Chapter 4

Ezra's POV

Ezra had kept his distance from Aria the past couple of weeks by accompanying his father to work every morning and evening and flying back every weekend to LA to spend some time with Stephanie and his friends. Even though he hated flying, it was the fastest and cheapest way to travel versus having to rent a car and paying a buck load of money on gas. He couldn't afford to have a repeat with Aria. It wasn't supposed to happen. They couldn't do what they had done again. It was wrong, especially because they were each other's family. It hadn't been her fault; it had been all on him. What had given him the right to kiss her? To take advantage of a very inexperienced girl? He was sure that had been her very first kiss. She had said she never had a boyfriend. He hadn't been able to believe that. She was so lovely and sweet, and had the most wonderful smile he had ever seen. What had possessed him to kiss her? He didn't know. He just knew he had wanted to as he had gazed down at her peachy full lips. They had been soft and tasted like peaches. He never knew any girl who could taste so sweet. She hadn't been that good at kissing him back, but he had enjoyed her response to him. She had tried so hard to mimic him.

He hoped she didn't hate him too much. But he didn't think Aria was capable of hating anyone. She wasn't made like that. She was sweet, trusting, and didn't have a dishonest bone in her body. He knew a bit about her now to see that. She was so easy to read. She still had been willing to get to know him even when he had been a jerk to her. He had never met anyone like her. He was so intrigued by her, by her innocence. God, he loved the way she would always play with that beautiful hair of hers. He would always been so transfixed by it. It had felt like he had run his hand through silk. And he also loved how she would always bite the inside of her lip, whether it been the top or bottom one. He didn't think he would be able to keep it up, to keep his distance from her. He knew it would be hard, but he had done well so far. He couldn't risk disrespecting his father and Ella any more than he had already done. If only he wasn't her step-brother, then he would introduce her to the world of kissing and the art of making love but done in a way that showed her respect. Not the way he had learned, which had been rough kissing and straight up fucking. He would want to give her something that was beautiful, slow, and worth remembering. He could barely remember all the older women he had fucked or had fucked him. He didn't care if he ever remembered. He just wanted to forget all those sexual encounters that hadn't meant anything to him.

"Where are you now?" Stephanie asked in a soft feminine voice as her green eyes focused on his face intently, her long fingers scraping down his bare chest, before she kissed his shoulder.

"Nowhere," Ezra lied as he kissed her forehead, before gathering her closely to his body. Her body was so soft and warm. It gave him great comfort. He was never able to talk about his travels and those faceless women with anyone. "I'm right here with you, why did you ask?"

"Because you had a frown on your lips and sadness in your eyes. You forget how much I can read you," Stephanie said as she traced kind fingers on his mouth and eyes, and then she threw a tan arm across his chest, her long leg nudging its way in-between his. "Do you want to talk about it? You know you can always talk to me, about anything. I won't judge you".

"No, its ancient history," Ezra said as he rolled over to his side so that he could gazed down into her gorgeous face, his own fingers flying softly through her pale blonde hair, before kissing her on the lips, and then he withdrew from her so that he could continue running his hands through her pretty hair. Her blonde hair was wavy and long. He liked that it was natural and not bleached like so many other Californians. "And I do know that I can always talk you, but I can't talk you about this. I tried so hard to forget".

"I understand, and I won't push," Stephanie said with understanding as her eyes held his, before she reached a hand up to hold the back of his head in place. "Tell me though, does it involve when you traveled around the world with your mother?"

"Yeah," Ezra released a heavy breath, not bothering to go into any details.

"I figured," Stephanie said dispiritedly, her green eyes filling with sadness just before grabbing his face down to hers to kiss him very slowly and passionately.

"God, you really do know me," Ezra smiled against her lips, just before initiating the kiss to be longer, and then he pulled back. "I never want to hurt you".

"Then don't," Stephanie said quietly with serious eyes, her hands mapping out his shoulder-blade, forearm, and side, before sneaking around the front to run her hands down his well-built chest and taut abdomen. "I know that you have issues, but I won't give up on you. I love you too much to do that".

"I love you too," Ezra spoke just before kissing her mouth again as she moaned inside of his mouth as his tongue stroked hers softly. He meant it. He did love her in his own way. "And I wish that I didn't have any issues to work out, but I do".

"Everyone has issues whether they want them or not," Stephanie said with insight, her fingers stroking his abs. her hands felt great. He loved when she touched him. It wasn't with lust, but with care. "And I have the utmost faith that you'll get over those issues eventually".

"Thanks oh knowing one," Ezra laughed as he climbed out of bed and put on a pair of discarded jeans that he had left on the floor, and then he pulled a clean t-shirt over his head.

"You're welcome," Stephanie teased as she propped herself on her stomach, making sure to pull the sheet along with her to cover her nude body as watched him. Her feet were up in the air swinging back and forth as she hummed under her breath. "What time does your flight leave?"

"This morning," Ezra said over his shoulder as he moved about the room collecting his things, before walking into the bathroom to pee and wash his face and brush his teeth, and then he appeared back into the bedroom. "I'm running a little late already, but I'll still make my flight".

He sat down at the foot of the bed to put his shoes on.

"Do you really have to go back to Rosewood today?" Stephanie whined, her feet kicking his back playful. "Stay another night with me".

"I have to. I help my dad at his accounting firm," Ezra said honestly, and then he put on his other shoe. "And you ask me this every time I come and see you. You know I can't".

"Yeah, I know," Stephanie said wistfully as she raised up from her place on the bed to come sit behind him with her legs on either side of him, lying her head on his back as her arms wrapped around his front. "I wish you could though. I hate only seeing you on the weekend".

He didn't say anything. He just wanted to get back to Rosewood, but he couldn't understand why. Yes, he did, he thought. He wanted to get back to Aria. He had to stop running from her. He needed to see her, to kiss her but he knew he couldn't. He could only be with in a platonic way, but could he do that? Would it be enough? He didn't know. He had to go back and face her.

"What is Rosewood like," Stephanie asked, drawing him out of his thoughts of Aria as she ran her fingers through his hair, before kissing the back of his neck.

"Small, little population, but it's nice," Ezra said after a minute, his blue eyes looking far off. "It's different coming from a big place like LA and going to a small town like Rosewood".

"And what about your step-mother and step-sister, what are they like?" Stephanie probed as she continued dropping kisses down on his neck.

"Ella is nice and she makes my dad happy," Ezra said with a shudder, loving her kisses. He stalled a little, before saying, "And Aria is a sweet kid".

"Just sweet?" Stephanie said, pushing for more. "Is she pretty?"

He couldn't tell her how he was attracted to Aria, or how he had kissed her. He couldn't risk sounding like he had an interest in her.

"Yeah, sweet and trusting, and honest," Ezra elaborated uncomfortably, shifting a little. "And she's very lovely, except she doesn't think so".

"Maybe you could offer her some brotherly advice," Stephanie suggested as her hands found their way into his shirt to caress his hot flesh.

He groaned, feeling like a cheating bastard. But, was one kiss really considered cheating? He didn't think so.

"Maybe," Ezra said thoughtfully as he pulled away from her as he got off the bed. "Look, I got to go".

She nodded as he kissed her on the mouth, and then he left out of her apartment.

It was late when he got back into the town of Rosewood. It was midnight. He let himself into the house with his spare key that his father had given him, making his way upstairs as quietly as he possibly could. He didn't want to wake anyone up. He walked into his bedroom and started to unpack his traveling clothes, and took out the purchase he had picked up for Aria in LA. He didn't know why he had gotten her a gift, but he wanted to make up for all the times he had been an asshole to her. He saw the bathroom light on, so he knocked and waited for Aria to say something. He thought she would have been asleep too. When she answered, he stepped into the bathroom. His eyes couldn't help but to roam over her, taking all of her in. He felt the stirring in his groin and his heart started to pump really fast. He needed to hold her, to be closer to her, so he moved closer. Her beautiful brown eyes that were framed by equally beautiful long lashes watched him through the mirror as she brushed her hair, the long locks looking even silkier. She had on a tank top without a bra that displayed her midriff and outlined her tiny nipples, very short shorts, and a pair of long tube socks that just about came to her knees. He moved even close to her, coming up to her back with his hands behind his back to keep her gift out of sight. She gave him a questioningly look, her eyes dilating almost as she started to breathe heavily. He had to break the charge between them before he lost control again. He couldn't kiss her, couldn't make love to her. He took a step back, creating some space between her body and his.

"So, you're back?" Aria asked in the softest voice, her eyes leaving his to concentrate on the stroke of the brush in her hand. "I almost thought that you weren't coming back".

"I am," Ezra stated calmly, wanting her to look at him again. "Of course I was coming back. I'm sorry how I treated you after our little episode in the kitchen. It wasn't my intention to hurt you or to force myself on you".

"You don't have to apologize," Aria said with a small smile, lifting her eyes to his again. "And I get. You're very complicated. But you didn't force me or hurt me. I wanted that kiss to happen as much as you did. I'm just sorry that lacked in the kissing department".

Her words moved him, pulled at him. He couldn't, they couldn't. He closed his eyes for a second, collecting his thoughts.

"Don't say that, Aria," Ezra warned as he re-opened eyes, before moving over towards the other counter to rest up against it. "It can't happen again".

"Why? It's the truth," Aria said argumentatively as she placed down the hairbrush to move over to him, standing chest to chest with him. Her hand came up and cupped the side of his face, her fingers stroking ever so lightly. He couldn't take it. He breathed deeply, before removing her hand and kissing her palm. "You're the first guy that ever kissed me".

"It was a mistake," Ezra argued, before dropping her hand and moving away. "You know it, and I know it. Nothing good can come from this".

"Was it?" Aria asked as she shook her head with disbelief. "Give me some reasons why we can't? I need to hear them, besides the fact that my mom is married to your father".

"Yes," Ezra said with little conviction as he rubbed his hand down his face, before running frustrating fingers through his hair. He didn't even believe himself. "You're my step-sister and I'm your step-brother. You're underage and I am older, which is against the law. It's wrong, and I have a girlfriend".

"Okay, those are valid reasons, but what if I don't care?" Aria said, feeling bold as she closed the gap between them, her arm going around his neck as she pressed her soft body against his harder one. He groaned. He could feel everything, her breasts and erect nipples. "You have awoken something up in my body. I feel it, I feel it even now. We have a connection".

"Don't," Ezra said harshly, pushing her away from him as he saw the instant hurt in her eyes. He didn't want to, but he had to reject her. "Don't you get it, we can't. I can't kiss. I can't make love to you. Why can't you understand?"

"I'm sorry," Aria apologized in a small voice, avoiding his eyes as she moved to leave out of the bathroom, but she stopped. "Why did you really kiss me?"

"I don't know. I guess I was just got caught up in the moment," Ezra said lamely, knowing that she didn't buy that excuse.

"I don't get you," Aria said with a sad laugh as those he was a puzzle and couldn't figure him out, running a hand through her hair and he watched as the luxurious hair fell back down around her lovely face again. "I don't get why you keep pushing me away again and again".

"Maybe you shouldn't try to figure me out," Ezra said in a clipped voice, his eyes turning cold and distance. "I told you before not to get close to me or to see me as anything other than a step-brother".

"You did, but I guess I fail to listen, didn't I?" Aria asked with another sad laugh, before walking out.

He walked back into his own room, tossing her gift down on his bed, and then he buried his hands into his hair, before sliding to the floor with his back propped up against the bathroom door. Why couldn't he stop hurting her? Why couldn't he just go after what he really wanted? Why did he have to care that she was his step-sister? He wanted her like an endless ache that wouldn't go away. He wanted to love her hard, to bury himself so deep inside of her that he felt her inner walls surrounding him. He wanted to feel her hands all over him, touching and scratching and caressing different parts of his body. He wanted to have her underneath him and his body covering hers as he loved every part of her body. He wanted to plunge and plunge into her until her body exploded with so many orgasms he could give her. But, he couldn't. He could never give her what they both wanted so desperately.

First off, thank you guys for all the support. Please don't forget to review and let me know your thoughts. And I'll try to have the next chapter uploaded next Thursday.