a thick cloud of fragrance. Despite everything, I wrapped Kade's hoodie tighter around my body.
"Maybe you should stop treating every word out of my mouth like an insult," Kade suggested.
"Maybe I would if you didn't try to offend me with everything you say."
"I'm not trying to do that, I just—"
"Whatever." I shook my head resolutely. "Just forget it, Kade. Let's get back to the house before the movers get here."
"Junebug." I tried to move away, but his arms caught me before I could descend the stepladder leading into the backyard. "Stop being so fucking stubborn."
I stared up at him defiantly. Something passed between us then, a strange moment that made my heart skip a beat as I stared deep into my stepbrother's gray eyes.
"June," he muttered again. His fingers somehow found their way to my cheek, gently caressing my skin. "You're so pretty when you're mad."
"W-What?"
"Sorry." His hand dropped, but I caught it in mine and brought it back to my face. He looked for confirmation in my eyes, and I nodded, a barely perceptible tilt of my head. But it was all Kade needed.
His fingers wandered over my skin again, touching my reddened cheeks before slowly, tentatively moving to my lips. As he touched them, they parted. My heart was beating so fast I thought it would rip through my rib cage, and I was nervous as hell as I faced him. We'd never been intimate like this before. Even Kade giving me his hoodie was unusual.
"What are you doing?" I whispered, half-hoping he wouldn't reply.
"Just shut up," he grunted. "For once, keep that pretty little mouth shut."
I obeyed this time, my lips glued together around the tip of his pointer finger. He explored them with his soft fingertips, coaxing me gently to open them more. His finger grazed my tongue, and I flushed.
"Why are you so scared?" he asked, his voice surprisingly soft.
I couldn't bring myself to answer. All those feelings I'd kept bottled up for years were threatening to come out. The feelings I had for Kade were on the tip of my tongue. I was reaching my breaking point. The moment when I confessed every desire, every forbidden thought I'd had about my stepbrother for years.
"Look at me, Junebug."
My eyes found Kade's. His finger slid from my lips. He didn't touch me, but his eyes felt like they were enveloping me in a warm, soft hug. With a start, I realized I was hoping he'd kiss me. What I'd do just to feel his soft lips on mine for one moment...
As if he was reading my mind, Kade leaned in. Our mouths were inches apart now, so close, yet still so far. I wanted him. I wanted to taste him, to sever our sibling connection and turn it into something else entirely. But I was too scared. Luckily for me, Kade wasn't.
He crushed his lips against mine painfully slow. His breath was fresh, cold yet somehow inviting, and instantly, my body sank against his. His arms wrapped around my neck and he pulled me in. My heart was hammering so fast I was convinced Kade would hear it and laugh at me. But he didn't. He just explored my lips with his. I thought he'd use his tongue, but he didn't. His kisses were soft, almost innocent if it weren't for the tension that hung between us.
"Kade, June, are you up here?"
We sprung apart, but it was a beat too late. Mom appeared on the stepladder, her bright smile fading as she saw what we'd been doing.
"We'll be right down, Rachel," Kade muttered, clearing his throat. I couldn't even look at her. My face felt like it was on fire, burning up from the inside.
"What were you two doing?" Mom glanced back and forth between the two of us. "Please don't tell me it was what I think it was."
"It was nothing," I whispered.
"It didn't look like nothing to me." Mom pulled herself up into the treehouse, ignoring me as she crouched between us. Her glare was trained on Kade now, and the next words she spoke came out in a hiss. "She's thirteen, Kade. Thirteen."
My stepbrother's eyes met mine over her shoulder.
"Don't look at her."
"Mom, would you calm down?" I managed. "It's nothing. It was just a harmless kiss..."
"Harmless?" She glared at me next. "He's your stepbrother, June. He's family. It's totally inappropriate."
I felt shamed then. I was burning up and cold at the same time, the embarrassment of being caught making me flush an