Chapter 6

Ezra's POV

Ezra couldn't seem to take him mind off Aria as he punched the codes into the computer. He was at his father's downtown accounting firm late at night filling out late tax reports. He loved all the calculating and stress that came with it. He had always excelled at mathematics. His skilled fingers flew across the keyboard as he looked at the Microsoft Excel worksheet, then down at the many papers in front of him and figured out some simple percentages on the office made calculator, and then he focused his eyes back on the screen again. God, he didn't like hurting Aria. She did things to his mind, made him feel whole and normal. Stephanie wasn't even able to make him feel that. And they had dated for two years now. Aria set his body aflame with just a simple look, touch, and the feel of her lips on his. She made every part of his body ache with need. She was so lovely, pure and sweet, honest, and everything he wasn't. She could inspire a whirlwind of emotions inside of him. Aria had been right, there was a connection forming between them. It was like he couldn't stay away from her, he didn't want to but he knew that he had to. He couldn't drag her down with his issues. He refused to let her experience any more pain when it came to him. Why couldn't she just make it easier for the both of them by keeping her distance from him? Why couldn't she just ignore her attraction to him? Why couldn't she just stop trying to figure him out? Why couldn't she just stop wanting to get to know him, to be his friend, or to have something more with him? It could never happen. They were too many obstacles that stood in their way. They were step-siblings whether they liked it or not. They couldn't get around that.

He knew he would have slept with her before they had got interrupted. The timing had been right, everything had been right. They both had been in the same mind-set. In that moment of clarity, he hadn't cared about having a girlfriend, about their parents being married, that he was older than her, or that she was underage. Nothing had ever felt so right, then that moment as he got ready to make love to her. He knew that they couldn't have come back from that moment if they had gone through with making love. He had even anticipated what it would feel like to taste her skin as he cupped both of breasts in his hands while he sucked on her nipples, running his hands slowly down her smooth stomach, before touching that spot between pale thighs as she moaned his name underneath her breath. He even anticipated what it would be to have her legs wrapped around his waist as her fingernails raked down his shoulders and back. Had even anticipated what she would taste like when he ran his tongue over the folds of sex, before thrusting his tongue inside. Anticipated how it would be to thrust so deep and hard, but slow and steady at the same time inside of resistant walls as she clamped down around his cock. He even wondered what type of noises would slip out of her mouth as he gave her thrust for thrust, moving in and out of her as he never slowed his tempo or deep strokes. Wondered what it would feel to have her cum soaking him as it made such an easy access to go further inside of her. What it would be like to watch her come, to come undone as she orgasmed around him as he joined her.

Ezra had never been so happy when his father and Ella had interrupted the moment between him and Aria. Their arrival had kept him from doing something stupid like crossing the line with her. The show of different emotions that had highlighted her face had pulled at his very soul. He had wanted to comfort her, to give her want she needed from him. And the way she had run out of the kitchen after seeing how he had been relieved had crushed him. She didn't need him in her life causing her a lot of sadness. She didn't need to put out just because he was the first guy to have ever paid her attention. She needed to stop looking at him like he walked on water. He wasn't at all perfect. He was damaged and so full of anger. How could he expose her to something like that? He didn't want that to affect her. He had grown to care about her in the short amount of time he had known her. He wanted her to go on being this pillar of light, untainted. She had to understand that having sex with him would have changed everything. It would have even changed her as a person if he wasn't the one. She didn't need her first time to be with some jerk like him, to be labeled as being something wrong or twisted. If he wasn't her step-brother, or have too many issues, then he would be with her. He could even love her. He would even call it off with Stephanie, leave California and come to stay in Rosewood, and apply to Hollis University. Just to be with her. He would give up everything in California. He would give her everything. She would have everything.

The reasons why he was so attracted to her in the first place, was because she was so incredibly sweet, so attractive and honest, and forgiving. Why should he deserve someone like that? He didn't think he was worth loving. He had to keep pushing her away and rejecting her to make her understand. He gave himself a mental shake. He had to stop thinking of her. He ran tired fingers though his hair, before reaching for the can of soda and brought it to his lips, and then placed it back down. He tipped back in his chair, peeking into his father's office to see that he too was still filing late tax reports, before gazing back at his own computer. He punched in more codes, numbers, and did more simple calculations, before shutting down the computer and getting up to head over to the printer to grab the papers, and then he went to go file them. He went to the restroom, then he headed into the break room for another soda, and then he headed back out front and started turning off all the lights. He knew that his father would be finishing up soon. His father had always been immaculate and cautious. He smiled wryly. He cared about all his clients.

"Son are you done?" Scott called from the other room, before walking out of his office a few minutes later with his briefcase in his hand. He glanced down at his watch. "I didn't think that it was this late".

"I have Mr. Hogan's and Mrs. Braxton's taxes done, submitted, and I filed the copies," Ezra said as he took his jacket off the coat rack. "Are we going to stop and grab something to eat?"

"That's good, thanks son," Scott said as he took his own coat from the hanger, before stepping outside into the night air. "And no, Ella has made us dinner".

They walked towards his father's grey BMW and got in and started home.

"What happen between you and Aria yesterday?" Scott asked him as he maneuvered the sleek car on the intersection. "And I want the truth. Not the half-truth you told me and Ella, because I didn't buy it".

"We don't see things the same way," Ezra said, being partly truthful as his eyes that were so much like his father's focused on the road in front of him. "And it's not a crime if we don't agree from time to time".

"I didn't say it was, but I thought you guys were getting along," Scott said as he took one hand of the steering wheel to run it through his greying hair, before placing it back on the wheel. "Do you not like her?"

"And I like her just fine," Ezra stated through clenched teeth, feeling as his anger spiked at having his father question him. "Let's try not to act all brand new dad, you know I'm not actually the warmest person. I'm not like you".

"I know that you are a very complicated person, son, but try to at least be welcoming to her. She's real sweetheart," Scott said, taking his eyes off the road to meet his son's glare. "You should really allow her to get to know you, and you can get to know her. I really want you to get along and become close".

"Why are we even having this conversation?" Ezra asked with anger, not able to hold back on his temper any longer. "I truly find this conversation pointless and one-sided".

"Watch your tone son," Scott warned quietly, his own anger starting to seep through as he matched his son's glare. "I happen to think that this conversation is highly important. I'm married to Aria's mother, so that means you need to try to get along with her".

"Is that an order?" Ezra asked smartly, not backing down from his father as his eyes became even heated than before as he clamped his jaw shut, grinding his teeth together. "You know I can always go back to LA".

"So, you're threatening to leave now, is that it?" Scott asked in a much calmer voice as he shook his head in disbelief, his anger dissipating as his tired eyes trained on the car ahead of him as he gathered his thoughts. Ezra knew that his father didn't like it when they argued with one another. He didn't like it either. He reeled in his anger. "Why can't you open up to her, allow her in?"

"You know why," Ezra said with anguish, before running his hands down his face. "Her getting close to me isn't good, for her, or for me".

"Why do you always think negatively about yourself?" Scott asked as he glanced at him, blue eyes meeting blue. "I thought you were past that. You're a good person, and a great son. You mean a lot to me and to your mother. Ella even loves you, and hell, Aria is smitten by you. You should be an older brother to her. She's never had siblings or a father figure".

"Why is she so self-conscious about herself?" Ezra asked, wanting to understand Aria. "She's very pretty, but she doesn't think that she is".

You noticed that too, huh?" Scott asked, before smiling sadly his eyes once more focusing on the road. "I guess because she's never had a dad growing up. Her real dad died when she was real little, so she's never had any other stable men in her life since to show her that attention or to build up her confidence. That's why I want you to get close to her".

He nodded, knowing that he would try to open up to her after what his father had just told him about her.

He remained quiet on the rest of the way home, letting his thoughts roam free as he decided what to do about the situation between him and Aria. He couldn't shut her out. Not now. He could still get close to her without allowing it to become intimate again. He had to try at least. He just had to be sure they didn't cross any more lines. He knew if they did ever go far again, that he wouldn't be able to stop himself. And he wouldn't care about how wrong it was. He got out of the car when they pulled into the driveway, heading inside where he bumped straight into Aria. He hands instantly went out to balance her, his hands lingering on her arms as his eyes gazed down into hers. He smiled, hoping to start a conversation between them, but she tore her eyes away from his and stepped out of his grasp as she made a byline for the door. He stopped her by blocking her way, forcing her to look up into his eyes. He gave her a questioningly look, silently asking her where she was off to. She just stared back blankly at him, before running a hand through her hair and bit the inside of lip as she stayed mum. She didn't smile as she wrapped her arms around herself; her once expressive eyes were vague and empty.

"Where are you off to?" Ezra asked as his eyes stayed glued to her face, searching for the happy girl with the smile that once resided there. "I need to talk to you".

"I'm going out with friends," Aria replied coldly, not clarifying as she tried to go pass him again. He blocked her again. "And I don't want to talk to you".

"Are you going out with a guy?" Ezra asked somewhat angrily, feeling a spark of jealousy rumble in his chest if she were. "I need to give you something".

"A guy, what?" Aria asked in shock as she looked at him with confusion, the cold tone that was once there in her voice gone. "And what do you need to give me?"

"You're not going out with a guy?" Ezra asked her again, holding his breath in anticipation as his eyes pierced hers. "You sais that you were out with friends, so I figured one of them would be a guy".

She shook her head slowly, her confusion at his out of the blue assumption cleared up.

"I picked you something up in LA and it's upstairs in my bedroom, but I can give it to you later if you're going out with friends," Ezra said, his hand extending out to push a loose strand of her silky hair back behind her ears.

She had the softest hair.

She gasped at his sudden touch, her eyes growing even bigger than that already were as she bit harder on the inside of lip as she kept herself from touching him back. She struggled for a few minutes with her thoughts as her eyes searched his, not knowing what he really wanted from her. But before she could say anything, they were both called into the dining room for dinner. She sat across from him, avoiding his eyes as she started to eat. He couldn't take his eyes from off of her as he dug into his own Lasagna, steamed vegetables,and garden salad. Talk around the table was about work, college and summer events happening around the town, and vacation plans, but Aria kept quiet. And when dinner had ended, she got up and left. He got up and followed behind her as she ventured upstairs to her bedroom. He headed into his own bedroom to retrieve the gift he had got for her in LA, before knocking on her bedroom door as he waited for her to grant him admittance. She did. Her back was to him as he stepped into her bedroom and she turned around to face him, her long shoulder length hair whirling about her face as her eyes studied his. He approached her cautiously, feeling nervous for the first time since had met her. She was so lovely. He eyes couldn't help but drop down to roam her small body frame; feeling as his body urges compelled him into a reaction as his cock grew hard. She was so small compared to him. Then he looked back into her face to find that his silent scoping of her body had left her light-headed so she sat down on her bed and crossed her legs as she waited for him to make his move.

"Here," Ezra said, handing over his gift as she smiled for the first that night. He watched as she carefully unwrapped her present, her beautiful brown eyes lighting up with happiness after she had seen what he had got for her. "I remember you saying that you like to read fantasy, historical romance, and thriller books, so I got you one of each".

She placed down her gift on the bed, and then she got up to rush into his arms, hugging him close to her body as his arms went around her tiny waist as he inhaled her sweet scent. He nearly groaned as she nuzzled her face into his chest, her fingers exploring his back innocently. He couldn't stop his body from reacting from her close proximity as he heard her give a sharp intake of breath, feeling his rather noticeable erection. She stepped back out of his arms a little, her face a mask of want and fear. Her eyes were full of questions, her lips so inviting. He pulled her body back closer to his as she offered up no resistance, his hand traveling up from her waist, back, and to the back of neck as she released breathy moan. He felt her body trembling in his arms, anticipating his next course of action. He knew that he shouldn't. That he should stop before it got out of hand, but he couldn't find the strength to. He didn't care that their parents were just downstairs, or that he was going against his better judgment. He just needed her, just needed a taste. His heat filled eyes kept falling to her mouth as her own did the same. She squirmed impatiently, hitting against his hard erection as he hissed, before pulling her closer still as he made her feel every inch of his cock that was throbbing fiercely. She moaned, her fingers gripping his shoulders as she kept her balanced. He could feel how incredibly hot she was between her thighs through the tiny shorts she wore. Felt her nipples poking into his hard chest as she strained to keep her body aligned with his. He couldn't stop his other hand from snaking around to her front to rub against the right side of breast, her breath hitching at his touch. He squeezed her small breast in his hand, before cupping it completely as her fingers raked down his arms.

His head dipped towards hers, his mouth hovering over hers as he gazed into her glazed over eyes and pressed his lips against hers. She moaned softly against his mouth as he forced her mouth open to explore the inside, stroking her tongue with his, and then he began to thrust his tongue in and out of her opened mouth as she linked her arms around his neck. She responded back to him, following his lead as he kissed her deeply and sensuously. He didn't hold back, making her feel just how strong his need was. He sucked on her bottom lip, eliciting a deep moan from her throat as her mouth pressed harder against his. He mouth stayed glued to hers as he deepened their kiss even more, walking back with her until he had her pinned up against the door of her bedroom as he lifted one of her hands up to keep it above her head as his own fingers entwined with hers. His mouth broke away from hers long enough to kiss down her neck, around her collarbone and across her shoulders, and then he kissed the tops of her swelling breasts through the thin shirt she wore. Her breath was coming out faster as she clung to him, her fingers running through his thick hair, before gripping a few strands in the palm of her hand as her body bucked against him.

Ezra knew that he had to stop, but his body didn't seem to be cooperating with him. His hands covered her breasts, his thumbs twitting her erect nipples as she moaned loud. He mouth crashed down on hers again, his hands leaving her breasts to feel down her thighs and legs, before wrapping her legs around his waist as his hands reached behind to grab her ass. He molded her sharply bum in his hands, his teeth nipping over her lips, chin, and neck as he bounced her up and down on his erection. She groaned, her head falling back as she squeezed her legs tighter around his waist as she felt his huge cock strike her aching centre repeatedly. He let her body slide down his, moaning as her lips and tongue showed attention to his neck as she left little bite marks around his collarbone. He kissed her smooth forehead, his hands coming up to play with the gorgeous plush locks as her small hands snuck inside of his shirt as she traced her fingers over his broad-chest, then down to his taut abdomen, and then over to his biceps. She was just so lost in passion that she didn't notice the scars her fingers came in contact with. There was no part of him that she didn't explore as her hands went around to his back to map out the ridges and muscles, before coming back around to his front again to tease his belly button. He was slipping deeper and deeper into hell as he fought to swim back up to the surface. They had to stop, but they couldn't. There were already too far gone in their need of wanting one another. He was just reaching to pull his shirt over his head with her help, when his cellphone rung inside of his back pocket. He froze, all sense flowing back into his mind. He re-gained his common sense and pulled away from her, leaving her panting and dazed as she stared over at him. He looked over at her apologetically, before reaching for ringing phone, and then he looked down at it to see who was calling him. It was Stephanie. He could still feel Aria's eyes on him. He couldn't look at her. He didn't know how to explain. Instead of saying anything at all, he just turned and walked out of her bedroom.

I don't know about you guys, but I just love Ezra. This is like my favorite version of him. And just to let you guys know, I'm going to dig deep inside of this character. Anyway, how did you like the chapter? Please review and let me know! I'm currently writing Ch. 11. And I know that it feels like I'm updating slow, but I start my summer term of school next Monday so I want to have a lot pre-written chapters done incase I'm really busy :).