Chapter 22 Rudy's Touch
When we got back to the estate, I headed straight to my room, the familiar weight of home comforting in contrast to the earlier chaos of the city and restaurant. Rudy followed behind me, his presence quiet but noticeable, like a shadow stretching long across the polished floor.
Just as I reached for the door handle, a sudden force pressed against my back. Rudy had grabbed me from behind. His arms wrapped around my waist firmly, pulling me close until my chest pressed against his. My mind went blank for a split second, and then I had to raise my head sharply to meet his dark, intense eyes. His height towered over mine, making the contact almost dizzying.
Shock. Surprise. Confusion. My body felt frozen, yet simultaneously aware of sensations I couldn’t—or wouldn’t—admit. “W-what… what are you doing?” I stuttered, my voice trembling between alarm and disbelief.
Rudy didn’t answer. Instead, one of his hands slid lower, cupping my ass in a motion so bold it felt unreal. My heart thumped painfully, and I felt an involuntary heat bloom in my chest. Before I could process it further, he leaned forward, closing the distance between our lips.
Instinctively, I yanked my head back and shoved him away with everything I had. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” I yelled, stepping back and raising my hands as if to shield myself.
Rudy froze, his expression a mixture of shock and confusion, mirroring my own emotions in a way that almost made me pause. He blinked rapidly, his mouth opening and closing, clearly searching for words. Finally, he stuttered, “I… I’m… sorry—” His face flushed a deep crimson, the embarrassment making him look younger, almost vulnerable. Without another word, he power-walked away, leaving a lingering tension in the hallway behind him.
I let out a long, shaky sigh, leaning against the door as I stepped inside. I locked it behind me and rested my back against the wood, pressing my palms against my face. What the fuck just happened? My mind kept replaying the incident, the shock of his touch, the force of his embrace, and the brief moment when he tried to kiss me. No matter how hard I tried, the images wouldn’t leave my thoughts.
Wheezy, sensing my distress or perhaps simply feeling playful, jumped onto my lap, meowing happily. For a moment, the tension slipped away, replaced by the comforting purrs of my cat. I laughed softly, scratching behind his ears. “You always know how to lighten the mood, huh?”
After a while, Wheezy returned to his cozy bed, curling around his toys while gnawing at them gently. I moved to my reading table, hoping the stack of books in front of me could distract my restless mind. I flipped pages, but each line blurred into incomprehensibility. My thoughts kept drifting back to Rudy, his touch, his boldness, the warmth of his arms, and the sheer proximity of his body to mine. It was maddening.
Night fell. Shadows stretched across the room as the lights dimmed. Even as I prepared to sleep, I couldn’t rid my mind of the memory. The way his hand held my waist, the way his fingers had brushed me inappropriately, lingered vividly. And yet, as much as my mind protested, my body betrayed me, reacting in ways that left me feeling ashamed and confused.
‘This can’t happen. He’s my stepbrother. There’s no way something like that should ever happen between us. I have to set boundaries.’
Clinging to that thought, I finally exhaled and let sleep pull me under, though the echo of the evening’s events lingered at the edge of my consciousness.
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The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, painting the room in soft gold. My mind immediately recalled last night’s incident, but the intensity had faded somewhat. I shook my head lightly and tried to focus on the day ahead.
There was a knock on my door. “Come in,” I called, trying to steady my voice. Eric stepped inside, bowing politely before raising his head to meet my eyes.
“Good morning,” he greeted with his usual composure.
I smiled faintly. “Morning. Did you spend a lot of time with your kid?”
Eric’s face brightened immediately. “Yes. My wife and son were overjoyed to see me. They honestly believed I wouldn’t make it back for a while, so their happiness was overwhelming.” He paused, producing his phone. “I actually took some photos of my son yesterday. Look, he won a silver medal in the kids’ judo tournament.”
I leaned closer, studying the photos. My lips curved into a small smile as I admired the boy’s determination and skill. “He looks strong. And disciplined,” I said softly, tracing the outline of the medal with my eyes.
Eric’s face softened, touched by my words. “Thank you. I really appreciate you giving me the space to spend time with my family. It meant a lot.”
I shook my head gently, wanting to dispel any lingering awkwardness. “You shouldn’t hesitate in the future. If you need time with your family, just tell me. I’ll understand.”
He nodded solemnly, then straightened. “I will. And… just as I resumed my duties this morning, I was briefed that different rival groups have begun attacking some of our turf. It seems we might have to deal with multiple conflicts in the coming days.”
My expression hardened slightly as I absorbed the information.