Chapter 8: Interrupted Passion

"No..." I replied, my voice barely a whisper. "I can't... but you need to get out of here. There's an animal in the woods."

"I know there was..." Ara replied, his voice carrying a dangerous edge that made my skin prickle with anticipation. He sounded different tonight—darker, more primal—and everything about it drew me in like a moth to flame. The sultry timbre of his voice seemed to wrap around me, heading straight for my core. "Open the door, Lina... I can smell you."

Smell me?!

Living at my dad's property in California was becoming stranger by the day. Each moment I spent here made me question whether coming had been the right decision. While I cherished reconnecting with Kennedy after so many years away, these four brothers were systematically dismantling my sanity.

"I'm not dressed, Ara," I called through the door, clutching the thin fabric of my sleep shorts.

The subtle click of the lock made my eyes widen in disbelief. I stood frozen, watching as the door handle slowly turned and the wooden panel eased open. A surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins as I remained motionless, captivated by his silhouette against the moonlight.

"Liar..." The smirk that curved his full lips was enough to make me weak, but when he stepped closer, the space between us charged with electricity. His scent—pine, earth, and something distinctly him—enveloped me completely. I waited for the moment I'd wake from this dream, but the heat radiating from his body was too real.

"What are you doing here?" I asked breathlessly as he moved closer, his hand rising to trace the contour of my face. His fingertips were surprisingly gentle against my flushed skin.

"You know if you leave your windows open, we can hear what goes on inside this little cottage of yours, right?" His eyes locked with mine, pupils dilated in the dim light. Realization dawned on me that I hadn't closed the window after pleasuring myself earlier, and a fierce blush spread across my cheeks.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered, attempting to push him back toward the door. "But you need to go. Now."

My efforts proved futile as I suddenly found myself on the sofa, his powerful frame settling between my legs. The weight of him pressed against me felt both frightening and exhilarating.

"Do you really want me to go?" Ara asked, his voice a low rumble as his fingers traced the hem of my shorts with deliberate slowness. His eyes never left mine, searching for consent in my expression.

I hadn't had time to put my underwear back on after my earlier activities. I'd been too preoccupied with the animal sounds from the Ken jungle and the open window in my living room. A conflicting mix of panic and desire filled me as his fingers brushed down the sensitive skin of my inner thigh.

A soft moan escaped my lips before I could stop it, causing him to chuckle. "That's what I thought," he murmured, his eyes darkening with desire.

"We can't..." I protested weakly, even as my body arched toward his touch. My loose shorts did nothing to conceal my arousal, and the knowing look in his eyes told me he was well aware of the effect he had on me.

Ara leaned down, his face hovering near the apex of my thighs. "God, you smell so good," he breathed, his warm breath caressing my sensitive skin through the thin fabric. "I've wanted this since the moment I saw you."

Before I could respond, he pressed his mouth against me through my shorts, his tongue leaving a hot, damp trail across my center. The unexpected contact made me gasp sharply.

"Oh my God," I moaned, my fingers instinctively tangling in his thick hair.

That small encouragement was all he needed. In one swift motion, he tugged my shorts down my legs and tossed them aside. The cool air against my exposed skin lasted only a moment before his mouth descended on me, his tongue exploring every inch with expert precision.

"Ara—" I cried out, torn between pulling away and drawing him closer. "Oh God, Ara, please."

Each time I tried to retreat from the overwhelming sensation, he gripped my thighs more firmly, pulling me back to his eager mouth. The stubborn set of his jaw told me he had no intention of letting me escape the pleasure he was determined to give.

"I want all of you," he growled against my sensitive flesh, the vibration of his voice pushing me toward the edge. "Every. Last. Inch."

"Yes—" I gasped, my hips rising to meet him. "Please."

My mind was spinning, unable to process anything beyond the sensations flooding through me. I wasn't entirely sure what I was asking for, but in that moment, I didn't care. The walls I'd carefully built since arriving at California crumbled completely under his relentless attention.

As he finally pulled away, I watched him through half-lidded eyes. He stood before me, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths as he stripped away his clothing. My gaze traveled downward, widening at the sight of his impressive arousal. The sheer size of him made me question if this was physically possible. The girth alone seemed intimidating, and sudden doubt crept into my desire-fogged mind.

He caught my expression and his movements slowed. "We don't have to rush," he said, his voice gentler than before. "We can take our time."

The tenderness in his eyes alongside the raw hunger disarmed me completely. "I want you," I whispered, making my decision.

Ara grasped my hips, drawing me to the edge of the sofa. I felt him position himself against me, the blunt pressure making me gasp as the head of his thick member slowly pressed inside.

"You're perfect," he murmured, watching my face carefully for any sign of discomfort. "So perfect for me."

Just as he began to ease further into me, the cottage door burst open with a crash. Carl stood in the doorway, his massive frame vibrating with fury. A sound—something between a roar and a howl—echoed through the small space before he lunged forward, ripping Ara away from me with startling force.

"I told you NO!" Carl bellowed, his normally controlled demeanor completely abandoned.

I clutched a throw blanket to my naked body, watching in horror as the scene unfolded. Within seconds, Devin and Barry rushed in, both immediately moving to restrain Ara, who looked ready to launch himself at Carl. The tension in the room was palpable, charged with something primal and dangerous that I couldn't fully comprehend.

Carl positioned himself protectively in front of me while Ara stood opposite, his eyes burning with a mixture of rage and something else—something that looked oddly like possession. The way they glared at each other, it seemed they were engaged in a silent battle for dominance, with me somehow at the center of their conflict.

"This isn't over," Ara snarled, his voice barely recognizable.

The four brothers stood in my little cottage, their massive frames making the space feel impossibly small, while I remained frozen on the sofa, clutching the blanket like a lifeline and wondering how my simple decision to move to California had led to this moment of chaos.