My Big Brother.

NAYLA’S POV

I drifted into a deep sleep, the comforting feeling of my dark bedroom enveloping me. Outside, heavy rain lashed against the windows, the cool wind howling as it forced its way through the closed windows.

Suddenly, I felt a slow and gentle touch, cool and feather-light against my leg. Panic surged through me as I shot my eyes wide open, straining to see anything in the pitch-blackness of my room.

I could sense a towering masculine figure, about the same height as my big brother, Roy, standing right in front of my bed. The darkness of my room made it impossible for me to see who it really was. It couldn’t be my big brother. There was no way.

“Wh—who are you?” I breathed out, barely able to speak as I feared for my life.

“Turn around,” a deep, masculine voice muttered, sending waves of shivers down my spine. My breath caught in my throat, a mix of fear and something else…something unexplainable.

I turned around, my face pressed against my pillow as I shut my eyes tightly. What was going on? Who was it? And what did he want from me?

I felt his fingers trace along my leg up to my thigh, slow and gentle, igniting a mix of fear and unexpected arousal. Why the fuck was I aroused in this situation?

Just as I thought the moment would escalate, everything stopped. The room fell silent again, my pulse pounding in my ears.

With a deep breath, I turned around, eyes wide in fear. But the room was now empty. I quickly reached for my lamp, flicking it on to reveal the familiar surroundings of my room. Quiet—empty. Like no one was ever there. (Thunder sounds)

Was I hallucinating? There was no one home. I was certain because I had locked the doors myself. My big brother, Roy, was out at the club partying with his best friend, Collin.

Who then could it be?!

My mind raced as the encounter replayed in my head over and over again. I hugged my knees to my chest, glancing around my room like it held answers. If truly I wasn’t out of my mind… who the fuck could it be?

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*EARLIER THAT DAY*

I sat across from Collin in the living room, my eyes fixed on the TV, though out of the corner of my gaze, I could feel him staring at me.

“It’s my birthday party tonight; you should come,” he said, prompting me to turn towards him.

“Me?” I replied softly, placing my hand over my chest. How could he ask me to attend his birthday party, knowing fully well that my overprotective brother could never let me go out to the club?

“I would love to come. But I can’t. Roy wouldn’t let me, and besides, I have to study for my final exams next week,” I said, kindly turning down his invitation.

Collin hissed softly, rolling his eyes. “Nayla, you’re eighteen. You’re no longer a child; you don’t have to let your brother dictate your life for you. He is only six years older than you; he shouldn’t have that much control over you. Don’t worry; I’ll talk to him, okay? I need to see you tonight; come have fun with us,” Collin urged, and I nodded, fully aware of the kind of brother I had.

Collin and Roy had been best friends for eight years or more; I can’t really tell because eight years ago was when I got adopted into the Donalds family—eight years ago was when my life changed forever.

Eight years ago, I was saved and rescued from a fatal car accident that claimed both my parents' lives, leaving me as an orphan.

Mr. Donald William, Roy’s father, an elite wealthy billionaire, happened to be driving past our car that day. If it hadn’t been him who rescued me, I too would have been dead.

Well, I can’t really remember much; I was only ten years old. But I’ll never forget the look in my father’s eyes as he stared at me, his lifeless gaze piercing through mine as I screamed for him and my mother to wake up.

“Speaking of the devil,” Collin mumbled. I glanced toward the stairs, watching as Roy descended gracefully.

Roy was undeniably handsome, his tailored suit fitting snugly over his broad shoulders and defined muscles. He held a black suitcase with his left hand while he scrolled through his phone with his right hand.

With each step he took, he exuded extreme confidence, his dark hair tousled just enough to look effortlessly stylish.

I watched in slow motion as his eyes left his phone, drifting down to his best friend Collin’s, and then mine. I could immediately feel my heart race deeply as he locked eyes with me, his gaze stirring something deep inside of me—something I’d tried to hide for years.

Roy could never look my way. He barely even spoke to me. With the amount of beautiful high-class women he uses and tosses around, there was no way he could… wait! What the hell am I saying? What the heck is wrong with me? Why do I have to remind myself all the time that I am Roy’s little sister? To him, I was just the girl who was picked up by the roadside. His adoptive sister. Nothing more.

I looked away quickly, swallowing a hard lump down my throat as he neared us… I could hardly stand his gaze… I never ever do.

Collin stood up, picking up his own suitcase, ready to leave with Roy.

“Nayla, I won't be home tonight; don’t wait up,” he said, and I nodded—a phrase I was used to hearing all the time.

“Uhm, Roy,” I called. Roy turned to me, his brows slightly raised in curiosity. “What is it?” he asked.

I stood up, feeling my legs tremble as I walked towards Collin. Collin had promised to talk to him too about me attending his birthday party. I really wanted to go.

“Collin had invited me to his birthday party tonight; is it okay if I come?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched a kind of expression cross his face. An expression that told me how much trouble I had just brought upon myself.

“What did I just hear you say?”