13. Everest

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Everest

I can’t believe I just did that.

I keep my cool as Rhys flies out of my room, flinching only when I hear his door slam. With deep and somewhat even breaths, I slowly slide the dildo out, wincing because I went a little harder than I normally do. Obviously, there’s something to be said about having an audience.

I never expected Rhys to walk in on me. He usually works so late into the night, I thought I’d have at least an hour or two before he got home, which is why I was so loud. If I had known he would have shown up, I would have at least tried to keep it down. If anything, for common courtesy.

Common courtesy, really?

I have to scoff at myself as I get up and head to my bathroom. I’m playing the innocent right now, but I’m anything but that. The idea of Rhys watching me would have been a turn-off before, knowing that someone so filled with loathing for me was peeping in on such a private moment. I almost stopped when I noticed him, mortification coursing through me at how exposed I was, but something else took over. Call it courage or stupidity, but I fully committed to giving him a show. Not for any other reason than what I saw when I looked at him.

His brown eyes were dark behind heavy lids. Lips pouted, little puffs of air leaving him in soft pants as he watched me. Tense shoulders, hands balled by his sides as if to stop himself from reaching out. He was looking at me in a way that made my blood boil pleasantly, made me feel strong, and made me realize that I had an advantage.

He looked at me. Not like someone he hated. Not like someone he tolerated. Not like someone he wanted nothing to do with.

But like someone he wanted .

Every thought I’ve ever had about myself being less than, or inferior, or just painfully average in comparison to my superstar brother, disappeared. I latched onto that feeling because I finally was someone worthy of being the center of attention. I took all the power, claimed the moment, showed him more than he probably wanted to see, and pushed him. Into what, I don’t know, but what I do understand is that I came out of…whatever that was, victorious.

As I step into the shower, I chuckle to myself because I fucking won. I got one over on him. I turned the tables on a moment that should have been humiliating and made him run for the hills. The satisfaction I feel at just that far outweighs the most intense orgasm I’ve ever had. Maybe I’ve unlocked a new kink? Fucking with Rhys can be one, right?

I soap up my chest, feeling settled as I talk myself through the encounter. I have no idea how he’ll respond to what happened—whether I’ll wake up to my teeth getting knocked in—but for once, I’m not worried.

Because this feeling? The incredible sensation of commanding someone’s attention, of breaking down their walls, of exposing them…

It’s something I could easily get addicted to.