Forbidden Proximity

Chapter 1: Cramped Quarters

The new family home was a sprawling mess of unpacked boxes and misplaced furniture, but for Lila and Jace, the real chaos was the tiny bedroom they were forced to share. At twenty-two and twenty-four, respectively, they were far past the age of sibling sleepovers, and the single room with its lone queen-sized bed was a cruel joke. Lila, with her sharp tongue and fierce independence, glared at the setup as if it personally insulted her. Jace, equally stubborn, leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his jaw tight.

'This is bullshit,' Lila snapped, tossing her duffel bag onto the bed with a thud. 'I’m not a kid anymore. I need my space, not your smelly socks and late-night gaming marathons.'

Jace smirked, his hazel eyes glinting with mischief. 'Oh, come on, sis. You think I want to listen to you rant about your latest breakup at 2 a.m.? I’d rather sleep in the damn garage. But here we are, so suck it up.'

She spun on him, her dark hair whipping around her face, her gaze piercing. 'Don’t tell me to suck it up, Jace. You’re not the one who has to deal with your snoring. Or the fact that you hog every inch of space like you own it.'

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a teasing drawl. 'Maybe I just like spreading out. You’ve got a problem with that, princess? Or are you just scared you’ll like being this close to me?' His grin was infuriating, daring her to bite back.

Lila’s eyes narrowed, but a flush crept up her neck. She hated how his words twisted something inside her, something she refused to name. 'Dream on, asshole. I’d rather sleep on the floor than deal with your ego.'

Still, as the night wore on and they reluctantly settled into the bed—each clinging to their respective edges—the tension shifted. The room was too small, the air too thick. Lila could feel the heat of Jace’s body just inches away, and it pissed her off how much it unsettled her. She rolled onto her side, facing away, but her mind wouldn’t shut up. Was he awake? Was he thinking about her, too?

'Can’t sleep either, huh?' Jace’s voice cut through the dark, low and rough, like he’d been holding his breath.

Lila didn’t turn, but her pulse quickened. 'What’s it to you? Just shut up and let me try.'

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through the mattress. 'You’re so damn prickly. But I bet you’re lying there wondering what it’d be like if we weren’t fighting all the time. If we just... gave in to this stupid tension.'

Her breath hitched, and she hated him for saying it out loud. She whipped around, her eyes blazing even in the dim light. 'You’re delusional. I’m not some damsel waiting to swoon over my annoying brother.'

But Jace was closer now, his face inches from hers, his smirk gone, replaced by something darker, hungrier. 'I never said you were. But I see the way you look at me when you think I’m not watching. You’re not as immune as you pretend, Lila.'

Her heart pounded, and damn it, she felt the heat pooling between her thighs, her body betraying her. She wanted to slap him, to tell him to fuck off, but instead, her voice came out sharp and daring. 'And what if I’m not? You gonna do something about it, or just keep talking shit?'

His eyes darkened, and in a heartbeat, he closed the gap, his hand sliding to the back of her neck as his lips crashed into hers. It wasn’t gentle—it was raw, desperate, a collision of pent-up frustration. Lila kissed him back just as hard, her fingers digging into his shoulders, refusing to let him take control. The heat between them ignited, her skin burning as his hand slid down her side, gripping her hip. She could feel him, hard against her thigh, and a wicked thrill shot through her. This was wrong, so fucking wrong, but she didn’t care—not now, not with her pussy already wet and aching for more.

'Fuck, Lila,' he growled against her mouth, his voice thick with need. 'You’re gonna kill me.'

'Good,' she shot back, breathless, her nails raking down his back. 'Now shut up and show me what you’ve got before I change my mind.'