I'm coming to dinner at dad's tonight. Be there. No lies between us. No drama from you. No complaining when I give you exactly what you want.

The drive home was torturous. Bethany held her phone in a shaky hand, her desire to text him back almost consuming her. What would she say? How did she respond to that?

I don't want anything from you? Lies.

What did she want exactly? A fling? Hot sex on the balcony to sate her lack of attention and attraction from other men for the last few years? She sighed heavily, pulling into the driveway of the mammoth-sized house her soon-to-be stepfather lived in. She turned the car off and sat in silence for a minute, her nerves pulsating along the surface of her skin.

If he played it off as a joke, things could return to normal, and she would just never mention seeing him in his office with the blonde. She could keep her mouth shut. Her eyes closed as she dropped her head back, the phone tight in her grip.

"How do I always get myself into this shit?"

A tap on her window had her jumping, her knee hitting the steering column hard.

Matthew. The almost stepbrother that acted like family and not a starving lion on the sexual prowl.

"You staying in there? Drive-through service for ya? Like Sonic." He smiled and backed up as she got out of the car, reaching in to grab her briefcase.

"Hey, you. No, just long day at the office."

"That sucks. You're off early, though, right?"

"That's about the only good thing that happened."

Matthew reached over and took her bag as she walked beside him into the house. The smell of tomato sauce washed over her, basil and red wine as well. She breathed in deeply and reached for her bag.

"What is that heavenly smell?"

"The sauce for the chicken that Martha is working on. Go change into something comfortable. The good-looking brother is coming for dinner tonight, so no tempting him with your business attire." Matt winked and slipped into the kitchen before she could respond.

"Yeah, well, I'd rather he didn't." She turned and walked quickly to the room she was occupying for the week. Whatever happened that night, she could deal with it. She was a big girl and more than capable of pushing Damon back, putting him in his place and reminding him that he wasn't God's gift to women.

"Too bad he totally is."

"Why are you pacing the floor?" Bethany looked up as her mother spoke, the older woman leaning against the opening to the kitchen.

"Um ... stressed I guess."

"About what?"

"Work and school starting soon. I don't know." She shrugged, her body stiffening as the front door opened behind her. She looked over her shoulder as Damon walked in, a soft smile on his lips—one she hadn't seen before.

"Hi, Karen. Bethany. How are the two most beautiful girls in my life doing?"

Karen laughed and walked toward him, hugging him quickly and giving Bethany a Yeah, right look as she walked toward the kitchen. Bethany almost reached out and stopped her mom, the thought of being in the hall alone with Damon giving her heart palpitations. He moved toward her, pulling her into a warm brotherly hug.

"Hey, you. I'm so proud of your work at the office. Where's Matt?" He spoke loudly enough for the others to hear, her arms hanging board straight by her sides as he pulled her in. The smell of him wafted over her, cologne mixed with sex. She stifled a groan, his lips brushing by her ear.

"Like what you saw, Beth?" He nipped at the edge of her ear, his actions hidden as Matt walked out and Damon moved back with ease.

"Well, there is the big man." Matt walked over and shook hands with Damon, the smiles on their faces genuine at seeing one another. A vast difference stood between them in way of character and even looks, but each of them seemed happy to see the other, a big hug following their handshake.

"Actually, you're much bigger than me." Damon moved back and patted Matt's stomach. "What the fuck you been eating, babies?"

"Yep, and I'll eat yours too, so stop making so many."

They laughed, and Bethany shook off the heavy emotions that pressed against her, the ache in her lower stomach for more attention from the wayward devil before her. Matt looked over at her, extending his hand. She moved toward him as he pulled her to his side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"How lucky are we, Bro? We finally have a sister to blame all our shit on. Why is the toilet seat up? Bethany. Why is the milk empty and in the fridge?" Matt paused as Damon piped up.

"Totally Bethany. Ugh, girls."

She glanced at him, his facade a good one, or perhaps the sly, sensual side of him was the facade, and this was his real nature. Without a doubt, she would be finding out soon.

"Let's go watch the sun go down on the balcony." Matt moved toward the back door, holding it open as Damon and Bethany moved out in front of him. Bethany looked over as Damon asked his brother to grab them a few beers from the kitchen, her heart contracting painfully in her chest.

"I'll get them. I'm the girl." Bethany smirked and moved toward the door, Damon's hand reaching out to grab her forearm as he laughed.

"You’re a brilliant girl and our guest. Matt?" Damon smiled with warmth she didn't know someone could fake so well.

"Yeah, of course. Be back in a few minutes. I'll get us a plate of something to munch on too." He walked into the house as the smile slid from Damon's face. He turned toward her, using his hold on her to tug her away from the glass doors.

"You didn't answer my question." His tone was deadpan, his face a mask of indifference.

"What question?" Her voice was soft and unsure. She growled internally at letting herself be pulled under his spell. He was no better than the frat boys at school. Hit it and ride on. She wasn't interested, right?

"Did you enjoy watching me this afternoon?" He reached out and pulled her toward him, his hand a vise grip on her waist. He pressed her to the wall of the house, one hand sliding down over her hip and around to the top curve of her rear as his other hand slid along her jaw, pulling her to look up at him as he shifted his hips, his body tucked into hers from the waist down. She closed her eyes and groaned softly, her body betraying her.

"Did you like it, Beth? Was that you under the desk? You with your beautiful mouth licking and sucking pleasure from me?" He leaned in, lifting her chin slightly as he dragged his nose along the column of her neck.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she whispered, reaching out and sliding her hands along his waist. Soft panting gave way to embarrassment, warmth coating her neck and cheeks. She had to get out of there. Where was Matt?

"Of course you do. I had my eyes closed for most of it, my hand gripping her silky hair, my body reacting violently for one reason."

Bethany opened her eyes, her chest rising and falling much too fast as air seemed in short supply. He leaned in farther, his body flush against hers as he rolled his hips again.

"What reason?" she whispered, looking up into his eyes, needing his kiss beyond anything she remembered wanting.

"I just let her be you, and I came harder than I have in ages." He nipped at her mouth as the door opened and he moved back with ease, a soft laugh leaving him as he turned to Matt.

"What?" Matt asked, walking out with drinks and food balanced in his arms and against his chest.

"Just listening to Bethany tell me a few stories of the intern. You know that crazy one that's always trying to get into my pants?"

"Oh, God. The redhead?"

"Yeah. She's after the new guy now. Right, Beth?" Damon looked over his shoulder, the guy before her not the one that held her captive against the wall at all.

"Yep. Sadie is a total bitch." Bethany steeled herself, moving from the wall and brushing her shirt down in hopes of it hiding her budded nipples. She reached for a beer, lust rushing across Damon's gaze once more before he seemed to effectively hide it for good.

"Well, steer clear of her, Bethany. I think Damon's had more horror stories on this one than any before." Matt popped a piece of cheese in his mouth as Bethany took a long slow drink of her beer, wishing it were something much stronger.

She listened to the two guys talk about how crazy girls were, their laughter causing a smile to lift the side of her mouth. A soft tick pulsated along her neck; her blood pressure elevated, her heart racing at the idea of belonging to the alpha before her. It would never happen. The taboo alone would leave them both unable to be anything more than a fantasy of incredible sex and longing, most likely only on her part.

Damon seemed to be perfectly fine with having a different woman every day, his appetite varied and more focused on lust than love. Perhaps he had it right. Maybe the way through life was to taste and try lots. To not stop and focus on one person but to enjoy many. She looked away to roll her eyes, her thoughts ridiculous. He was teasing her, playing a dangerous game, and yet she loved it. It had been far too long since anyone grabbed her sensitivities and demanded control of her desires. She glanced over at him, Damon's dark gaze shifting to her as Matt laughed about something.

A shiver ran through her, and he seemed to take notice, his tongue darting out to lick at his lips before he took a drink of his beer. The door opened behind her, the sound of her mother's voice catching her attention.

"Dinner's ready, guys. Come on in and let's eat."

Bethany started for the door, Damon's hand softly wrapping around her wrist, stopping her.

"Matt, go ahead. We'll get all of this stuff and be right in. I wanted to talk to Bethany about something really quickly anyway."

"What?" Matt tilted his head, his eyes shifting between the two of them.

"The balance sheet audit for a small manufacturing company and why the debits didn't exactly ...”

Matt cut him off, throwing his hand in the air. "Okay ... don't bore me with that shit. I'll be inside."

Bethany smirked as Matt walked away. Bethany gathered the dish they had been sharing; her eyes averted from Damon completely.

"What did you want to ask me?" She looked up. Mistake.

His stance whispered confidence, his eyes hungry with unfulfilled lust. Bethany swallowed hard and took a small step back, stopping herself before taking another. She would not appear weak in front of him, no matter what.

"I didn't want to ask you anything. The taste of you on my tongue has been driving me wild." He licked his lips again, his fingers coming up to brush by his mouth.

"Yes, well, I'm not a blonde." She shrugged and turned to walk toward the door, Damon moving in to walk just behind her. She kicked herself internally for such an ignorant response. She sounded jealous and petty, namely because she was.

"I find it funny that you think I like blondes." He held the door open as she stopped beside him, finding a bit of courage as she looked up at him.

"You don’t? Seems odd that one was crouching beneath your desk today, one answers your phone and the pictures in your office highlight a different one altogether."

"Are you jealous, Beth?" The smirk on his mouth caused her heart to skip a beat, the sweet aroma of him wafting over her as the wind blew.

"Nothing to be jealous of. I'm your sister, remember?" She lifted her eyebrow, shrugged and walked in, his voice nothing more than a sensual whisper.

"Not yet you're not ..."