Chapter seven

“Girl,” Zara hissed beside Amaya, her fingers gripping her arm, “who is that?”

Amaya blinked herself out of the daze she’d been in. Her eyes were still trained on him, Jaxon. Richard’s son. Her new stepbrother. He stood beside Richard now, saying something to his dad with a quiet laugh, looking too good for his own good in that fitted tux, his sleeves slightly rolled up and his black tie hanging loosely like he hadn’t even tried, yet still managed to look like a walking Calvin Klein ad.

Amaya’s throat felt dry. “That’s Jaxon,” she said, swallowing hard. “My... stepbrother.”

Zara’s eyes widened. “Wait, that’s him? That is your stepbrother? Goddamn!” She didn’t even try to lower her voice. “Your mom married his dad? Girl, you’re in trouble.”

“Zara, please stop ,” Amaya muttered under her breath, glancing nervously around. “Can you not shout it to the entire room?”

Zara grinned. “I’m sorry, I just wasn’t ready. That boy is hot. Like Greek god level hot. That jawline? The hair? The eyes? My ovaries are doing backflips.”

Amaya pinched her. “Zara!”

“Okay, okay,” she said, laughing. “But seriously. How are you okay standing next to that without combusting?”

Before Amaya could reply, Zara stepped forward and approached Jaxon confidently. “Hey,” she said sweetly, tossing her braids over her shoulder. “You must be Jaxon, right?”

Jaxon turned toward her with a polite smile. “Yeah. That’s me.”

“I’m Zara,” she said, offering her hand with a flirty grin. “Amaya’s best friend.”

Jaxon’s eyes flicked toward Amaya briefly, then back to Zara. He shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Amaya stood stiffly beside them, her stomach churning. The way his eyes lingered on her when Zara mentioned her name made her chest tighten. Something about his gaze was too knowing. Too sharp. Like he already had her figured out.

But that didn’t make sense. He couldn’t possibly know who she was—not like that. No, she reminded herself quickly. Her sexting partner was a total stranger. This... this was just a very attractive new stepbrother. Nothing more.

Still, the way his gaze dipped subtly from her eyes to her lips had her shifting uncomfortably.

Zara nudged Amaya as they stepped away from him. “Girl. I’m speechless.”

“You? Speechless? That’ll be the day,” Amaya muttered, forcing a small laugh.

“I’m serious. He’s not just hot. He’s dangerous hot,” Zara whispered, tugging Amaya to a quiet corner of the hall where no one was listening. “Tell me again—are you sure you didn’t flirt your way into this arrangement?”

Amaya rolled her eyes. “Zara. Seriously?”

“I’m joking, jeez.” Zara smirked. “But just imagine... you and that sexy man living under one roof.”

“I don’t want to imagine that.”

“Liar,” Zara teased. “You’ve already imagined it, haven’t you? Don’t lie.”

Amaya sighed, rubbing her temples. “He’s my stepbrother, Zara. Can we not do this?”

“That has never stopped any of those W*****d girls,” she said dramatically.

“This isn’t W*****d!”

“Tell that to the chemistry between you two,” Zara sang, poking Amaya’s side. “If looks could undress, you’d be naked right now.”

Amaya shoved her. “Please stop.”

Zara laughed, clearly enjoying herself far too much. “Okay, fine. But I’m watching you two.”

Amaya rolled her eyes, trying not to smile. She loved Zara, even when she was being a pain. “I need the bathroom,” she mumbled.

Zara raised a brow and wiggled hers. “Need a moment to cool down?”

“Goodbye, Zara.” Amaya spun around and walked off quickly.

She found the guest bathroom tucked in a quiet hallway away from the crowd. As she pushed the door open, she didn’t realize someone else was coming out at the same time.

The door hit her shoulder and she gasped, losing her footing on the polished tiles. “Ah!”

She stumbled backward,

Strong hands caught her waist instantly, holding her steady before she hit the ground. Her breath hitched as she looked up.

Jaxon.

Of course it was Jaxon.

His grip tightened for a second as he steadied her, and the world paused around her.

Her hands pressed lightly to his chest, firm, warm, way too close, and for a second, neither of them said a word. His eyes held hers, dark and unreadable, and her heart pounded in her ears like a drum.

“I.... uh.... sorry,” Amaya stammered, stepping back quickly. Her cheeks were on fire.

“No harm done,” Jaxon said coolly, voice calm but laced with something else she couldn’t name. Something dangerous.

She couldn’t bring herself to say anything else. She only nodded and slipped past him into the bathroom, shutting the door quickly and leaning against it, her heart hammering like she’d run a marathon.

What was that?

He just caught you. That’s it. It doesn’t mean anything.

Still, her body burned where he’d touched her. Her skin felt hyperaware, and her thoughts refused to calm down.

You’re not supposed to feel like this, she told herself. He’s your stepbrother. You just met him. Pull yourself together.

But all she could think about was something about his touch sent a strange jolt through her , warm, electric, dangerous. Why did her body react like this?"