Tasting 112

112–My Yummy Stepbrother Mate

Nora:

I walked along the path and, at some point, even took off my shoes. I heard his car behind me and

noticed that he was purposely driving slowly to keep an eye on me, but I didn’t react to it.

I had decided to ignore him entirely and live peacefully. Tonight made me realize that out of all the

brothers, he was the one I needed to stay away from.

Once we arrived at the mansion, I paused to catch my breath, and his. car drove past me on the

road. He was certain I had arrived safely, so he left for whatever work was pending.

“Nora!” A call from Rykler from the second–floor balcony caught my attention. I sat down on the

entrance stairs, massaging my ankles with my hands.

It was truly remarkable that I had walked so much without any help from my wolf. Well, not that I

wasn’t used to it.

**Flashback:**

“Come on! Keep walking,” his authoritative voice made me squirm. Every time I heard him talk, all I

thought about was poking holes through my ears.

“She is so lazy,” he continued to comment, stopping ahead of me as I struggled up the slope.

“You should be ashamed of yourself for being so weak,” he wrinkled

112–My Yummy Stepbrother Mate

his nose and shook his head. His comment elicited laughter from the others around us.

“She cannot even climb a mountain,” the girl who was his best friend snickered, making him smile at

her.

“I am tired.” I uttered in a requesting tone.

“We don’t have time to hear your complaints. Everyone else is doing just fine, so why are you being

so clumsy and lazy?” He hit my forehead with the sharp stick in his hand, and I quickly covered it to

massage it.

“Because while you all rested, I had to climb down and reach you guys again,” I murmured

helplessly. It was so hard to make them understand that what they were doing to a thirteen–year–

old was bullying.

But whenever I would complain, I would hear the same thing: “He is also just thirteen, you need to

suck it up.”

I didn’t like my father. He never took my side. He was just a crazy man who wanted authority, and

he would use any means to torture those he thought were weak.

**End of Flashback:**

“Hey!” A snap before my face brought me back to reality and I found Ryker sitting on the stairs with

me.

“Please tell me I don’t have to kick my brother’s ass,” he grunted, scratching his thumb with his

index finger and showing extreme signs of anxiety.

“I took care of it myself,” I added.

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112 My Yummy Stepbrother Mate

“So something did happen. Why didn’t you call me? I would have

come there and beat his ass in front of his friends,” he groaned, huffing and puffing.

I wondered why he cared so much about me. I mean, I get that it was the mate bond that changed

him towards me, but if we hadn’t felt the mate bond, would he have accepted me as his stepsister

and treated me well?

I can see Nash showing care here and there. He was kind of in the middle. I could think of him as

someone who took sides with what was right and went against what was wrong, no matter who was

on the receiving end of these deals.

“Ryker!” I uttered his name and noticed his muscles tensed up. It was so easy to spot the change in

his body language.

“You would hit your brother for me? You know, when you were sent to the woods, your brothers

were really upset,” I didn’t want him to feel guilty for showing concern for me and choosing me over

his brother. I just wanted to know more about him.

“Okay!” he shrugged.

“I want to know if you care the same about them and if they care about you,” I felt odd even asking

that question.

“Hmm! Don’t ask me questions that will make you look at me differently,” his response was cold and

also self–explanatory, “but should know that if there is someone I truly care about, it is you!”

you

Although I found it extremely sweet, it was also concerning why he wasn’t as loving towards his

brothers as they were towards him.

“Did they use to bully you when you were a child?” I asked, raising an

112–My Yummy Stepbrother Mate

eyebrow.

“Huh? You think anyone can bully me?” he smirked, but the hidden pain in his eyes told a different

story. Around this time, I realized I needed to stop asking him personal questions.

“Ah! I am so tired,” I yawned and stretched my hands while he stared at me silently.

“You want a massage?” His hand landed on the ground behind me as he leaned closer. I had to pull

away for fear of someone catching us.

“You will give me a massage?” I raised my eyebrow.

“Sure, why not? You think I can’t?” That smirk on his lips told me he was being sneaky. He just

wanted a reason to be in my bedroom, and Goddess knows for what.

“Huh! You cannot fool me into letting you in my bedroom and

touching my body again,” I scoffed, getting up from the ground, but he followed me.

“Why not? You think you will lose yourself to me?” he questioned, and a loud scoff escaped my lips

as I dismissed his dreams.

“I can resist you easily,” I murmured and reached my door, but he stayed close behind, making me

believe that the minute I opened the door, he was coming inside with me.

“Then let me give you a massage. There will be no happy ending,” he shrugged, and I watched his

face for a while.

I truly wanted him in the bedroom with me. After Silas‘ disastrous party, I was reminded of my hard

childhood, and I knew only Ryker could make me feel better as I was more myself with him than

with

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anyone else.

“Fine! But no naughty stuff,” I pointed my finger at him and warned

him.

“No naughty stuff,” he narrowed his eyes at me and touched his ears, promising but looking so

naughty and yummy that I began to second guess my decision.