My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 217: Kisses In The Janitor’s Closet

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He chuckled, low and warm, the sound filling the cramped space with those shelves of cleaning supplies and a faint lemony bleach smell. "Sorry. Couldn’t resist. You looked like you were on a mission, and I needed to borrow you for five minutes."

I shot him a glare, but it was hard to stay angry when he looked at me like that—eyes bright, hair falling into his face, that annoying perfect smirk making my knees feel weak.

"You’re ridiculous," I muttered, but I couldn’t help smiling.

"Ridiculously hot," he corrected, stepping closer until the tips of our shoes brushed. "I guess I missed your little hamster ass."

I rolled my eyes, but my heart did that fluttery thing again. "We’re literally in the same building. You’ll be fine."

He leaned in, voice dropping. "Debatable."

Before I could come up with a witty reply, his lips brushed against mine, soft, quick, teasing like he knew exactly how to short-circuit my brain.

Like he knew just the effect he had on me.

I melted into it for a second, hands finding his chest, before pulling back with a breathless laugh.

But my brain went back to action, thank God...I was helpless without it.

"We’re in a janitor’s closet," I reminded him.

I gave Adrien’s chest a light shove, feeling that mix of annoyance and those darn butterflies still fluttering in my stomach.

"The heck? We can’t do this here," I whispered, casting a worried glance at the locked door, half-expecting it to swing open and reveal a shocked janitor or, worse, the principal. "Seriously, Adrien, this is school. We could get caught and then our lives are literally over."

He tilted his head, that infuriating smirk spreading slowly across his face, his emerald eyes alight with mischief.

"Scaredy-cat," he teased, his voice low and slightly rough. "What happened to the fearless rebel who walked into a blizzard for some secret detective work with me?"

"I’ve got every reason to be scared," I shot back, crossing my arms even though it felt more like a self-hug in the cramped space.

"And speaking of scared, how did the entire school suddenly find out we’re step-brothers? One day it’s our little secret, and the next it’s hot gossip in the entire school. How did Vanessa’s friend Kris even find out?"

Adrien’s smirk faded into something a bit sheepish. He rubbed the back of his neck, leaning casually against a shelf of industrial-size floor cleaner. "Yeah... about that. It was me."

I blinked. "You?"

He nodded, looking almost sorry—almost. "That night of the party, when you vanished with Jace and his fucking creep squad? I was freaking out trying to find you. Kris was the only one who had a clue where they’d taken you. She wouldn’t tell me unless I gave her something big in return. So I spilled about us, that we are step-brothers. Figured it was worth it to get to you faster."

The memory of that night, the fear, the hands pulling at me, and Adrien and Ethan bursting in like heroes...came rushing back, cold and sharp. I looked away, focusing on a mop bucket like it held all the answers.

"Oh," I murmured quietly.

Adrien let out a soft chuckle, reaching out to poke my cheek with a finger. "Still hate me so much that you didn’t want anyone knowing we’re kind of family? Because honestly, I stopped caring about that a while back, you know that."

I frowned, swatting his hand away, though it didn’t have much force behind it.

"No. It’s not that. The attention is just... a little annoying. All the stares and whispers, like I’m some kind of sideshow. But I’m not flipping out about it anymore."

I paused, feeling my cheeks warm. "I’m actually... kind of getting used to not caring what people think about me all the time."

He studied me for a moment, something genuine and warm flickering behind his usual teasing. "I’m sorry, though. I know you didn’t need more shit to deal with."

I shook my head, meeting his gaze.

"You’re fine." Then, awkwardly, the words tumbled out before I could catch them, my face getting hot. "I’m... kinda glad you don’t care about the whole step-brother label anymore."

His smirk transformed into a real smile, soft, crooked, the kind that made my chest feel tight.

"I’m really glad too," he said quietly. "Because I was an idiot for ever letting that stop me from realizing I was getting closer to the most amazing hamster in the world."

"Shut up," I laughed, giving his shoulder a shove strong enough to make him rock back into a shelf of paper towels. "You’re the worst."

He caught my wrist before I could pull away, tugging me closer until I was pressed against him in the cramped space, the scent of bleach and his cologne mixing in a strangely perfect way.

His hands settled warm on my hips, and he leaned down, his lips brushing mine in a kiss that started playful, those quick, teasing presses that made me smile against his mouth, but quickly deepened.

The second kiss was slower, more deliberate, his mouth moving against mine like he was savoring every moment. One hand slid up my back, fingers spreading between my shoulder blades, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us.

I melted into it, my hands finding their way to his long hair, tugging gently just to hear that low hum in the back of his throat. His lips parted mine, his tongue tracing a warm path that sent heat rushing through me, and for a few dizzy moments, the janitor’s closet felt like the center of the universe.

When he finally pulled back, just enough to rest his forehead against mine, both of us breathing a bit harder...his grin returned, lazy and satisfied.

"See?" he murmured. "Totally worth the risk of social suicide."

I laughed breathlessly, shoving him again, but it lacked any real force. "I have to go to lunch, Asshole. I’ll see you at home."

He stole one last quick kiss, then let me go with exaggerated reluctance. "Fine. Go..."

I rolled my eyes, slipping out the door as soon as he unlocked it, checking the hallway like a fugitive before hurrying toward the cafeteria.

My lips were still tingling, my heart racing in the best way, and the whispers in the hall didn’t feel so heavy anymore.

Gigi and Skylar were already at our usual table, trays piled with questionable cafeteria pizza and fries. They waved me over, concern still evident on their faces from earlier.

I dropped into my seat, grinning despite myself, grabbing a fry.

"So," Gigi said slowly, eyeing me like I was a puzzle with missing pieces, "you’re...really okay with the whole school knowing about you and Adrien now?"

I shrugged, popping a fry into my mouth. "Yeah. It’s whatever."

Skylar leaned in, teasing. "Who are you and what have you done with Noah?"

I just laughed, stealing another fry, and for the first time that day, the stares didn’t bother me at all.

I had bigger things to think about and honestly, more exciting things than high school gossip.

Like how Adrien’s mouth had felt against mine in that janitor’s closet just five minutes ago.

Yeah, life was definitely complicated.