Page 40 of Backstroke

Row returns with our drinks, sitting down beside me again.

We sit by the bonfire in silence as I try to make sense of everything. I see a figure in the distance. My heart skips a beat when I realize it’s Remy, striding purposefully over the sand dunes, his eyes locked onto mine.

Rowyn follows my gaze and her eyes widen. “Is that…?”

“Remy,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the crackling fire. The intensity in his gaze sends a shiver down my spine. He looks determined, and I know he’s not here for a casual chat.

Rowyn squeezes my hand. “Do you want me to stay?”

I shake my head, my eyes never leaving Remy’s. “No, I need to talk to him.”How did he even know where I was?

As Remy gets closer, the noise of the beach fades away, leaving just the two of us in this charged moment. He stops a few feet away, his expression unreadable.

“Fallon,” he says, his voice low and steady. “We need to talk.” I nod, as he pulls me to my feet. My legs wobble for a moment, but he steadies my waist. He grabs my hand and pulls me along behind him, the heat from the bonfire getting further away with each step. The cool night air wraps around us and the only thing I can hear now is the rhythmic crashing of the waves, and the pounding of my own heart.

Remy doesn’t say a word as he leads me over the sand dunes, his grip on my hand firm, but not painful. I can feel the tension radiating off him, and it makes my own nerves spike even higher.

Finally, we reach a secluded spot where the dunes provide some shelter from the wind. He stops and turns to face me, hiseyes searching mine. For a moment, neither of us speaks, the silence heavy with unspoken words.

“Fallon,” he begins, but I cut him off.

“Did you follow me?” I can’t help the accusatory tone in my voice.

Remy’s eyes flash with a mix of frustration. “Yes, I did,” he admits. “I wasn’t going to let you get far.”

I pull my hand from his grip, taking a step back. “You can’t just follow me around, Remy. This isn’t how things work.”

“When have I ever given you the impression that I give a fuck about how things work?” he snaps. His words cut through the night air, sharp and unyielding. I flinch, taken aback by the fierceness in his voice. He runs a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to find the right words. He no longer wears his suit jacket, and his buttoned shirt is undone at the top, the sleeves rolled up his arms. The sight of him like this, more vulnerable and less composed, tugs at something deep inside me. It should be a crime that he’s this effortlessly sexy, even when he’s angry.

“Remy, this isn’t just about you,” I insist, trying to keep my voice steady. “There are other people involved now. Our parents, specifically,” I argue.

He steps closer, his eyes blazing with determination. “I don’t care about the rules, Fallon.” His words gave me chills, a mix of fear and undeniable attraction. He steps even closer, his presence overwhelming.

“It’s funny how you think you can resist me, especially now. Deep down, you know you can’t,” he vows, his voice low.

I turn to face him fully, wanting to defy him. “I don’t belong to anyone, Remy. Especially not you.”

He smirks, stepping closer. “Oh, but you do. You just haven’t realized it yet.” He reaches out, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

“Nothing is going to happen between us again. You’re my fucking stepbrother, or didn’t you get that memo at dinner?”

“Oh, my sweet little fox thinks that changes anything. We are just getting started,” he chuckles darkly, making my heart race.

“It changeseverything!“ I heave. The weight of the evening’s events presses down on me, making it hard to breathe.

“You think a title changes this obsession I have with you? If you do, then you haven’t been paying attention.”

My fists clench, trying to steady my racing heart. “It should. We’re family now, Remy. This… whatever this is, it has to stop.”

Remy steps closer, his eyes locked on mine, filled with a mix of frustration and desire. “Family?” he laughs. “You think that word means anything to me?” he scoffs. “You’re not just some step-sibling, Fallon. You’re the one thing I can’t get out of my head. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

“You’ve tried? Wow, I guess I should thank you then. That’s definitely what a girl wants to hear.” My eyes roll on their own volition, trying to keep the emotions that threaten to spill at bay.

“Let me make myself clear, since you don’t seem to be understanding,” he growls as he grabs my chin tightly, pulling me up to face him. “You are mine.Mine. To bully, to torture, to shatter. Being my fucking stepsister is a bonus, because I can fuck with you whenever I damn well please.”

“You won’t break me, Remy.”

His eyes darken, his smile fading. “Oh, I will and it will be my pleasure seeing the moment you realize I can’t be beat,sis.“ The word stings my skin. I feel dirty knowing my stepbrother fucked me, but even dirtier that I didn’t hate it.What is wrong with me?

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