Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 136

Chapter 136: 136-The Acceptance I Didn’t Expect

Helanie:

His lips were soft and comforting. I could have pulled away, but in that moment, I just couldn’t. I enjoyed how good they tasted— a hint of cherry with a subtle touch of honey. His lips felt like a journey to heaven. I smiled against his lips as he pressed his mouth harder on mine, deepening the kiss.

However, I didn’t participate much, which made him slowly pull back. He lingered close, his breath warm on my face, until a snapping twig interrupted his next attempt to kiss me.

I got so scared that I instinctively pulled away, breaking the cozy blanket circle and looking in the direction of the noise.

“Hey, easy! Maybe it was just a squirrel,” he laughed, raising his arm to reassure me.

“Maybe we should check. What if someone saw us?” I asked, still shaken, dismissing the comfort of his warm embrace.

“For your peace of mind, I’ll check it out,” he said, getting up. Before leaving, he wrapped the blanket snugly around me.

The way he took care of me felt almost unreal. I wasn’t used to such gentle gestures anymore.

After a few minutes, he returned. He must have been freezing in just his white long-sleeve shirt and black pants, which explained why he had wrapped himself in a blanket earlier.

“There’s no one around, and the guesthouse doors are closed,” he uttered.

This time, I raised my arm to offer him some comfort. He had been so sweet to me, and it didn’t hurt to be nice to him in return.

He smiled widely before sitting back under the blanket with me. Our heads peeked out like two eggs from a cozy nest.

“Back when I kissed you in the office and you ran out on me, I was scared you might be disgusted with me because of the ‘step-sibling’ title,” he said, recalling that day. I didn’t expect him to bring up something I thought he had long forgotten.

Of course, he hadn’t forgotten. But I guessed he wasn’t the type to push for answers impatiently. Instead, he waited for the right moment to bring it up.

“I was afraid someone would catch us,” I lied. The truth was, it had been the haunting memory of other, unwelcome touches that came crashing down on me like a wrecking ball, making me react the way I had.

“Yeah, I figured something was up. Anyway, are you okay now?” he asked gently, as expected. He was addressing another incident that needed explaining.

“I’m fine now,” I replied, quickly looking away. But because we were sharing the same blanket, I couldn’t move much and was still within his sight.

“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?” he whispered, almost like he was making sure not to offend me. Then, before I could answer, he added, “I was worried. Jenny told me you had digestion issues because you skip meals so often.”

It was clear he didn’t believe Jenny’s excuse.

“Why trust Lamar again, Helanie? People don’t change that quickly,” he continued without waiting for my response.

I felt so guilty that he had to leave without real answers.

“I had thought about that too, but recently, Lamar has shown some real growth,” I replied to his concerns. “And don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”

I watched him reluctantly nod his head. “Umm, the dinner was awkward, but thank you for standing up for me. I didn’t know you saw me as a perfect man with so many achievements.”

The more he spoke softly, his fresh minty breath fanning over my face, the more I realized how badly he needed someone to talk to about what he was dealing with.

“You really are a great guy and doing an amazing job in your field. I just think your mother doesn’t know much,” I tried to explain gently, attempting to convey my thoughts about his mother in the nicest way possible.

He stayed silent, making me wonder if he was going to defend her.

“I’m the last child from when they were still married and things hadn’t turned ugly between them,” he began quietly. “When I was born, I had complications. My mom suffered so much during her pregnancy with me. And once I was born, I ruined their peace because I wouldn’t stop crying all the time. My messy state took a toll on their marriage as well. Things got ugly pretty quickly.”

He sighed deeply before continuing.

“However, they managed to ignore the chaos for a while and act like a family. But it didn’t last. Things fell apart again—and this time for real. Somewhere along the line, taking care of me became too much for them. It was like I was cursed, constantly in pain and restless. I can’t even explain it. So, after a while, my parents concluded that suffering because of me was too much. And when I didn’t ‘return the favor’ by achieving big things for them, they started resenting me. That’s why… you saw what happened tonight.”

He smiled awkwardly but never made eye contact during the whole conversation. I swear, if he had looked me in the eyes, he would have started bawling like a child. He sounded so meek and broken.

“But how was that your fault? Some kids are just a bit more restless and fussy than others,” I mumbled softly, my voice filled with concern.

“That’s how you think. Not everyone is as understanding as you are. That’s why…” He slid closer to me, his hand resting on my thigh while his eyes lingered on my face for a moment too long. “I want you as my mate and my forever.”

Maybe he was studying my reaction. When I didn’t object—partly because I wanted to overcome my lingering fear of touch—he seemed to take it as a sign that I was okay with it.

His hands moved up my thighs, reaching my waist. He held my tiny waist firmly in his hands, pulling me onto his lap.

“I, Kaye McQuoid, accept Helanie as my beautiful mate,” he whispered against my lips.

Before I could process my shock or respond, he closed the gap, crashing his lips against mine. This time, he quickly slid his tongue into my mouth, silencing me with an intensity that left no room for words.