a bad idea. I had the opportunity to leave the house and meet new people; hopefully, one of them is interesting enough to take my mind off the one girl I shouldn’t be thinking about. Speaking of her, where was she?
A quick scan of the living room told me that she wasn't there. Leslie was gone.
“Excuse me,” I muttered, pushing past the small group of girls around me. They groaned their displeasure but let me through.
I checked the kitchen, hoping that she had gone to get a drink and that my paranoia was pointless.
But f*ck this, this feeling, this protectiveness, I’ve only felt this before for Caroline. I thought an elder brother can also have a protective instinct towards his younger sister, right?
For Caroline,everyone knows how we ended.
She was the last and only girl I loved with everything in me. Until, she went behind my back and cheated with the one person in the world that I never expected.
I wondered what would happen if Sarah found out wh

Protective much?