Puck Me Harder: A Stepbrother Romance [BL]

Micah’s POV

Before I could even process the sudden wave of terror crashing over me, the twins barged right through the solemn crowd. Lucas and Levi threw themselves at my legs, their small arms wrapping tightly around my knees and anchoring me to the marble floor.

"This was where you were, Micah!" Levi cheered, his bright eyes looking up at me with pure joy.

"We thought you were going to sit with us during the service!" Lucas chimed in, pouting slightly as he tugged at the fabric of my trousers. "Big brother was so angry without his boy—"

My stomach dropped into a bottomless pit. Panic shot through my veins like ice water. Before the word boyfriend could spill out of his mouth in front of my father, I dropped to my knees and slapped my palm straight over his mouth, letting out a loud, forced laugh.

"Haha! Not another word now, Levi!" I squeaked, my face burning with heat.

"I’m Lucas!" a muffled voice grumbled beneath my hand.

I quickly pulled my hand back, my heart hammering against my ribs as I offered him an apologetic smile and ruffled his dark hair. "Right, sorry, Lucas. But seriously... not another word."

"Hello there. I certainly hope I’m not interrupting an important family moment," a deep, smooth voice purred from above us.

Lord Silver stepped forward, his tall, commanding frame casting a long shadow over us. He wore an effortlessly elegant dark suit, his silver-brushed hair perfectly styled as he stood side-by-side with my father and the red-haired Councilwoman.

The Councilwoman’s eyes instantly widened. The breathtaking presence of the man standing beside her clearly caught her off guard. She immediately turned her full attention toward him, extending a gloved hand with a dazzling smile.

"I don’t believe we have formally met," she said, her tone dripping with charm. "I am Councilwoman Evelyn Vance."

Lord Silver took her hand, bowing his head with a smooth, gentlemanly grace that seemed to effortlessly captivate everyone in his vicinity. "Lord Silver. The pleasure is entirely mine, Councilwoman."

Evelyn gasped softly, her hand flying to her chest. "You are the head of the Silver family?! The Silver Lord himself?!"

"Haha," Lord Silver chuckled softly, his deep voice echoing in the quiet aisle. "Why is everyone so profoundly shocked to see me here today?"

Councilwoman Vance flicked her eyes back and forth between Lord Silver and my father, her pleasant smile wavering just a fraction. Even someone from the outside world knew about the bitter, bloody feud between the Silver and Miller families. The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

"It is... a genuine pleasure to meet you, Lord Silver," she managed to say, offering a polite nod.

"The pleasure is all mine," Lord Silver replied smoothly. He turned his head, his dark, sharp eyes locking onto my father.

My father wore a remarkably calm, almost playful smile on his face, but as I glanced down at his side, I noticed his right hand was clenched into a fist so tight his knuckles were stark white. His fingernails were digging deep into his palm, so hard it looked like he might draw blood.

He stood frozen, his eyes burning with an intense, suffocating hatred that made my blood run cold.

"I am surprised to see you here, Silver," Father said, his voice dropping into a dangerous, low rumble. "Do permit me to ask... how exactly do your young children know my son?"

Lord Silver casually shrugged his broad shoulders, completely unbothered by the deadly tone. "Does it really matter, Bernard? Micah is a good, sweet boy. My children happen to adore him."

My chest constricted so tightly I could barely breathe. Father was boiling with rage, and Lord Silver was intentionally tossing fuel directly onto the fire.

Cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck. I was terrified. If Father discovered that I hadn’t just spoken to the twins, but had actually slept under the roof of the Silver estate, he wouldn’t just discipline me. He would destroy me. I stood there trembling in pure terror, praying for the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

"Micah," Father’s voice cut through the air like a whip.

I flinched violently, my whole body freezing up. "Y...yes, Father?"

"You should head home with Noah. Immediately," Father commanded flatly, not even bothering to look at me as he kept his glare pinned on Lord Silver.

"Yes, Father," I whispered, lowering my head in submission.

I turned around to step toward Noah, but the twins tightened their grip on my legs, refusing to let go.

"Are you leaving already, Micah?" Levi asked, his voice small and trembling as his bottom lip began to quiver.

My heart softened, a wave of gentle warmth washing over my fear. I leaned down, gently ruffling his hair. "I have to go home now, Levi. But don’t worry, okay? We’ll definitely meet again another day."

Levi pouted, tears welling up in his wide eyes as he prepared to throw a full meltdown, but the elderly nanny swiftly stepped in from the side, offering me a polite bow before taking both twins firmly by their hands and leading them away.

I let out a long, silent breath of relief.

Before I could take another step, a heavy, warm hand settled onto my shoulder from behind.

"Let’s go, Micah," Noah’s soft, possessive voice purred in my ear.

I nodded quickly. I cast one last, lingering glance at my father, Lord Silver, and the Councilwoman, who were still trapped in an uncomfortable, icy silence. Then, allowing Noah’s iron grip to guide me, I walked out of the church.

Whatever dangerous political war those men were waging against each other was way beyond my control. All I wanted was to survive the day.

We stepped out into the damp, gloomy afternoon air. Noah unlocked his sleek dark sedan parked near the entrance.

"Get in," he said, opening the passenger door for me.

I placed my hand on the cold door handle, but my eyes traitorously darted around the crowded parking lot. I searched through the sea of expensive cars, looking for the broad shoulders and rebellious aura of Damon. But he was nowhere to be found. Had he already left? Did he leave without even saying goodbye?

"Micah?" Noah’s sharp voice snapped me back to reality.

I whipped my head around to face him, my heart jumping. "Yes?"

Noah leaned against the top of the car door, his icy gaze piercing right through me. "What exactly is going on in that head of yours?"

Panic flared in my chest. I couldn’t tell him I was looking for Damon. I had to make up an excuse, and fast.

"Uh... I... I was just thinking about my bag," I stammered, biting my lower lip nervously.

Noah tilted his head, a faint, unreadable expression settling over his features. "Your bag? The one you left at the Silver house?"

I swallowed hard and gave a small, quick nod.

Noah stared at me for a long, agonizing moment. Then, a slow, beautiful smile spread across his face—a smile that made my stomach twist in equal parts comfort and dread.

"Shall we go get it then?" he asked smoothly.

My face instantly brightened up. "Sure!"

"Get in."

I quickly obeyed, sliding into the leather passenger seat and pulling the seatbelt securely across my chest.

Noah climbed into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and peeled away from the cathedral. Secretly, my chest throbbed with a strange, forbidden hope. I hoped with everything inside me that Damon would still be at his estate when we arrived. I desperately needed to talk to him, to apologize for running away with Noah without a single word of explanation.

Noah slammed his foot onto the gas pedal, the engine roaring as the car shot down the highway at a terrifying speed. I clutched my hand tight over my chest, squeezing my eyes shut as the scenery blurred past us.

Twenty minutes later, the car screeched to a halt right in front of the grand entrance of Damon’s private residence within the Silver estate.

Noah kept the engine idling, idling his fingers against the leather steering wheel. "Go inside and grab your bag, Micah. Don’t make me wait long."

"I won’t! I’ll be right back!" I unfastened my seatbelt, opened the door, and hurried up the stone steps into the house.

My plan was simple: sprint upstairs to the guest suite, grab my duffel bag, find Damon to apologize if he was home, and then get back to Noah’s car before he got suspicious.

I pushed through the heavy front doors and stepped into the grand foyer. The entire mansion was dead quiet. The servants were likely resting in their quarters, leaving the high-ceilinged halls completely silent.

I practically flew up the marble staircase, my shoes echoing softly against the steps. Reaching the upper floor, I rushed into the guest room where I had slept last night.

There it was. My black bag was still sitting on the velvet armchair. I quickly grabbed my phone charger from the nightstand, shoved it inside, and pulled the zipper shut.

My task was done, but my legs refused to move toward the hallway exit.

Instead, my eyes glided across the room, locking directly onto the dark wooden door that connected my guest room directly to Damon’s private bedroom.

My heart began to race violently against my ribs. A wave of intense heat surged through my body.

’Is he in there? Should I just check?’