Intense (Dark Hearts Book 1)

by C. M. Steele

  “There is. She’s the one who came in with him in the ambulance.” My head’s spinning. Who is she?

  “I’m on my way.” I end the call and sit in my seat, more pissed off than a motherfucker because I’m hurt. He got married? Is he okay? Maybe he’s not in his right mind. I never thought he’d marry after what my mother did to him. Hell, I can’t believe it at all.

  “Sir, we’re about to take off. Are you well?”

  “Yes, Douglas. Once you can, please refill.” I’m not well at all. A world of emotions threatens to overflow.

  “Yes, Mr. Edwards.” He walks away and I buckle in, thinking perhaps I shouldn’t even take off, but what if this woman has taken advantage of him? He’s sixty. Is that old enough to start becoming senile? I look up the info and it’s possible, but more than likely he’s not. Shit. I need to know everything. I shoot an email to my guy who runs background checks.

  Knowing this is pointless, I decide to focus on work. It’s the only thing that makes me happy. Inga has sent me six new emails along with the hotel information. She’s the best assistant I could ask for. She’s in her fifties and married to the job, so I don’t have to worry about her quitting even when I’m an asshole, which I know is pretty much on the regular. She brushes it off and tosses a mini-Snickers at me.

  Most of this busy work doesn’t take me long to handle, so after just half an hour in the air, I’ve finished both drinks and all my emails. Damn it. My mind whirls as I consider who my dad married without telling me.

  I open my book app on my phone and start reading the latest thriller I downloaded, trying to relax for the next couple of hours. It works, for the most part. I’m so invested in the story that time effortlessly passes by.

  The second we land in Madison, my rental is there waiting for me. It’s the latest Mercedes and as soon as I speed off, I consider buying one. It’s a smooth, powerful ride, but I live in the busiest city in the US and it would be pointless to get a car like that. I race to the hospital, giving the valet the keys as I make my way to see my father. My adrenaline’s pumping as I inch closer to the most important man in my life.

  “Hello, I’ve just arrived from New York. I know it’s late, but I’d like to see my father.”

  “Name, sir?”

  “Roman Edwards.”

  She looks at her papers and then back up at me with a pass in her hand. “Yes, here you are. He has two visitors already, but I was told to leave this for you. You can’t take long because he’s in ICU and visiting hours are almost over.”

  “Thank you.” I turn around and ask, “I’m sorry, but do you know why he’s here?”

  “A heart attack.” Does he have another black widow on his hands?

  “Thank you.” I tap the desk lightly and make my way to the bank of elevators. New wife, and he has a heart attack. I need a word with his nurses and doctors. She could have poisoned him to make it look like a heart attack. Don’t ask me how I know that, but I do. I reach the ICU and arrive at the nurses station.

  “Hello, I’m supposed to go to room three thirty.”

  “That’s just on the opposite side of the hall.” She points over to the left, and I nod.

  “Listen, could he have been poisoned? Has he been given a toxicology test?”

  “Um…no, but you’ll have to speak to his doctor on the matter. He’s not the first older man to have a heart attack while doing strenuous activities.” I nod and walk away from the desk. Making my way down the hall, I reach three twenty-nine and that’s when I see her. You have fucking got to be kidding me. It immediately hits me that he had a heart attack while fucking his barely legal wife. I can’t take my eyes off the little girl in a tight black dress and long brown hair in waves down her back as she wipes her makeup-covered face, faking those tears. God, no wonder my dad caved and remarried. My dick embarrassingly hardens, which infuriates me.

  I storm toward her and want her as far as possible away from my father. This is bullshit. Why is she giving her gorgeous body to him? She’s nothing but a gold-digging whore. “Quit the crocodile tears, Princess. Did you give the old man a good blow job for a new car?” I bite out, fighting that mental image.

  Her hand comes up and nearly lands on my face, but I grip her wrist tightly. There’s no wedding ring, and I find that a relief—that means my dad can get rid of her. “Took it off already?” I tap her ring finger.

  “You are an asshole. You must be Roman.” She says it with such sweet hatred in her eyes that I’m actually turned on even more. “I’m your new stepsister.” She yanks her hand away as she glares at me.

  That should have shot ice-water through my veins, but my body’s more heated than before. “Stepsister?” Fuck. I’m in more trouble than I thought.

  “Yes. You’re just like he says. You hate women.” She huffs, crossing her arms under her ample breasts.

  “I don’t hate women. I don’t trust them, Princess,” I retort, sharing the truth as I rake my eyes up and down her body with feigned annoyance.

  “I’m not your princess.” Whose princess is she? She didn’t say a princess. She specifically said your. Damn it, she has a boyfriend. Why do I even care?

  “Amelia,” a woman calls out. I turn, and there’s the older version of the beautiful girl in front of me. Seeing me, she asks, “Roman?”

  “Yes, this is the wonderful Roman we’ve heard so much about.” Amelia huffs, walking right past me and down the hall.

  “Should she be walking down the hall alone?” I question her mother, feeling irrationally jealous of any man with eyes getting a look at her in that tight, curve-hugging dress.

  “She’s eighteen. I think she’s fine. Your father is awake. You should see him before you say something else shitty to me. I didn’t do anything to hurt him. We were making love when he had a heart attack.” I move to enter my dad’s room when she presses her hand to my chest, halting me. Not because she’s strong, but that she thinks it’s okay to touch me. I look at her hand and then back up at her. She releases it with a warning. “Insult my daughter again and I’ll send you to the hospital, but it won’t be from fucking.”

  “I thought she was…” I attempt to explain.

  “You thought your father was dipping into the baby pool.”

  “Well, he didn’t mention getting married. I think that’s a big fucking deal.”

  “That’s between you two. Go speak with him.” I walk past her, feeling like a prick because of the way I treated my new stepsister, but my head still can’t wrap around the fact that she’s now related to me, her round eyes turning to slits as she cursed me out. I mentally chide myself and remember why I’m here.

  Taking a deep breath, I step into my father’s room, and his eyes are closed. He’s hooked up to all these machines, but thankfully he’s breathing on his own. “Dad, I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”

  “Roman, you made it,” he says, cracking a smile even though he clearly doesn’t look like he feels well.

  Still, it’s the first relief I find since I got the call. “Yes. I’m here.”

  “I suppose you found out about Rachel?” he asks, guilt ripping through his words.

  “Yes. I just met her, but now is not the time.” I don’t want to upset him when he’s just had a heart attack. I’m not that much of a bastard.

  “I know you don’t believe in love at first sight. Hell, love at all, but that’s what we have. We met while I was vacationing in Florida, and I couldn’t resist begging her to marry me. I know I should have told you, but I was afraid that you’d stop talking to me. I lost you once—"

  I pat his shoulder, stopping him before he works himself up. “I’m sorry about that. I wish I could have been old enough to read through the lies.”

  “I know, but Rachel’s a good woman, and her daughter is a sweetheart.” I’ll be the judge of that.

  “She was dressed a little too dolled up,” I growl, looking ready to be thoroughly fucked. I need to get my head out of the damn gutter.

&n
bsp; “She was supposed to be going on a date with the neighbor’s kid.” My mind plays over everyone I remember from his neighborhood, but I can’t picture any young guys. I already inexplicably don’t like this neighbor.

  “A date.” The anger in my reply causes my father to look at me strangely.

  “She’s legally an adult.”

  “Yes, but that little shit is going to want to have sex with her.” Who the fuck wouldn’t? Normally I’d say me, but the little princess has awoken a new part of me.

  “And that’s her choice. You’re acting awfully protective of a girl you just insulted,” he challenges.

  “You heard too?” Shit. I’m the King Asshole right here.

  “I don’t think there’s a single person on this floor who didn’t hear. I get you’re worried. Rachel’s only fifteen years younger than me, and I’m happy. I should have been eating better. My doctor gave me a warning before I went on vacation, but I didn’t listen,” he says with a light shrug.

  “What are the doctors saying now? Are you going to be okay?” Please say yes…

  “Yes. I need to rest and relax, but I’ll be back home tomorrow. How long are you here for?” There’s hope in his eyes, and I hate to dash them. It takes all my strength to tell him the truth, but he deserves it.

  “I’m only here for the day, and then I have some things I need to take care of before I can consider coming back, if that’s okay.”

  He smiles like I remember from when I was a boy. “Son, I’d be happy to have you live with me. I know that’s not gonna happen, but I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too. I promise I’ll be back.”

  “I know you will.”

  A knock on the door frame grabs our attention. A nurse walks in and says, “Sir, visiting hours are over.”

  “Okay. Dad, are you sure you don’t want me to stay? I can take my meetings from my hotel room.”

  “That’s actually a great idea, although I still have your bedroom at home if you wanted.”

  “Really?”

  ”Yes. There’s no need for you to stay anywhere but home. In fact, I’d appreciate it since Amelia will be all alone in that house. She’s too beautiful and vulnerable to leave unprotected.” There’s that look again. I don’t give away that I’m the one he should be worried about. It’s like sending a wolf in to watch the henhouse.

  “Take it easy and rest. I’ll head to the house tonight.” As I walk out, I see Amelia and Rachel speaking. Amelia’s eyes meet mine, and I feel like a piece of shit in so many ways. I try to push this new urge to fuck out of my head. Perfect or not, I don’t trust vipers.

  “I’m heading to the house tonight.”

  “Oh, that’s good. I was just worried about Amelia getting home. I trust you’ll be kind enough to give her a ride.” I’ll give her a ride, all right. A ride on my cock all damn night long. Oh, hell. I need to chill out.

  I nod. “Sure. I’m sorry about earlier.” It takes a lot for me to apologize, especially to women, but I find I do it more often than not.

  “It’s okay.” She’s glued to her phone with her head down, pissing me off that she’s essentially ignoring me.

  “Well, let’s go.” I start walking, and she better pick up her steps or she’ll be looking for a ride home from the boyfriend she’s so eagerly texting. Why does that rankle my nerves? I don’t even know the girl.

  “I’m coming.” Damn her. I adjust my cock the second I’m in the elevator, grateful that she’s still typing away.

  “You shouldn’t walk and text. You’re going to crash into something,” I remark, hating the petty way I’m acting.

  “I wasn’t texting until I stopped moving. I’m not an idiot.” No. I am.

  “No, you’re just a teenager with her head down the entire time I saw you.”

  “Not the entire time. Anyway, just because we’re step-siblings doesn’t mean we need to fight. In fact, we should just do our best to keep our distance,” she adds with enough attitude that I use to keep her at arm’s length.

  “Good. I like the sound of that.” I really don’t care for that shit, but she’s a kid and I’m a grown man. Maybe I need to finally get a woman. That idea holds no interest, and I quickly squash it. I’m forever going to be alone.

  The elevator dings open, and I step out first to adjust my cock and she walks straight into me. “Paying attention, eh?” I challenge.

  “Ugh. No one told you to stop moving.”

  I snatch her phone out of her hand.

  “Hey, give that back to me.”

  “No, little girl. You can have this back when we get back to the house.” I tuck it into my pocket and continue walking.

  “Dick,” she mutters behind me. I’ll give her a real big dick if she keeps it up. I’m so damn horny, it’s stupid.

  “Is that what you’re asking your boyfriend for? Sorry, little girl, but you’re going to have to wait. Your parents have me babysitting you.”

  “I’m an adult.”

  I look her up and down and then add, “Physically, but mentally? I’m not quite sure.”

  “You don’t know me, Roman. You think you’ve got me pegged, but you don’t.”

  “If I have you pegged, sweetheart, you’d know.” I walk to the valet in silence and hand him my ticket.

  I’m walking a fine line, and this little thing has me so fucking intoxicated, I’ll never be sober again.

  Chapter Two

  Amelia

  Did he just toss a sexual comment at me? Or was that his way of trying to shut me up? Either way, it worked. My pussy hasn’t stopped soaking my panties since he stormed up to me with vitriol in his eyes, but I didn’t miss the way he made sure to linger on my chest. For someone who doesn’t want me around his dad, he did enjoy the view.

  “So how long are we graced with your presence?” I lace my words with sarcasm. A rich bastard with a superiority complex; I’m going to love pushing his buttons until he leaves.

  He tosses me a scowl that only adds to his sexy face. “For as long as I please. How long have you lived with my dad?”

  “A month, but I’ll be off to college in less than two weeks, so it’s not like I’ll be staying there long.” A low growl comes from him. “Is that too long for you?” I bite out, hating how much he dislikes me. When his father showed us his many pictures and proud articles about Roman, I got a schoolgirl crush on the man. He’s everything dreamy, at least on paper.

  I didn’t know what to expect, but I hoped he’d fall madly in love with me. I almost laugh to myself. What a childish thing to think, just because he looks like a handsome prince. He’s really not. He’s an ass that I can’t stop stealing glances at. He’s tall, rugged looking for a man in an expensive, perfectly tailored suit to fit his well-sculpted body, and I ache to run my hands over his jaw.

  “No. I won’t be here that long. Where are you going to college? My dad footing the bill for that too?”

  “Actually, Mr. Judgmental Jerk, I’m on a partial scholarship with the rest of the tuition payments coming from the money my father left for me when he died.” I lost my father four years ago to a boating accident. He’d been an avid fisherman and a storm kicked up, he hit his head, and he fell into the ocean. They lost him in the waves. It took a day to find him and by then, there was no saving him. I miss him because he was the best dad I could have ever asked for.

  He freezes, and I know what's coming next. I put up my hand and stop him in his tracks. "Stop. Don't bother saying sorry. It's not like you're really sincere. Besides, by the time our acquaintance is over, you'll have racked up plenty more."

  "Well, Princess. I had no intention of apologizing for shit, and I'll make a note to save myself the trouble. Since I'm no gentleman, get yourself in the car." He walks around the front of the vehicle that I hadn't noticed was in front of us already. I pull open the passenger door and climb inside without another word to him. I smile, knowing I've pissed him off again. The next few days are going to be great.


  He catches me smiling and gives me a scowl before putting on his seat belt. "Any time today, Princess." Oops. I click mine into place and stare out the window.

  We drive in silence, and it’s killing me. I steal a glance when the light turns red, only to find him looking at me. “What?” I toss out bitchily.

  “Nothing.” The light changes, and he goes without another word. I can’t tell if he’s tense because of me or just around women in general. I don’t know much about his past other than his dad said his mother ruined Roman’s relationship with women. He has a clear disdain for them.

  I bet he’s a fuck-them-and-leave-them kind of guy. He seems so angry and intense that I bet he’s broken a lot of hearts even if he doesn’t mean it. I don’t care because I’m not going to fall for him. I repeat that lie to myself. For a month, I’ve had images of Roman in my head.

  “We’re here,” I call out like it’s complete torture to be trapped in a car with him.

  “Yeah. I know.” He turns off the car and steps out with his long legs in his suit. I waltz to the door.

  “Amelia.” I turn around to see my date, Jake. “You’re home.” He gives me a wide smile that I wish came from my stepbrother. Jake’s a cute boy, but he’s still a boy in my eyes. We’re both going to school in New York, which is a super coincidence. I like him, but for some reason, I don’t have any interest in seeing him again.

  “Yes. We got kicked out of the hospital. I’m sorry about tonight.”

  “No, it’s cool. I’m just glad Mr. Edwards is okay.” He looks over to Roman, who is suddenly interested in our conversation and moves right next to me. Fuck, he’s practically standing in front of me. “Oh, hello, Mr. Edwards.”

  Roman only nods. “No, she can’t go out tonight,” Roman says. I want to tell him that it’s none of his business and that Jake’s probably not even thinking that, but when I look at Jake, he’s actually disappointed.

  “Goodnight, Amelia. Call me tomorrow. We can plan something for the weekend.”

  “Sounds nice.”