Ethan?! Carole’s voice echoed from somewhere behind him.

He’d only stepped out for a walk in the garden… but that alone was enough to make her panic.

— Dinner’s ready! Are you joining us?! Relief in her tone, but worry still clinging to her face. Seeing him so close to the pool, barely out of the hospital…

— I’m coming, Carole. I’m coming… He flashed his best smile, hoping to get one back. But her face stayed tense.

— Ethan… I don’t want to sound like an overbearing mom right from the start… Her voice wavered.

She tried to look relaxed, but her hands gave her away—restless, nervous.

— …you should be careful, you could slip… She covered her face with one hand, as if the image of him falling was already there.

Ethan strolled over, hands in his pockets, unbothered.

— I’m sure you’d have jumped in to save me! He forced a small laugh.

— Seriously, I know you worry, Carole. And that’s normal. I’ll be careful, promise.

He’d put a little weight on her name. He knew she hated that he didn’t call her mom. He hadn’t done it to hurt her—though the choice was deliberate.

Truth was, the idea of her seeing him as her son made him… uncomfortable.

— Alright… let’s eat. She loosened up, just a bit.

Ethan gestured for her to go ahead. And of course, he let his eyes follow the sway of her ass all the way to the kitchen. Yeah, he’d definitely let her go first on purpose.

Harper was already at the table, phone in hand.

— Texting your boyfriend? Ethan’s tone was casual, but his eyes studied her reaction.

— Uh… not really your business. She gave him a cold stare, glanced at Carole for a second, then added:

— His name’s Josh. He’s our age. The way she said it made it clear—she was giving him the info out of annoyance, not kindness. Which amused him.

— Sorry, just trying to take an interest… didn’t mean to be so nosy, Harper. His voice carried a faint, fake sadness.

— Harper, come on, you could be nicer to your brother, Carole scolded while pulling the dish from the oven.

Behind her back, neither of them broke eye contact. Ethan allowed himself a subtle, knowing smile.

— Guess you haven’t changed much… Harper muttered, more to herself than to him—but he caught it.

The remark unsettled her. She knew she wasn’t talking to her real brother anymore—not really. And yet he still acted like he knew her well enough to tease her. It felt… wrong.

Over dinner, Ethan was more talkative than ever, peppering them with questions—about their jobs, their lives…

— So, which company exactly do you work for in communications? Harper seemed more at ease now. He knew instinctively that people liked talking about themselves, and he milked that.

— Actually, I work with mom… Carole looked proud. Harper averted her eyes.

— Oh, same company? Carole got you in? Harper nodded slightly.

— And… do I work there too?

They both laughed.

— No, sweetheart… you always thought it was lame. I tried to get you in as a model but you weren’t having it! They laughed again, while Ethan looked puzzled.

— It’s a fashion company—lingerie, specifically, Carole clarified, calming down a little.

— Oh, I see… He paused, thinking.

— Why did I think it was lame? This time, he actually wanted to know about his old self.

Harper answered, her gaze heavy on him:

— You didn’t say it was lame. You just didn’t want to work in the same place as me.

That surprised him. Had they really been at odds even before?

— Well… seems like there’s a lot I need to be filled in on. The table went quiet. He switched the subject.

— And you, Carole? What do you do there?

— I’m on the board now… only for a few months. Pride glimmered in her eyes.

— Wow, impressive! What did you do before that?

— It means a lot that you’re asking, Ethan… really. I was a model for them for years. And with enough persistence… She kept talking about her unusual career, but Ethan had already tuned out.

Model.

That explained all the lingerie in her wardrobe.

Carole. Lingerie model. His chest tightened with excitement. He wanted—no, needed—to know more.

— That’s incredible… must’ve been in plenty of magazines, huh?

— A few… I’ve kept them all. Some are still lying around. It’s my whole life, she laughed.

After her split with Ethan and Harper’s father, she’d buried herself in work, sometimes at the expense of her kids.

— She’s being modest… she’s a real icon, Harper muttered, rolling her eyes.

— I’d love to see them after dinner, if that’s okay. His tone was casual, hiding every bit of what he was really thinking.

— What? Of course! I’ll show you where they are. Carole’s face lit up.

— Uh… isn’t that a little creepy? Harper asked, then glanced at Ethan.

— You seem very interested…

— He’s allowed to take an interest in what we do, Harp! Carole snapped back.

— I just want to learn more about you both… He looked at Harper with exaggerated sadness.

— Yeah… right. It’s just… super weird. She sighed and left the kitchen.

Carole watched him with tender concern.

— I don’t get why she’s acting like that… sorry, Ethan.

— It’s fine… can’t be easy for you either. He helped her tidy up.

Just before joining Carole in the living room, Ethan had one last question.

— So… my father? He knew it wasn’t a light subject, but he wanted her reaction.

— An asshole, she shot back.

She sighed. — We were young… he left before you were born. Sorry. Her body was a little tense.

— Why apologize? A guy who bails like that—yeah, he’s an asshole.

— You’re right… I’m glad you see it that way. I was dreading this talk. She toyed with her hair nervously.

— Still… there’s one thing you can’t fault him for.

— What’s that? she asked.

— He had good taste.

She didn’t get it right away. Then his smile clicked, and she rolled her eyes.

— Pfff, very funny! She turned away.

But to Ethan… it wasn’t a joke.

Carole joined him a few minutes later on the couch. She was radiant—and the more time passed, the more he noticed. The more he wanted her.

— So… still want to know more about my past? Her smile was genuine.

— Of course, Carole. Can’t wait for you to show me.

She sighed faintly at the sound of her name, then pointed to a cabinet across the room.

— Everything’s there. She crouched in front of it, knees together, heels under her ass.

Ethan knelt beside her, eyes tracing her legs, hips, and the arch of her back.

— The bottom drawers have my first shoots. The top—more recent ones. She skimmed her hand across the stacks without really looking, her soft gaze fixed on him instead. She was just so happy to see him… alive, next to her.

— Wow, all that? How many years in here? No act this time—he was genuinely impressed.

— Started at 18… I’m 38 now. So—twenty years! She sounded almost proud.

— Thirty-eight? I’d have guessed twenty-five. He winked.

— Thanks, sweetheart… but that’s not very believ—wait, what’s—

Her phone vibrated. She sighed at the screen.

— Damn, it’s my assistant… some scheduling mess. I’ll be right back. She disappeared toward the kitchen.

Alone, Ethan glanced around. Nobody. He grabbed a few magazines from the top of the pile.

He froze.

On the covers—Carole. In outrageously sexy lingerie.

His cock twitched instantly. He bit his lip, eyes glued to her body.

One cover: black corset, thighs bare, predatory gaze.

Another: sheer top, nipples pushing against the fabric, legs spread on a stool, ass out toward the lens.

Not a mother’s gaze. Not a lost woman’s gaze. The gaze of a sexual queen.

Another spread—lying on her stomach, ass high, thong pulled tight, hand in her hair.

Special Edition — June 2024.

Six months. She’d done that shoot six fucking months ago.

He flipped through.

One page. Two. That was enough.

He tucked one magazine under his arm, put the rest back, and headed to the kitchen.

Carole was still on the phone.

— I’m heading to bed, I’m beat, he said, hiding the stolen prize behind his back.

She nodded, smiling apologetically. He thought he caught a — Okay, sweetheart, but he was already on the stairs.

Halfway to his door, he stopped.

Harper was stepping out of the bathroom. Hair damp, loose home clothes hiding her curves. She looked up-surprised, maybe annoyed.

He looked at her, just long enough. Then slowly, he let his arm drop, revealing what he was holding.

Her brows furrowed. Recognition hit.

— What’s that?

Ethan’s smile was calm.

— Oh, this? Just an old mag. Carole showed me where she keeps them. I took one.

No lie. No shame.

Harper took a step back.

— You’re serious?

— Of course. I have to learn more about her somehow.

He held her gaze, voice steady. Too steady.

— She looks incredible in these… and I’m a little tired, so it’ll help me… relax.

Her mouth fell open, stunned. He didn’t give her the chance to respond.

He slipped into his room and shut the door.

A sharp click—the lock turning.

Outside, Harper stood frozen, pulse racing.

Inside, Ethan smiled.