Forbidden Affairs With My Brother-in-law

CHAPTER ONE: BREAKING POINT

(Ava's POV )

I bit back a scream as one of my hands flew to cover my open mouth, while the other clutched the phone tightly.

"This has to be a dream! This can't be true!" I muttered under my breath.

My heart pounded against my chest as my eyes remained glued to the picture boldly displayed on my phone screen.

It was a nude video of my fiancé, Gregory, in bed with two women. He was drilling into one of them while the other fondled herself.

All of them were stark naked, and they seemed too engrossed in their activities to notice the camera behind them.

A thought struck me.

Maybe they knew.

Maybe they knew they were being recorded.

I whipped my head to the side, struggling to stop myself from throwing up. I edged backward and slumped onto the couch behind me.

I was just about to leave the house to pick Gregory up from the airport. He was returning from a two-week work trip, and today was supposed to be special-it was our four-year anniversary.

My eyes filled with tears as I let the phone slip from my shaky hands and fall to the floor.

How was I supposed to drag myself to the airport to pick up a cheating partner?

It felt worse knowing I had watched that video so many times that it now vividly replayed itself in my head.

My mouth turned dry. Wrapping my arms around my small frame, I sobbed.

Suddenly, the phone rang.

I glanced at the screen. The caller ID read, "My Love."

That was how Greg's number was saved on my phone. I knew why he was calling-his flight must have landed, and he was now searching for me at the airport.

"Fuck you, Gregory!" I cursed aloud, breaking the silence in the room. I picked up my phone, turned it off, and stormed into the bathroom.

One thing I knew about Gregory was that he would never admit to being wrong unless there was undeniable evidence against him. In the last four years of dating this man, I had never suspected he would go as far as kissing another woman. And now, there he was in a video, having a threesome.

I bent over the bathroom sink, nausea rising. I let the contents of my stomach out into the sink.

Feeling dizzy, I washed my face and dragged myself back to the living room to wait for him.

I knew he would book a ride home once he got tired of waiting at the airport. He had called several more times, but I ignored him.

Half an hour later, the front door opened, and I sprang to my feet as Gregory walked in.

"Sweetheart!" he exclaimed, closing the door behind him. He dropped his suitcase on the floor. There was a wide grin on his face, and his eyes shone with excitement as he looked at me.

"Welcome home, Gregory," I said coldly.

He cocked an eyebrow. "Gregory? It's been a long time since you called me that. Are you okay, Sweetie?"

I folded my arms across my chest and stared at him in silence. My heart raced, but I held back from yelling.

He took a few steps toward me, then stopped. "I called multiple times when my flight landed. You weren't there to pick me up, Sweetie."

"What do you do for work?" I asked.

He frowned. "I thought you knew. I'm a personal assistant to-"

"Oh, spare me that bullshit!" I shot back. "Tell me why you travel so often to places I know nothing about."

He stepped back, eyeing me as though trying to piece everything together.

"Did someone tell you something? Is there something you want to talk about?" he asked calmly.

I pulled out my phone, swiped through until I reached the video, and held it up in his face, fuming.

"Yes, we need to talk about this, you lying bastard!" I said, raising my voice slightly.

His eyes fell on the screen, and within seconds, his expression shifted-from surprise to shock, and then to anger. His brows knitted together.

"Honey, can we not do this right now? There's nothing to talk about." He muttered, turning to pick up his briefcase by the door.

"Gregory!" I yelled. "You cheated on me, and this is the reaction I get?"

"I did that for you!" he growled, pointing at my phone. "That video you saw is completely true, and I did that for you!"

His words hit me with a shock. I could barely believe what he had just said.

How could he say that he had sex with another women because of me? Different questions swirled around my mind and my breath hitched.

"Gregory" I said, my voice breaking as tears welled in my eyes, "Tell me you're joking. Please, tell me that this isn't true."

He rolled his eyes, wagging a finger in my face, "You started this mess, so let me complete it for you."

"Gregory, you slept with other women and you aren't even guilty about it?"

"You asked what I do for work, huh? I'm a fúcking pornstar." He sneered. Then, he paused for a moment before he continued talking, "Yes, I sleep with other women and get paid for it. How else do you think I've been able to maintain our expensive lifestyle?"

Gregory? A pornstar?

His words came at me like a brick, and I staggered backward as my mind reeled.

He closed the distance between us and stood right in front of me. I looked up into his ocean-blue eyes-the same eyes that made me fall in love with him.

"Ava, now that you've found out what I've been trying to hide, I have a surprise for you," he said.

Tears streamed down my face. "You cheated on me," I mumbled.

"Yeah. I've been doing this for months, and you don't have to forgive me."

I blinked at him in disbelief. "What do you mean?"

"I'm breaking up with you, Ava. I'm ending this shitty relationship today."

"What? Are you serious, Gregory?"

"Yes. The only reason I get excited to travel for work is because I get to have good sex, which I barely get from you. Ava, you're so boring in bed, and I'm tired of putting up with it."

"You proposed to me last month," I gasped, pinching my arm to wake myself from this nightmare.

He let out a mirthless laugh. "Oh, Ava. Why are you so daft? Did you really think I'd marry you?"

"You proposed!"

"I did it because you practically forced me! With your endless nagging about how your sister is married, I just got a ring to shut you up!"

My eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yeah, that's it," he said, his deep voice echoing as he walked away. When he reached the staircase, he turned to face me.

"I'm going upstairs to shower and change. By the time I'm done, if you or any of your things are still here, you'll regret it."

Something snapped in my brain. "You're worse than the devil!" I yelled. "You have the guts to break up with me on our anniversary?"

"Anniversary?" He chuckled. "Just get the hell out of my life. Don't make me force you."

With that, he went upstairs. I collapsed to the floor, holding my head in my hands as I broke down in tears.

Chapter 2: Mark My Words

(Ava's POV)

Last night, I packed my bags and left Gregory's apartment. With no place to stay, I had to spend the night at a local hotel.

The following morning, I cleared my account and booked a flight back to Florida to meet my elder sister, Adrianna. She was the only living family I had, and at this moment, I needed her the most. After bawling my eyes out over the only man I had ever loved with every fiber of my being, I knew I had no choice but to put as much distance between us as possible.

I felt empty.

So empty as I stared out of the airplane window. My flight was expected to land in less than twenty minutes, and I was nervous. The last time I saw my sister was three years ago, and we hadn't made any effort to see each other since.

Guilt choked me, making it hard to breathe. I felt ashamed. For three years, I had chosen Gregory over my sister, prioritizing him and our relationship above everything else.

My phone screen lit up with a text message.

It was from Arianna.

"Hey, Sis. I'm so sorry, but I won't be able to make it to the airport in time to pick you up. An emergency came up at work, but I've asked Damon, my husband, to pick you up. He has your number and will call soon. See you at home. I love you!"

My brows furrowed as I read the message.

Adrianna was always busy, often prioritizing work over everything else. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to feel relieved that I wouldn't have to face her guilt-inducing presence immediately or annoyed at how little time she seemed to have for me.

Soon, the flight was over, and I slowly joined the other passengers as we filed out of the plane.

The warm Florida heat caressed my face, making me wince. I was not ready for this city.

It didn't take long for my phone to ring.

The caller ID displayed an unknown number, and I instantly knew who it was.

"Ava?" a deep, husky voice called tentatively.

I stiffened.

No one had ever said my name in such a rich, velvety way. My tongue felt tied, and for a moment, I stayed silent, clutching the phone to my ear. My eyes scanned the crowd in front of me, hoping to spot Damon before he found me.

"Hello? Are you there?" the voice asked again.

"Oh! Yeah...yes...I am!" I stuttered.

"It's Damon. Your sister asked me to pick you up. I'm at the parking lot, and I'd like to know where you are," he said, his words carrying the thickest British accent I had ever heard.

"I'm walking down the-"

"Are you wearing a black tee with matching shorts? Blonde hair in a bun?" he interrupted.

I looked down at my outfit and nodded before realizing he could see me.

"Yeah," I mumbled.

"Gotcha!" he said. "Stay right there. I think I've seen you. I'm coming over."

A knot formed in my stomach, making me tense. Adrianna never mentioned her husband was British. I had only seen him once in a photo years ago and had no idea what he looked like now.

As I stood waiting, a soft tap on my back startled me.

I turned to face one of the most beautiful man I had ever seen.

Yes, beautiful!

That was the only word to describe the man standing before me, his lips curved into a dimpled smile and his green eyes framed by thick lashes. His sharp cheekbones and straight nose complemented his face perfectly.

He waved a hand in front of me, laughing. "You're not much of a talker, are you?"

"Uh?" I croaked.

"I've been asking you a question for the past two minutes, but you had this blank stare on your face. For a moment, I thought you turned into a statue."

A lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed hard.

"I'm sorry. Excuse my silly behavior," I said, shuffling my feet.

It's so good to finally meet you. Adrianna speaks so highly of you!" he said warmly, taking two of my suitcases from me, leaving me with just my handbag.

"The feeling's mutual," I replied, smiling faintly.

We walked in silence to the car. Once we were inside, he drove for a while before glancing at me.

"Adrianna said your boyfriend of four years broke up with you, huh?"

Heat curled down my spine. So, Adrianna had been sharing my heartbreak story with her husband.

I looked out the window and muttered, "Fiancé. He proposed."

Damon gasped and stayed quiet for a moment. Then, he said, "I can't believe a man had you and was stupid enough to fumble. You're drop-dead gorgeous."

I turned to look at him, genuinely surprised. Compliments were rare for me, even from the man I had been with for four years.

Damon's eyes stayed on me as the car slowed in morning traffic.

"I don't mean to pry, but do you mind telling me what happened?" he asked, his voice soft and soothing.

"He cheated on me," I blurted out.

"His f*cking loss," Damon laughed. "You're fine as hell, Ava."

"Yeah," I chuckled bitterly. "He said I couldn't fuck him as well as he wanted."

The words slipped out before I realized what I had said. I froze, mortified.

Damon didn't seem fazed by the unnecessary information I had just shared.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-" I stuttered, panic tightening my chest.

Damon kept his eyes on the road, his voice calm. "You don't need to apologize. You can share anything with me. I'll listen."

I nodded, still embarrassed.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll tell you what crossed my mind when I first saw you at the airport," he said, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

I sat upright, clutching my bag tightly. "Okay?"

"Well, no offense, but the first thought that popped into my head was, I wonder how well those legs can spread in bed."

My cheeks reddened as guilt tugged at me. I knew exactly why was happening. My sister's husband was clearly flirting with me, and I didn't even stop him.

"Ava?" He called out, jolting me back into reality.

I drew in a sharp breath, "No, Damon."

"What?"

"You're my sister's husband, and I'm pretty sure she loves you." I said firmly as I shot a glance at him, "You can't have such dirty thoughts about me."

His lips curved into a large grin as his deep green eyes ran over me before he faced the wheels again.

"Ava. There's something about you; something that I can't quite explain. I look forward to getting to know you better. Trust me, I can make you fall for me, if I want to."

My mouth dropped open in disbelief.

"What did you just say?" I asked him, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I know You're my wife's sister, but I don't care. I can make you to go really crazy about me. Wait, Do you doubt that?"

An alarm rang in my mind and I looked away.

"Ava. I will make sure you fall hard for me. Mark my words." He said, breaking the silence again.

I stiffened.

I did not know what to say in response. It was hard for me to sit next to a man as handsome as Damon and tell him that he couldn't flirt with me, just because he was my sister's husband.

A chill ran through me as I rolled over his last words at the back of my head.

'I'll make you fall for me.'

Was that a threat or a promise? Whatever it was, I had to be so damn careful.

CHAPTER 3: A Forbidden Attraction

(Ava's POV)

7 a.m.

It had been barely 24 hours since the conversation I'd had with Damon on our way from the airport, yet I couldn't stop thinking about him.

Shit.

Why was I even thinking about him? Sure, I couldn't deny how strikingly attractive he was, but I knew he was completely off-limits.

I blinked, trying to piece together how the previous day had ended. When I arrived at the apartment Damon shared with Adrianna, she wasn't home yet. Damon had led me to a large, spacious room at the far end of a hallway.

"This room is yours for as long as you want to stay with us. I can't wait to explore with you," he'd said with a wink before leaving.

That was the last I'd seen of him. I'd locked myself in the room, taken a hot shower, and collapsed onto the bed.

Still, I hadn't been able to sleep. Instead, I lay there, replaying Damon's words in the car over and over.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~

I pushed myself up from the bed and wandered over to the window. My stomach rumbled as I let out a yawn. I was hungry, and I had no idea what time it was. I still hadn't met Adrianna.

As I wondered whether she'd come home the previous night, a knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

It was Adrianna.

"Ava? Are you up?" she called out.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Yeah, I'm up."

I headed to the door and unlocked it, letting her in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a hug.

She smelled of lavender, and her hair was tied up in a neat bun.

"I've missed you so much," she said, her voice muffled against my shoulder.

I was stunned but hugged her back. Seconds later, she pulled away, beaming at me.

"I've missed you too," I muttered with a small smile.

"I got home late last night and decided to let you sleep. Anyway, I was about to head out for brunch with some friends, but I wanted to check in first. Are you doing okay?" she asked, leaning against the doorframe.

I forced a smile. "I'm fine."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Damon told me you seemed really withdrawn when he met you. I get it, Ava. The breakup must have hurt you pretty badly."

I shuffled my feet uncomfortably. I wasn't ready to talk about the breakup-especially not with Adrianna.

Adrianna continued, "Listen, I was thinking. Damon's a great listener-he's been my rock during some tough times. Maybe you should talk to him. It might help."

I froze, "Talk to him? About what?"

"About Gregory. About everything," she said with a shrug. "He's actually trained as a therapist, you know? He used to work with people dealing with breakups and grief before he shifted careers. He's incredible at it. I really think he could help you."

The idea of pouring my heart out to Damon felt absurd. The same man who had flirted so boldly with me yesterday couldn't possibly be the one to help me heal.

"I don't know," I said cautiously. "It might be... weird."

"Nonsense!" Adrianna said, waving a dismissive hand. "You're family, Ava. Damon would do anything to help. Besides, he really enjoys it-it's like second nature to him."

I forced a nod, hoping the conversation would end. But Adrianna wasn't done.

"In fact," she added with a mischievous grin, "I'll tell him to sit down with you today. You're too beautiful to let some loser like Gregory ruin your confidence."

Her words made my chest tighten. She meant well, but she had no idea what she was setting into motion.

------

A couple of hours later, I found myself in the living room with Damon. Adrianna had practically shoved me into the room before heading out. She'd left me alone with him, trusting him completely.

Damon was lounging on the couch, his legs stretched out casually, one arm draped over the backrest.

"Adrianna thinks I can help you move on from that idiot who broke your heart," he said, his deep voice cutting through the silence. "Do you think I can?"

I sat stiffly on the edge of an armchair, clutching a throw pillow for dear life. "We don't have to do this."

He smirked, his green eyes glinting with something I couldn't quite place. "Well, we will. Why don't we start with the basics? How are you feeling?"

"How do you think I'm feeling?" I snapped before I could stop myself.

His smile didn't waver. "Hurt. Betrayed. Maybe even angry?"

I clenched my jaw. "What's the point of this? I don't need a therapy session, Damon. Especially not with you."

"Maybe not," he said, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "But Adrianna asked me to help, and I'm not the kind of man to refuse her requests. As a matter of fact, I love that she trusts me to help you."

The mention of her name made me flinch. "She has no idea what you're really like," I muttered under my breath.

His eyes narrowed slightly, but the smirk remained. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," I shot back, my voice barely above a whisper.

Damon leaned back, watching me intently. "You're a feisty one, aren't you? I like that. Women like you who act so uninterested, usually end up falling so damn hard in the end."

I stood abruptly, as my pulse raced. "Damon! If you're looking for someone to play silly games with, I'm not interested."

Before I could leave, he was on his feet, blocking my path. He moved so quickly that it startled me.

"Ava," he said, with a low and commanding voice. "Sit down."

I hesitated. When I didn't move, he stepped even closer. "I said, sit."

Something in his tone made my knees buckle, and I sank back into the armchair.

Damon crouched in front of me, his eyes level with mine. "I'm not the bad guy here," he said softly. "But I'm also not going to let you walk away from this conversation. Not until we've cleared the air."

"Cleared the air?" I echoed, my voice shaking.

"Yes," he said. "Because whether you like it or not, we're connected now. And the sooner you accept that, the better it'll be for both of us."

My breath hitched. "Connected? How?"

He reached out, his fingers brushing against mine. It was a simple touch, but it felt electric. "You feel it too, don't you?"

I yanked my hand away, my heart pounding. "Stop it, Damon. This is wrong."

"Wrong?" he repeated, tilting his head. "Or inevitable?"

The intensity in his gaze made it hard to breathe. He leaned in, his face inches from mine. "You can fight it all you want, Ava, but you and I both know there's something here. Something you can't ignore."

Before I could say anything, Damon leaned in. The kiss was slow at first, gentle, like he was testing me. I should have pushed him away, I knew that. But something inside me-something I didn't want to admit-wanted it. Wanted him.

I broke away from him, breathless. My mind reeled. "No, Damon. This isn't right. You're... you're my sister's husband."

Damon didn't pull away.

Instead, he stared at me, "And yet, here we are, Ava. You can fight it all you want, but we both know there's something between us."

I pushed him away with more force this time, my hands trembling. "This is wrong. You can't do this."

A smirk played at the corner of his lips.

"We'll see, Ava. We'll see how long you can keep resisting."

Before I could think of a response, the front door opened, startling us both. Adrianna's cheerful voice called out, "I'm back!"

I froze.