(Sierra's POV)
He ran a hand though his damp hair, probably after practice, sweat glistening across his arms and torso. His muscles moved with every breath, sharp and defined.
I swallow hard.
My heartbeat betrayed me.
Something warm feeling.
Then looked up suddenly -
Right at my balcony.
Our eyes locked. Time froze.
Stefano's expression changed - not quiet anger, not quiet confusion. Something else.
I step back quietly, heart pounding, cheek burning.
I shut the curtains. Hard. It's hard to ignore him. His dark eyes. As if behind the storm it has something else, as if it wants to tell me something.
"Idiot," i whisper to myself, unsure if i mean him or myself.
(Stefano 's POV)
I stand still long after she disappeared behind the curtain. I didn't meant to look up.
I didn't meant to see her standing there, soft hair framed by moonlight, magical green eyes glowing in the dark, creamy skin as if the wind can stain it. A face man will go to war for. I didn't get a clear view of her as it was midnight, but the moonlight on her creamy skin still loose my mind.
And her body….
No ! No ! stop Stefano!
And i definitely didn't meant to feel something.
But i did. A flicker. A spark. She wasn't what I expected. Definiately not.
But i crush it immediately.
"No," I muttered under my breath. "She's just like her mother. "
But the image of her stayed on my head. Her eyes…. Magical eyes.
And it bothered me. And it's not good for me.
A lot..
I treated her coldly. Dismissively. Rudely.
I wanted her to hate me. It was safer that way. At dinner, I tried not to look at her. But my eyes kept drifting toward her anyway- the curve of her jaw, the way she held her fork the way she glared at me like she wanted to throw it at my head, like she wanted to eat me alive.
'I can also eat her ' I thought in my mind.
Everything about her bothered me. Holy shi*! This woman is driving me crazy.
And that's why I came to garden, but maybe this woman decided to seduce me with her presence.
'Stefano, clear your mind. She and her mother is a gold digger.'
(Sierra's POV)
I lay in my bed, starring at the celling, replaying the entire horrible, intense day.
Stefano hates me. I hate him more.
Sebastian was sweet. Nicolas was polite. My mother was glowing with hope.
And me..?
I felt something I wasn't supposed to feel.
Not for him. Not now. Not ever.
But the memory of that moment in the garden - those dark grey eyes meeting mine -refused to leave. His sharp jaw, muscles, red lips which is more beautiful than me - seductive.
I turned on my side and buried my face in the pillow. I can't think of him like that. He is a asshole, arrogant jerk, egoistic, he judges people without knowing them. I know the fact that now i have to battle with my mind for him.....
Tomorrow was my first day at my new college. And i already knew : This house, this family, these stepbrothers - specially Stefano - they are going to change my life.
In ways I wasn't ready for. In ways I couldn't stop. In ways I knew I should fear.
Because something dangerous has began tonight. And neither of us know how to stop it.
--------------------------
Finally I am in my new college. The college of my hot stepbrothers. I didn't expect the campus to look like this
Glass building, tall palm trees, outdoor cafes with music playing softly, students walking in groups wearing designer bags and expensive headphones. It felt like stepping into a glossy magazine version of a College buzzing with energy, style, and just enough chaos to make u feel alive.
I never thought i could afford to even walk like this college because after my father left us my mother worked for my meal, clothes, education, everything. So i always thought to get into a average college with my scholarship cz without that it might be a pressure for my mother to bear this expense. That's why i never taken my study lightly as it is the only way for me to settle, independent and do something for my mother.
Sebastian walked beside me like an excited tour guide.
"That's the media building! And over there is the art center— oh, and you have to try that cafe, their caramel lattes are actual heaven."
I smiled. "You really like this place, huh?"
He nodded. "Yeah. You will too."
I didn't answer, because something else distracted me.
People were staring at me. Not normal staring at me. Full body, walk into a wall staring.
Some whispered.
Some elbowed their friends.
Some openly gawked like I had stepped out of a billboard.
I really didn't like thia level of attention. This was the reason I never had any true friends as they was always jealous. But Serene was friendly at the last few months in my high school.
Tommy leaned close. "Uh...don't take it personally. Our college is full of extra people. And you're... well...extremely pretty."
I rolled my eyes. "Sure."
"No,like...Sofia,they're literally breaking their necks."
I felt heat climb up my neck."Okay this is uncomfortable. "
Sebastian grinned. " Welcome to Westbridge University "
I swatted his arm but couldn't hide a tiny grin. Then Seb's expression shifted warm, but with a subtle embarrassment.
"Uh...Stefano is coming, " he wishpered.
I grabbed his sleeve out of fear or habit u can say.
I tuned slightly and saw Stefano.
Black t-shirt. Athletic build. Jaw sharp. Hair messy in a way that looked effortless. He wasn't looking at me. Not yet. Still my heart beating fast like someone is beating it hard. My breathing got slowed. This man.... Why he has to be so sexy?
But his steps slowed when he realised i was there.
Seb waved. "Stefano! Finally. "
Stefano shoved his hands in hin pockets, eyes lowered, annoyed at existing as usual. Until he finally looked at me.
And froze.
Literally froze
Hi eyes widened slightly — minuscule, but enough. His stare dragged from my hair..to my face...to my neck....to my chest....to cleavage...to my body...to my lower body... Fuck! Why he is staring there? Is he going to fuck me at this moment? Gosh this man made my mind so dirty.
His jaw clenched.
He swallowed once.
And for the first time ever...
He had no insult ready.
Seb noticed. "Bro? You okay?
Stefano snapped out of it quickly, mask dropping back into place.
" Yeah," he muttered. "Let's go."
But I'd seen it. I'd seen how his breath hitched. The moment of stunned silence.
What happened to him?
(To be continued...)