As I drove through midday traffic, the silence that stretched between me and Winter grew intolerable. Glancing over at her in the passenger seat, I longed for her to issue even one apology, but she remained stubbornly quiet. Her gaze was fixed straight ahead as she wrapped a dark strand of hair around her finger. Immediately, I recognized that absentminded habit of hers. 

"What the hell were you thinking?" I finally snapped. 

That served to unloosen Winter's tongue. "Hey, I didn't ask you to come pick me up, Ben!"

I shook my head, making no attempt to hide my disgust. "You've always been so goddamn ungrateful." As I spoke, I yanked at my tie, which suddenly felt too constricting. "You are twenty-five years old. Old enough to know you can't just haul off and hit people!"

"That asshole was attacking my roommate!" Winter said. "He showed up at our apartment last night even after Trish broke up with him. Once she let him in, he started pushing her around."

"That's not what your roommate says. She told the cops you're the one who got physical first."

"She's just trying to protect him! If I could talk to her—"

"Absolutely not!" I shouted. "You are not to contact her, or go back to that apartment, until this is settled." Winter let out a squawk of protest, but I held up a hand to stop her. "I mean it! That woman is not your friend. Now when will you stop wasting your time with users like her and start giving a shit about the people who actually care for you?" 

After slowing the car to a halt for a red light, I focused my full attention on Winter. "I know you and I haven't talked in a good while, but I told you months ago that I'm preparing to run for public office. Do you realize how this looks for me? Now I'll have to field questions about why my sister got arrested for assault!"

"Stepsister," she shot back.

The venom in her voice, and in her stare, made me recoil. "You know I've never made that distinction."

Her blue eyes filled with tears, and she quickly blinked them away. "Sorry I'm such a problem for you." 

I slammed my hand against the steering wheel. "Why can't you just grow up and be responsible? Go back to school and make something of yourself." I resisted the urge to give her a shake. "Christ, it's bad enough I have to deal with our parents being train wrecks. Now I have to worry about you, too!"

"Don't you dare!" she roared. "Don't you ever compare me to them!"

It wasn't her anger that made me realize I'd gone too far. No, it was the wounded look she wore just beneath that mask of rage. Looking back at the road, I murmured, "I'm sorry."

We didn't speak again until I pulled into my driveway. Sitting up in the seat, Winter glanced around. "Where are we?"

I then remembered we'd been estranged for the better part of a year; she had no idea I'd bought my first home. "I live here," I said.

She turned to me, her eyes widening. "You own this place?"

Her astonishment made me grin. "Sure do. And it's where you'll be staying for the time being."

I expected Winter to argue, but she suddenly appeared too exhausted to make the effort. A wave of relief surged through me when she simply nodded in agreement. 

"How did you know I'd been arrested?" she asked.

"A friend of mine works at the station," I explained. "We went to school together, and he knows you're my sister. Or, since you insist on being technical about it, my stepsister."

A shadow of a smile graced her lips before she opened the car door and climbed out. As we started toward the front porch, I noticed she was limping a little. Rushing to her side, I rested a hand on her shoulder. "You're hurt."

"It's fine," she said, but she let me slip an arm around her waist. Beneath her baggy shirt, she felt too thin. 

"It's not fine. How did you hurt yourself?"

Winter let out a heavy sigh. "During the argument, Trish's boyfriend shoved me, and I fell. My ankle rolled in the process."

Despite my attempt to stay calm, I felt a fierce impulse to hunt down Trish's boyfriend and beat the shit out of him. "I can take you to the hospital; we should make sure it's not broken."

"It's not," she insisted. "Really, I'm okay."

As I unlocked the door, Winter leaned against me. I guided her into the living room, where she studied her surroundings.

"This is nice," she said, letting me guide her to the couch. "Not even thirty, and you're already a homeowner."

I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at her words. As her big brother, I'd always wanted to be someone she looked up to. 

"You're different, though," she said, busying herself with removing her sneakers.

"Different how?" I was quick to shrug out of my suit coat and then take off my shoes as well. 

When Winter lifted her head, I saw the grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. "You're... slick."

"Care to elaborate?" I asked wryly.

"Sure. It's the expensive suit, and the slicked-back hair. You're like Patrick Bateman with a beard."

I had to snort at that. "It's called being professional. You should try it sometime." My stare dropped to her feet, and I quickly noticed the swelling in her left ankle. Nodding toward the injury, I said, "That needs some ice."

"Can I take a bath first? I feel gross after being in that jail cell."

"Of course." Gently, I helped Winter to her feet, then wrapped my arm around her waist again. Despite our many arguments, and all our differences, I felt my resentment toward her soften. She put up a tough front, but I knew the past day must have been frightening for her. She'd never been in any real trouble before. 

As we approached the bathroom, her grip on me tightened. At least my house was one story, so there would be no steps for her to navigate. After helping her sit on the side of the tub, I set about running a bath.

"I didn't mean to be ungrateful," she said, her voice so quiet that I had to lean closer to hear her over the rushing water. "Thank you for coming to get me, Ben. I know you didn't have to."

Checking to make sure the water wasn't too hot, I replied, "Of course I was going to come get you. I love you, even if you are a pain in the ass."

Winter smiled, making me think all was well, but as I turned off the taps, I heard her release a quiet sob. Alarmed, I looked back at her and found she was crying. "Winter, what's wrong?"

My question only made her cry harder. Though she tried to speak, she wasn't able to utter a single word. "Hey." Hunched over at an awkward angle, I managed to pull her close. "Hey, don't cry."

"I'm sorry!" she wailed while clinging to me. "I never wanted to make things difficult for you."

"Shh, it's fine." I rocked her back and forth, as much as her narrow perch would allow. "I've already been in contact with a lawyer; she said this will probably be reduced to misdemeanor assault." Desperate to provide comfort, I rubbed Winter's back and waited for her tears to subside.

Finally, she withdrew from me and offered another feeble smile. "I got your shirt wet."

"That's fine, too. Now why don't you get into the bath and relax? I'll be just outside if you need anything." When I started to straighten up, Winter seized my hand. Meeting her eyes, I found she looked uncharacteristically shy.

"Um, would you mind helping me with my pants? My ankle's hurting more, and I'm a little nervous about putting weight on it."

I hesitated only a second before agreeing. After all, I didn't want her losing her balance while trying to undress. Placing my hands under her arms, I easily pulled her into a standing position. "Just lean against the wall, and grab the edge of the counter for balance," I instructed. 

Once Winter was steady, I set about lowering her pants. They were lightweight and stretchy, easy to slide down her legs. As I performed the task, I tried not to look at her lacy pink underwear. Instead, I knelt before her, then suggested she rest against me while I tugged her lounge pants all the way off. 

It was awkward, and I grew flushed from the way her body was practically draped over mine. Again, I had to distract myself, trying not to dwell on the fact that the crotch of her panties was just inches from my face. Gingerly, I removed her socks, being extra careful with her injured ankle.

"You might as well take off my underwear, too." Winter's tone was deceptively breezy.

My eyes widened a little as I racked my brain for a way she could strip from the waist down without me seeing her naked. She must have sensed my hesitation, for I felt her give my back a comforting pat. 

"Come on, Ben, we're both adults here. Just yank them down!" 

Taking a deep breath, I hooked my fingers into the waistband of her panties and drew the undergarment down her smooth thighs. Involuntarily, my gaze settled upon her sex, which was just as smooth. Though I quickly looked elsewhere, I'd gotten a glimpse of deep pink folds peeking from between her outer lips. The faintest shudder of arousal traveled through me, but it was almost immediately quelled by my shame. 

"You're all set," I told her in a strained voice.

Slowly, she stood upright, bracing herself against the counter. I started to rise, but her warm hand on my face made me pause.

"Look at me," she said softly. 

I was reluctant to obey, afraid she might see the turmoil in my eyes. But when she said my name, I tilted my head upward. 

Offering a tender smile, she stroked my hair. "It's okay."

Again, my gaze drifted where it shouldn't. Winter must have noticed, yet she made no attempt to conceal her bare skin from my view. In the following seconds, I struggled to move. It was as if I was rooted to that spot. 

I wasn't completely immobile, however. To my absolute mortification, I realized I was growing hard. A surge of panic roused me from my trance, and I practically leapt to my feet. I'd never forgive myself if Winter discovered I'd gotten an erection while helping her out of her clothes. 

"Take off your shirt," I told her, my voice too brusque, "and I'll help you into the tub. You can take off your bra once I'm out of the room."

Winter didn't seem fazed by my unease, for her smile lingered while she pulled her top over her head. I kept a hold on her hips to steady her. When I moved to lift her into my arms, she readily wrapped her limbs around me. Through my pants, I could feel the heat of her bare pussy. Her breath was warm on my neck. 

She let out a contented moan as I eased her into the water. "Ooh, that's nice!"

Keeping my eyes averted, I leaned to gather her clothes from the floor. "I'll put these in the wash. In the meantime, you can wear one of my T-shirts."

"Thank you," Winter said, her voice so sweet that I couldn't resist looking her way once more. Tenderness welled within me at the sight of her sitting in my tub, still wearing a bra to conceal her small breasts.

"Call me when you're finished," I said, "and I'll help you out of there." As I spoke, I tried to cover my erection with her bundled clothing.

I managed to maintain my composure until I stepped out into the hall and closed the bathroom door softly behind me. Then my guilt returned, hot and caustic like acid in my belly. What kind of creep was I, getting hard at the sight of my half-naked stepsister? 

Striding toward the tiny laundry room off the kitchen, I told myself it was an involuntary response. It was the physical closeness, and the emotional way we'd reconnected. It all got jumbled up in my brain, sending the wrong signals. That's all it was.

But my hands were shaking while I tossed her shirt, socks, and pants into the washing machine. In my trembling grip, I kept hold of her panties. Staring down at the undergarment, I urged myself to surrender it to the machine as well. 

Instead, I lifted Winter's underwear to my face and inhaled deeply. My eyes drifted closed as I caught her scent, strong after a day of wearing the same panties. The crotch was still slightly damp from her fluids. 

A desperate moan escaped me, and my cock stiffened even more. Fervently, I stroked it through my pants, but that wasn't enough. I couldn't resist the urge to take out my dick and jerk off. 

I used Winter's panties to stroke myself, reveling in the silky fabric sliding along my shaft. In that room, I tried to get all the debauchery out of my system. My face burned with shame and lust as I licked the crotch of those soiled panties, eager for a taste.

That pushed me right to the edge. Despite my growing remorse, I didn't stop. No, I kept using Winter's underwear as a forbidden prop. And I kept thinking about her smooth pussy lips, with those inner folds seeming to invite the attention of my tongue.

Releasing a loud groan, I came all over her panties. My semen looked obscene staining the delicate pink. Still breathing fast, I tossed the evidence of my wrongdoing in the washer. Soon, there would be no trace of what I'd done. 

Nowhere but in my thoughts, and perhaps in my fantasies. The memory of Winter's scent and taste would remain there forever.

I'd just gotten myself under some semblance of control when I heard her call my name. She needed help; she needed me to lift her out of that tub. All it took was imagining her dripping, naked body, and I was instantly hard again.

Fuck.