BAD LUST: A Stepbrother Romance (A Step Over the Line Book Book 1)

by Hayes, Aurora

  “What?”

  “You took your medicine. You cleaned up. You came back out. They sat with you on the couch and… well… you kind of threw them away. Like literally threw them.”

  “No way.”

  “Swear on it. I tried to chase you down, but you were gone. Said you had to go for a walk. Didn’t see you again until now.”

  “Holy fuck,” I say.

  I look around the house. What the fuck’s wrong with me?

  “Something was on your mind,” Zeke says.

  “Yeah. Something.” More like someone… “Thanks again, Zeke. Take it easy.”

  We bump fists like douchebag high school kids. I shake my head as I leave. I get in the car and I’m back to reality. I can hit my apartment or just go right for the throat. Meet up with my mother and get this disaster over with.

  Before I could make my decision, my cell rings.

  “Hey, Rebecca,” I say, knowing it pisses her off when I don’t call her Mom.

  “Jake,” she says. “I don’t like…”

  “You don’t like a lot of things. What do you want?”

  “Is that any way to talk to me?”

  “No.”

  “Then don’t do it.”

  “I’ll note it down,” I say. “I’m driving right now. It’s dangerous to talk and drive. You don’t want your only son to die in a car wreck do you?”

  It’s a direct shot to her, considering the life she’s lived. She lost her career in a car wreck she caused and her life is nothing more than a car wreck now.

  “I’m not doing this over the phone,” she says. “I need you to meet with me at the apartment. We have to go… together…”

  “To meet the new hubby?” I ask.

  “Yes.”

  “And you think it’s all good? I mean, just springing something like that on someone.”

  “Jake… I’m a grown woman…”

  “You think I’m talking about me?” I ask and laugh. “I personally don’t give a shit what you do, Rebecca. I’m talking about someone else. He has a daughter, you know. And she lost…”

  What the fuck am I doing right now? Am I sticking up for someone?

  “You there?” my mother yells into the phone.

  “Yeah, sorry. Whatever. It doesn’t matter. You’re a grown woman, that’s right. And you’re married again. A perfect island paradise thing I bet.”

  “Yes.”

  “And he paid for it all.”

  “Yes.”

  “So now you’re even richer, huh?”

  “Jake… it’s not about money…”

  “That’s right. You just can’t be alone. You can’t face yourself in the mirror. And now you need me to paint the perfect image, right? I’m sure you’ll expect paparazzi to be there, right? Two broken families mended together. Christ, the shit writes itself.”

  My mother sighs. “I expect you here within the hour. We’re having a lunch at his place. There’s, uh, more news than you think, Jake. I really need you to be here. To do this. I’m happy right now.”

  “Right now,” I say. “Always right now.”

  “I’ll see you soon, son.”

  Son.

  I throw my phone on the seat and rev the engine.

  I arrive at my mother’s apartment and I refuse to go inside. So I stand at the side of my car and have a smoke. She comes walking from the apartment with a look of shock on her face.

  She waves a hand at me. “You can’t smoke here.”

  “Like hell I can’t. Where’s the sign?”

  “I wish you…”

  “You do a lot of wishing,” I say. “What’s the plan? Am I able to drive there?”

  “Yes,” my mother says. Some battles she knows just isn’t worth the fight. “You can drive. But right behind… the car…”

  “The car?”

  Need I say more. Here comes a black car pulling into the lot. I’m sure it’s all paid by her new husband. I shake my head and finish my smoke. I should have grabbed some of those little white pills from Zeke. I need to be numb and as close to death as I can right now.

  The car stops and the driver rushes from the car. He hurries to open the door for my mother.

  “Mrs…”

  “No, no,” my mother says. She offers that classic, beautiful smile that lures men in like crazy. “Call me Rebecca.”

  “Oh, yes, of course. Rebecca. I must say you are so beautiful in person.”

  “In person?”

  “I’m a fan of your music,” the driver says.

  I snort and open my car door. “I’ll see you there.”

  “Right behind us,” my mother says.

  “Yeah, right behind you, Rebecca.”

  My mother frowns. It’s all fake. It’s all a dumb act. I’ve seen it for years. Relationships come and go with her like me with women. Hell, it’s probably where I got it from. I’m an asshole, thanks to my father, and I need a new relationship everyday thanks to my mother. Talk about a fucked up mess of a person.

  “You know, Jake, you could support me just once,” she says.

  She’s so calm. She’s also so forgetful.

  “Support you? Yeah. Sure. Whatever you say. This is what you want, go for it.”

  She holds up her left hand and smiles. “There’s no going for it, Jake. It’s done. I don’t need your blessing either. But it would be a nice gesture to be there. Together. As a family.”

  “Family,” I say.

  I get into my car.

  Family.

  That’s the one thing I never had.

  Fucking family.

  And I definitely don’t want it now. Not with the surprise of a lifetime that was coming.

  6.

  (Jade)

  I stand in the study with my father. He's tan and he's nervous. I rarely get to see the great Thomas Werlem nervous, but here he is, sipping scotch from a glass, constantly putting it down and picking it back up again. He swishes the two ice cubes around in the glass and finishes off the amber drink. He puts it down and then faces me.

  His face quickly becomes stern. "I've missed you, daughter."

  "I've missed you too."

  Our relationship isn't strained, but it's totally not normal. The way he calls me daughter leaves me feeling weird. Like it's processed. Like he's debated on the best word to call me to keep me happy but not overly close.

  "How was your vacation?"

  "Well, it was more than just a vacation," he says with a smile. "I did tell you things were going to change, didn't I?"

  "Yes."

  "I've made another... oh, how should I put it... deal."

  "A deal? Did you buy an island or something?"

  My father laughs. It's such a dry laugh. He points to me and nods. "Your personality is contagious, Jade. I'm happy to have you here."

  "Thanks," I whisper.

  "This is a little more life changing than a business deal. Come with me, I want you to meet a couple people."

  "Meet a couple people?"

  "Yes, come."

  My father leads me from the study and down the long hall to one of the living rooms. There I see a woman standing with her back to us. She's in a tan dress that looks elegant and fits her slim figure.

  "Rebecca..." my father says.

  And right before my eyes, Rebecca Preatt turns around and looks at me. She smiles big, a smile that's as big as her brown eyes. I remember her as a famous pianist. Someone who had everything and then just dropped off the face of the earth.

  For a second, I think my father has brought her to teach me piano. To give me private lessons.

  But then my father puts a hand out and Rebecca offers her hand. He gives her a tug, smiles, and says, "Come, my love."

  My love?

  I'm floored. My father takes Rebecca by the waist and kisses her. Once with his lips, then a quick, yet deep kiss, with his tongue. The image is forever tattooed in my mind.

  I step back and try to assess what I'm seeing. My father kissing someo
ne who used to be famous. Rebecca Preatt. The mother... of...

  I feel something touch my back.

  "Whoa, easy," a voice says.

  I spin around and yell, "Jake!"

  There he is. Jake freaking Ziggen. The guy who was at the cafe last night. The asshole who stood up and applauded. The sexy man who threw me to a bed and fucked me until I couldn't move. Until I couldn't feel anything but endless pleasure...

  He grabs my face with his hand. I reach up and touch his hand. His eyes are burning at mine. This is the moment when he should say something romantic.

  "Your pussy is so fucking tight, sweetie. God. Damn."

  Not quite romantic, but considering the setting, this does the trick.

  He holds my face so tight as he fucks me. I'm so full. It's impossible to feel this much pressure between my legs. But my body keeps giving way to him and for him.

  I lift my feet off the bed and bite my lip. I think about things I've seen online and in movies. I lock my ankles around his lower back and pull at him. I want more. Fuck, I want so much more. I can't get enough right now. I feel like a greedy bitch because this is really the first time I've ever been fucked… and I. Want. More.

  "Look at you, sweetie," Jake growls at me. "Holding me fucking tight. You like me fucking you hard. You crazy slut... my crazy slut..."

  "Crazy slut," I whisper.

  I remember him calling me that now. I want to smack him again.

  "Hello? Jade?"

  I turn, my cheeks red, my father staring at me.

  "What?" I ask.

  "Did you hear me?"

  "No..."

  "I said... you two know each other?"

  "Campus," I say. "It's not that big."

  "Actually, it's very big," Jake says.

  I look back and he grins at me.

  He's a fucking asshole. And he smells like smoke. And cologne. And I want to fuck him again.

  "What's happening here?" I ask.

  "Well," Rebecca says with a big smile.

  "Jesus, just say it," Jake says. "I can't believe she doesn't know."

  "Know what?" I ask.

  My father steps forward. He takes my hand in one hand while holding one of Rebecca's in the other. "Listen to me, Jade. This is very dear to my heart. I am not a man to be alone. You know that. I am meant to share my heart. And... well... I've found someone to share it with."

  "Rebecca?" I whisper.

  "Yes," my father says. "We're..."

  "You're dating her?" I ask.

  My mind races with what Jake and I have done. It's not all bad, right? It's not like they're...

  "Married," my father says.

  I pull my hand away and step back. "What?"

  "They got married on an island," Jake says.

  I look back at him, eyes wide. My hand is shaking. I want to slap him so hard. He knew about this? He knew our parents... for how long? Did he... when we...

  "Jade?" Rebecca asks. "Your father tells me you play piano."

  I turn back, again, feeling dizzy. I'm not sure what to look at or what to say. So I nod.

  "You know, I can't play much anymore..."

  Jake scoffs. "Give up the act. I'm sure we all know what happened."

  The tension in the room is instantly thick. My father thrives off this stuff.

  "Good hell, son, what happened to your hand?"

  He moves the uncomfortable attention to Jake's hand. When I look at his hand, I gasp. His knuckles are all cut up from beating the hell out of that guy last night.

  I'm blushing even more now.

  Jake holds his hand up. "This? I beat someone up." Then he adds, "Jade was there."

  "Wait a second," Rebecca says. "You two were together last night?"

  My mouth is open. I'm shaking my head.

  "Not together last night," Jake says. "Right?"

  He's grinning at me, tempting me. Fucking with me.

  My mind keeps scrambling. I feel lost, confused, every emotion possible.

  “Jade was where last night?” my father booms.

  His voice takes control of the situation. The room falls silent. I feel my heart skip a beat, fearing his wrath if he knows where I was and what happened with Jake. I see Rebecca slink back, already afraid of my father.

  But Jake doesn’t back down. He steps at my father. “Someone tried to touch her.”

  “Excuse me?” my father asks.

  “We were on campus,” Jake says. “I was coming back from a drop in basketball game.”

  “Basketball player?” my father asks. “You’ve got the size for it.” He smiles and nods. “I played rugby myself. Then I tore my meniscus and that was it for me.”

  “I just play,” Jake says. “I don’t believe in the team bullshit stuff.”

  The room goes silent again. My father eyes me. Then eyes Jake. “What happened with Jade?”

  “I saw her standing near a set of steps. Smart people building.” Jake nods and winks.

  He’s fucking winning my father over…

  “Then I saw some asshole standing near her, touching her elbow. She pulled back once, twice, and then he stepped toward her. I don’t know what happened. Something just clicked in me. Maybe because I know… you know, we’re close now…”

  Jake looks at me. The sincere eyes that looked at my father are no devilish and sexy.

  We’re close now.

  “This is true?” my father asks.

  “Yes,” I whisper. I’m no stranger to lying. And the way Jake is looking at me, I feel there’s going to be some heavy duty lying going on in my life.

  “I walked up to the guy,” Jake says. “I pulled him back. He spun around and called me a motherfucker. I saw the look in Jade’s eyes and I snapped. So… I… hit him.”

  “I’m calling the university right now,” my father bellows. He points a finger in the air. “Like hell this happens to my daughter.”

  “He wasn’t a student,” I cry out.

  Jake doesn’t realize who my father is. He won’t just call the university, he’ll call the damn President of the university. He’ll show up. He’ll have security cameras installed. He’ll go through the list of students and make me find out who the guy is… the guy that doesn’t exist.

  “He wasn’t a student?” my father asks.

  “No. He was just some drunk moron. Thinking he could talk to me and touch me. I was fine…”

  “Looks like Jake really saved you,” my father says. He looks at Jake. “Thank you, son.”

  Son.

  My mind snaps back to a more current reality.

  “You’re married?” I ask.

  “Yes,” my father says. “Rebecca and I have been dating for a short while now. We’ve kept it all quiet. The press has been after us, but we kept things cordial and quiet. Until we got to the island. I couldn’t wait anymore. And what better way to step into the political world than to show a blended family like ours.”

  “So we’re a political strategy?” Jake asks.

  “Jake, don’t start,” Rebecca warns.

  “I feel strongly for your mother,” my father says.

  “Fuck that,” Jake growls.

  Well, so much for winning my father over, right?

  “Wait,” I yell. “I get a turn to freak out.”

  Everyone looks at me.

  I can’t handle it.

  So I turn and run, bolting from the living room. I want to cry, but I’m angry. I’m angry that my father does things like this. This is by far the craziest. Worse yet, he’s brought Jake Ziggen into my house. The bad boy asshole that fucks women for fun. The bad boy asshole that fucked me for fun… because I begged him to.

  And now he’s… what… my stepbrother?

  The thought makes me shiver. It’s weird but tempting.

  I stop walking and try to listen.

  “I’m sorry,” my father says. “She still has a hard time. I mean, after her mother left us…”

  “It’s okay,” Rebecca says. “I would never as
k her to feel anything but honest.”

  “You’re a good woman, Rebecca.”

  “Give me a break,” Jake says.

  It makes me smile. I hate that he makes me smile right now.

  “Jake,” my father says. “Why don’t you talk to her? You had a moment last night. Maybe she trusts you. I can’t help the way I speak sometimes. My mind is always in boardroom mode. I hope I haven’t offended you… or your mother. This is not a political move. This is a move for my heart. My family. My life.”

  The words sound so good and smooth. I can see my father saying that into a mirror, making sure he looked believable while speaking them.

  “Yeah, I’ll talk to her,” Jake says. “Sure thing. You two stay there. Okay?”

  “Actually, we’re going to go out for dinner,” my father says. “I’ve arranged for a perfect dinner, complete with a little news leak of the dinner. Time to start the flashes, right?”

  I hear Jake force a laugh. “Whatever you say, man.”

  “Jake,” Rebecca says. “Don’t say that. Thomas is very prominent…”

  “I’m not calling him Dad,” Jake says.

  “I wouldn’t expect that, son,” my father says. “Why don’t we start with sir?”

  “Why don’t I start by talking your daughter off the ledge you put her on?”

  I gasped and fall against the wall. I shouldn’t be so turned on but I can’t help it. Jake is a total dick, but he’s kind of sticking up for me.

  “Well, have a good night,” my father says. “Tell Jade I love her. That we’ll talk tomorrow. Maybe she and I can grab a brunch.”

  There’s no response other than the sound of feet on the floor. I hurry and duck back into the library. A room full of old pages, old wood, and a ladder that wheels across the floor to ceiling shelves. I don’t remember a time anyone ever used this room. Just more prestige for my father’s image.

  I hear footsteps closing in on the room. I hurry and turn, putting my fingertips to a table. I think I should be crying, but there’s no tears. I have nothing right now. I’m too confused to care to cry.

  “Jade…”

  It’s his voice. I stiffen and can sense him right there in the doorway.

  I slowly look over my shoulder. “What do you want?”

  “I’m checking on you.”

  “I heard. I’m fine. Your job is done. Go.”

  “I doubt that,” Jake says and steps into the room. He shuts the door behind him. He pulls out a cigarette and puts it between his lips.