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She stares at me cautiously. We haven’t spoken since Sunny’s birthday, and I don’t have the most respect for Cadence. She may be the only one in the family who really looks out for her sister, but she doesn’t do so wisely.

“How’s Sunny?” Cadence asks, walking slowly by my side.

“She’s great,” I say, rubbing my jaw. I feel her eyes on me, and I know she’s keeping pace with me to have a moment to talk about her sister. “Almost done with the mural, actually.”

“Good,” she says, pausing and staring blankly ahead. After a moment, she adds, “She’s happy with you.” It sounds more like a statement than a question, and I know it to be true. Sunny is happy, happier than she was when I met her.

It’s silent and awkward for a moment, and I can feel her readying herself to say something. I want to tell her not to worry about Sunny, that I have it under control and will do what’s best for her, but then Cadence stops our walk with a hand on my arm.

“Listen, Alexander…” she says, looking nervous “I don’t want Sunny coming back home.”

“That makes two of us,” I answer with a laugh.

“But that doesn’t mean I want her settling down with someone already. The thing about Sunny is that she’s loyal…to a fault. She won’t leave you, Alexander. No matter what it costs her.”

Shielding my eyes from the sun now peeking through the clouds, I stare down at Cadence. I knew this about Sunny, didn’t I? Cadence sees loyalty as a fault, but I know it’s Sunny’s passion, her integrity.

“What do you mean ‘how much it costs her’?”

“She’s only twenty, and she’s the most talented person I know. Did she tell you she dropped out of art school because my parents split? Sunny could have stayed, but she took all the blame for their split, and it was all too much for her to handle.”

“I’m trying to help her, Cadence. I’m not holding her back. I’m not your father. When the mural is finished, I’m doing a big PR campaign to get her name out there. I’ve even pushed her to take an internship with the university.”

She nods with a small smile, but I can see the hesitation on her face. And I don’t like how much I sound like I’m defending myself. I love Sunny. I’m not going to be blamed for something I haven't even done. I would never hold her back. Unlike the rest of her family, I’ll be the one to push her.

“She won’t take it.” Cadence’s words feel like a punch to my gut. Because I know she’s right. Deep down, it rings true.

“I’m just looking out for her. She’s better than us, Alex.”

With that, she turns away, putting her earbuds in and starting up her jog. I try to ignore her words, shaking off the feeling she left me with.

As I walk up the front steps toward the house, I have to remind myself of everything I thought before I ran into her. I love Sunny. She makes me happy, and I’ll do anything she needs me to do.

She’s better than us.

Cadence’s words echo in my ears as I walk in the house. I see Sunny in the pool house, still busy at work. Deciding to hit the shower first, I go to the bathroom, intent on washing off the weird feeling I have now.

Standing under the hot stream, I try to quiet the thoughts plaguing my mind. Sunny is better than me, but I can still take care of her. I can shower her with everything she never had. I’ll give her the world.

Just then, the shower door opens, and a cool breeze hits my skin as Sunny steps through the steam.

“Mind if I join you?” she says with a smile. Feeling her bare tits against my chest as she wraps her arms around my waist and presses her lips to mine makes all the thoughts in my head disappear.

“Yes, please,” I mumble against her mouth.

Letting my fingers drift down her back, wetting her hair in the water as she grinds against me, my cock stirs to life.

“How was your run?” she says with a gasp as I turn her around, her back against my chest.

“Not as good as this,” I murmur with my lips on her shoulder. Cupping her soft breast in my hand, I drag my tongue along the back of her spine. She lets out a heavy sigh, arching her back and pressing against me like she’s begging me to enter her.

I can’t resist.

Pressing her shoulders forward an inch, I grip my already throbbing cock and find her core. I feel like an animal. We are animals. Nothing more than bodies designed to fuck and devour, and right now I want nothing more than to succumb to those desires.

As I slide my dick easily into her folds, I wonder how I went so long without this. When I’m inside her, it feels so fucking right. And not just because it’s like heaven, but because Sunny and I fit. Every goddamn thing between us is meant to be together.

I start with my hands around her body, trying to kiss her while I move, wanting to taste her and be consumed by her at the same time, but she pulls away, planting her hands on the wall and rocketing her hips back against mine.