CRAVING THE FORBIDDEN

“He wasn't supposed to taste the forbidden. However, he couldn't resist the temptation. As if one little bite wasn't enough, he craved for more. Why did the forbidden taste like heaven even though it was a sin?”

___________

“Damn it! How does this work?” Chloe mumbled under her breath, her patience running thin.

All she wanted to do was to prepare a cup of coffee to kickstart the day because she knew what was waiting ahead and needed a strong cup of coffee. Or… maybe two.

It's the first day of senior year. If Chloe said she wasn't nervous, she would be lying because the truth was…she was freaking nervous.

“Need some help?” Chloe almost jumped when a husky, deep voice sliced through the quiet air, startling her. Taking a sharp breath, she turned her head towards the source of the voice, and there he was!

Aaron freaking Harrison!

He was lazily leaning on the doorframe, his head almost touching the head casing. The black shirt that he wore fitted him perfectly as though it was made just for him. Hugging his muscles just right. The long sleeves rolled up to his elbow, and his strong hands crossed over his chest…

His midnight black hair was wet, glistening under the warm glow from the chandelier, no doubt he had just walked out of the shower not long ago. However, Chloe didn't miss the smirk on his face and a glint of glee in those green eyes.

All this time that Chloe had been trying to figure out how the espresso machine works, he was standing at the door. Silently watching her struggle. The corner of his lips curved into a smirk, as though that was the most amusing thing to watch. He watched her eyebrows pull together with a small pout on her full lips.

Aaron couldn't explain why. However, there was this part of him that found her actions and innocence fascinating, and he wanted to secretly watch her struggle a little bit more…

Could someone please remind Chloe what the hell she was doing with Aaron freaking Harrison under the same roof? The famous green-eyed QB of the Phantom football team, the darling of many girls, but also… a heartbreak of a few.

Well, at least he was none to her and would never be!

Chloe pushed all the thoughts to the back of her mind, a subtle smile touching her lips.

“No, thank you. I can manage.” She said dismissively, shifting her attention back to the espresso machine.

To be honest, Chloe needed some help. However, there was no way that she was going to accept help from Aaron. She would rather spend a century figuring out how the espresso machine worked rather than allow him to save the day.

“Okay, it seems like you're doing pretty well.” Aaron said mockingly, the smirk on his lips stretching even more. Aaron knew damn well that she didn't know how the espresso machine worked, but she was being stubborn. He kind of enjoyed her stubbornness. She's one of those who don't give in too easily. The one that needed a little more taming.

That was some type of charm to him.

Chloe rolled her eyes upon hearing his words, not allowing him to get in her head as she continued to concentrate on what she was doing.

Chloe's mother tried to explain to her how the machine worked, but it seemed she wasn't paying that much attention…

Aaron walked past Chloe and headed to the refrigerator, grabbed a bottle of cold water, then leaned back on the kitchen counter. Silently watching Chloe from the corner of his eyes. He was tempted to move close and help, but… he remembered her response from earlier.

Aaron scrunched his nose when a pungent smell of burning coffee hit his nostrils.

“Oh no, what did I do?” Chloe mumbled in panic, trying to figure out what to do. Before she could come up with a solution, Aaron was already by her side, his shoulder slightly brushing her, making Chloe swallow.

The height difference between the two was pretty obvious. Aaron stood at 6’2 while Chloe at 5’4, her head barely reaching his shoulder. The height difference made her feel small.

Aaron's strong cologne assaulted her nostrils, almost choking.

This was the closest that Chloe had ever gotten to Aaron. She was close enough to smell the fresh mint in his breath. Too close to realize how sharp his jawline was, thick eyebrows, full lips, and a sharp nose.

The things that Chloe never noticed all this time that she watched him from the sidelines.

“I see you have managed it pretty well. Accepting a little bit of help from someone who knows how the espresso machine works wouldn't hurt.” Aaron said cockily, easily managing the situation without breaking a sweat.

Chloe mumbled something inaudible under her breath, complaining about Aaron's remark.

This was the very reason why Chloe didn't want to accept Aaron's help earlier. He's so full of himself. It's not that she didn't know how to make coffee using a coffee machine. The reason why she messed up is because the model of the espresso was a little bit complicated. It had a couple of settings compared to the cheap coffee maker that she was used to. Chloe knew Aaron's family was filthy rich. He didn't need to rub it in her face to make her feel timid.

Chloe and her mother moved in four days ago. So, she was kinda new to everything. However, she was so sure that if she hung around a little bit longer, she would get used to everything...

“I’ll show you how it works.” Aaron said, giving Chloe a side look. She wanted to protest. To tell him that she would figure it out on her own. However, she remembered what happened not long ago when she turned down his offer to help.

‘Just this once,’ she said in her mind. Swallowing the lump down her throat. For the very first time, Chloe allowed Aaron to guide her since she had no choice…

______

"Wow, what are the two of you doing over there?” Victoria, Chloe's mom's cheerful voice cut through the air. Chloe and Aaron turned towards the kitchen’s door. Victoria had a big smile on her face, and Jacob, Aaron's dad, was wrapping his strong arms around Victoria’s shoulders, tightly. 

The two looked lovely together.

Chloe had never seen her mother that happy before. Victoria had been in a couple of relationships, but… she never looked happy the way she looked at the moment. It seemed like Jacob was making her happy, and that's all that mattered to Chloe…

“Just sibling bonding. Aaron was teaching me how to… prepare a cup of coffee using the espresso machine. I was used to our old coffee maker, you know.” Chloe shrugged, a small smile spread across her face as she explained to her mother who nodded in understanding.

“I knew the two of you would get along well.” Victoria said, a big smile spreading across her face.

Chloe almost rolled her eyes upon hearing her mother's words. Chloe wished her mother knew that she and Aaron were incompatible. More like water and oil.

However, Chloe remained quiet because she didn't want to make her mom worried. She can manage living under the same roof with Aaron for the sake of her mother's happiness.

As much as it was hard to ignore his strong cologne, those piercing green eyes, his tall frame that overshadowed her. She'll try. Chloe will ignore him as though he doesn't exist because that would make things a lot easier for her. Perhaps for both of them.

“We're getting along pretty well, aunt. Is that so, sis?” Aaron bumped Chloe with his shoulder, winking as the corner of his lips twitched into a smile.

A sick, sweet smile that Chloe wished she could wipe away using a disinfectant so that she would never see it ever again.

Chloe knew what Aaron was trying to do. He was teasing her because he knew damn well they didn't get along… well.

Does he want to play games with her? Well, she can play too.

“Yes, really well, brother.” Chloe nodded, putting on a smile to match her words. Her hand itched to slap that smug look on Aaron's face but held back.

Chloe couldn't explain how. However, the truth was that Aaron and her mother got along so well. She recalled walking in the kitchen to fetch a glass of water the previous day and found them laughing wholeheartedly as though they have known each other for ages.

How was her mother able to get along with Aaron so effortlessly when she couldn't stand breathing the same air with him?

When Chloe's mother informed her that she was going to have a stepbrother, Chloe was so excited to meet him since that is what she had been secretly wishing for. 

To have a brother.

Elara, Chloe's best friend, has three brothers who adore her so much. They treat her like a princess. It made Chloe wish she had one for herself, or… maybe two who would treat her the same way.

However, Chloe never expected Aaron to be her stepbrother among all the good guys out there. Why did it have to be Aaron bloody Harrison? Her boyfriend’s mortal enemy!