Memories

Celeste’s POV

“I-” 

“Meet Cassian and Lucien; your step-brothers,” Theo said, introducing us to one another. Oh, but I knew them. I knew them all too well. 

This was like a disaster waiting to happen. I couldn’t help but tighten my grip on the backpack as I stared at both men. 

“Cassian, Lucien. Meet Celeste, your step-sister.” 

Step-sister. The word sent an unnerving chill down my spine.

Both brothers stood tall, towering over me as I looked up at them. They were handsome, no doubt with their perfectly styled hair and muscular bodies. Cassian’s blue eyes pierced mine as he gave a small, knowing smirk. While Lucien was almost unfazed. I couldn’t quite put a finger on what exactly it was, but his aura was much more different from Cassian’s.

“Nice to meet you, sis.” He grinned, extending a hand. 

I had to just play it cool right now. This wasn’t the time for any funny business. 

Just play it cool, Celeste.

I forced my grip on the backpack strap loose as I took his into mine, returning the gesture, and did the same to Lucien.

I swallowed hard, forcing a small smile. “Nice to meet you too.” 

Lies. 

“I’m sure you three will get along just great,” Theo said, interrupting the tense moment. I let out a small breath or relief. “Celeste, one of the house staff will show you to your room. Perhaps, give you a tour later, if you may.” He said, waving one of the ladies standing off to the side over. 

I nodded, forcing my saliva down my constricted throat. Of course. As long as I got far, far away from these two men right now, I’d be fine. The house girl took my backpack from me before I could react and we began our journey. I barely got the chance to say goodbye to Mom, so I blew her a quick kiss.

As I followed the house staff through the grand foyer, my steps felt too quick and too fast. I just wanted to put as much distance as possible between myself and the two men watching me. 

I could feel Cassian’s stare burn into my back. Sweat beaded on my forehead, as I nervously gnawed on my bottom lip.

I refused to look back.

"Don’t get lost, sweetheart."

His voice was smooth, yet mocking, yet just loud enough for me to hear.

I froze mid-step.

The housekeeper, oblivious to what was happened behind her, kept moving forward.

I turned my head slightly, meeting his gaze over my shoulder from the corner of my eyes. It was that same goddamned smirk. There was nothing I wanted more badly in that moment than to wipe it off.

He was clearly enjoying this—in fact, way too much,

I tightened my jaw, my hands balling up into fists by my sides. I wouldn’t respond. That was exactly what he wanted out of me—a reaction. But, I couldn’t let anyone know—not even the housekeeper—that I formerly knew Cassian and Lucien.

Lucien, standing beside him, elbowed Cassian in the ribs. 

"Knock it off," He muttered under his breath.

In response, Cassian only grinned wider, leaving me rattled.

I forced myself to keep going, moving quickly as my heart raced, thrashing right up against my ribcage.

One thing was clear—I was in trouble.

As soon as I got into my room, I thanked the housekeeper and shut the door. I turned my back to the door, sliding down helplessly. 

This was the worst case scenario. And, I was undeniably stuck here FOREVER.

Why did it have to be them?

  I thought to myself as I straightened and threw my backpack on the bed. I sank onto the bed, exhaling slowly as my fingers traced the soft duvet. 

Only then did I decide to take in my surroundings. The theme of the bedroom was pretty minimalist. White, black, and an undertone of gold. It overlooked the lawn and even the pool that I hadn’t even known was there. Wow, this would be a beautiful view in the night.

No matter how stunning this place was, it wasn’t enough to distract me from the real issue.

My grip tightened around the duvet as my mind betrayed me, dragging me back to a past I’d spent so much time trying to bury and forget about.

*

"Come on, Celeste! Just go," Elwyn urged, gripping my wrist tightly, her fingers digging into my flesh as she pulled me aside, away from the bustling hallway full of hormonal highschoolers.

I frowned, yanking my arm out of her grip. “Are you insane? You want me to go meet Cassian and Lucien,” I brought my voice down to a whisper, eyes darting around, “… at a bar? Do I look like the kind of person they’d ever be interested in?”

Elwyn rolled her eyes. “They invited you, didn’t they?” She huffed, folding her arms. “Look, I get it. You used to be all shy and nerdy, hiding behind those big glasses, but you’re different now. You wear contacts, you’re fricking hot and—” she smirked, “—now you have the chance to say no first.”

I hesitated.

She wasn’t wrong. Back then, I was the quiet girl with glasses, freckles, and my nose always buried in a book, aiming for the top grades in the class. It wasn’t as if any of that had changed, it was just my appearances. What I couldn’t understand was why Lucien and Cassian wanted to talk to me all of a sudden.

I wasn’t the type of girl they’d ever seriously consider. If they had shown any interest, it had to be a joke—some cruel game. They’d always treated me as though I was some sort of ghost.

“They’re just messing with you, Celeste,” Elwyn pressed on. “They probably made some stupid bet to see if you’d fall for it. Go there, turn them down, and walk away before they can hurt you.”

Her words rang in my mind over again, as I bit my bottom lip anxiously.

I wasn’t the same girl I used to be. I had changed.

And maybe Elwyn was right. I wasn’t about to let them play with my feelings and trample all over me.

“Fine, I’ll go. Just to turn them down, then we can move on from this shindig.” I rolled my eyes, tossing my hair back. 

That night, I arrived at the bar, my fingers gripping the strap of my purse tightly as I scanned the dimly lit space. My heart pounded so hard in my ribcage that I thought I’d almost faint.

Then I saw them.

Cassian and Lucien sat in a dark corner seat, drinks in hand. When they noticed me, the corners of their lips tilted up into smirks, which left an unsettling feeling running down my spine. I braced myself for what was to come, inhaling deeply as I approached.

“Celeste,” Cassian greeted smoothly, leaning back against the seat. “You actually showed up.”

Lucien tilted his head. “Didn’t think you’d come.”

I forced a smile, trying my best not to bunch my hands up into fists. “I did,” I said, my voice unwavering, “but not for the reason you think.”

Their smirks faltered slightly.

“I know what this is. You both don’t have to pretend,” I continued, lifting my chin defiantly. “Some game you two are playing. I’m not interested.”

Cassian raised an eyebrow, glancing at his brother.

Lucien exhaled, setting his drink down. “Do you really think that low, of us?”

I swallowed, but I stood my ground. “I’m just being realistic.”

“We actually like you and wanted to invite you out on a proper date.” Cassian sighed. 

“Well, like I said, I’m not interested.”

I turned on my heel and walked away, my heart hammering against my ribs.

It was done.

I had rejected them before they could make a fool out of me.

The next morning, nothing seemed to be the same any longer. At first, Elwyn didn’t come over so we could ride to school together. She didn’t even pick up my calls!

I spotted Elwyn near the lockers, laughing with Cassian and Lucien.

My stomach twisted in anxious knots. What the hell was going on here?

Her hand rested on Cassian’s arm as she whispered something in his ear, making him smirk. Lucien leaned in, smirking right along with them.

She didn’t even bat an eye as I walked past them to my locker. Instead she continued, laughing as if whatever Cassian and Lucien were saying was the funniest thing in the world.

That’s when I realized that this was all just a ploy. 

She wasn’t trying to convince me.

She had lied.

She convinced me to reject them, to humiliate myself, all so she could have them.

And now?

I had lost them before I even had the chance.

For the rest of the school year, I wallowed in self-pity. I loathed Elwyn, but there was no one else to blame. It was nothing but a reaction to my very own insecurities.

*

I sucked in a breath, my body stiffening as I snapped back to reality.

My hands were literally shaking as I grabbed a bottle of water from my bag and downed it immediately. My chest heaved up and down uncomfortably as I ran my hand through my wavy hair.

It had been two years. But being here—in their house, under the same roof—it was like no time had passed at all.

They hadn’t forgotten.

And neither had I.

I exhaled slowly, pressing the cold bottle of water against my temple before I took another sip. 

Get it together, Celeste.

I tried to explain myself so many times, but they didn’t care. 

With a slow, deep inhale, I pushed off the bed and sat. A knock came at my door and when I answered, it was the housekeeper, with my bags of luggage on a luggage trolley.

“Oh, thank you.” I sighed as she dropped off four bags. This wasn’t all, but I assumed I’d do the rest tomorrow or something. I forced myself to start unpacking, checking out the bathroom space and the enormous walk-in closet.

I honestly felt like a princess. Even better, the process of unpacking grounded me. I got into a rhythm with folding and hanging up my clothes, while organizing my shoes as well. I brought out my books and decided to organize them on a shelf by the far side of the room where the full sized body mirror was. 

By the time I was done, the mansion had fallen into silence and the sun was beginning to set. 

I slipped into the bathroom, letting the cool water run through my hair and over my skin, washing away the day’s tension. When I finally slid under the covers, my body molded perfectly into the soft mattress.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

Maybe we could just avoid each other, pretend nothing ever happened.

Maybe I wouldn’t have to put up with them at all.

The thoughts should have calmed me, but they didn’t. Instead, it just led to another tab opened in my mind. One full of overthinking and regrets. The only brother that I’d fully despise was Cassian. 

Somehow, he got to my body in ways that I’d have never imagined. What an unlikely pair we were. I couldn’t say I regretted that night, because I enjoyed every moment. Then, we returned to our normal routine, him hating me, and I, him.

The second I closed my eyes, my body began to betray me. The tension in my muscles coiled differently. It wasn’t from stress, no, this was…

Cassian’s voice echoed in my head. A whisper.

“You think I’d ever lie to you?”

The way he had leaned in back then, so close that I could feel the heat of his body radiating against mine, and I could smell his minted breath. Or maybe the smell of his cologne.

I swallowed hard, shifting against the sheets.

I shouldn’t be thinking about this.

My fingers skimmed lower, my thighs pressing together instinctively. I let out a small breath as my hands slid underneath the waistband of my pajama pants, inching closer to my core.

Just once.

Just to get it out of my system.

I let my eyes flutter shut, my breath hitching as I let the memories consume me. The way he touched me, and made me feel like the only girl. 

My fingers circled my moist clit, as my hips bucked upwards needily. Subconsciously, my other hands slipped under my shirt, cupping my boobs gently as I twisted my nipples with just enough force.

I bit my bottom lip, slowly sliding a finger into myself. I couldn’t help but let out a little whimper as I squeezed my breast gently. The pleasure overwhelmed me so quickly that I hadn’t even realized when a knock came on my door. 

Not one, but two. 

Suddenly, the door flew open and there, standing right in front of me, with the most cockiest smirk ever plastered on his face, was none other than Cassian Montclair.