So I live my life in denial. I spend 6 months pretending it can all be okay, and I can make it on my own. I don’t need one man to make me happy, I’m growing up now and that was just an experience I need to forget about as soon as possible.
Easier said than done.
It is on a night out with David that I finally crack. We have a nice enough dinner at our favorite Italian place - and I hate the fact that it’s ‘our’ with a passion - then head back to his place for dessert.
I’m now living in the dorms, attending college. David is a teacher’s assistant, making our relationship at least a little forbidden. But the thrill isn’t enough for me.
He lives in a nice place a little off campus, a pretty brick house he’s told me time and time again needs a woman’s touch. I can take a hint, you jerk, I think viciously, immediately scolding myself in my head for being so evil.
As soon as we step into his house, David’s lips latch onto mine like he’s about to suck the life of me. I return his kisses without a hint of passion. I just let him kiss me, like a half-dead person.
“Baby,” he moans in my ear. “I need to have you … I can’t wait any longer.”
He takes his blazer off, never moving his lips off of mine. His glasses are bumping against my nose, which annoys me to no end, making the whole experience even more awkward.
And then he takes his shirt off.
He isn’t scrawny despite being a bookish type. I guess he hits up the gym pretty often, because his body is broad and muscled. But his skin …
His skin is tanned and unmarred. Perfect in all aspects.
And suddenly, I have a longing for metal, for images, for black ink.
And I can’t fight it any longer. I push David away.
“I can’t,” I whisper softly and he looks at me with confusion.
“What’s wrong, Candace?” he asks worriedly, but I raise my hand, wanting to be left alone. He shoots questions all over the place as I back out of the room, and as soon as I’m outside, I break into a run, hearing his shouts after me.
He doesn’t come after me though, which should tell me something.
I run the whole way to campus and to the parking lot, my hands shaking as I stuff a key inside the lock and get in my beaten up car. I bought it with my own money I made working in a coffee shop, not wanting to take a cent from my Dad. He’s screwed the only good thing in my life, and I’m not about to forgive him anytime soon.
Despite all that, I find myself driving the twenty miles back home. I don’t know why, but like a child needing comfort, I return to the place where I was happy for the last time.
I park the car and head inside the house. It’s late, and I collapse on a chair at the kitchen table, too tired to go on.
A few minutes later, I head steps behind me and turn around with a nasty scowl, ready to pick a fight with my Dad. But it’s not him.
It’s Kate, his mother and my stepmom.
I’ve always liked Kate, though we aren’t especially close. She keeps her distance, and I believe it’s because she doesn’t want to try and replace my mother. Sometimes, I wish I could tell her I just need some closeness and warmth instead of her polite smiles.
Kate is holding her nightgown closed in front of her and heads into the kitchen without asking a single question. She returns a couple of minutes later and sets a steaming cup in front of me.
“What’s this?” I ask, unwilling to look at her.
“Hot chocolate,” Kate replies quietly.
I raise the mug to my lips and take a long sip, nearly choking when I realize this isn’t just hot chocolate. “And?” I ask with amusement, my brows shooting upwards.
“And a little something to calm you down,” Kate replies innocently, giving me a grin. It has that same crooked feature I liked on … him. It hurts me to see the similarities between the two of them. And I know Kate keeps in touch with him secretly.
I sip my spiked hot chocolate for a while and she keeps me company. Finally, I trust my voice enough to speak up. “I miss him,” I admit for the first time.
“I know you do, honey,” Kate says, reaching for my hand across the table. I let her stroke me, feeling good under her soothing touch. “Have you tried contacting him?”
I snort. “As if Dad would let me do that. He would kill me if I so much as tried.”
Kate’s expression stiffens and I look at her with surprise. I’ve never seen her argue with my father. This is the first time she’s expressed displeasure over something that he did.
“I wish your father wouldn’t be so stubborn,” she murmurs quietly, then looks into my eyes. “I always knew, Candy … I knew you and my son had something special.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, unable to break eye contact with my stepmother.
“You mustn’t break that bond,” she says. “He needs you just as much as you need him.”
I nod slowly, even though it’ll be a long time before I believe that.
Kate gets up, getting a piece of paper and a pen, then scribbles something on it. She pushes it towards me and I look at it curiously.
Parker Media, it says. I look at Kate questioningly, and find her face lit up with pride.
“He started his own company,” she explains. “He’s the head of it. They’re doing very well.”
“Always knew he would,” I admit.
“You should go and see him,” Kate suggests, her voice strong.
“But my Dad …”
“Forget about your Dad,” she immediately insists. “Leave me to him. I have some ideas of how to convince him to approve.” There’s that devilish smile, and somehow, I start to feel a little hopeful. I return her smile.
“Maybe,” I say lamely, clutching the piece of paper between my fingers. “But … What if he’s moved on?”
Kate laughs softly, looking away for a moment. She looks beautiful illuminated by moonlight, younger than her age, a true beauty. “I know love,” she says softly. “And I know you don’t just get over it.”
We’re both lost in our own thoughts for a while and I finish my chocolate, getting up, suddenly tired to the bone. “Thanks for the chocolate, Kate,” I say sincerely.
She gets up too, and before I know it, she grabs me in a tight embrace. “Will you go?” she whispers in my ear.
I think it over for a moment, but the answer is clear in my mind already.
“Yes,” I decide.
Chapter 15
HUNTER
I am rich. I am successful. I’ve achieved all I ever hoped for, and then some.
But deep down, I am so unhappy. I long for the girl I love every day, and I regret the day I walked out on her every minute of every day.
But I keep my distance, knowing I’m not welcome in that household, well aware of the fact that I need to stay away from the whole family or risk getting everyone involved hurt.
Allura is a distant memory, a mistake I made when I was feeling out of sorts. As soon as I walked into her hotel room and she dropped that towel to the ground, I knew I couldn’t do it.
For once in my life, I couldn’t just replace one woman with another. I ended up breaking down in front of her, slamming a fist into the wall, plaster falling everywhere.
Allura may be a minx, but she’s become a good friend. She’s the one who talked me off the ledge, who convinced me I had my business to take care of. She’s the one who told me I can still prove myself and maybe, just maybe, things will be different after that.
In only 6 months, I’ve achieved more than some people do in a lifetime. I’ve got a company up and running, a social media app that is shooting up the popularity charts, and a load of cash in my bank account with more on the way every day.
But I am deeply unhappy, and my thoughts are plagued with Candy every time I take a breath, a sharp reminded of what I could have had, but ultimately lost.
I am in my office today, tired and in a foul mood. It’s one of the bad days, a time when she is on my mind even more than usua
lly. I feel like breaking something when my secretary comes in.
“What?” I bark at her. That poor woman, she has to deal with my tantrums daily.
“You have a visitor,” she explains nervously. “He won’t leave and didn’t introduce himself … I’m worried-”
“I can introduce myself,” a voice grumbles behind her and a man makes his way into my office, out gazes connecting in a game of wits.
It’s Mr. Winters, my old nemesis.
As if sensing the change in atmosphere, my secretary quietly excuses herself and heads out of the office, but not before shooting me a worried look. I try to respond calmly with a nod, but truth is, my heart is beating wildly in my chest.
“Can I help you?” I ask coldly as soon as the door shuts.
Mark Winters doesn’t even try to acknowledge the fact he’s on my turf. Instead, he strolls around, checking out the view - impressive, to say the least - and finally sitting down on a chair in front of my desk.
His eyes burn into mine and my fists tighten. I’ll take him if I have to. I don’t care if he’s Candace’s Dad - he pretty much ruined my life.
“I came to talk,” he admits, and there’s a certain note of defeat in his voice that piques my interest.
“Then by all means, start speaking,” I say bitterly, staring him down.
He returns the venomous gaze and I’m pretty sure a fight will ensue, but in the end, he sighs heavily, rubbing his eyes and my expression becomes one of surprise.
“She’s unhappy,” he finally says, and that small admission breaks my heart in two. I stare at him in silence, waiting for the man to go on. And so he does, deciding my fate with each word coming out of his mouth.
“She goes to college, gets good grades. She lives in the dorms,” he explains. “But when she comes home … she’s empty, like a shell. It’s as if a fire went out in her. She’s not my daughter any more, just a remnant of what she used to be.”
“Why do you think that is?” I ask.
He shoots daggers with his eyes. “You know why,” he finally spits out, and I can tell this will be hard for him to admit, but I love seeing him squirm in the seat I paid for.
“She wants you,” he admits brokenly, and finally looks up into my eyes. “She always has. You need to … I think you need to come home, Hunter.”
The words hang in the air, heavy with meaning. I can hear my heart beating louder than ever, the pounding resonating in my head and making me go crazy.
I get up abruptly from my seat and walk over to the window, looking at the bustling city beneath me. “It’s over,” I say brokenly.
Mr. Winters gets up and forcibly makes me face him, which takes me by surprise. “Dammit, don’t make this harder than it already is,” he groans. “I know my daughter. I can see she’s suffering. And if you’re the only one who can help … I need you to come home.”
We have a staring contest, and my mind shifts slowly to his side.
Could it really be possible that she misses me like I do her? Could it be that she still wants to be with me … after all the problems we had, the way I treated her?
Slowly, my face breaks into a hesitant smile, because I honestly don’t give a fuck. I just know I have to try to win her back, otherwise I’ll never forgive myself.
Suddenly, I can’t get out fast enough. I grab my blazer and rush towards the door, my mind swimming with plans to get her back.
“Hunter,” Mr. Winters’ voice interrupts from behind. I turn back hesitantly, and he’s giving me this intense stare. “You hurt her, and I’ll come for you,” he promises darkly.
I stare back. “Not planning on doing that,” I say, and am about to leave, but I just can’t help but be a prick for a moment longer. Let’s say it’s for the sake of the good old days.
“Hey, Mark?” I ask and he immediately looks angry since I used his first name. I grin devilishly at him.
“Don’t expect your daughter home for a while. I intend to make up for lost time.”
I leave him raging in my office and head out with a huge grin plastered on my face.
***
I need to go home first to take care of some stuff, but the ride drags and drags. I finally come to my stop and get off the bus, heading towards my apartment building. My hands are shaking as I enter the elevator and press the button for my floor.
The ride takes forever, but I finally walk out into the hallway. Immediately, the image before me makes me worried.
There’s someone standing in front of my door, pacing the length of the hallway. I look at the figure as I walk closer, and my heart beats faster and faster as I come closer to her.
And it’s her.
My sweetheart, my love, my stepsister, my only one. Sweet little Candy.
I nearly lose it when I see her there, but I decide to play one final game with her, promising myself it will be the last one.
“Can I help you?” I ask out loud, and she immediately turns around, her eyes latching on to mine. I can almost feel her quickened heartbeat as her eyes dance over my face, drinking me in like she’s an addict.
She’s more beautiful than ever. Her hair has grown somewhat and is now all the way down her back, the soft curls just begging to be tugged on. Her lips are full and pouty, her dress the perfect mix of sweet and naughty. And I’ve never wanted her more.
“Hunter,” she gasps, her voice raspy with the need I feel mirrored in my own body. I raise my eyebrows at her, enjoying her fidgeting in front of me.
But instead of shy little Candace whom I’m used to, this woman straightens her back and looks me straight in the eye when she speaks. Determined.
I like it.
“I’ve come to get you back,” she claims proudly, and I can’t fight the smile that makes its way on to my lips.
“Is that so?” I ask her, raising my eyebrows. “And what makes you think I want you back?”
She doesn’t squirm from my teasing, instead she looks even more determined. “This,” she whispers, stepping on her tip toes and pulling down.
She kisses me, deeply and passionately, her kiss revealing everything she’s been through since I last saw her. She’s sweet as fuck, still forbidden, but perfect in every way. her little tongue darts in and out of my mouth, making me go insane.
“OK,” I whisper against her lips. “I’ll take you.”
“Damn right,” she groans, biting my bottom lip.
I laugh as she takes my keys from my hand and drags me into my apartment. Sweet little Candy is all grown up, now more so than ever.
She shuts the door behind her and comes after me with a mischievous smile.
“Now, remind me where we left off?” she asks seductively, dropping her dress to the floor.
THE END
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2 Wicked Stepbrothers, 1 Innocent Girl series
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Game of the Stepbrothers
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Stepbrother Beloved
Stepbrother Holiday
Billionaire Stepbrother Obsession
Stepbrother Confession
Stepbrother’s Inheritance
Stepbrother Savior
Stepbrother, My Love
From Stepbrother to Lover
Stepbrother Revealed
Billionaire Stepbrother’s Offer
Billion Dollar Stepbrother
A Baby for my Hero Stepbrother
Romanced by my Billionaire Stepbrother
My Stepbrother Rocks: Opening Act
Stepbrother At Last
Billionaire Stepbrother’s Promise
Discovered by my Stepbrother
Stranded with my Stepbrother
Rogue: A Stepbrother Forbidden Romance
Stepbrother Frat
Stepbrother
Therapy
Stepbrother Alpha Billionaire
7 Minutes with my Stepbrother
Stepbrother No More
Billionaire Stepbrother: Burn
Seduced for Revenge
Stepbrother’s Revenge
CRAVE: My Billionaire Stepbrother
Book 1
Book 2
Stepbrother: Caught in the Act
Part 1
Part 2
Billionaire Stepbrother - Addiction
Part 1
Part 2
Taboo Romance with A Billionaire
Book 1
Book 2
Torn by my Two Stepbrothers Series
Book 1 - Sinner
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