004–OUR LITTLE SECRET IS OUT.

ROSE'S POV

"Step-uncle." He corrects me. "Corey's my step brother. His mother already had him before she married my father, we were brought up like cousins. The title of family was just mere formality." He starts unbuttoning his shirt revealing toned muscles that shows years of devotion to the gym. "The shirt is damp and uncomfortable, mind if I get rid of it?"

I exhale deeply. "Did you know I was your niece last night?" My head is spinning faster than a ticking time bomb. I thought I would never see him again. What was I thinking moaning on my uncle's thighs like a slut. I have to set things straight before he gets the wrong impression of me. "I--"

"Trust me, I don't see you as my niece... Corey's child, maybe." He takes deep breath and move away, he looks like he's having a fight of his own. "I've never really been in the picture for that long to be considered family." He stares at my lips for a moment saying nothing, then licks his lower lips. "I had no idea that Corey had a child." He runs his fingers through his hair, I'm fighting the urge not to push it off and run my fingers through instead.

Why am I so conflicted? Maybe it's the guilt of letting him touch me last night? I want to scream at him, but I can't stop the pull to him, even when I know it's wrong. "He's had me for twenty-two years, how can you not know of my existence?" I don't like how low and hurt my voice sounds. "Well, it's pointless whether or not you knew. You're my father's brother."

He leans in, his body heat radiating into me. His hands fidgeting around, unsure where to put them, he tenderly brushes a stray chestnut lock out of my face, his lips brushing lightly against mine. He stops instantly, swearing and fisting the air as he straightens, as if he's torn between what he wants and what he should fight against. "Corey and I haven't communicated in a very long time, and we have very different friends circle. Gossip would never fly."

"So, why are you here now?" I push him away from me.

He moves away easily, holding up his hands. "No. I shouldn't be here." He leans against the wall at the right side of the door, staring into space. I feel like... maybe he may just be as lost as I am.

I want to ask him a million questions, like why he's unmarried, what's the history between my father and him, but instead I straighten myself for the wall. "You know, I don't care whatever it is you're here for..."

"He begged." He interrupts, his eyes still fixed downwards.

"But my father never begs, Corey Hilton I know never begs." I almost laugh at the thought of my dad begging his rebellious brother.

"Yes, but he begged, his wife, Helen and her mother knew I was their key to unlocking that box of treasure they've been hunting for so long now." He laughs but I can't tell what's funny.

He stops laughing and looks at me, a strange expression on his face. "Rose?" He murmurs my name slowly as if we're commiting a horrible sin. "We can't keep ignoring it, you know? At some point we have to talk about last night."

"Last night!?" My pitch is abnormally high. "I'm not a slut... I'm usually not like that, it was the alcohol. Last night never happened. Last night was the worst mistake my life. It never happened and it should remain that way" I blurt out breathlessly, observing the look of hurt on his face. Did I go too far? But that's the problem, we're family, and I have to discourage him, this crush has to die. "I regret it and I don't want it to happen again." I say firmly, lifting my shoulders high, but I could feel my cheeks turning red as the force of my words hit me. I was reckless last night and it scared me because I knew I had wanted it.

He straightens himself from the wall. "So, last night's our little secret?" There's a mocking glint in his eyes, though his voice slightly cracks, maybe he's uncertain how to feel about it

"It was the alcohol. I had too much to drink." I try to walk past him, but he blocks me.

"You're going to blame the alcohol now?" He starts striding forward, slowly, with the grace of a predator.

I instinctively take a step back towards the wall. "Don't take another step toward me."

"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me." He closes in on me, the heat from his bare chest penetrating into the thin fabric of my nightwear as he whispers quietly into my ears. "But you're not as innocent as you act, I know that there's a rebellious side in there, right?

He cups my face, but I turn my head away. "Don't touch me." I warn, my voice is wobbly and my heart pounding loudly. The reasonable part of me is screaming for me to stop him, but the problem is, I never listen to that reasonable side. I know he can feel my desperation but none of us dares admit it.

"Why?"

I slap his hands off. "I hate it when you touch me," but my body responses says otherwise.

I can see the conflict in his movement. His jaw strains as if he's trying to control himself. "Do you want me to be your step-uncle, Rose? You want me to back off? But we both know that’s not how this works. It’s not that simple.” He’s panting now, his words thick with something unspoken, something raw. "I can’t just pretend nothing happened. I can’t pretend I’m not feeling this too.” He still haven't touched me, but I'm already shaking with lust, whimpering in pleasure as my core heats unbearably...

"It was just one night." I breathe out, trying to sound persuasive.

"Damnit. The number of times doesn't matter. It was real!"

"It was just one night!" I raise my voice. "And you're my step-uncle. It's impossible to catch feelings in just one night," but that's a lie. Romance experts say that if you're going to fall in love, it happens in the first minutes of an encounter. It may only take you longer to realize it.

He shakes his head, running his fingers through his golden blonde hair again. "Oh, forget I said that." Emotions flash in his eyes—desire? Regret? He lets go off my waist and turns around, as if to leave, but turns back immediately a.nd leans in, causing me to shake with fright. He apologies with his eyes before closing them and taking long breaths. "I'm sorry." His voice sounds unsure to my ears. "I didn't intend to make you nervous." His unsteady fingers trail along my lips, massaging gently, while his left hand strokes my thighs. "But damnit Rose... it doesn't matter if you're Corey's kid."

Despite the insistent warning in my head to push him off and flee, I arch my hips further, moving my lips towards his, my breathing shallow as my entire body throbs.

I hear a faint sound from the hallway. My heart misses a beat. It's late, too late. I recognize that sound. It's Mom's footsteps. I struggle to push my step-uncle off but he's too consumed in whatever this is to notice. My breathing stops as I watch the knob turn in horror. No!

"Rose, are you in there?" My mom's familiar voice calls out from outside my room.

"Oh no." My voice breaks as I try to look in the direction of the door.

I'm about to move when the door creaks open, and Mom's alarmed voice fills the room. "Oh my god– Ryan! What's going on here!?"