As dinner wrapped up, Ethan knew he had to make a decision. He couldn't keep torturing himself with these feelings for Olivia. He had to either distance himself or pursue her and face the consequences.
Despite his better judgment, Ethan couldn't bring himself to keep a distance from her. He knew it was wrong but couldn't ignore his intense desire for her. When Ethan set his mind on something, he would do whatever it took to achieve it. And right now, his mind was firmly set on Olivia, and every moment spent with her seemed to intensify his desire. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were meant to be together, no matter the obstacles in their way.
"To hell with it," he thought. He decided to take a chance and pursue her, no matter the consequences.
After dinner, Ethan called out to Olivia. He took a deep breath and reached out to touch her arm. "Hey," he said, "walk me to my car."
She smiled at him and linked her arm with his as they made their way to the driveway in comfortable silence. When they reached his car, Ethan couldn't wait any longer. He pulled her close and embraced her in his arms, taking a big whiff of her perfume. He could feel the warmth radiating off her body, and it felt so good that he never wanted to let go.
Slowly, Ethan started running his fingers through Olivia's hair, caressing the soft strands that felt like silk between his fingers. As Ethan pulled Olivia close, he brushed his lips on her neck, stopping just short of kissing her. But before their lips could meet, Olivia stepped away with an apologetic smile.
"We can't do this," she said quietly. "Not here."
"Olivia," he said softly, "I know this is complicated, but I can't keep pretending that I don't feel the way I do about you. I can't get you off my mind."
Olivia's eyes widened in surprise. Ethan could see the uncertainty in her gaze, but he pressed on.
"I know we're technically family, which makes things difficult, but I can't help how I feel. I want to be with you, Olivia. I want to explore this connection between us, no matter how taboo it might seem. I want you."
He could see the conflict in her eyes. She looked like she was going to say something but hesitated. Ethan placed his hand on Olivia's cheek and felt her shiver beneath his touch. This time, Olivia didn't pull away - instead, she leaned into him.
A smile spread across Ethan's face as he leaned in to kiss her. It took every ounce of his willpower not to pounce on her right there, to hold her tight and show her how he felt about her.
Olivia maintained her resolve, yet her eyes filled with longing and uncertainty.
"Not here," she replied softly, her voice carrying the weight of their unspoken connection.
Ethan contemplated her words, interpreting them as 'not here' for now, yet realizing they held the promise of not meaning 'not ever.'
Ethan's smile hinted at mischief, and he replied, "Alright, beautiful. I'll see you tomorrow for Christmas. Have sweet dreams. I know I will."
A subtle yet confident grin accompanied Ethan's journey home. He had no intention of giving up on Olivia. He knew that pursuing a romantic connection with her under his parents' roof presented a unique set of challenges, but he relished the opportunity to overcome them.
A soft chuckle escaped him as he mulled over the perfect Christmas gift he had in mind for Olivia. It wasn't just any present; it was a carefully chosen gesture. One that would feed her new need for independence and his desire to be closer to her without obstacles at the same time.
Olivia
"Holy hell," Olivia thought. Her mind was a jumbled mess as she stepped back into the house. She had completely lost herself in Ethan's presence, so much so that she couldn't remember what they had even talked about. Only now did she realize how her face must have been burning like an inferno, giving away every emotion she tried to conceal. Her mother and Richard would surely notice something was off. How could she explain this inexplicable connection she felt for Ethan? The very thought of it made her stomach churn with unease.
But Olivia knew she couldn't back down from the feelings stirring inside her. Becoming attached to someone like Ethan was dangerous, yet she felt drawn to him like a moth to a flame. As much as she wanted to ignore these emotions and return to normalcy, Olivia knew it was too late. She was already hooked on the confusing man.
She tried to act normal, but the look on her mom's face told Olivia that maybe she wasn't doing a good job.
"Everything okay?" Her mom asked, raising an eyebrow.
Olivia forced a smile on her face and nodded. "Yeah, I'm just tired."
Her mom gave her a suspicious glance before returning to the conversation with Richard.
Logan looked at Olivia with a knowing expression on his face.
"Well," he said, "it's getting late, so I better head out." He hugged Olivia and said, "See you tomorrow."
Olivia knew she would see him tomorrow, but it was Ethan who occupied her thoughts as she bid Logan goodnight.
As Olivia lay in bed, she couldn't help but think about Ethan's actions at dinner. He observed her every move with a captivating intensity that left her flustered and intrigued. It felt like he was in sync with her every gesture and emotion like he could read her thoughts. 'I want you,' she kept hearing the phrase he uttered to her, making her feel wanted. Desired.
She shook her head, trying to rid herself of these feelings. Ethan was her stepbrother, and it was a little...weird. But he's not my real brother, Olivia reminded herself. It would be alright if they were to explore this connection they have. Olivia couldn't deny that she wanted to be in Ethan's arms.
She closed her eyes, trying to picture his face. She could hear him saying her name and how his breath sounded when he was close to her. She could feel his arms around her, holding her close. Olivia's heart began to race as she realized that she wanted to be with Ethan in more than just a platonic way.
The idea of Ethan lusting after her made her feel sexy and desirable for the first time in a long time. The thought of him touching her, of his lips against hers, sent shivers down her spine. She wanted him, she realized, more than anyone she had wanted in a long time.
Olivia's daydreams were interrupted by a knock on her bedroom door. "Come in," she called out.
Her mom cracked the door open and popped her head in. "You okay?" she asked.
Olivia nodded. "Yeah, just tired."
"Okay, goodnight, sweetheart," her mom replied. "I'm here if you need to talk about anything."
Olivia twisted and turned in her bed that night. Her mind was whirling with questions about her future with Ethan. She had never wanted anything so severely or felt so strongly about anyone before. She didn't know what to do or how to act. One thing was clear: she wanted him.