SEDUCING MY STEPBROTHER

Aziz woke up to an empty bed the next day, he shot out of bed when his hand met with pillows instead of Lexi’s smooth beautiful skin.

“Lexi,” no answer

He got down from the bed and went in search of her, he checked the kitchen, the pool, and their parent’s room but she was nowhere to be found.

Just as he gave up searching, he stopped in front of her room, the one she abandoned since they start sleeping together in his room when he felt like he heard a sound coming out of the room.

The sound of someone sniffing quietly, as if they didn’t want to be heard by anyone had him pushing the door open.

“What the hell?” He rushed forward and spooned her in his arm, bringing her to the warmth of the bed.

“Why did you leave our room?” His brows creased together in worry, her actions since she came back from work last night were beginning to scare him and he didn’t know what to do to get her to tell him what is wrong with her.

His frown deepened when her teeth begin to rattle, her hands shaking so badly that she could hardly hold on to his pyjamas. She was freezing and he wonder how long she had been on the floor of her room for her to have caught a cold.

“Try to stay still until I get back baby,” he kissed the top of her head and rushed into the bathroom.

His first intention was to run into the kitchen and put some water on the fire but he didn’t want to risk coming back to see she has tumbled over so he decided to run a hot bath instead.

When he stepped out of their room a few minutes ago, he intended to get her to speak and tell him what was wrong with her, he never predicted something of this sort.

He stepped out of the bathroom and walked over to the bed. Prepping her up a little bit, he start to take off the shirt that she wore, but she held his hand, barring him from removing the shirt.

For someone who was visibly shaking, her grip on his hand was strong. “I need to take off the shirt baby, that is the only way I can help you bring down your fever,” he told her, and she shook her head, not wanting him to take the shirt off.

Aziz groaned at her stubbornness, she had nothing to be shy about so he didn’t understand why she wouldn’t want him to get the shirt off. He peeled off the first button and she keeps shaking her head, holding onto his hand to obstruct his actions.

“Please baby, let me take your shirt off.”

“No!” her voice getting weaker, her hands going limp with each struggle until she could fight him anymore.

He quickly tore off the shirt and scooped her into his arm before kicking the bathroom door open. Gently, he eased her into the tub of hot water, he pick up a towel and use it to massage the water over her forehead and neck, not wanting to risk dipping her completely in the water.

When he notice colours returning to her skin, he got into the water with her and washed her ever so softly. His hand ran down the curves of her hip, cleaning her up until he felt she is clean enough.

Aziz pulls her body to his chest, sitting up with her in his arm. His heart hammering in his chest at her unmoving body.

Thankfully, warmth returned to her body thanks to the bath but she hasn’t opened her eyes to look at him. Her breathing was back to normal. He unplugs the bath, watching as the water drained so fast, before getting out of the tub with her in his arm.

He brought her to the bed and lay her down, covering her naked body with the duvet, he leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead when the shrill sound of his phone snapped his attention away from her. Hissing, he walked away from her and snatched the annoying phone off the bedstand.

“What is it?” He barked at his PA. James cringed at his harsh time but went to relay the message he has for him.

“The investors meeting is 12 pm today and you are yet to get to the office which is unlike you, that is why I called to check if everything is alright.”

Aziz cursed under his breath, he had completely forgotten about the meeting, his mind having been filled with worry about the way Lexi was acting strange and where he found her when he woke up.

“Tell the investors that I had to visit the hospital, so I won’t be able to attend any meeting. The new date will be sent to their emails once I have recuperated enough.”

“Are you alright sir, do I have to come to the hospital?” The worry in his voice was genuine, and Aziz feel guilty for lying to him.

“It’s nothing serious, I am on my way home now and I need to rest,” he groaned to make it seems real.

“Okay boss, I will put everything in order and make sure no one disturbs you,” the line went off and Aziz breathed out in relief.

He turned to stare at Lexi, who was sprawled peacefully on the bed, he stalked toward the bed and felt her body for any sign of cold or fever. When he confirmed that everything was back to normal, he moved away from her and walked out of the room.

Questions bombarded his mind all at once, which only left him more confused.

‘Why had she left their room in the first place? What was she doing on the floor? Why is she acting like he is a stranger to her?’

He didn’t get any answers to these questions, they only resulted in causing him headaches. He lay back on the couch, his brows furrowed as he tried to come up with an explanation of what is going on with her.

A light bulb went off in his head and he pull out his phone from her pocket, sitting up straight. He dialled Tessa’s number and waited as the phone start to ring.

“Mr Aziz,” her voice came through.

“How are you, Tessa?” He tried not to jump to the question at hand.

“I intended to call you just know, I have been calling Miss Lexi’s phone and it says switched off. Is something wrong?”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“She isn’t feeling too well, she woke up with a fever. I already run her a bath, she is resting right now,” he run his hands through his hair, tousling it a bit.

“Should I come over with the doctor?” He could hear the sound of feet shuffling in the background, followed by the slam of a door.

“You don’t have to worry about that, I already have it covered. I just need some answers from you, anything that can help me figure out what is wrong with her.”

“What do you mean wrong with her, I thought you said she only woke up with a fever?”

“She did… Last night, when she came home, she acted so different- so distant, like she was in front of a total stranger, not in front of me. Did something happen at work?”

The line went dead for a few minutes which were like forever to Aziz, he wanted to snap at her but he didn’t want to lose his chance of getting her to speak.

“Tessa?” He groaned.

“Forgive me, Mr Aziz, I was trying to recall what happened yesterday. Except for the fact that she wanted to leave early, I don’t think anything unusual happened.”

How he knew was a mystery to him but Aziz could tell she was lying, but he didn’t want to push her.

“Thank you, Tessa, I will let you know if there are any changes,” he pulled the phone away from his ear and threw it down on the couch.

Something did happen… And he would find out what it is that turned her this way. Even if he has to risk people finding out about their relationship, he would, as long as he brought back the cheerful smile to her face.