The Ruiz Brothers - Part 3

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「 ✦ Ongoing ✦ About me ✦ Table of Content✦ 」

Slip into the haze of steam and music, where laughter hides tension and shadows linger just beneath the surface.
Rated M -alcohol, suggestive content, mature themes

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Steam & Shadows

Lucian couldn’t believe Braydon had talked him into a group date—his brother certainly had a talent for persuasion. As discussed, Kachine would be unofficially meeting his family, and he hoped inviting his cousins Antoine and Bernard, along with their wives, would ease the tension.

Like a group of rebellious teenagers, they snuck into Ciudad Enamorada's community pool after hours for a little get-together, where Braydon’s date, Tiffany, worked as a lifeguard. Although Lucian would have preferred a quieter, more conventional setting, he couldn’t deny that the informality of that night's setting would ease the pressure on his girlfriend.

Booze, music, pool, and jacuzzi—Braydon had it all thought out for a laid-back evening. Lucian only wished the meeting hadn’t fallen on a weekday evening—even if it was technically Friday. His workday at the lab had been long and tedious, and he wanted nothing more than to decompress quietly in the comfort of his living room—rather than navigating social intricacies.

And yet, there he was, overcoming any social reservations by warming up to the "waifu" of his dreams in the jacuzzi. They both nestled in the steam of the moment, with any background noise ultimately drowned out by the quiet intimacy between them. He felt vulnerable in her presence, yet comfortable enough to let her see him for who he truly was: someone who had spent too long hiding behind achievements and logic. It was time he followed his instincts and leaned into the persistent whispers of his heart that told him Kachine would one day become his wife and mother of his children. There was no denying it, he was in love. Was she as smitten as he was?

Their brief moment of heartfelt tenderness was soon interrupted by Braydon's deep laugh emitting from behind. The life of the party, Braydon entertained the guests as usual, and soon his attention turned to the young couple quietly tucked away in the jacuzzi.

"Don't think I forgot about you guys," Braydon shouted as he made his way over to the jacuzzi, unbuttoning his shirt and stepping out of his clothes—hardly the best etiquette for an introduction.

“You must be Kachine, I've heard so many stories about you!” he said jokingly, watching as she glanced at Lucian, perplexed.

“Kachine, this is my brother, Braydon.” 

Lucian sighed, annoyed. 

“Don’t listen to him. He’s just messing with you.”

She smiled softly, droplets of water flicking from her hand as she extended it to Braydon.

Lucian’s gaze narrowed in on that handshake, and for a moment, his surroundings deafened and darkened as a sinister thought flared into coherence, like a match struck in the dark, knowing his brother was a man fueled by desire and distractions, what would happen if he ever stole Kachine away from him? Lucian let out a quiet scoff, mocking his own paranoia — Braydon would never betray him that way, and besides, Kachine was not his type. His brother never showed much interest in gaming or brunettes. Most of his girlfriends, after the "Alondra episode," had been gregarious blondes — Stevie and her sister Brittany included. Not surprisingly, his date that night was yet another blonde Lucian hadn’t met before. Perhaps it was Braydon’s own way of unconsciously distancing himself from women who reminded him of the past. Lucian had nothing to worry about. His brother was predictable enough not to be a threat. 

His apprehensions were eventually quieted by a few drinks. Mind and tongue loosened up, Lucian eased into the carefreeness of the night and enjoyed the company until the combined toll of a busy workday and the relaxed atmosphere gently weighed down his eyelids.

Lucian’s cousins and their wives stepped away for a refill, chatting and swaying to the rhythm of the music. Meanwhile, Braydon, still in the hot tub, couldn’t keep his hands off Tiffany. Kachine shifted uncomfortably as she watched the couple’s unapologetic display of affection from the other side of the tub—while her boyfriend peacefully nodded off. How could he? Bare skin, steam, sweat, lushness, music, liquor—the mood was ideal for him to want to tear her swimsuit off. Figuratively, of course. Every fantasy had a root in reality. And although she didn’t expect Lucian to suddenly turn into a caveman, she secretly wished he would grow bold enough to be all over her—especially in that exact moment.

The thought of waking him up briefly crossed her mind, but instead, she curiously glanced back at the couple, though any attempts to make small talk melted away in the tension. It was as if they had forgotten she was even there. Captivated by the rawness of the scene, she quietly observed, for what felt like an eternity, as their kiss grew hungrier and more urgent, catching glimpses of their tongues dancing together. Her glance wandered from Braydon’s chiseled jawline, drawn by Tiffany’s deliberate touch, to his toned arms and chest pressed against hers. Kachine cleared her throat with a dry swallow surprised by the sudden tide of craving that unexpectedly washed over her. And as she reached for Lucian's shoulder, her eyes locked with Braydon's, who seemed to finally remember he wasn't in a motel room. He held Kachine's smoldering gaze, mirroring her curiosity, while continuing to lean into Tiffany's lips for a few extra beats before pulling apart, whispering to her ear, to which she blushed and giggled shyly.

"Oh my gosh, sorry, Kachine!" Tiffany smiled, embarrassed.

She cleared her throat and slightly adjusted her swimsuit before hopping out of the tub.

"We should leave you two alone..."

"Oh no, you guys are fine! I was never here..." Kachine gave a small, awkward laugh in an attempt to seem unaffected by the intensity of the moment.

Her eyes flicked to Lucian, almost as if to make sure he was still asleep.

"Didn’t mean to make things awkward. My bad." Braydon smirked as he stood, barely bothering to hide the tension in his lap.

"But you should definitely wake him up!" he added, before catching up to his date.

Kachine's gaze trailed after the couple as they disappeared into the showers.

She struggled to define what had just happened and wondered about Braydon’s intentions. Was he intentionally flirting with her? She must have been imagining it. He was clearly entangled with Tiffany. Maybe she was simply guilty of staring to begin with—how could she not, when they made such a decadent spectacle of themselves? The brief moment they shared was confusing, charged with awareness as the two of them knowingly lingered in each other's presence. Something unintentional, magnetic, and impossible to ignore passed between them that evening.

Braydon was indeed the troublemaker Lucian had described. And now, Kachine finally knew why. 

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