22: Forbidden Relationship

Lilian's POV.

It was my mother.

She'd never reached out since she went on vacation with my stepfather. And seeing her calm right now made my chest tighten with a weird feeling.

Before the call notification disappeared, I answered the call, averting Leon's gaze as guilt slithered down my spine.

"Hello...mom," I said softly, not sure what tone to use especially after just having sex with my stepbrother.

The moment Leon heard me say mom, he sat himself on the bed, picking his clothes and beginning to wear them while he looked at me, trying to ask if there was any need to worry.

"Hello dear! How are you doing? I'm so sorry I've been unable to reach out. Nelson and I have been caught up with a lot," My mother's naturally soft tone came from the other end.

I forced a smile, as if she was standing right here with me in the room. Leon's gaze was still fixated on me.

I bobbed my head up and down, closing and opening my eyes slowly. Leon's face relaxed after the gesture. But even though I'd assured him that there was nothing to worry about, I couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling crawling through my skin.

"Oh mom, it's fine. I understand you've been busy. I could have checked up on you too but I've been so..." I stopped myself, as the recall of what I'd been doing the past few weeks came to mind.

I wasn't busy.

I'd just been having a forbidden sexual relationship with my stepbrother.

The truth felt so disgusting for me to even admit. My mom's voice reverberated through the phone but my mind was elsewhere.

I was busy picturing what her face would look like when she found out that I was sleeping with my stepbrother. She'd be so disappointed, she'd remind me how I'd always managed to land her in trouble, and the one thing that made her happy after my father's divorce, I was about to snatch that away from her.

I was such a bad daughter.

No one should have me as their daughter.

"Dear? Are you there? Can you hear me?" My mother's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and as I blinked back, a stray tear found its way down my cheek.

Leon's expression split with concern as he tilted his head to the side, wondering what was making me cry.

"Yes mom, I can hear you. I think the network disrupted the last few seconds," I lied.

"Oh, alright. I thought as much. Anyways, I was telling you that Nelson and I would be coming home soon. Is there anything you'd like us to get for you?" Her question made my heart wrench with even more guilt.

I wanted to smash the phone and hide myself away, but I did nothing of the sort.

"Nothing mom. I'm good," I replied, hating the pricking feeling of shame coming over me.

My mom asked me repeatedly if I was sure and I assured her that I was fine. She then yapped to me a little about how happy she was with Nelson, and how she couldn't wait to tell me all about it.

When the line finally went dead, I finally let the tears flow. Leon caught me immediately, his hands stroking my body carefully.

"What's wrong Lilian? Why are you crying? What did she tell you?" Leon asked all the questions at once.

I snuggled into his neck tighter, crying my heart out as the ache in my chest increased.

"I don't know Leon, this...what we're doing is so bad. I've not heard from my mom in so long and now that I have, she's telling me how happy she is with your dad. I honestly do not want to be the reason she has to break her marriage again," I muttered, taking steady breaths as I stopped crying.

Leon held me tightly, rubbing my back and kissing my head, "I know. I feel so guilty about it too. I wish we weren't related in this way, things would have been way easier."

"I know right? It's so heartbreaking Leon, it really is. Now, I'm not sure I even want to continue the seven-day sex list anymore." I started, slightly pulling away from the hug so I could see his face.

Leon's face fell, "I understand your decision and I respect it. Maybe it's time for us to get into character, act more like siblings before they arrive from their trip."

While I wanted to accept that, another part of me didn't think that was going to be easy.

I drove a thumb over his cheeks, "you know what? I think we should just do it. I mean, we'd never get to do it ever again. And we might just regret starting to pretend early."

Leon hummed, his hands moving from my shoulders to my waist, "Are you sure? I hope you're not saying this just because. I promise, you don't have to continue if you're not comfortable."

I shook my head, "No no, I am. We can even add other outings too. You know, make it six days of fun both with nice activities and good sex."

"Yeah, that sounds great. Where would you like to go? I'd go wherever you're interested in visiting."

His words made my stomach knot painfully but in a sweet way. I think one of the things that made Leon absolutely irresistible was how interested he was in things that concerned me.

It made me feel so seen, and I never felt used or objectified.

"Still thinking princess?" His voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

My cheeks flushed, "Well, I don't have any place in mine for now. But a long drive could be the start to the outing, don't you think? Then we could stop at random places that might interest us on the way."

Leon rubbed my thighs, "Sounds great. Can't wait for us."

I also couldn't wait.

The next six days were going to be the most amazing days of my life and I was so ready.