The Badboy is my Stepbrother

“I hate you. I hate you so fucking much, James.” It’s a whisper and a paradox because your body doesn’t—shouldn’t—tingle for a boy you hate. It doesn’t threaten to combust into flames; not from rage but from the clawing need to actually give in. It shouldn’t involuntarily arch back to give access to the last person that should be invading it. “But your body doesn’t, sweet Addie. It sings for me.” To enunciate his words, to show me that he is in control and my surrender is near, my walls of defense wearing thin; he traces his teeth along the curve of my neck. My response is a shudder and his, a knowing smile. He’s won. “I’d be crazy not to hum along to the sweet melody. I’d be crazy not to f*uck you senseless, Addie.” ****** The enmity between me and the resident bad boy of Nexus high has been festering for far too long. It’s a wound that I hoped would heal once I managed to graduate high school, but not only are my grades slipping, but he also barges into my life in the most unexpected way. My stepbrother.