BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER

His fingers slid over her shoulders and down her back, caressing her hipbones briefly, before moving on to her bottom. Filling his hands with the rounded globes, he brought her deliberately against him, rotating his hips so she was made unmistakably aware of the pressure of his erection.

“Do you feel that?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion. “Yes, of course you do. But do you have any idea what it’s like to be this close to you and not be a part of you?”

“Kaleb-”

“You drive me crazy,” he went on, as if she hadn’t spoken, thrusting his thigh between her legs. “Stark, staring crazy, and I still want you even closer to me, under me, spreading your legs for me, to give me some relief from this torment you’re putting me through.”

“Kaleb-”

“Do not try to tell me I don’t know what I’m saying,” he snarled. “I know. I know, Sasha. Believe me.”

“Kaleb, please-”

The husky tone of her voice vibrated through him, but he was too far gone to listen to reason. He’d missed her damn much and it was frustrating because he’d also been mad at her for not showing up to travel with him, but yet he’d missed her. Tucking a hand beneath the tumbled silk of her hair, he tipped her head up to his, his mouth silencing any further protest.

The kiss was deep and erotic, an affirmation of everything he’d been saying, seducing her to a place where nothing mattered but that he should go on kissing her and caressing her, drenching her body in the mindless heat of her own arousal.

She wondered afterwards if he would have taken her there, against the wall of the sitting room, if they hadn’t been interrupted. Kaleb was already using his free hand to tear his shirt open, dragging off his tie to send it spiraling across the room. And she-God help her!-was encouraging him, cupping his warm neck between her palms, digging her nails into taut flesh that smelled hot and sweaty and deliciously male.

She was rubbing herself against him, delighting in the sensual brush of his body hair against her breasts, when there was a tentative knock on the door.

For a moment, neither of them moved. It was as if they were suddenly frozen, blood cooling to weld them to the spot. Kaleb, his face buried in the scented curve of her shoulder, breathed a word that could more politely be described as ‘Damn!’ and slumped against her. And Sasha tipped her head back against heavy silk damask, grateful for the wall’s support.

“Sasha!”

Her mouth went dry. The momentary fear that it was Kaleb who’d spoken, alerting whoever was on the other side of the door to his presence, making her feel weak. But almost immediately she realized that Kaleb was too enraged to say anything civil. It was another voice who had spoken her name.

With a strength she hadn’t known she possessed, Sasha managed to push Kaleb’s head back so he could see her lips. “It’s Tilly,” she mouthed, the consternation evident in her face, and with a resigned gesture he muttered,

“I know.”

“So what are you going to do about it?” she continued as he dragged himself upright and raked back his hair. She bent to snatch the bathrobe from the floor and quickly put it on. “She can’t find you here. I mean… Not like this. You’ve got to go.”

“Go where?” He was sardonic. “Do you expect me to hide in the bathroom until she’s gone?”

“That’s one idea, certainly.” Sasha swallowed and nodded her head, but Kaleb only gave her a scornful look.

“That’s crazy,” he whispered harshly. “No way!”

“Sasha!” There was a pregnant pause and then Tilly spoke again. “What’s going on? Are you alright? I can come back later, if you would rather?”

“No, I-” Sasha struggled for an answer, gazing beseechingly at Kaleb, begging him to get out of sight.

But all he did was finish fastening the buttons on his shirt and stuff it back into his trousers. Then, to her horror, he walked across to the door and swung it open.

Sasha wanted to stop him, but she knew it was of no use. Also for a big guy, Kaleb moved so damn fast, while hers seemed rooted to the spot she was standing.

Tilly stood outside the door, a weird look plastered on her face, surprised as hell to see her brother in there with Sasha. “You’re here” she said to him.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Kaleb gave her a simple nod, “Yeah,” he replied, “You said that she was sick so I came to check up on her before leaving.”

“Well, from the look on her face, I hope you didn’t make it worse,” Tilly replied.

Kaleb hissed, “Tell mom and dad I stopped by” he said tersely, and then he strode away towards the stairs as if he had no intention of answering any further questions about his reasons for being there.

Tilly stared at Sasha who still hadn’t found her tongue, “Are you alright?” Tilly asked her, “He didn’t do anything to piss you off, did he?”

Sasha shook her head, “Oh no” she replied, “He just wanted to see if I was okay… And I am… Although I’m starting to feel a little dizzy. I think I should retire for the night”

Tilly didn’t look convinced for a second. She looked worried and Sasha felt bad. “Yeah sure. I should get some sleep too. See you in the morning. Goodnight.”

“Good night, Tilly,” Sasha replied, and hurried past her to her room.

Another opportunity had passed, and Kaleb Luthor still had no idea that she was carrying his baby.

———

To her surprise, Sasha slept amazingly well. She hadn’t expected to. After the evening she’d had, she’d anticipated lying awake for hours, mulling over everything that had happened. But instead, she’d lost consciousness the moment her head hit the pillow.

A clear conscience? She didn’t think so. What she’d done-what she’d allowed Kaleb to do-had been unforgivable. She’d deserved to spend the night berating herself for her foolishness. No doubt the fact that she was pregnant had had something to do with the ease with which she’d fallen asleep, she reflected ruefully. Now, rolling onto her back, she found the sun streaming through the crack in the curtains she’d drawn the night before.