Page 46 of Adrift

I didn’t think–even when I told her to do so herself–I just acted. It was almost instinctual and impending, like it was bound to happen. I took what I wanted, without any fucking thought of the consequences. Without a thought about the fact that she was my sister-in-law, the fact that she was nineteen, or the fact that I had promised myself I wasn’t going to go down a path like this with her.

I devoured her exquisite mouth and those sinful lips as if they belonged to me, as if they were only mine for the taking. I took, and I took without giving two shits about remorse or regret.

And I fucking liked it.

Nix that. I loved it.

The way she molded to my body, arching to let me taste more. The way her hands pressed against my chest, telling me exactly how much she was enjoying the taste of me, too. The way she panted softly when I pulled away, like she’d forgotten how to breathe.

And then, with the sound of Arman’s voice on the monitor, it was as if the lights had been turned on in a movie theater and the best movie I’d ever seen in my life was nothing more than a blank screen in front of me. In that kiss, I’d seen a different life. In that one kiss, I’d almost allowed myself to imagine that I could have more.

But it was as if my son’s voice was a wake-up call, a jolt out of the fiction I’d allowed myself a moment’s reprieve inside. A moment where I wasn’t struggling to manage my one-year-old son and my business without his mother. A moment where I didn’t have to worry about the morality of being with my dead wife’s teenage sister. And a few seconds where I could pursue something without the handcuffs of my life and my own disillusionments keeping me tied.

But like every good movie, that ended too, making the void in my life even more evident.

I squeeze the bridge of my nose between my thumb and index finger before running a hand over my face. “I kissed Rani a few nights ago.”

Dean slumps back in the chair before he exhales loudly. “Wow. I knew I was onto something with the sister-nanny.”

I flip him off.

He chuckles again. “I’m guessing she was game for it? I know you wouldn’t do anything unless you got a clear signal from her.”

Rani’s breathless request spins in circles around my head. “For you to kiss me.”

I nod at Dean, not feeling any better about his confidence in me. “Yeah . . ..”

He searches my face. “I hear an unspoken ‘but’ in your response.”

I clench my jaw, unsure of how to respond, but luckily, Mala pops her head in. “Hey, Darian!”

“Hey, Mala. Good to see you.”

“You, too!” Her eyes flick to Dean before a coy smile plays on her lips. “Well? Did he say yes?”

“Of course he said yes. Did you honestly doubt me, woman?” Dean chimes in smugly, and both Mala and I exchange exasperated glances. “Hey, will you give me a few minutes, though? I just need to bestow some of my profound wisdom onto my little brother.”

I scoff. “Get the fuck out of here. The minute I start taking advice from you is the minute I’ve officially handed in my adult card.”

Dean places a hand on his heart. “You wound me, Brutus.”

Both Mala and I look at each other, holding back our laughs.

“Pretty sure you’ve mixed up a couple of Shakespearean plays there, Dean, but you definitely deserve an A for effort. I’ll see you out there in a few.” She throws a thumb over her shoulder before her gaze meets mine. “Thanks for letting us use your equipment.”

Dean sighs, turning back to me when Mala disappears. “Dar, listen, I’m not an expert in relationships–”

“Rani and I aren’t in a relationship,” I clarify, quickly.

“Right. I suppose what I’m saying is, I can understand your dilemma without you having to spell it out. She’s your sister-in-law, helping with Arman, and living at your house. If something goes sideways between you two, it could really make for an awkward summer.”

“She’s also fucking nineteen years old. She’s practically a child.”

Dean shifts in his chair. “I’m assuming that nothing’s happened since you guys kissed, so let’s talk about the why before we talk about the why not.”

I frown. “What?”

“Tell me why you kissed her. What brought on that spontaneity and that desire in you? Don’t get me wrong, she’s a pretty girl–I may have even checked out her ass as she went up the stairs that day we were all playing poker.”

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