I’d been plotting this all morning, ever since I heard Mom and my stepdad leave for their big Christmas shopping trip. The house was finally empty except for Ethan, my stepbrother, and his best friend Mason, both home from college and sprawled in the living room playing video games like they owned the place.

They walked around shirtless, with tattoes littered over their skin, their muscles teasing as they flexed while playing games. They made me so hot and bothered, I needed them so bad.

I wanted them to notice me. No, I wanted them to lose control over me.

I picked the shortest pleated black skirt I owned, the...