Stella's P.O.V.

Damn!

I never knew that sex could be this addictive and satisfying.

With Jade...

No. No. I don't want to think about him. I don't want to ruin my best night by thinking about the person who cruelly shattered me.

But, seriously tonight, I realised that there wasn't any fault in me. It's just that asshole didn't know how to fuck properly. He always made me feel like there was a problem with my body.

I was so stupid.

God! I don't want to think about him.

I just only want to think about how Alex made me feel. I felt so complete when he was buried deep inside me.

And he took out the best side of me which I didn't know existed me. The bold side of me.

The way he punished me when I got naughty—and to be honest, I got the best orgasms of my life. It was so intensely satisfying. My entire body was shuddering.

God, just thinking about it makes me wet again.

I never imagined I would get involved with my stepbrother. When we first met, he was so rude to me, and I didn't like him at all. But the way he changed, the way he is fixing what he didn't even break—he's like an angel in my life. It doesn't matter to me now that he's my stepbrother, because he's become my happiness, my everything.

Right now, I'm lying in his warm arms, my face resting on his bare chest, and I can hear the steady beat of his heart. It's so soothing.

His arms are perfectly fitting my body. The comfort I'm getting in his arms is so unreal, like I've found the place I've been searching for all along. It's as if his arms were made to hold me, and only me, and I never want to leave this embrace.

I didn't want to, but I'm getting so much attached to him and too fast.

It's not good. I can't let my heart shatter again.

Although Alex makes me feel safe and happy, I know I need to protect myself. I can't let my heart be shattered again, not after what Jade did to me. The pain is still too raw, the scars too fresh.

Suddenly, I slip out of Alex's arms and climb down from the bed. The loss of his warmth makes me shiver, but I ignore it.

I can't be attached to him. Only these words ring in my head.

He glances at me in confusion. "What happened?"

"I... I need to use the washroom," I mumble quickly, avoiding his gaze.

Without waiting for his response, I rush to the bathroom and shut the door.

As soon as I'm inside, I turn on the shower, letting the water cascade over me. As the cold spray hits my skin, I lean against the cool tiles, taking deep breaths, trying to slow the frantic beating of my heart.

I can't trust so easily again. I can't allow myself to become vulnerable like this, not after what Jade did to me. No matter how much I want to believe that Alex is different, I won't let myself be swept away by this new feeling.

As the water streams over my face, I close my eyes. "I won't become crazy again," I whisper to myself, like a promise. "I have to be careful. No matter what, I can't lose myself in this... in him."

But even as I say it, I know that keeping my heart safe around Alex is going to be harder than I thought.

And just like that, the best night of my life has been ruined.

***

Alex's P.O.V.

I sit on the edge of the bed, holding my head in my hands. It's been ten minutes, and Stella still hasn't come out of the bathroom. The sound of the shower continues, and my mind spins. Something's wrong—I can feel it. The way she left, the look in her eyes—it's like she shut down.

When the bathroom door finally creaks open, I look up. Stella steps out, wrapped in a towel, her skin still damp, her face pale. I feel a pang in my heart.

She was completely fine just a few minutes ago. What happened to her suddenly?

I rush over to her. "What happened, Flower?" I ask, my voice gentle but laced with worry.

"Nothing." She shakes her head, avoiding my gaze. "I just needed a shower." Her voice is flat, almost robotic, and I know she's hiding something. I'm trying to figure out what went wrong between the time she was in my arms and now.

I step closer, cupping her chin in my hand and tilting her face up to look at me. "Look into my eyes and tell me, Stella, what's wrong?" My voice is firm, my eyes searching hers for any sign of what she's feeling.

She swallows hard, but her eyes dart away again. "Nothing is wrong. I need to sleep." She pushes my hand away, slipping past me to the bed. She pulls off the towel, climbs under the comforter and hides herself in the blanket.

I watch her for a moment, frustration and concern twisting in my chest. As I lie down beside her, she turns her back to me, putting even more distance between us.

It's driving me crazy, seeing her like this—so distant, so closed off when just a few minutes ago she was doing fine. Today only, I got her back and today only, I lost her again.

I can't stand it. I can't stand seeing her like this, shutting me out. Do something, Alex.

I move closer before wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her against me. "Talk to me, baby," I whisper into her ear, my voice laced with worry. "Tell me what's going on in your mind."

I feel her stiffen and she remains silent. Why isn't she talking to me? Why did I do wrong? Did I hurt her? Was I too wild with her?

God! I want to know what's going on in her head.

"Please," I beg, my lips brushing her shoulder. "Don't shut me out. Not like this."

I become even more anxious when her body begins to tremble. She is getting panic attacks. Again. Fuck!

I need to distract her anyhow.

I press my lips on her shoulder, trying to soothe her as I let my hand glide over her breast. My fingers gently knead her soft skin, while my other hand slips between her legs, trying to comfort her with my touch, to pull her mind away from whatever darkness it's caught in.

I feel her stiffen for a moment before her body slowly starts to relax. Her trembling eases, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief. I begin rubbing her clit in slow, gentle circles, my other hand massaging her breast as I press myself against her from behind, my hardness grinding against her ass.

"Spread your legs for me, baby," I murmur against her ear.

She complies, parting her thighs slightly, allowing me more access. I rub myself against her wetness, feeling the heat between her legs.

"Do you need me, Stella?" I ask, my lips brushing the sensitive spot behind her ear.

"Yes," she breathes out, her voice shaky, but she still hasn't fully relaxed. There's something still weighing her down, and I need to know what it is.

"But first." I slowly rub myself against her wetness. "You need to tell me what's bothering you. Just take it out, Flower."

I know I'm pushing her, forcing her to confront whatever's haunting her, but I don't have any other choice. I need to understand what's going on in her head because I need to help her.

"I'm getting attached to you way too fast, Alex, and it's scaring the hell out of me," she finally breaks her silence, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm not ready for this. You know how hard it is for me to trust and give my heart to anyone after what Jade did to me? I know you're different, but it's still not easy for me to open up like this. I just want to keep things physical between us, no emotional attachment."

I feel her pain. It hits me straight in the chest. She wants to trust me, but her heart isn't allowing her to do that. I understand because I know she's been brutally cheated, and I don't want to push her into something she's not ready for.

"It's fine." I press a kiss on her shoulder, caressing her arm. "Stella, I can understand. I know it's difficult for you to trust a man after what you've gone through. So just take your time—there's no rush. If you want to keep things physical between us, that's completely fine. Don't worry about it."

She demands, "Now just fuck me."

Without another word, I push myself against her, entering her slowly from behind, filling her completely as she moans softly. This isn't just about sex—it's more, even if she doesn't want to admit it. But for now, I'll give her what she wants, what she needs, and hope that, with time, she'll feel safe enough to give her heart to me.