Her craving, Her brother

Lumi's POV

Last night keeps replaying in my head. The way Caius touched me-slow, patient, like he wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere. Like he already knew I wasn't going anywhere. His hands, the way he held my waist. The way his voice dropped when he said my name.

My body still feels it, that soft ache, low and deep, not painful...just there. A reminder of last night.

And soon, I will be getting married to him. A small, giddy smile pulls at my lips as I stare at my reflection.

Finally-

"Ah-!"

The sharp sting cuts through everything. I jerk slightly as the zipper digs into my skin.

"Wait-don't move," Wren says quickly behind me, her fingers pausing at my back. "It's stuck."

I suck in a breath, my hand instinctively going to my side.

"That hurts," I mutter.

She tries again, slower this time, tugging carefully. The zipper doesn't budge.

"You should've lost some weight if you wanted to wear this for your engagement."

The words drop casually. I don't turn. I just stare at myself in the mirror, then the dress.

It's beautiful, champagne-white, soft, and expensive. The kind of fabric that hugs instead of hides. It clings to my waist, my hips, every curve I've been pretending not to notice lately.

And now, I notice everything.

Behind me, Wren exhales softly. "Sorry. That came out wrong. I didn't mean it like that."

I meet her eyes through the mirror. She's smiling, but not fully.

"You didn't have to say it like that," I say quietly.

"I know, I know," she says quickly, already adjusting the zipper again. "I talk too much. You know how I am."

Yeah, I do. But that didn't change the sting that came with your words.

The zipper loosens slightly as she pulls it down. Relief.

"It actually looks good on you," she adds, softer now. "Like... really good."

Her fingers linger at my waist for a second. Then she lets go.

"You're really going through with it," she says.

Something in her tone makes me pause.

"With what?" I ask, turning slightly.

"The engagement." She shrugs, but her eyes don't match it. "I mean... you're actually doing it."

There's something there, something she's not saying. I straightened a little.

"Yeah," I say, a small smile forming again. "I am."

That smile doesn't reach her. She nods.

"Right." A pause, then she said. "You always go all in, don't you?"

I frown slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She shrugs again, looking away this time.

"Nothing. Just... you don't half-do anything. Once you decide, that's it."

There it is again, that edge. I tilt my head slightly, studying her.

"I love him, Wren."

The words come easy. And for a second, something flickers across her face. Gone just as fast.

"Yeah," she says, smiling again. "I know."

Then in a quieter tone. "You really do."

The way she says it doesn't sit right. But before I can think too much about it-

"Are you okay?" Caius's voice cuts in from the doorway.

I turn immediately. He's already walking in, eyes going straight to me.

"Yeah," I say quickly. "The zipper just got stuck."

"Let me see-"

He steps closer, but instead of checking the zipper, his hand comes to my waist, pulling me in slightly. Then he kisses me slowly, like last night didn't end.

My breath softens into it before I even realize it.

"Do you guys ever get tired of that?" Wren's voice cuts in.

I pull back slightly. She's leaning against the dresser now, arms folded loosely, a smile on her face that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"Always kissing," she adds lightly. "Some of us are single, you know."

Her tone is playful. But there's tight underneath it.

I let out a small laugh, brushing it off.

"Please," I say, shaking my head a little. "Let me enjoy my man."

Caius smirks, still looking at me. "What? She's jealous?" he teases, tone low, but not low enough.

"Of you two?" Wren scoff softly. "Relax."

But something about the moment feels... off.

"I'm in a bit of a rush," Caius says, stepping back, his eyes still on me.

"I'll talk to you later, okay?"

I nod. "Okay."

He leaves just as quickly as he came, and the room goes quiet again. I turn back to the mirror slowly. I pulled out another dress, this one darker, simpler.

I slipped into it and turned toward the mirror, It fit easily. No struggle. Wren moved from dressed and walked around me slowly, her eyes scanning, not critical, but careful.

She nodded. "Wear this instead."

I met her gaze in the mirror. "Yeah."

I changed back into my regular clothes and grabbed my bag from the chair.

"I'm heading out," I said.

Wren leaned against the wall, watching me. "Now? Are you going to be home late?"

"Yeah," I replied. "I'm stopping by Clover's first."

Her eyes flickered for a second. Then she nodded. "Okay."

Then her expression shifted slightly. "And Lumi..."

I paused.

"Take your time," she said slowly. "But don't be late tonight."

Something about the way she said it made me look at her twice. "Okay..."

She smiled again, lighter this time. "Alright. Text me when you get there."

"I will."

I stepped outside. The evening air brushed gently against my skin as I walked to my car. I got in, adjusting my clothes slightly before starting the engine. For a moment, I just sat there. Quiet, still, letting everything settle.

I can't believe it's finally happening tonight. A soft excitement fluttered in my chest.

I reached for my phone and opened the camera, and sent a selfie of myself to Caius.

Me:

Do I pass the fiancé test?

My phone buzzed almost immediately.

Caius:

Pass? You just broke the test.

A small laugh escaped me.

Caius:

You look incredible everyday. Actually... no. You look dangerous.

Warmth spread through my chest.

Me:

Dangerous?

Caius:

Yeah. Like I won't survive tonight without touching you.

I shook my head, smiling.

Me:

Behave.

Caius:

No promises.

My heart softened, this felt right, easy, and safe. Like everything was exactly where it was supposed to be. Then my phone buzzed again, another message.

Caius:

Hey baby...

I glanced down.

Caius:

You said you were going to stop by Clover's first. Let me know when you're on your way back.

My fingers stilled. A small frown formed on my face. I hadn't told him that, not at all. I stared at the message a second longer than I should have.

It wasn't what he said, it was how certain he sounded. Like he already knew. A slow, uneasy feeling crept into my chest.

If I didn't tell him...

Then how did he know?

Lumi's POV

I had barely gone three streets down before I felt it again. That same unease, it settled somewhere in my chest, low and persistent, like it had been there all along and I was only just noticing.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel slightly.

"You're overthinking," I murmured, but the words sounded thin, unconvincing.

I exhaled slowly, trying to focus on the road ahead. The city light stretched in front of me, steady and familiar, but my thoughts kept circling back-to the message, to the tone, to the way Caius already knew where I was going. It didn't make sense.

Then something else clicked, my second phone. I blinked. And my wallet.

My stomach dropped slightly.

"I left it."

Of course I did, out of everything I needed tonight, I forgot something important. I let out a small breath and reached for my phone, already dialing Wren.

The line rang, once, twice, three times. No answer.

I frowned. "That's strange..."

She usually picked up, especially if she knew I had already left the house. I ended the call and stared at the screen for a second.

Maybe she was busy, maybe she didn't hear it.

Or maybe-

I shook my head lightly.

"Relax."

I dialed again, this time it rang longer. Still nothing.

My brows pulled together slightly. "Wren?"

I lowered the phone slowly, unease creeping in just a little deeper.

"Okay..."

I inhaled, then exhaled. "It's fine. Just recheck."

I shifted slightly in my seat, reaching down to search through my bag. Lip gloss, compact mirror, keys, but no wallet. I leaned toward the passenger side, opening the compartment. Nothing.

A small sigh left my lips. "I definitely left it."

I leaned back into my seat, staring ahead for a second before my gaze drifted to the dashboard, then to the screen, the home system.

I hesitated, then reached forward.

"Let me just check..."

My fingers tapped lightly against the screen as I pulled up the security feed. It flickered for a second before the image came into view. The house, still, no wallet on sight.

I let out a small breath. "See? Nothing."

I was already about to close it when...I noticed movement. My eyes narrowed slightly. The feed shifted to the closet, my walk-in closet. My breath slowed. Wren stepped into view, alone.

I frowned faintly. "What is she doing in my closet?"

She didn't look rushed, or like she was searching for anything. She walked in like she belonged there. I leaned slightly closer to the screen. Her hand reached out, toward the rack, then the dress.

My chest tightened.

The white dress, the engagement dress. The one she said didn't fit me.

My fingers stilled. "Wren..."

She touched it slowly. Her fingers dragged along the fabric like she was feeling it-really feeling it. My stomach twisted. Then, she took it off the hanger.

My breath caught, but I didn't move nor blink. She stepped out of her clothes like it was nothing, like she'd done this before, and there was no hesitation in her body at all. Then she slipped into it.

My chest rose slowly, fell slowly. I couldn't look away. She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting, smoothing the fabric over her body. Then she smiled, like she wasn't trying it on for fun, but for herself.

My fingers curled slightly against my palm. "That's... weird."

The word felt too small for what I was seeing. She reached behind her back, pulling the zipper up untill it sat perfectly.

My throat tightened. She turned again, and her expression changed into satisfaction.

My stomach dropped. A strange feeling spread through my chest, discomfort.

I leaned back slowly against the seat. "What are you doing...?" My voice came out barely audible.

I told myself it didn't mean anything, that she was just curious. That she just wanted to see how it looked. But the way she looked at herself, that wasn't curiosity.

I swallowed hard and turned my face away from the screen. I didn't want to watch anymore.

I reached for my phone again, Caius. The name sat there for a second before I pressed call. The line rang, once, twice, no answer.

My grip tightened slightly. "Pick up..."

Nothing, the call ended. I stared at the screen, then it buzzed. A message.

Caius:

Driving. I'll call you when I get home.

That was it. My chest tightened.

The unease from earlier came back stronger. I hope this isn't what I'm thinking. I stared at the message longer than I should have.

"It's nothing," I whispered.

But it didn't feel like nothing. Something wasn't lining up.

I leaned back in my seat, exhaling slowly.

"Okay..."

Maybe I was reading too much into it. My eyes flicked back to the screen. The image of her in that dress flashed in my mind again.

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel. "No."

This time, the word came out firmer.

I didn't want to sit with this feeling. I turned the wheel, a sharp U-turn. The car shifted smoothly as I redirected back to the house.

My pulse picked up slightly.

"I just need my wallet," I said under my breath.

That was the reason, that was what I told myself. But deep down, I knew that wasn't all. Something wasn't right.

And for the first time...I wasn't willing to ignore it.

Lumi's POV

The road stretched endlessly ahead of me, but I barely saw it. All I could see was Wren in my dress.

The image kept replaying in my head like something I couldn't shut off. The way her fingers moved over the fabric. The way she looked at herself. That look.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.

"Stop it," I muttered under my breath. "You're reading too much into it."

But even as I said it, I didn't believe it. My phone sat beside me, silent. Caius hadn't called back.

I exhaled slowly and reached for it, dialing Clover. She picked up on the second ring.

"Bride-to-be!" she sang immediately. "On your way yet?"

A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything.

"I need your help."

There was a pause.

"With what?" Clover asked, her tone shifting slightly, more alert now.

"The dress."

"The white one?"

"Yeah."

She let out a small, satisfied hum. "I knew it was the one."

I huffed lightly. "Yeah."

"So," she said. "What's the ish?"

My eyes are fixed on the road. "Can you come over? I want to wear it tonight."

"Of course I can," she said immediately. "You should've said that earlier."

A quiet breath left me. "Thank you."

"Always," she replied, softer now. "Wait... are you okay?"

My fingers tightened slightly.

"Yeah," I said quickly. "I just...changed my mind."

Clover didn't respond immediately.

"You sure that's all?" she asked carefully.

I swallowed. For a second, the image flashed again. My chest tightened.

"I'm sure."

Another pause, then Clover exhaled lightly. "Alright. I'll head over now."

"Okay. I'm on my way."

The call ended, silence filled the car again. But this time, It didn't feel empty. I drove.

..

The closer I got to the house, the heavier everything felt. My chest, my thoughts. Even my breathing felt... forced. Like I had to remind myself to do it. I tried to focus on the road and push everything else aside. But my mind wouldn't stop.

Wren's voice echoed faintly. 'You could've at least lost some weight' Then, the way the dress fit her.

My jaw tightened.

"That doesn't mean anything," I whispered.

It didn't. But then, another memory surfaced.

Wren asking too many questions about the engagement, about Caius. About details she didn't need to know. I had brushed it off, because t was Wren, she was family.

My fingers curled slightly against the wheel. I slowed at a traffic light. The car came to a stop.

I exhaled slowly, resting my head briefly against the seat.

"Just go home," I muttered. "Check your things. Get ready. That's it."

Nothing more. The light stayed red, I glanced to the side. A car pulled up next to mine. I barely paid attention at first, then something pulled my gaze back.

The driver, he sat still, one hand resting lazily on the wheel. Tattoos, they stretched along his arm, disappearing under the sleeve of his shirt.

My eyes lingered for a second longer than necessary. When he turned his head, the light had turned green. I drove off first.

...

By the time I pulled into the driveway, my chest felt tight again. The house stood exactly the same, quiet. I turned off the engine but didn't move immediately.

My hands rested on the wheel. My thoughts are racing faster now.

"Just go inside."

I opened the door and stepped out. The air felt colder. I walked toward the house, each step heavier than the last.

The door unlocked easily, I pushed it open. Silence greeted me again.

"Wren?" I called.

No answer. My heart picked up slightly.

"She's probably upstairs," I muttered.

I stepped inside, moving slowly now. I walked past the living room. I climbed the stairs, two at a time. By the time I reached the top, my pulse had picked up.

The hallway stretched in front of me, still. Wren's door was slightly open. My gaze lingered on it, then moved to my room. I walked toward it slowly.

I pushed it open, the room was dark, empty, no sign of Caius.

My brows pulled together. "That's weird..."

I stepped inside, and turned slowly. That's when a sound, faint, from down the hall. My heart skipped.

I stepped out of the room. A muffled movement from Wren's room. My pulse quickened. I walked toward the door, each step slower now, more careful.

My fingers brushed against it. Then, I pushed it open.