THE KISSS!!!

VIOLET





My world just shattered into a thousand pieces, leaving me rooted to the spot in shock. I gasped and Ryan took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue sliding past my lips with a slow, lazy sensuality that obliterated any trace of resistance I might have held..



His hands cupped my face, his thumbs skimming my skin, his fingers threading through my hair. His lips were fierce and unyielding, fast and forceful yet utterly intoxicated. I melted into him, my whole body trembled under his touch, feeling the intensity, the raw anger, and the need that burned in him. I knew I should pull away, that this was something I wasn't supposed to want- but there was something utterly magnetic about him, something that refused to let me go.



A wave of desire coursed in me, and the thought that someone might walk in on us only heightened my arousal. It was only a kiss, but it felt far more dangerous…exhilarating and forbidden.



Ryan groaned, his mouth claiming mine again, fiercer this time—hungry, relentless. He invaded every sense, his touch hot and possessive, leaving a blazing trail on my skin. And I surrendered, utterly and completely, letting him take over without the slightest resistance.



I felt myself unraveling, yet he was the only thing holding me together. My hands slid over his back, across his shoulders, before tangling in his hair, drawing another deep groan from him that sent pleasure rippling down my spine. Oxygen grew scarce, and when I finally had no breath left, he pulled away, releasing his grip and stepping back.



The moment ended as suddenly as it had begun.



We stared at each other, our breaths coming fast and ragged, filling the space around us. Gradually, the world around us filtered back in—the hum of music, laughter, voices echoing from the party—and with it, the cold, hard reality of what we’d just done.



At prom. Surrounded by people who would be all too eager to run to the tabloids with news of Ryan kissing his stepsister.



“Shit,” he breathes, so softly and quietly that it perfectly sums up exactly what just happened. Because I’m thinking the exact same thing.



Oh shit.



“Violet–”



I’m heading back in,” I interrupted, not waiting for a response. I pushed past him and made my way toward the entrance, my heart pounding, anxiety flooding my mind and replacing the raw, heady desire from moments before.



I had just kissed Ryan. My stepbrother. I’d just kissed the guy who held a crazy effect on me, who made my blood boil and my pulse race. The one with a reputation as the school’s most notorious playboy.



What the hell, Violet?

He might have kissed me first, but I kissed him back. And not just a little—I kissed him like I’d been wanting to, like I’d been waiting for it. And the worst part?



I loved every second of it.



My mind snapped back to Ashley. I needed to find her as soon as possible and try to act normal. As normal as a girl who hadn’t just kissed her stepbrother would look.



Exhaling, I forced myself to pull it together. At least until the end of the night. But knowing Ryan would be here too… How am I supposed to handle this? Do I confront him? Ask what the hell just happened between us? Ignore him? I had no idea.



Just as I was about to step back into the room, a group of guys loitering near the entrance caught sight of me. They were complete strangers to me, but apparently, they knew who I was. One of them stepped closer, a beer in hand and a smirk on his face.



"Violet, right?”



“Yeah,” I replied, not stopping but slowing my pace, hoping he’d take the hint. Socializing was the last thing I wanted to do right now.



“I’ve heard about you,” he said, that smirk growing. “Ryan’s sister, right?”



The word made my stomach twist with nausea, and a wave of self-disgust washed over me. Sister? I could barely handle the words after what had just happened between us. I wasn’t sure if what I’d done was illegal or just horribly immoral. I managed to mumble, “Stepsister,” with a quick nod before moving on.



I scanned the room until I spotted Ashley dancing with Kyle, laughing and having the time of her life. She looked so happy that interrupting her felt wrong, like I’d be pulling her into the mess spiraling inside me. As I debated what to do, my phone suddenly rang, jolting me.



Mom.



My heart skipped a beat. Why was she calling now? There was no way she could know about the kiss, right? It had only happened a few minutes ago. But what if someone had seen us? What if there were cameras, or someone had snapped a photo and sent it to her?



I am so stupid. Why didn’t I let the words "He’s my stepbrother" sink in before letting this happen? Exhaling, I forced myself to pick up the call, trying to keep my voice steady.



“Hi, Mom,” I said, hoping she couldn’t sense the storm brewing inside me.



“Hi, sweetie!” Her voice was cheerful, and I felt a wave of relief. She didn’t know.



“How’s it going?” she asked, sounding unusually interested. Mom rarely asked about my night out, but well lately, she’d been acting… different. Really motherly.



“It’s going great. Everything’s perfect,” I replied, forcing a smile she couldn’t see.



Except for the part where I just kissed my stepbrother.



A voice chimed in the back of my head.



“Good, good! And Ryan? He’s being a gentleman, I hope?”



My pulse quickened. Gentleman? He’d taken that concept to a whole new level tonight. “Yes, Mom

He is.” I managed, trying to keep my voice steady.



“Great. Just wanted to check in on you. Don’t drink too much, okay? And have fun!”



The call ended, and I let out a shaky breath, relief mixing with everything else churning inside me.



“Violet, you're back!” Ashley yelled as she pulled away from Kyle, making her way towards me.



“Yeah,” I mustered a small smile, praying it looked natural.



“Where—” She stopped midway, her eyes narrowing as she took a closer look at my face. Her gaze lingered and then stopped, right on my lips.



Oh shit, she knows.



Her eyes grew wide, a grin spreading across her face. "Oh my..your lips are swollen," she gasped, her voice rising in excitement, and heat crept to my cheeks. "What happened? Tell me everything.



I ran a hand through my hair, willing myself to stay calm, even as my heart hammered wildly. The words slipped out before I could second-guess them. "Ryan kissed me."



He'd jaw dropped. For a moment, she was completely silent, her expression flipping from shock to disbelief and then thrill. Her eyes lit up, the thrill of the news dancing in her gaze. "Violet! That's...oh my God, that's insane."She took my hand and pulled me aside, away from prying ears. "Tell me everything. How did it happen?"



I drew in a long, deep breath to steel myself before narrating how I lost my first kiss to my stepbrother.