caught.”
He moves his hands up from my waist and cups my breasts, squeezing them firmly before finally letting me go.
I shove a sandwich at him, “I’m going to sunbathe by the pool. Enjoy your sandwich.” I say it quickly.
He takes the sandwich and sits at the table. “I’ll be watching from my window. And by later,
you better mean tonight.”
As I walk away, I pray Mom and Bary will be too engrossed in their sandwiches to have overheard us. But my hopes are short–lived. As I walk past the living room toward the stairs, Bary calls me over, “Oh, Ella, could you come in here for a minute”
I force a smile and take a seat in the living room. Bary looks at me, his eyes are blue just like Alans‘ and Aidens‘.
< Alone With My Twin Stepbrothers
“Morning Kido, We haven’t talked in a while, you know I’ve been busy with work and all” He seems genuinely sorry he can’t spend more time with me and this family.“I want to ask what are your plans after graduation Ella? You can’t just sit around doing nothing with the rest of your life.” He asks, his voice calm and inviting.
The question catch me off guard and I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out. I’ve been trying to figure out what to do after attending my local community college, but I’m not sure what I want to do yet.
Ella‘ POV
Before I can respond, Bary continues “What if you join the army like Alan and Aiden” he puts out a hand gesturing that he wants to say more “Now, you might not like the sound of that, but enlisting in the army is a great way to add structure to your life, plus the pay is decent, you can make a decent living off of it I think maybe…”
“Absolutely not.” Aiden’s voice comes from the kitchen, facing Bary. “There is no way I’m letting her do something so dangerous.”
The room falls into a sudden silence. I blink at him, stunned by his intensity. My mother’s gaze flickers between the two of us, her brow slightly raised. I know that look. She’s noticed something here.
She clears her throat. “And why exactly does Ella’s future concern you so much, Aiden? It’s Ella’s life, she needs to do something.”
“The army is dangerous. She could get hurt. Or worse…” His voice falters for a second, but then his expression hardens again. “I won’t let that happen.”
Bary laughs slightly and tilts his head, curiosity clear in his expression. “I must say I’m surprised Alden, I don’t think I’ve seen you show this level of concern for your sister before. I guess I haven’t been home often enough to notice the shift”
Aiden’s face turns bright red. “She’s my…” He paused, I can’t help wondering what he’s going to say, but after a moment’s silence, he quickly adds “She’s my stepsister. My family. I just think it would be better if Ella finishes with school and then tries out a couple of things, to see what she likes, putting her straight into army internment is the worst possible idea.”
Mom watches him closely, then turns to me. “Ella, what do you
think?”
I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “Yeah, I’m with Aiden on this one. Just give me a week let me think of what I want to do”
Aiden still looks tense, but his shoulders relax just a fraction when I add, “But don’t worry…l doubt I’ll be joining the military. It’s a good idea Bary but it’s not really for me. I hate running. I only run if I’m being chased, so that won’t happen”
<
Alone With My Twin Stepbrothers
Mom laughs, shaking her head. “That is the most honest thing I’ve ever heard. I don’t think I’ve met anyone less active than you.”
“Hey!” I narrow my eyes at her.
She grins, completely unrepentant. “Just stating facts sweetheart”
Bary chuckles, standing up from his seat. “Don’t mind you mom Kido, you’re tough in my book”
“Yeah yeah, whatever” I stand up “I’m going to go bask by the pool, see you guys later” Turning to Bary, I say, “Have a safe trip and I’ll see you when you get back.”
Without waiting for another comment, I make my escape up the stairs, sighing in relief as soon as I shut my bedroom door behind me. I lock it, leaning against the wood. That was… awkward.
Aiden’s reaction was more intense than I expected. What was he going to say before he corrected himself? What exactly am I to him?
Shaking my head, I push off the door and pull my clothes off, reaching for the blue tie bikini I picked out earlier.
The past few months have been happy strangely so. Being with them, living under the same roof. And then there’s Alan. Every time we’re screwing, every time he touches me, he whispers the L–word. I don’t think he even realizes he’s saying it. Maybe it’s just the excitement. Maybe it doesn’t mean anything.
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.
