1. First Kiss

Chapter 1 - Chloe's POV

"You haven't seen him in four years. Why are you preparing a welcome party? For all I know, he's probably not worth it."

"He's worth it," I said under my breath.

"We are sorry, young master, but my husband's son is just coming back from the military, and this is all we can do for him. But if you insist, then we can cancel the party," my mother said. I wanted to disown her on the spot.

"No, it's fine. I'll just stick around to see him before leaving."

"Thank you very much, young master. You're so kind." My mother was close to kneeling, and I hated her even more for the fact that she couldn't stand up for herself, or me.

"Young master? Mom, he's just eighteen, and we're classmates!" I lamented at how crazy my life had become.

"You keep quiet and help with the decorations."

And I went to do just that.

My mom married Jayden's dad when I was twelve, and Jayden and I shared a strong bond during the two years we spent together before he left for active military service.

I missed him so much that I called every day, despite knowing he wouldn't pick up. No doubt he had over a thousand messages in his voicemail from me.

"Don't touch that. My fiancée shouldn't do such menial things!" Shawn said. I paused as he hugged me from behind and placed a kiss on my neck and shoulder.

My mom had chosen this revealing dress because she knew Shawn was coming, and I hated that I had no choice in the matter.

"Let me go. People are watching," I protested, trying to free myself. But his hand found its way to my chest instead, and he gave me a harsh squeeze.

"So what? Can't I hug my fiancée?"

When I turned sixteen, my stepdad had gotten into huge debt with a big company that happened to belong to Shawn's family. The only way to pay his debt and secure a promotion was by agreeing to let me marry Shawn when I turned twenty-one.

My mom hadn't hesitated to accept when she heard about the expensive travels and vacations she would enjoy as Shawn's mother-in-law. Now I was bound by that agreement.

"Or are you shy? Do you want us to do it inside instead?" He started to pull the neckline of my low-cut dress down, just enough to expose my bra.

"No, that's not it. You know I'm just seventeen. We can't do this until I turn eighteen," I said. But every day, I prayed to all the gods that a miracle would happen before next Saturday, just seven days from now.

"Baby, I can't wait to throw you the most expensive birthday party of your life and then claim you as mine afterward." The spot where my neck met my shoulder was his favorite part of my body.

I knew that because Shawn would focus on that area every time he hugged me from behind, sometimes even leaving bite marks.

I hated it, every bit of it, but I had no choice.

"I don't see your brother coming home anytime soon, so I'll leave. I have a party to attend, and since you've rejected me now..." He brought my hand to press against the hardness in his jeans. "I'll have no choice but to turn to the pretty girls at the club."

He let go of me without caring whether I fell or not.

At least I was more than glad that we were no longer breathing the same air as I heard the sound of his Bugatti leaving our compound.

I fell to my knees and covered my face with my hands, though no tears would come.

All I could do was stare blankly at the other side of the room. I didn't know how much time had passed until a pair of grey boots came into view.

They seemed to be approaching me, and my eyes traced the long legs upward until the owner of those legs wearing camouflage-colored cargo pants was standing right in front of me.

"I'm sure I said I'd be arriving by six p.m. I was so disappointed when my dear sister wasn't there to welcome me at the door."

That voice.

"Jayden." My breath caught as I looked up to see the handsome face of my stepbrother, whom I'd been longing to see for the past four years.

"Why didn't you come out earlier? It's eight-thirty, but you were nowhere around. The party was so damn boring without you there. Mom said you went out with your little boyfriend, but I thought I'd look around just in case." He was rambling.

Jayden had never been much of a talker, and I'd always liked that about him. I could share a silent space with him and still feel at peace.

I helped myself to my feet and stumbled backward, but he caught me. We both lost our footing and fell against the wall, with my back pressed against it.

His hand rested on my waist, and his alcohol-scented breath fanned across my face. Still, I couldn't help but look into his green eyes and take in his flushed features.

He looked more masculine now. His facial features were more defined, his jawline sharper.

"Nothing to say? I missed you so much, sis," he said, his left hand still holding my waist while his right gripped the bottle of liquor.

"Why won't you say something? Use those lips of yours for your big brother." He wanted desperately for me to respond, but my mind was overwhelmed by how handsome he'd become.

I couldn't help but raise my hand to his jaw, my index finger tracing from the tip of his nose downward, pausing at his lips. I felt myself rising from my five-foot-five height onto my tiptoes, tilting my head to the side.

His face remained still. I didn't know what I was doing, but I felt drawn closer and closer until everything suddenly turned awkward when he let go of me and pushed the bottle toward my face.

"Want some liquor?"

"I can't. I'm underage," I said, turning away.

"Okay then, how about we go to my room and I show you what I got for you?" He took my hand, and I couldn't refuse.

Soon we were climbing the stairs together.

I felt excited for some reason. For the past two years, I'd taken responsibility for cleaning his room myself. Only I had the spare key, no maid was allowed in.

It felt too personal to let someone else do it. I went in alone whenever I missed him or needed to clean, but today was different.

He closed the door behind me and tossed the key aside before backing me against the door, resting his hand in the space above my head.

"Tell me you missed me, Chloe," he said, and I felt my eyes grow misty.

"I've missed hearing you say my name. Why didn't you ever answer your phone? You never replied to my voicemails, never returned my letters, you..."

He cut me short with his mouth on mine.