All Chapters of STEP CLOSER, MY STEP BROTHER : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Ariana’s POVThe music throbbed beneath my feet as Roman led me through the crowd, his hand gripping mine like he didn’t trust the world not to steal me away. The tension in his jaw. The fire in his eyes. He hadn’t cooled down. Not one bit.Not after the dance. Not after the kiss. Not after Maddi.The house blurred around me as he dragged me up the stairs, ignoring the laughter, the music, the people whispering our names. His fingers never loosened, even as we passed Lana and Alex, who exchanged wide-eyed glances but said nothing.He kicked open a bedroom door like he owned the whole damn house and pulled me in.Slammed it shut. Locked it.Then he turned.I barely had time to gasp before he had me pressed against the door, his body caging mine, heat rolling off him in waves.“Roman"His lips crashed into mine, brutal and hungry. I moaned into his mouth, grabbing his hoodie, pulling him closer like I needed him to melt into me. His kiss was fire. A warning. A punishment. A claim.He br

Ariana's POVI woke up warm.Arms around me. A chest behind me. A soft, steady heartbeat thumping under my cheek.Roman.The scent of his skin wrapped around me mint, pine, heat, and something darker. Familiar now. Addictive. The sheets were still tangled from last night. My body still ached from how he’d taken me.Fucked me.Loved me?No.No, he hadn’t said that.Not yet.But he held me like he did. Touched me like I was precious.And I didn’t want to move.I just wanted to stay wrapped up in him, in this bubble we’d built, hidden away from everything else.But reality didn’t wait long.A loud bang at the front door snapped me fully awake.Roman groaned behind me, dragging a hand down his face. “Who the hell…”The front door opened.Voices filled the house.Familiar. Too familiar.Roman shot upright.“Shit,” he hissed. “They're back.”No. No no no.His parents.Our parents.Back from their honeymoon.I scrambled out of bed, tripping over the sheets, yanking on the oversized hoodie I’

Ariana’s POVSaturday morning started with sunlight, soreness, and a silent house.Roman was gone by the time I opened my eyes. The side of the bed where he’d been was cold. I lay there for a few minutes, tangled in the sheets that still smelled like him, trying to pretend my body wasn’t aching in all the right places.But it was. God, it was.Every inch of me remembered him the weight of his hands on my hips, the low growl of his voice in my ear, the way he said my name like it was the only word that mattered.I showered, dressed in soft leggings and a hoodie that definitely wasn’t mine one of Roman’s, still carrying his scent and texted Lana."You still wanna meet at the library today?""I'm already there, bring coffee. I need brain fuel and drama updates" she texted back almost immediately With a smile tugging at my lips, I tied my hair into a messy ponytail and slipped on sneakers, then headed out. The campus air was warm, a slow breeze teasing my cheeks as I walked the familiar

Ariana’s POV It started with a box. A small, sleek, matte black box sitting on my bed when I walked into my room after my shower. There was a note on top of it. His handwriting. Sharp. Messy. Wear this. I’m picking you up at eight. I stared at it for a second, heart tripping like a drumbeat in my chest. I hadn’t known we were going anywhere. Roman had barely spoken a word since the video incident blew over. Since he forced Maddi to go public and deny it. Since he held me in his arms after and made me forget the world. But now… this. I opened the box. My breath hitched. Red. Silk. Barely-there. The dress inside was fire. Deep crimson, with thin straps and a dangerously low back. The front dipped low between my breasts, the fabric clinging like it had been custom-made for me. It was the kind of dress you wore to ruin someone. And I already knew whose ruin I wanted. When the clock hit 7:59, my phone buzzed. "I’m outside." My palms were sweating. My pulse wouldn’t calm. I t

Ariana’s POVThe house was Quiet.Roman’s breathing was steady behind me, one strong arm wrapped around my waist like I was something fragile he didn’t want to lose in the night. The sheets were tangled around us, my bare back against his warm chest, and I could still feel him between my thighs even after everything we’d done.But I couldn’t sleep.Not when I kept thinking about him.About the way he’d touched me.About how good it felt to finally have all of him.And maybe… maybe I wanted to return the favor.I turned slowly in his arms, careful not to wake him but the second I moved, his hand gripped my waist tighter.“Ari…” he murmured, voice thick with sleep.I kissed his chest. “Shh. Go back to sleep.”He didn’t.His eyes cracked open, heavy with heat. “What are you doing?”I didn’t answer.I just slid down his body, letting the sheet fall away as I moved between his legs. He was already hard — thick and heavy against his stomach.And fuck… he looked so good like this.“Baby,” he