My Stepbrother Wants Me-Chapter 150: Wow; An Emotionally Mature Man

Catherine’s POV

I stood in the center of Dante’s room, the music still thrumming through the floorboards, but my mind was a chaotic mess of static. I looked up at him, at the way he stood there with such effortless confidence but every time I closed my eyes, it was Julian I saw.

Julian was on my mind, together with the fact that he discarded me. I was tired of being the one who waited. I was tired of being the one who pined for someone who had already chosen a side. I looked at Dante and felt a sudden, desperate urge to just move on. I wanted to overwrite the memory of Julian’s touch with something else.

"Dante," I whispered, my voice sounding foreign to my own ears.

He tilted his head, his dark eyes never leaving mine. "Yeah?"

"Kiss me."

The request hung in the air between us, heavy and undeniable. I saw his pupils dilate, a brief flash of surprise crossing his features before his expression smoothed into something more intense. He didn’t hesitate. He stepped into my space, his hands coming up to cup my face. His palms were warm, his touch certain.

He leaned down, his face approaching mine with slowness. When his lips finally touched mine, it was soft at first, then he deepened it, his grip on my face getting firmer.

For the first few seconds, I tried to lose myself in it. I tried to focus on the scent of his skin and the way his heartbeat felt against mine. But as the kiss continued, a wave of cold realization washed over me. It wasn’t working. Instead of erasing Julian, the contact only made me crave him more. My mind was flooded with images of us—the way Julian used to hold me and make me feel.

I felt a sudden spike of guilt, like I was betraying a ghost. I couldn’t breathe.

I shoved his chest, pulling my face away with an abruptness that made my neck ache. I stumbled back, my hands flying to my mouth, and turned away from him. I walked to the other side of the room.

"Catherine?"

I heard him move. He didn’t rush me, but I could hear his footsteps approaching. I kept my back to him, staring at a framed photograph on his desk without really seeing it.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked. His voice was calm, concerned, not angry.

"No," I said, the word coming out as a choked sob. I wiped my eyes and turned around, shaking my head. "No, Dante. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re perfect. It’s me. I just... I can’t bring myself to do it. I thought I could, but I can’t."

I looked at the floor, waiting for the lecture, waiting for him to tell me I was a tease or that I was wasting his time. That was the response I was conditioned to expect.

"Why?" he asked.

I didn’t reply. I couldn’t find the words that wouldn’t make me sound like a pathetic, broken girl. I just stared at the hem of my skirt.

"I know the reason," Dante said.

I looked up at him then. He was standing a few feet away, his arms crossed over his bare chest. He didn’t look offended. He looked like he was reading a book he had already finished.

"It’s because of Julian, isn’t it?"

I turned my back on him again, my silence giving him the only answer he needed. I felt a fresh wave of shame. I had come here, danced with him, asked him to kiss me, and all the while I was still glued to a man who had left me.

Dante didn’t stay back. He walked up to me and reached out, his hand gently taking mine. He didn’t pull me, but he led the way toward the large bed. He sat down and waited for me to sit beside him.

"Look at me, Catherine," he said.

I turned my head toward him.

"I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do," he said, his voice deep and steady. "I’m not that guy. I won’t lie to you and say I’m not attracted to you—I am. Very much so. But that attraction doesn’t give me the right to your body or your feelings."

I stared at him, stunned. I had never heard a man talk like this.

"I want to build a friendship with you," Dante continued. "I like talking to you. I like the way you challenge things. I’m not going to destroy the possibility of something real just because you’re having a moment of confusion. You’re going through a lot, and the last thing you need is another person pushing you into a corner."

I was speechless. The emotional intelligence he was displaying, the maturity in his words, it was a complete contrast to the manipulation and the power games I dealt with daily.

"Thank you," I whispered. I felt a sudden, overwhelming sense of gratitude. "Truly. Thank you, Dante."

I didn’t think about it. I just leaned forward and pulled him into a hug. I buried my face in his shoulder, letting out a long, shaky breath. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me in a way that felt protective rather than possessive.

"I’ve got you," he muttered into my hair.

Just as the tension in my body was starting to drain away, the door burst open with a loud bang.

"Aha! These two are bonding without me! That’s just sad," Kiera’s voice boomed through the room.

I jumped, the hug tearing apart instantly. I scrambled to put some distance between myself and Dante, feeling my face heat up. Kiera was standing in the doorway with a mischievous grin on her face. She didn’t look surprised at all; she looked like she had been waiting for this.

She marched over and sat down right in the middle of the bed, forcing Dante and me to shift to either side to make room for her. She looked from me to Dante, her eyes dancing with amusement.

"So, what’s going on here?" she asked, leaning back on her elbows. "Is this a private party, or can anyone join?"

I looked away, trying to hide my face behind my hair.

"Catherine," Kiera said, reaching out and poking my shoulder. "You might want to check a mirror. Your cheeks are so pink they might actually turn into candy. I’ve never seen someone blush that hard in my life."

"Stop it, Kiera," I said, my voice muffled by my hands. "I’m just... it’s hot in here."

"Sure it is," Kiera laughed. She turned her attention to Dante, who was watching her with an expression of mild annoyance. "Look, brother, you’ve enjoyed Catherine’s company for a long while now. You’ve had your fun. But now, I have to steal my friend back. We have girl things to discuss, and you are definitely not invited."

She stood up and grabbed my hand, tugging me off the bed. I didn’t resist. I needed the exit, even if it meant being interrogated by Kiera for the next hour.

"Come on, Catherine. Let’s go to my room. We can leave this half-naked caveman to his music," Kiera said, leading me toward the door.

I followed her, but as we reached the threshold, I couldn’t help but look back. Dante was still sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me with a soft smile. He looked completely unbothered by Kiera’s intrusion.

I felt another blush creep up my neck. I raised my hand and gave him a small, shy wave.

Dante didn’t wave back. Instead, he raised his hand to his lips and blew a kiss toward me through the air.

I shook my head, a small laugh escaping me despite the shyness.