Bound By Blood Anthology

I stared at the gray concrete, listening to Mauro until he, too, seemed to have lain down. He turned the lights off except for a faint glow, probably the lamp he’d prepared for use in the afternoon.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been lying motionless in the bunk before I couldn’t take it anymore. “I can’t sleep. I keep thinking about them upstairs, waiting for a chance to get to us. And it’s freezing down here.” The blanket wasn’t very thick.

Mauro sighed. “I can’t turn the heat up. I don’t know how long the generators can keep up all the essential facilities and we need to stay for three days unless someone checks on the mansion sooner.”

I shivered again and turned around, peering over to Mauro in the bed across from mine. He was facing my way as well. The dim gas lantern on the floor between us threw shadows on his face that made it impossible to read his expression from where I lay. “Can I come under your blanket? I’m shaking so bad.”

Even as I said the words, alarm bells rang in my head. Considering my feelings for Mauro, sharing a narrow bed with him seemed like a dangerous option.

Don’t be stupid.

Mauro only saw me as his little stepsister. I wasn’t a woman to him. He probably didn’t even realize I had breasts and a vagina.

Mauro tensed. Not only did he have to babysit me and was now stuck in a panic room with me, now I wanted to intrude on his personal space.

My cheeks burned at the resulting silence. I was glad for the dark that hid my mortification from his vigilant eyes. Why couldn’t I stop acting like a stupid kid around him?

When I’d given up hope that he’d reply, his low voice sounded. “Sure.”

I scrambled out of my bunk, shivering when my bare feet touched the cold stone floor, and hurried the few steps over to Mauro. He lifted the covers, and I crept under them. The bunk was small, and our bodies brushed despite my butt dangling over the edge. Mauro shifted back until he bumped against the wall, allowing me to lie down more comfortably.

Suddenly I was caught in the reality of the situation. Mauro looked down at me with a tight expression. He was lying ramrod straight, his arm resting awkwardly on his side. Our faces were close enough to kiss, and I wanted nothing more, but I wasn’t insane. I wouldn’t make a fool out of myself again.

I cleared my throat, which was the equivalent of an explosion in the silence of the room. “I’m going to turn around.” Mauro didn’t say anything. I quickly rolled over and my ass bumped against his crotch.

His low exhale made me swallow. God, this bunk was too narrow for two people who weren’t intimate. “You can wrap your arm around me.”

What was wrong with me?

But I wanted him to wrap his arm around me.

He shifted again and hesitantly touched his palm to my hip. It was warm and big, and more distracting than I thought a touch like that could be.

Mauro was almost… shy? Though maybe shy was the wrong word. He was careful. Maybe he was worried to scare me? He knew I’d never been in bed with someone. Heat washed over me.

He finally wrapped his arm around me, his heat singeing my back and stopping my trembling. I released a soft sigh, snuggling closely against him. His palm against my belly felt perfect.

“You’re so warm and strong.”

Had I just really said that?

Mauro let out a strangled sound that might have been a laugh.

Of course, I couldn’t shut up because when I was nervous, and for some reason, Mauro suddenly made me very nervous, my mouth always ran free. “I’m glad we’re family so nobody can construe any crazy rumors when we share a bed. It’s not like something could happen between us. I mean, we’re practically sister and brother.” But damn it, my feelings weren’t sisterly in the slightest.

“But we’re not,” Mauro said in a low rumble that made me melt.

“No, we’re not,” I agreed quietly.

Mauro’s scent engulfed me, his warmth was everywhere. And the feel of his body shielding mine, it was better than anything I’d ever felt. Despite my worry about what was going on in the house, I drifted off, knowing Mauro would keep me safe.MauroStella fell asleep, her body softening against mine. Sleep was out of the question for me. My body thrummed with adrenaline and worse, desire. Feeling Stella’s body so close to mine, her firm, little butt pressed against my crotch, my dick was getting ready to rumble.

I tried to bring at least a few inches between my hardening cock and Stella’s ass, but the wall behind me made that impossible.

With a sigh, I tried to get some rest. Stella was oblivious to my body’s reaction to her closeness. She released a small sigh and moved closer to me once more, bumping into my cock. Knowing it was a losing battle, I wrapped my arm more tightly around her middle and settled comfortably against her.