The temperature seemed to climb higher and higher. Thick, scorching desire crashed over her, soaking the last fragile threads of her restraint. Evelyn rose up, eyes heavy-lidded and seductive, drinking in the sight of Noah—lost in drunken haze.
Clothes lay scattered beside the bed. Large stretches of skin like smooth ivory gleamed in the air. Evelyn traced his completely unconscious sleeping face, the alluring smile curving through the flush on her own cheeks.
His heartbeat hammered wildly. Even in sleep his lips kept forming the word "sister" again and again. The soft black hair, the clean lines of his face, every feature, the neck, the chest, the flat stomach—every inch she adored beyond reason belonged to her. Right now. Forever.
Then a ringtone shattered the heavy intimacy. Evelyn frowned and fished Noah's phone from his pants pocket. The caller ID read Lila. She considered hanging up, then tapped accept and brought it to her ear. The girl's bold request only deepened the cold in her eyes. Someone who had already been discarded still dared to reach for what was hers.
"Noah, are you free tomorrow? Can you come out with me? There are a few stores I want to check out."
"He's busy. Don't call again." Evelyn's voice was ice.
"Evelyn? Why are you answering? Where's Noah?"
"He's asleep. What do you want?"
"Asleep? What did you do to him? Don't you dare hurt him again."
"Hurt him." She moved the phone close to Noah's mouth until he mumbled a couple of sleepy words, then pulled it back. "Hear what he's saying in his dreams? He's mine. Don't even think about touching him again."
The girl on the other end tried to speak, but Evelyn ended the call. She added the last name to the contact, then let her fingertips glide along the lines of Noah's chest. She was about to continue when the phone rang again. She glanced at the screen, switched the device off, and tossed it aside.
No more interruptions.
Evelyn leaned down, the soft weight of her breasts pressing lightly against him. Her voice dropped to a low, coaxing murmur beside his ear. "Nate, give sister a hug."
"Mmm…"
Those arms obediently wrapped around her slender body. She lifted her own hands and held him just as tightly, palms sliding slowly down his back. She started to move further, but the boy's grip stopped her.
"Nate, you're holding too tight. Loosen up a little."
Noah didn't respond. He clung even harder, face buried between her breasts, voice small and childlike with pleading. "Don't… sister… don't leave."
"Be good. Sister is right here." Evelyn stroked his hair, soothing him gently. "Loosen your hands a bit. Sister will teach you something, okay?"
"No… don't. Sister always tricks me."
She tried using more strength but still couldn't pull free. A flicker of helplessness crossed her face.
The most vivid memory of deceiving Noah came from when she was still in elementary school. The boy had clamped onto her leg, refusing to let her go, using every ounce of his small body to stop her from leaving.
That had been the first time Evelyn lied to him.
Nate, just let go for a second. Sister isn't leaving. Sister's just going to the bathroom. I'll be right back.
No. Sister's lying.
Be good. Sister won't lie to you. Let go first. Listen to me.
Then… then sister has to be quick, okay?
When she came home from school that day she had used her only bit of allowance to buy him a carton of milk. It had taken forever to coax him calm. That night she held him and lectured him until late, making him promise to behave and never block her from going to school again.
But now, how was she supposed to coax this drunk little idiot?
Evelyn added more force. One good pull and she could break free. Yet the boy's arms had already begun to loosen. His hands slowly relaxed, leaving only that soft, pitiful whisper at her chest—"Sister… don't leave…"
She froze. Closed her eyes and let out a quiet breath. Her heartbeat gradually steadied. A wave of overwhelming fondness suddenly drowned out every burning urge. She pressed a kiss to Noah's forehead and wrapped him in her arms again.
I'll let you off this time, little fool. Next time… sister will take everything back at once.
…
When consciousness returned, the familiar warm, sweet scent filled his nose. Noah's eyes opened slowly. The moment he registered what he was seeing, he snapped fully awake.
Evelyn lay facing him, wearing only a black bra. The full, soft swell of her breasts was mostly exposed. Delicate collarbones, beautiful and tempting, filled his vision.
He was almost naked too. The worst possible conclusion hit him instantly. He shifted, and the woman beside him—still with her eyes closed—spoke in a cool, clear voice.
"You woke up early. Sleep well?"
"Sis… you're awake. Last night we…"
"Exactly what you're thinking. Everything that should have happened, and everything that shouldn't have, happened." Evelyn still didn't open her eyes. She reached out and pinched his cheek with perfect aim. "The second Nate lay down you started stripping. Then you clung to sister and wouldn't let go. You even tried to take sister's clothes off. So bold when you're drunk."
"I—I don't know… I don't remember any of it. I'm sorry."
"Does sorry fix it now? You kept sister up all night with your messing around."
Noah panicked. His mind spun into chaos. Shame burned from his neck all the way to his ears. He dropped his head, unable to speak, ready to accept whatever punishment came. He never noticed the holes in her story, believing every word.
"Why so quiet? You took advantage of sister and now you want to play deaf?"
"I'll take responsibility. Sis, I'll do whatever you say."
"You said it. No taking it back." Evelyn opened her eyes. Those beautiful irises locked onto the flush across his face, and the corner of her mouth lifted in a bright, satisfied smile.
"Mhm. No regrets."
She threw back the covers, sat up with her back to him, and began pulling her clothes on piece by piece. "Then let's get up, wash up, have breakfast, and head back to campus."
"Aren't you going to sleep more? You said you didn't sleep well all night." Noah stared blankly at the slender, pale line of her back, the black straps against her pretty shoulder blades, the long hair cascading down—distracting in every way.
"I lied. If we had really done it, Nate, you wouldn't have this much energy right now."
"Sis!" He bolted upright, voice thick with embarrassed anger, but completely powerless against her. "How can you joke about something like that?"
"Everything except the very last step was true…"
"You're the one who let me drink."
"How was sister supposed to know you'd get so bold when drunk, you little pervert."
Noah had nothing left to say. He stayed quiet for a moment, then asked, "By the way, where did Grace go?"
"She left last night. What, you wanted her to stay and watch you molest sister?"
Evelyn combed out her long hair, finished dressing, poured a glass of warm water, and drew the curtains open. She leaned against the window, watching Noah still pulling on his clothes. Her smile was gentle and bewitching, warm as the bright sunlight outside.
"And yesterday—sneaking off to see Lila Vale. Old debts and new ones. Whatever sister tells you to do, you'll listen, right?"
Noah swallowed hard, voice tight with nerves. "What do you want me to do?"
"Hmm… wear the collar for a day."