Jordan had always been protective of Joanna. It was natural, instinctual. They were twins—born together, raised together, and connected in ways no one else could understand. But lately, that protectiveness had twisted into something darker, something that made his skin prickle with unease.

Because now, when he looked at his sister, he didn’t just see the little girl who used to chase fireflies with him in their backyard. He saw the way other guys looked at her. And worse—he knew exactly what they were thinking.

He saw it in their eyes, the way they lingered when she walked by. He heard it in their voices, the way they talked about her when they thought he wasn’t listening. The way they laughed, their words laced with filthy innuendos, imagining things about her they had no right to.

It made his blood burn.

Tonight, the party had started off as just another weekend gathering—loud music, cheap beer, and a pool full of bodies looking for an excuse to be close. Joanna had been excited, pulling him into the planning, making sure everything was perfect. She had no idea how hard it was for him to go along with it.

Because every guy here wanted her.

And she was too damn naive to notice.

Jordan stood near the back patio, a red cup in his grip, his knuckles tight around the plastic as he surveyed the scene. His jaw clenched as he watched Joanna, her dark hair pulled into a bun, her laughter carried by the summer breeze. She was lying on a raft, drifting lazily in the pool, completely oblivious to the hungry eyes following her every move.

Her bikini was too damn small.

The top clung to her curves, barely holding her in, and every time she shifted, it looked like it might give up entirely. The bottoms were no better, riding high on her hips, showcasing smooth, sun-kissed skin that no one should be looking at—especially not the guys Jordan called his friends.

And yet, they were.

He could see them whispering to each other, elbowing one another like they were in on some inside joke. He heard the laughter, the muttered words, the stupid grins.

"Jo’s looking hot as hell tonight."

"Think she’s ever fooled around in that pool?"

"Bet you a hundred bucks she’s not as innocent as she acts."

The words slithered into his ears, igniting something dangerous in his chest. His grip tightened on the cup until the plastic cracked.

They had no right.

Joanna wasn’t some girl they could talk about like that. She wasn’t theirs to fantasize about, to joke about.

She was his.

The thought came so naturally, so easily, that it barely even registered as wrong. Because wasn’t it true? Hadn’t she always been his? His twin, his other half, the only person in the world who mattered?

And yet, here she was, floating in the pool, surrounded by wolves who were waiting for their chance to sink their teeth into her.

He exhaled sharply, trying to shove down the growing storm inside him, but it was no use. The jealousy, the possessiveness—it was coiling tight in his chest, ready to snap.

And then, as if the universe was testing him, Joanna stretched her arms over her head, arching slightly, her bikini top shifting dangerously. The movement was innocent—she had no idea what she was doing.

But they did.

A low whistle cut through the air. Someone chuckled. Another muttered something under their breath, too low for him to hear, but he didn’t need to. He knew what it was.

His fingers twitched at his sides.

His friends threw glances at each other, their knowing smiles and nudges making his stomach turn.

The rage was building.

And it was only a matter of time before it erupted.

"Dude, your sister's smokin' hot," Mike said, his voice carrying over the music.

Jordan felt his jaw tighten as he gripped the poolside chair. "Fuck off, Mike," he mumbled, trying to keep his gaze on the basketball game happening in the water.

Mike chuckled, taking a sip from his red plastic cup. "What's your deal, man? Just saying she's got a banging body."

Jordan exhaled sharply, finally turning to glare at him. "Yeah? Well, the whole neighborhood says the same thing about your mom, but you don’t see me running my mouth about it."

Laughter erupted from the guys nearby, and Mike choked on his drink, scowling as he wiped his mouth. "You're a dick, man."

Jordan smirked, satisfied. "Your mom didn't seem to mind last night when she was sucking it." It wasn’t true, but the jab was worth it just to see how much it pissed Mike off.

Mike's face reddened, and he threw his cup at Jordan, missing him by a mile. The tension between them grew palpable, but Joanna's giggle broke through, distracting them both. She was floating at the edge of the pool now, water dripping from her hair and skin. Jordan's eyes lingered on the droplets that clung to her curves. He couldn't take it anymore. He needed to get her away from the ogling eyes.

"Hey, Jo, come here for a sec," Jordan called out, his voice strained. She glanced over, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and hopped off the raft, causing the water to splash up around her. The sight of her body made his heart race, and he felt a pang of something unfamiliar—desire mixed with anger. She sauntered over, her wide hips swaying with each step.

Jordan pulled his sister off the side. Once they were far enough away from the crowd he whispered harshly, "Why do you have to wear that? Do you want every guy here to drool over you?"

Joanna's smile didn't falter. She leaned in, her voice light and teasing. "What? This old thing?" She gestured to her bikini with a flick of her hand. "I'm having fun, Jordan. Don't be a buzzkill."

He scoffed, unable to look away from the way the water droplets clung to her skin. "It's not fun for me. You're my sister and I’m about to get in a fight with Mike Pierce if he doesn’t stop checking you out."

Joanna rolled her eyes. "He’s an idiot. Besides, it's not my fault if he can't control himself."

Jordan's frustration mounted. He grabbed her arm, pulling her closer. "It's not just that, okay?" His voice was low, a warning. "I don't like it. It feels..." He searched for the right word, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. "It just feels…..Wrong."

Her smile slipped for a moment, and she studied him, the playfulness replaced with curiosity. "What do you mean?"

Jordan's grip on her arm tightened. "I mean, I don't like watching them look at you like that."

Her eyes searched his, and for a brief moment, she seemed to understand. She nodded slowly. "Okay, okay. I'll change." She pulled away from him gently, but before she could walk away, he tugged her back.

"Come with me," he said, his voice thick. He led her through the throngs of partygoers, his eyes burning a path through anyone who dared to look at her. His heart thudded in his chest, and the heat of the day felt like it was suffocating him.

They climbed the stairs to her bedroom, the walls echoing with the muffled sounds of the party. The door clicked shut behind them, and the sudden silence was deafening. Joanna looked at him quizzically as he turned to face her, his eyes dark with a mix of anger and longing.

"Jordan, what's going on with you lately?" she asked, her voice low and tentative.

He stepped closer, his hand still gripping her wrist. "I don't know," he murmured, his eyes roving over her body. "But I need you to change. Now."

Joanna yanked her arm free, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why are you being like this?"

Jordan's gaze never left hers, his eyes pleading. "Just...please."

Her expression softened, and she sighed. Joanna turned to her closet, her hand reaching for a different bikini—a more modest one with a higher neckline and thicker straps.

Jordan's eyes followed her into the bathroom, his heart racing as the door didn't quite shut all the way. A sliver of light spilled through the crack, illuminating the outline of her body as she moved behind it. He watched, transfixed, as she peeled the wet fabric from her skin. The sight of her bare back made his throat go dry, and his hand unconsciously balled into a fist.

Through the narrow gap, he saw her reflection in the mirror as she untied the strings of her bikini top. Her breasts fell free, and she cupped them, smoothing the fabric away. The sight was electrifying, and Jordan's body responded against his will. He felt a tightness in his chest and his breath quickened. He told himself to look away, that this was wrong, but his feet remained rooted to the spot.

Joanna held the new bikini, and as she turned, their eyes met in the mirror. For a second, she froze, and Jordan's heart skipped a beat. He swallowed hard. The tension in the room grew thicker than the steam that began to rise from her wet skin.

He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to touch her shoulder. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant party noise. "I just...can't handle it."

Joanna turned to face him, the new bikini top in her hand. She searched his eyes, and something in her expression shifted, something that sent a bolt of terror and excitement through Jordan. She took a step towards him, and the air between them seemed to thicken with the unspoken tension. He pushed the door open wider, his eyes never leaving hers.

Her nipples hardened as his gaze traveled her body, and she felt a strange thrill at his reaction.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice a whisper.

Jordan took a deep, shaky breath. "I don't know," he murmured, his eyes dropping to her chest before snapping back up to hers. "But I can't ignore it anymore."

Joanna felt a warmth spread through her body, and her eyes flickered down to the bulge in his shorts. She took a step closer, the fabric of her bikini bottoms brushing against his leg. "What can't you ignore?"

Jordan's hand found its way to her waist, his thumb grazing the soft skin just above the band of her bottoms. "This," he murmured, his voice gruff with desire. "The way I feel when I see you."

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she could feel the heat radiating from his body. She didn't move away. "What do you feel?"

He stepped closer, the gap between them closing until they were almost touching. "I don't know if I can put it into words," he said, his voice thick with something she had never heard from him before—desire.

Joanna's breath hitched as she felt the heat of his hand on her bare skin. "Try," she whispered, her heart racing.

Jordan leaned in, his breath hot against her neck. "It's like...like I can't breathe when you're around." His voice was low and raspy.