1.

CLEO

The reason for my harsh breathing pushed the door open, and closed it behind him. 

“I see you have been waiting for me.” His deep baritone travelled through me, burning like a struck match. “And here I thought you didn't like it last time.” 

My face burned, a flush spreading from my ears to my chest. 

“Then why did you come back?” I shot back, shivering gently as a bolt of heat warmed my core. 

“You wouldn't believe me if I told you why.” He murmured, climbing onto the bed and crawling towards me. 

I'd never seen a more sexy sight, or a more forbidden one. The sinfully sexy man crawling towards me was my step brother. 

For a few seconds, he stared at me as if he didn’t know how he’d gotten to my door. 

I concentrated on my breathing, but my skin was burning up. 

His aura was magnetic with his wide shoulders, broad chest and solid arms. My eyes dipped down his muscular frame. 

Laurent’s gorgeous face had a small smirk curling his lips. 

His aura screamed lethal and powerful. He would have seemed unapproachable if it wasn’t for the heart-stopping, crooked grin on his face. 

It was like watching a deadly predator nearing its prey that was already trapped, ready to be eaten alive. 

The immense attraction between us was immoral, but even more complicated by the fact that he was my fated mate. 

But, the thought was not enough to stop the swarm of butterflies that took flight in my stomach. 

My breath came in short, jagged gasps. 

Laurent’s fingers buried in my hair, pulling my head back so he could bite my neck. “You won't ask why?” 

“Does it matter? You'll still be here tomorrow night.” I moaned, seconds away from losing my mind. 

My hands were squeezed at my sides to prevent myself from raking them down his back. Between my legs, heat bloomed and tingled across my skin. 

“You want me to, don't you, Sunshine?” He continued to look at me for several seconds, and it was driving me nuts that he was keeping a little bit of a distance. 

As his gaze traveled from head to toe, in a sense, every movement of his eyes felt like he was touching me. 

“Tell me, is there anything in particular you'd like me to do to you tonight?” His voice was low and dark just under my earlobe.

My body trembled in anticipation. How about everything? How about his lips on mine, then between my legs, then his length buried between my thighs? 

Almost as though he could read my thoughts, Laurent’s warm hands cupped my face and brought my lips to his. 

A low grunt from the back of his throat vibrated through mine. I caught it with a deep swallow of air. His chest pressed against my breasts as he pushed me into the sheets, devouring me hungrily. 

“Mom! Mom! Mom, I'm hungry!” a voice bursted out loudly right beside my ears. 

Mom? What mom? 

My head lifted groggily off the desk, wincing as sunlight burned my eyes. I blinked in confusion, before realization dawned. 

I groaned, concentrating on my breathing to calm my heartbeat. Four years after I'd last seen Laurent Steele, I was still meeting him in my dream. The dreams had become more regular as the pressure to return home became more intense. 

But I knew it was all a fantasy. My dreams did not represent the reality of what had happened between Laurent and I. 

I cleaned my eyes and stretched, lifting my head off my desk. I got to my feet and left my office where I had fallen asleep last night.

The first thing I did every morning was to check on my son, Kyle. I knocked on his door and opened it gently. 

He was already sitting in bed with his sketchbook open on his knees, his head bent over the page. 

Kyle was three years old, yet he was already the most serious person I had ever met. 

“Good morning, Mama,” He looked up, smiling as his grey eyes met mine. 

“Morning, baby,” I kept my expression composed despite the fear that tightened my throat. 

Crossing the room, I sat on the edge of the bed, pulling him into me. He came easily, tucking his head under my chin. 

I pressed my lips to the top of his head, then ran my hand slowly through his hair as I did each morning. 

Strands of his hair came away between my fingers. My entire body quivered with fear as I pulled away from Kyle, hiding the hair strands in my fist. 

“What are you drawing?” I cleared my throat, fighting the tears clouding my vision. 

“I'm drawing a wolf.” Kyle answered seriously, tilting his sketchbook towards me. 

The wolf was dark and large, with glinting silver eyes. It was ironic that he was drawing a wolf, while completely unaware of his werewolf heritage. 

"It's beautiful," I told him, and I meant it.

"His eyes are the same colour as mine, I didn't have a grey pencil so I used silver. Do you think that's okay?"

"I think that's perfect," I stared down at the wolf’s silver eyes, seeing someone else entirely. 

Someone with flashing silver eyes, a muscular frame pressing me back against the wall, his rough lips capturing mine as though I was his woman, not his stepsister. 

I blinked the memory away, my face already flushed and burning. I took the sketchbook from Kyle gently and closed it. A deep, drowning fear settled in my chest and refused to go away. 

“Come on, Kyle. It's time for breakfast.” I helped him swing his legs off the bed and we walked out of his room together. 

“Can we have pancakes and syrup for breakfast, Mama? I'll help you make the batter.” Kyle asked. 

I laughed, pushing the fear away. Kyle was such a sweet child, sensible and kind to everyone. 

“Yes, Love. Would you like a milkshake with that?” 

He nodded. Kyle was pale as he settled at the table. His color had been odd lately, a shade too white. And now, his hair was falling off too. 

I told myself he was just cold. After breakfast, we showered and headed out. I stopped by his school and dropped him off, watching until he reached the school doors. 

He turned and waved at me. I waved back, and he disappeared into class. Once he was gone, I closed my eyes tightly, trying to contain the storm raging in my chest as I drove off to work. 

I didn't want to dwell on any bad thoughts. I was already expecting three test results, surely one of them would be a match? Everything would be fine.