After catching her boyfriend in bed with another woman, Arlyn wants two things for Christmas: distance from heartbreak and a fresh start. A disastrous airport chase, a mistaken identity, and, yes, a bite mark later, she meets the hottest man she’s ever seen… and the biggest jerk she’s ever attacked by accident.
She thinks she’ll never see him again.
Until she walks into her mother’s new husband’s mansion-
And finds the airport stranger standing in the foyer.
Reid Carter.
Her new stepbrother.
Cold, arrogant, impossible to read… and completely convinced Arlyn is just another gold-digger’s daughter trying to worm her way into his wealthy father’s life. She wants peace. He wants nothing to do with her. But the more the two are forced under one snow-covered roof, the harder it becomes to ignore the tension simmering between them.
She bit him once by accident.
Now she can’t get him out of her head.
And he can’t seem to stay away, no matter how hard he tries.
This Christmas, they’ll discover that sometimes the person you shouldn’t want…
Is the one you can’t forget.
A biting, slow-burn, forbidden holiday romance filled with crackling tension, emotional scars, and a spark neither of them is ready for.
WRAPPED IN SIN: UNDER THE MISTLETOE WITH MY STEPBROTHER Chapter 1
Arlyn
“Argh!” I hissed as the wind kept blowing strands of my hair into my face.
I should have put it up in a ponytail.
I should have done a lot of things differently.
Like not trusting a man like Liam.
But here I was on December 15th, heartbroken, dragging my luggage through the airport, trying not to think about walking in on him with another woman—not just any woman, my academic rival.
My chest tightened again at the thought. And to think I planned on introducing him to my mother this Christmas.
How could he do that? How could the man who claimed I was his soulmate claw out my heart like I meant nothing.
I trusted him. I loved him. He was the only man that made my heart beat. Now, he was the only man that shattered my heart.
I bumped into a hard body on my way to drop my luggage at the luggage terminal. When I looked up, a tall man was walking away with long, fast strides without a single word of remorse.
“Why not try watching where you’re going, asshole!”
I yelled, almost stumbling against my box.
He was either ignoring me or didn’t hear me. Either way, I wished he would fall or something.
I let out a sigh. This whole break up was making me erratic. I had to get a fucking grip!
As soon as I was done checking my bag out in the baggage section.
I made my way to the plane.
As I entered the plane, my phone chimed indicating a text.
Thinking it was my mom, asking for the millionth time if I was on the plane yet, I opened it to find that it was Liam…agai
Please talk to me, Arl. I’m begging. I read
Just as I finished reading, another text came in.
She didn’t mean anything. It was a mistake. Where are you?!
I scoffed. Now, he cared to know where I was.
I turned off my phone, found my seat on the plane, put on my headset, and stayed that way for the two hours flight, ignoring the pain in my chest and the tears that tried to claw out of my eyes.
As soon as the plane landed, my heart broke all over again when I saw couples all around me, holding hands wearing matching winter jackets, giggling, kissing and enjoying the Christmas cheer while I was alone and with a scar in my chest.
I sighed, then saw my reflection in a glass pane.
I sucked in a breath at how I looked.
I looked plain. Same brown hair, brown eyes since kindergarten.
Depression clawed at my chest, and it wasn’t just because Liam had destroyed my trust in men.
A beautiful blonde girl walked past me, confident, and head held up high like she was the queen of her own universe.
I followed her with my eyes.
Maybe what I needed was a change. If I looked like that, no man could make me feel less of myself.
I glanced back at my reflection, and squared my shoulders.
I was going to change my hair and wardrobe.
As soon as I took my bag from the baggage terminal, I made my way to the airport mall.
Mom and her new husband would have to wait a couple of hours. Besides, changing my hair and wardrobe would draw attention away from the fact that I didn’t bring home a boyfriend like my mom was expecting.
I was close to a hair shop, when someone suddenly bumped into me, and then snatched my purse in the same breath.
“Hey, that’s mine!” I yelled, and sprinted after the man in a tan coat. A couple passing by blocked my path, and for a second, I lost the thief.
Shit! That purse contained my phone and Cash app.
“Help, that guy stole my purse.” I pointed, but nobody did anything just stared.
I tripped on a toddler’s shoe, and then almost fell, but caught myself
This was not how I wanted to spend the first day of my Christmas holiday.
As I looked up again, the man in a tanned coat had suddenly stopped in front of a clothing store. He was trying to get out.
I pounced on him without a second thought.
“Thief! Give me back my purse.” I bit his face before I realized what I had done.
The man pried me off him, confused by my odd actions.
“What are you doing?” He growled, pinning me against the wall.
“You stole my purse! Let me go!” I growled
Then I saw his face, and my body melted for a moment
He was breathtaking, handsome. The type of handsome that made 1
The kind that if you stared at for too long made you anxious.
I shook myself out of the dazed state when the realization dropped like a bomb that I was staring at a thief longingly.
This was how people died, Arlyn! They fall for a serial killer for his good looks, and then he dismembers them
“Help, this man stole my purse, and is trying to beat me up! You’re not going anywhere, Mr!” I hissed.
“What? That’s not true!” the man gritted, his beautiful eyes boring into mine.
“Then explain why my purse is in your hand!”
I glared.
“Wait a minute, miss!” A random stranger intervened.
“He isn’t a thief. He helped you take down the thief and was returning your purse…”
Then I saw the airport security taking someone wearing the exact same
“Yeah, that’s him right there.” Another woman pointed.
“The handsome man is innocent.” another older man spoke.
I saw a man wearing the exact same coat as him…a cheaper version. He was not nearly as handsome as him. He was being dragged by security.
I turned to the handsome man with dark curls, and let go of him, then stepped back immediately.
*I…I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to…I apologize.” I murmured, but he just stared at me like he was trying to piece something together.
“Honest mistake.” He dralwed.
“Yes. Can I maybe buy you something to make up for it?” I found myself saying.
He gave me a once over before speaking.
“That would be nice, but I have somewhere to be.” His voice. God, his voice made me melt.
Men like these were supposed to exist in books only.
“Merry Christmas.” He said, his eyes fixed on me, assessing, and hypnotizing.
The moment ended when a shrill sound came from his pocket.
His phone.
He picked up his phone, and made his way past me without another word.
I watched him go, my heart racing like I had just ran a marathon.
Technically, I had.
I didn’t look away from him until he disappeared out of the airport.
WRAPPED IN SIN: UNDER THE MISTLETOE WITH MY STEPBROTHER Chapter 2
Arlyn.
My phone rang just as the driver my mother had sent to pick me up pulled up into the driveway of a mansion.
“Hey, mom.” I answered the call, my eyes wide as I assessed the building. “I am literally in front of the house, and can I just say….what the fuck? Did you marry Jesus?”
My mom laughed, her sweet sultry voice came through the phone, and I couldn’t help, but smile. “I’m glad you are here, love!”
“Thanks, mom. I’m glad I’m here too.” I said, stepping out of the car still in awe of the place.
The mansion was huge.
Bigger than anything I had ever seen before.
Dad wasn’t poor by any means. He was comfortable, and made sure we all were, but even his freak house wasn’t as bad
This…this was insane.
The front door burst open just then, and the most beautiful woman on the planet aka my mother came rushing out.
Even the way she rushed out was elegant, and princess–like.
Behind her was a tall older man. Her husband, I presumed.
I had only seen his picture, but he was absolutely handsome. Annoyingly so.
I ran up to them, and hugged my mom. I hadn’t seen her in years.
“Merry Christmas, my love. This is my husband, Senator Bradley Bradenton.”
Interesting name.
“Ah, nice to meet you.” I extended my hands for a handshake. He took it firmly. “So, you’re the man that stole my mom from my dad”
Silence
Awkward silence.
I burst out laughing. The look on their faces was priceless.
“That was a joke.”
“Oh. I see she gets your sense of humor.” Senator Bradley said, glancing at my mother with a soft smile. He was definitely in love with her. Well, at least one of us was happy.
My mom rolled her eyes, and playfully smacked her husband.
My stomach twisted. This used to be and Liam.
“I’m happy to have you, Arlyn. Merry Christmas. You changed your hair.”
She smiled, clearly approving the look.
It was finally like hers, if hers was natural.
“You like it?”
“Love it. You look like a goddess.”
I smiled. That meant a lot from the most beautiful woman I had ever met. I had decided to change my hair after the encounter with that handsome stranger at the airport that I had shamelessly bitten.
I wonder again at the thought.
What was I even thinking?
“Thank you, mom… I thought it was time for a change.”
“Good call.” she smiled.
“By the way, I got both of you wedding presents, but it’s in the car…”
“Oh, thank you sweety, Dalton will bring it up.”
I had no idea who he was, but I assumed he was some kind of help.
The interior of the house was even more impressive than I could ever imagine.
Everything was elegant and strategic just like my mother.
White sofas, golden embroidery.
Chocolate brown curtains.
Christmas decorations that were a little too fancy for my liking.
Chandeliers in a ceiling way too high to not house giants.
I felt a bit out of place.
“God, your place is incredible. You must be rich huh.”
Bradley laughed. “You could say that.”
“Bradley’s kids will be here soon. His niece and nephew will be spending Christmas with us too.”
“Ouu fun.” I clapped. More company. Exactly what I needed to distract me from the rawness of my chest.
“Yes, very fun…um, where is your boyfriend m” my Mom asked.
My stomach tightened along with my chest. This was the part I dreaded the most.
“Um…he’s not coming.”
“Why not?”
“We broke up.” Her eyes narrowed.
“What did you do?”
She asked in a warning voice.
Jeez. Why was I to blame?
“Nothing. I did nothing. Why did you think it was me?* I asked, a little offended.
“I know what you think about men after your father and I ended.”
“Oh brother. Not this again. I have no issues with men, mom.”
It was true. I was a bit of a raging Misandrist sometimes, but the difference was that it wasn’t because of the situation with my mom, and dad. I’ve always just been a little unlucky with love…and friendship with men.
“Really? Is that why at 20 you’ve never had a boyfriend?’
“I had a boyfriend. We broke up.”
“Why?’ she asked as she folded her hands accross her chest.
“I’m not going to answer that. Anyway, when will the entire family be here?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
My mom gave me a look, and then sighed
“They’ll be here soon. They were snowed in for a bit, but don’t worry…they can’t wait to meet you either.”
Ordinarily, I wasn’t a fan of meeting too many new people, but after Liam, I needed all the distractions I could get.
Mom took me up to my room minutes later where my boxes were already arranged.
“You should rest. I can’t wait to introduce you to the rest of the family.”
“Yeah. I guess I can’t wait either. Oh, and congrats on bagging a wealthy senator.”
She rolled her eyes. “Stop saying that!”
“What? A daughter isn’t allowed to be proud of her mother’s choices in men?”
“Not when you put it like that. I actually love Brad.”
“Like you loved Dad?”
I raised a brow at her.
“Don’t do this, Arly.’
“It’s a joke, mom. Learn to take one.”
She sighed.
Minutes later she left, leaving me alone with a room too big for one person, and conflicting feelings.
The first thing I did was go to the balcony.
I pulled the double doors open, and let in the fresh cold air of Christmas.
I was there for barely five minutes when I heard my name downstairs.
I sighed.
What do they want this time?
“Arly!” My mom’s voice came again.
So much for resting.
“Coming!” I yelled.
I made my way downstairs, and found Mom and her new husband at the door.
“Yes, mom?”
I said, walking towards her.
“They are here?!” She exclaimed, moving out of the way.
I froze when my eyes landed on a familiar figure.
The handsome stranger at the airport.
His eyes locked on mine, and a sudden dread washed over me.
“Honey, come on.” Mom waved me over.
“This is Ella, and Reid, your step brother, and step cousin.” my mom said, a big smile on her face.
“And, Reid, Ella. This is your step sister.”
Reid didn’t speak just stared at me, his eyes cold as a glacial
WRAPPED IN SIN: UNDER THE MISTLETOE WITH MY STEPBROTHER Chapter 3
Arlyn
I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my eardrums, each thud trying to outdo the last.
There was definitely no way the stranger I had bitten at the airport was standing in here, staring at me like I was some bizarre painting he never asked to see.
Yet, here he was In the flesh, same clothes, and his perfectly sculpted body.
Oh God. Oh God….Is this some kind of punishment? An involuntary cough escaped my lips and my mom looked at me in concern.
“Everything okay?” she asked, glancing between Reid and me like she could already tell something was up.
I hated how observant she was.
“Huh?” I asked, trying to stall my answer, so I could think of a perfect answer to give.
If I told her that I knew him, she’d ask how, and id have to say I met him in the airport, and knowing my mother, she’d pry even more, and he might just tell her that I had bitten him which was an embarrassing situation in and out of itself.
“Do you two know each other?” Mom proceeded to ask.
“No,” Reid replied before I could even open my mouth.
I stared dumbfounded at him.
He hadn’t even hesitated. Just a straight up no.
“Never seen her before,” he added carelessly, sliding his phone into his coat pocket. “I assume she’s my new sister?”
He didn’t look at me when he said it.
Rather he looked past me, like I wasn’t worth the effort.
A shiver ran down my spine.
He was colder than he’d been at the airport, and somehow even more ridiculously handsome.
How was that even possible?
Mom smiled brightly.
“I’m glad you’re here, Reid.”
But instead of returning her warmth, he looked at her like she was something he could barely tolerate. Like a bug.
Okay… that was odd.
Ella stepped forward, hugging Mom tightly.
“We’re glad to be here, Aunt.”
“I have so much planned for you all,” Mom beamed at her. “This is going to be an amazing Christmas.”
Ella nodded enthusiastically but Reid ignored her completely, eyes glued to his phone like nothing else mattered
How rude.
Ella turned to me. “Nice to meet you… I’m Ella,” she said with a grin before pulling me into a hug.
Her warmth was instant, a direct opposite of her cousin.
“Arlyn.” I said as the wind knocked out of me.
“Beautiful name. Your mom has told us so much about you. I wish you could be at the wedding.” she said, pulling away almost reluctantly.
“Well, you should all freshen up while I finish dinner,” Mom said.
Reid walked off without a word, brushing past me so close our shoulders nearly collided. I smelled his cologne, something expensive enough to probably buy my phone. He didn’t stop or look my way. It was almost like I had become invisible to him.
My eyes followed him all the way to the grand staircase.
Not once did he even glance back, and strangely that stung.
“He’s cold like that except for me and well… mum,” Ella said bluntly.
I blinked. “…What?”
“Reid,” she clarified with a roll of her eyes.
“Oh.” I nodded awkwardly. “Yeah, I noticed.”
“You will get used to him in time.” She leaned in and whispered as if sharing state secrets. “Come on.”
She grabbed my hand and pulled me upstairs towards my room.
Ella closed the door behind us and scanned the space. “Where are your things?”
“Um… I just brought the two boxes.”
“You aren’t planning on staying long, are you?”
I shrugged, sitting on the edge of my overly luxurious king-sized bed. “I mean… it depends. On things.”
On whether I could survive being in the same house as the man I had practically assaulted in an airport.
She plopped onto the bed beside me, crossing her legs.
“So. Spill. Why do you look like a monster’s out to get you?”
I laughed heartily. The girl sure had her ways with words.
“I… uh… just didn’t expect to see him here.”
“Who? Reid?”
I nodded, rubbing my palms together. “We… met earlier today.”
Ella’s brows shot up in curious surprise. “You did?”
“Yeah. At the airport.” I admitted carefully.
I swallowed hard, remembering. “I… may have accused him of stealing my purse.”
She stared at me like she was looking at a fool.
“What?”
“It was a misunderstanding!” I said quickly. “Someone snatched my purse, and he was holding it afterward, and I kind of… jumped him and bit his face.”
Ella choked as laughter bubbled out unexpectedly. “You bit him?!”
I groaned and hid my face in my hands. “Don’t remind me.”
“And he was innocent?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
Her laugh was loud and unrestrained. “Oh my God. I wish I had seen that!”
“It wasn’t funny,” I muttered, though even I almost laughed at how ridiculous it sounded. “He must think I’m insane.”
“He’s judgmental as hell,” Ella said. “He judges everyone.”
“Why?”
She looked at the door as if making sure no one was listening.
“Reid doesn’t like his stepmom. At all.”
My stomach tightened. “My mom?”
Ella winced. “Yeah. He thinks she’s a gold-digger.”
My jaw dropped. “My mom got married because she fell in love. How does that make her a gold-digger? She’s a doctor!”
“I know.” Ella shrugged. “But he’s stubborn. And he thinks any woman close to Brad is after money. He doesn’t trust easily.”
I sat back against the headboard, letting the information sink in.
That explained his cold attitude.
He didn’t hate me because of the airport drama.
He hated me because of who my mother was married to.
“And now,” I muttered dryly, “he probably thinks I’m one too.”
“Probably,” Ella said honestly. “But don’t worry. He hates everyone equally. Except me.”
“How lovely.”
Ella nudged me with her shoulder. “Give him time. He’ll get over himself eventually.”
Would he?
I was doubtful.
I stood and paced the room, chewing on my bottom lip. “I should apologize. Properly…Like an adult.”
“Good luck with that.” Ella snorted. “He doesn’t do emotional conversations.”
“Who said anything about emotional? I just don’t want him thinking I go around biting innocent men for fun.”
“You kinda did today…”
“Ella!”
She cackled.
This girl was troublemaker through and through.
The look Reid had given me downstairs wasn’t only cold, it was suspicious. Like he was evaluating me, calculating something.
He thought he already knew what I was. Who I was, what role I played in the story he’d already written in his head.
And I hated that.
“Okay,” Ella clapped her hands, hopping off the bed. “Dinner should be soon. Want to change?”
I glanced at my reflection in the full-length mirror, at my just dyed hair, the soft makeup and the white sweater that made me look like a barbie freak.
“I’m fine,” I breathed.
But inside, I was anything but fine.
Because tonight, I would have to sit across from the man who thought my mother was a parasite…
And probably thought I was one too.
Dinner was in an elegant dining room, the type I only saw on TV. The chandelier alone probably cost more than my college tuition.
Everyone was seated when I walked in, Mom, Bradley, Ella, and Reid.
Reid’s eyes flicked up briefly before dropping back to his food. Judgemental and dismissive.
I swallowed and took my seat across from him.
“Arlyn,” Bradley said kindly, “how was your flight?”
“Fine,” I answered, trying to ignore the weight of Reid’s silence.
Mom smiled proudly at me. “Did you see the mall at the airport? The decorations this year—”
“She did,” Reid cut in. “She was busy chasing thieves.”
My stomach dropped.
Of course he would…
Ella shot him a sharp look. “Reid.”
He didn’t care.
Mom blinked slowly. “Thieves?”
I cleared my throat. “It was… nothing. Just a misunderstanding.”
Reid’s mouth twitched, something between irritation and amusement.
But he said nothing else, returning to his meal like I was not just across from him.
“Wait. I thought you two said you didn’t know each other?” Mom asked.
“We don’t.” Reid said.
I tried to calm myself.
“Actually,” I began quietly, eyes fixed on the table, “I wanted to apologize. To Reid.”
The room went silent.
Reid’s gaze lifted, piercing and dark. “Why? Because you don’t want__?”
I toned out the rest of what he was saying.
“No,” I said firmly, meeting his eyes. “Because I was wrong.”
The table stayed silent for a beat too long.
Reid leaned back in his chair, studying me like I was a puzzle missing several pieces.
“Honest mistake,” he said finally, echoing his airport words.
Only this time, his voice was colder. And even more suspicious… like he thought I was plotting something.
To him, I was just another extension of my mother’s new wealthy life.
Another woman pretending innocence.
And that stung more than I cared to admit.
Dinner resumed, conversations flowing around me, but all I could feel was his judgemental eyes pressing against my skin.
I had walked into this house hoping for a fresh start, a new beginning.
Instead, I was knee-deep in tension with the coldest man I’d ever met.
And worst of all?
For reasons I didn’t dare examine…
I couldn’t stop noticing him.