The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 111 - One Hundred and Eleven

Chapter One Hundred and Eleven

Alicia’s POV

We made it back to the mansion before anyone else. The buck was heavy between us, suspended on a pole we’d fashioned from a sturdy branch. My shoulders ached from the weight. My boots were caked in mud. But we’d done it.

I set down my end of the pole near the entrance and wiped sweat from my forehead. The sun was still high. We had hours before the others would return.

"We actually made it in time," I said, frowning at the empty courtyard. "Even with all that quarreling."

I meant it as an observation. A neutral statement. But the moment the words left my mouth, Malachi was moving.

He closed the distance between us in two strides. His hand cupped my jaw. And then he was kissing me.

The world tilted. My back hit the stone wall of the mansion. His body pressed against mine. His mouth was demanding, urgent, like he’d been holding back for too long and couldn’t anymore.

I kissed him back. God help me, I kissed him back. My hands fisted in his shirt. Pulled him closer even though I knew this was wrong. Knew he belonged to someone else.

But it felt right. Felt like coming home after being lost for too long.

His thumb traced my jaw. His other hand found my waist. I could feel the heat of him through my clothes. Could feel how much he wanted this. Wanted me.

My breath came in short gasps when he pulled back just enough to look at me. His eyes were dark. Intense. Like he was memorizing every detail of my face.

Then his hand moved lower. Slipped beneath the hem of my shirt. His fingers traced patterns on my skin that made me shiver.

"Malachi," I whispered. Not sure if I was protesting or encouraging.

His hand moved higher. Found the edge of my jeans. Started to undo the button.

I should stop this. Should push him away. But I couldn’t make myself move. Couldn’t make myself want to.

His fingers slipped beneath the waistband. Moved lower.

I gasped against his mouth. My head fell back against the stone wall. This was insane. We were outside. Anyone could see. Anyone could—

Footsteps.

We both froze.

Malachi pulled back immediately. Put distance between us. Ran a hand through his hair like he could erase what just happened.

I straightened my clothes with shaking hands. Tried to calm my racing heart. Tried to look like I hadn’t just been pressed against a wall with Malachi’s hand down my pants.

Cecilia and Sophie rounded the corner. Cecilia was limping slightly, favoring her good ankle. Sophie had a book tucked under her arm.

They both stopped when they saw the buck.

Sophie’s eyes went wide. "Oh my god. You actually got one."

"Yeah," I managed. My voice sounded mostly normal. Mostly.

"That’s huge," Sophie said, moving closer to inspect it. "Who killed it?"

I opened my mouth to say Malachi. He was the one with the rifle. The one who took the shot. The one who knew what he was doing.

But Malachi spoke first.

"Alicia did."

I stared at him. What was he doing? He knew I hadn’t killed it. Knew I’d messed up the first hunt by stepping on that branch.

"Really?" Cecilia’s voice was surprised. Maybe a little impressed. "That’s impressive, Alicia. I didn’t know you could hunt."

"I... Pa Wood taught me," I said slowly. Still watching Malachi. Trying to understand why he was lying.

His expression gave nothing away. Just looked at me with those dark eyes. Calm. Steady. Like he hadn’t just kissed me. Hadn’t just had his hands on me.

"It was a clean shot," he added. "She did well."

Sophie was beaming. Proud of me. "I can’t believe you actually killed something. You always said you didn’t want to."

"Things change," I said.

Cecilia moved closer to Malachi. Her hand found his arm. Possessive. Claiming him. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

I looked away. Couldn’t watch her touch him. Not after what just happened. Not when I could still feel his hands on my skin.

"We should get it cleaned," Malachi said. "Before the others get back."

"I’ll help," Cecilia offered.

"No. Your ankle. You should rest."

"It’s fine. It barely hurts anymore."

"Still. Alicia and I will handle it."

Cecilia’s smile tightened. Just slightly. But I saw it. Saw the flash of something in her eyes before she masked it.

"Of course," she said. "You two make a good team."

The words felt loaded. Like she knew something. Suspected something.

But that was impossible. We’d pulled apart before they saw anything. There was no way she could know.

Sophie grabbed Cecilia’s arm. "Come on. You can help me pick flowers for the table tonight. Alicia and Malachi can handle the gross hunting stuff."

They walked away together. Sophie chattering about some book she’d been reading. Cecilia glancing back once before they disappeared around the corner.

The moment they were gone, the tension returned. Thick and suffocating.

"Why did you say I killed it?" I asked.

Malachi picked up his end of the pole. Started dragging the buck toward the back of the mansion where the cleaning station was.

"Because I wanted to."

"That’s not an answer."

"It’s the only answer you’re getting."

I grabbed my end of the pole. Followed him in silence. My mind was spinning. Trying to make sense of what just happened. The kiss. His hands. The lie about the hunt.

What was he doing? What was any of this?

We reached the cleaning station. He set down the pole and grabbed a knife. Started the process of field dressing the deer with practiced efficiency.

I watched him work. His hands were steady. Sure. Like they hadn’t been trembling when they touched me.

"You shouldn’t have done that," I said quietly.

"Which part?"

"All of it. The kiss. The... touching. Lying about who killed the deer."

"Probably not."

"So why did you?"

He looked up at me then. Really looked at me. And I saw something raw in his expression. Something he usually kept hidden.

"Because I’m tired of pretending," he said. "Tired of acting like I don’t want you when we’re alone. Tired of watching you pull away from me."

"You’re with Cecilia."

"I know."

"So what are we doing?"

"I don’t know."

The honesty in his voice made my chest ache. We were both lost. Both trapped in something we didn’t know how to escape.

"This can’t happen again," I said.

"I know."

"I mean it, Malachi."

"So do I."

But we both knew we were lying. Knew that the next time we were alone, the same thing would happen. The same magnetic pull. The same inability to resist.

We were playing with fire. And eventually, someone was going to get burned.

I just hoped it wouldn’t destroy everything when they did.