Page 1 of Forbidden Vows

Chapter One

Cleopatra

Completely unaware I was committing the world’s greatest social faux pas, I wore white to a wedding. My stepbrother pointed out my mistake. Now, I’m tucked away in the back of the church, hoping to go unnoticed. Do I have enough money in my bank account for an Uber ride to Target and the cost of another dress in a more suitable color?

Would I be back in time for the cake cutting?

I stand at the back of the church, alone except for the scent of incense and old wood. The somber atmosphere is interrupted by the sound of confident footsteps approaching me. Please don’t let it be another beautifully dressed guest to side-eye my inappropriate clothing choice.

My stomach knots as I turn to see Blaze wandering along the stone wall toward me, his gaze as intense as always. He's loosened his black silk Armani tie, which he spent the last part of the ceremony complaining about to me. He said it was choking him. Now it hangs down around his neck,and the top three buttons of his shirt are undone as well. Of course, he looks even sexier now than when he first walked in, neat and tidy.

He approaches me, tall and broad, with thick, dark hair that is more wavy than curly. Now, closer in the dim light, the beautiful green of his eyes becomes apparent. He looks like a god.

I have a completely different look than him—I'm shorter and have curves that feel a bit too wide for this city. My straight, mushroom-colored hair, which isn't quite blonde or brown, just won’t stay curled, no matter how much spray I used this morning. The dress I’m wearing, which I used to love but now can't stand, is just a nice Sunday School teacher outfit at best.

Living up to his name, Blaze gives me that sexy, cocksure grin of his that makes my insides feel funny, sending a trail of heat leading below my navel.

“Hey sis.” He leans in and presses his mouth against mine. His body heat warms me as he draws closer. The scent of his cologne mingles with the lingering smoky incense.

“Don’t call me that.” My hand moves to the center of his chest to stop him.

“Why not? It’s hot.” Grabbing my hand, he twines his fingers with mine. “Lil’ sister.”

“Stop calling me that,” I hiss. I glance around, making sure no one saw us. “And do not kiss me.”

“But I like kissing you.” He moves in and kisses me again; this time, the hot tip of his tongue slips past my lips.

My heart races as I melt into the kiss. I want him. His touch is both familiar and forbidden, sending shivers all over. I want to give in, to lose myself in this moment of stolen passion.

But it's wrong.

I’m wrong. And he’s off-limits to a girl like me for many good reasons.

As his free hand begins to wander, I gently push him away, breaking the connection between us. My voice is barely audible over the distant melody of the piano.

“Blaze, stop.” Why is my voice so weak? “We can’t do this.”

“Yes, we can.” The cocksure grin returns, his intense gaze locking with mine. “I know you want a piece of your big brother.”

His taboo words create a knot of guilt in my stomach. I shake my head in denial and lie, lie, lie. “No, I don’t.”

The warmth of his breath on my skin ignites a fire within me that I know should not be burning. It heats with the words of his whisper. “I’d bet everything if I slipped my fingers under your skirt, and explored under your panties, I’d find you already wet for me.”

To my deep-seated shame, he’s right. His husky words create even more arousal pooling between my thighs. The music ends, a few final notes floating through the air, my breath and common sense leaving withthem as they go.

Everyone has left the church at this point, making their way to a nearby building for the reception. There is no one here to stop us. Or save me. Alone in the back of the echoing church, one of his hands cups my ass while the other tangles in my hair.

His lips find mine once more in the dimly lit church, this time even more demanding. A rush of conflicting emotions floods through me. His hands gently cup my face, drawing me closer as I lean into his touch, savoring the forbidden moment.

Our kiss deepens, and a voice in my mind screams at me to stop. This is wrong. We are siblings bound by family ties that should never be crossed.We can’t do this,I think to myself— a robot on repeat, trying to steady my trembling body.

He won’t take no for an answer.

Still, I try. “We need to stop.”

His grip tightens, a possessive and dominating one, sending the alarm bells ringing in my head. "Who's going to know?" he murmurs, his voice a low growl that resonates within my chest. "It's just you and me, little sister."

His words are a temptation, a dance with danger that makes my heart race even faster. Yet, the weight of our shared previous bond hangs around me like a lock and chain.

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