I never thought living with my new stepfamily would feel like this. Mom got married to Marcus six months ago, and just like that, we packed up and moved into his big house on the edge of town. It has high ceilings, leather couches, and a backyard pool that sparkles under the sun. At first, I told myself it was fine. A fresh start. But every time Marcus walked into a room, something in my belly flipped. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, with thick arms from years of construction work. His voice is deep and low, like thunder rolling far away, and when he says my name— “Lila”—it makes my thighs press together without me meaning to. Then there’s Jake, his son. My stepbrother. He’s twenty-four, two years older than me, with dark messy hair, sharp cheekbones, and a cocky half-smile that says he knows exactly what he does to girls. His body is lean and hard, like he spends every free hour at the gym. He doesn’t talk much, but when he looks at me, his eyes linger on my legs, my chest, my lips. I
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