I laugh as I walk down the hall.
I turn my head and see the bathroom door.
A better idea strikes me.
I go into the bathroom and shut the door. I turn on the light and look at myself in the mirror. I look like a mess right now. But that’s okay. I am a mess. A complete fucking mess. I’ve always been one and always will be. The only time I hadn’t felt like a complete mess was when I was with Jade.
I grab my phone.
“Let’s play,” I whisper as grin.
My fingers go to work, sending Jade a text.
It was in her hands now.
Either I’d bust into the dining room and ruin dinner… or she could come into the bathroom and let me fuck her.
I rub my face as I think about it.
It was completely stupid to do.
We had made a deal. An arrangement that had actually started to work. We were able to tolerate each other. Yeah, we fucking flirted, but I flirted with everyone. Each time I saw her, I thought about my fingers digging into her sweet pussy. I thought about my tongue lapping up her juice as she came for me. It took a while for that to start to go away.
But I fucked up that night.
I put her on the spot and she goddamn did what I said.
“Fuck,” I groan.
I stand up and walk to the open door.
The hallway is long and dark. It’s too damn quiet for me. The sound of nothing is almost overwhelming. I now regret sending Kate home. I could have kept her here. Played with her a little. Fucked her a lot. Let her crash and then kick her out in the morning. Toss her a fake cell number and never see her again.
“Fuck,” I say again.
I leave the bedroom and walk down the hall. I’m so far from drunk, it’s actually annoying. I’m sure Thomas - my fucking stepfather - has some good shit stashed around the house. But I don’t want to drink his stuff. I want nothing to do with that guy.
I don’t even want to be here right now.
The truth is… the only reason I came back here tonight was to see if Jane was back yet. They all fucking flew off to New York, including Hunter, and nobody got in touch with me. Not even Jane. I tell myself it’s only because she’s surrounded by her father, my mother, and Hunter.
But maybe it’s more.
Maybe Hunter and her… for real…
I shake my head.
Why does it matter?
If she and Hunter are dating, whatever. I’m just here to watch over it all. To make sure she doesn’t end up forced into anything or hurt. The only one doing the forcing is me.
I stand at her bedroom door and slowly open it. The smell of Jade attacks me. I make fists and enter the room. It’s pitch black, up until I turn on a lamp next to the bed. The bed is perfectly made, subtle touches of girl and woman scattered throughout the room. You can tell is the room that’s in her father’s house, right? It doesn’t have her complete touch or elegance to it. I open the top drawer of her nightstand and it’s just junk stuff. Little notes. Receipts. Lipgloss. Chapstick. A couple rings. A knotted necklace chain.
I shut the drawer and look around. I remember coming into this room and finding Jane touching herself. That wild night she was drunk. And I tasted her sweet pussy. Over and over. I ate her good. She threw up from being drunk and I hurried to convince our parents that she was just sick.
The chick has a stake in my heart. And I can’t get it the fuck out.
I sit down on the edge of her bed.
I try to sort it all out again, but can’t figure it out. The only thing that makes sense… is the last time we fucked. It was wild, hell yeah, but it was a dirty fuck. A quick and dirty fuck.
Not the kind I wanted to leave her with.
I look around the room one more time and nod.
It sort of makes sense now.
I have to have her again. I have to fuck my stepsister just one more time.
I have to have Jade.
__
3.
(Jade)
I stand outside and wait for our car. Of course, it’s not a car. It’s not a limo either. That’s a bit pretentious. My father’s words, not mine. Instead of all that, a large SUV pulls up. The thing could probably sit ten people comfortably, yet it’s just for my father and Rebecca.
A driver rushes out and opens the back door. Rebecca is the first to wave. She thanks everyone for coming and then puts her fingers to lips and kisses. She waves again and disappears into the SUV. Photographers take pictures and call out questions to my father. He’s been circling the party, dropping hints at his intentions to run for office. That, and his newest investments and ventures in business. He’s smart because he now has several reporters writing several different stories about him. They will circulate and build my father’s image over and over.
My father gives a stern wave and grins. He never smiles enough to show his teeth. His eyes always look sincere, but his face always serious.
He gets into the vehicle and it drives away.
The next SUV is for me and Hunter.
I feel my body swaying. Left to right. Right to left. Unless it’s just the world doing it.
Yeah, I know, I’m kind of drunk right now.
I don’t give a shit.
I deserve this. It’s how I’m going to get through everything.
The driver gets out and opens the back door for me and Hunter. He ushers me forward and I stumble. Hunter’s hand then grips my waist and pulls me close.
“Just get in,” he whispers. “Without looking like a fool, woman.”
Fool? Woman?
He’s like a clone of my father.
I hate it. I maybe even hate him already.
But we’re dating. We’re together. We’re… happy.
I get into the SUV and Hunter gets his chance at a turn and wave thing.
He gets in and the door shuts. I look at Hunter and he’s looking at his phone. Fingers moving fast.
“Still working?” I ask.
“Always,” he says. He hits a button and the phone screen goes black. He looks at me. “Always. Have to keep the wheels turning, my sweet Jade. You know that, right? You’ve lived this life for so long. I’m so happy we were able to get together now. Finally.”
Hunter smiles. I desperately try to convince myself he’s good looking. And the thing is - he actually is. He’s a clean cut, sexy guy. Any woman would be lucky to have him. And he’s staring at me with some dangerous eyes.
I haven’t done really anything with Hunter yet. I tell him I’m going slow and enjoying it all. He hangs tight because of my father. The man who used me my entire life I get to use him now. Isn’t life just wonderful? The last person to touch me…
“You look wiped out,” Hunter says. “These nights can be very long.”
“They are,” I say. “I’m happy for the music thing though.” My eyes start to feel heavy. “It’s good. I’m happy.”
“You deserve to be happy, Jade,” Hunter whispers.
He touches my head and I rest on his shoulder. I tell myself to stop it. That all of this needs to stop. I need to stand tall, strong, and do what I want. But what I want is so wrong. So unbelievably wrong.
My phone vibrates in my bag next to the chair. I look around the table. Hunter is in deep conversation with my father. They’re drinking scotch, talking business, laughing right on cue. My father’s hand is clamped tight to Hunter’s shoulder. All around them are other businessmen. They’re here to suck off the power a little. It’s a family business meeting kind of thing. Whatever it takes to build my father’s image.
Rebecca is sipping her wine as though it’s her fucking date. Staring at the red liquid, taking sip after sip, like she’s trying to be casual or something about getting drunk at dinner. There are other women at the table, everyone trying to be casual. It’s horrible. I fucking hate this so much.
So I grab my phone. I figure it’s Katelyn. I need to let her know I’ll shoot her a text after we’re done eating.
B
ut it’s not Katelyn.
Ohmyfuckinggosh… it’s Jake.
He’s texting me right now.
I open the text, checking the dinner table.
Nobody is watching me. Nobody gives a damn.
I’m in the house. I need your pussy. Right now.
It shocks me. He’s been sexy and flirty but never aggressive. We had a deal. We reached an agreement after our last time. The goal was to try and find common ground and just hang out.
I text him back.
What, are you drunk? I’m at dinner. It’s horrible, FYI
Now I sit impatiently. My heart racing. I hate myself for letting my heart get so excited so fast like this. I read the word ‘pussy’ like eighty times. Such a nasty, dirty word, right? But that’s Jake. He speaks what he wants and doesn’t care. And what he wants - again - is me.
I look at my father. I look at Hunter. I look at Rebecca.
I didn’t ask for any of this.
Me and Jake first hooked up before his mother became my stepmother. Before he became my stepbrother. So is it really my fault if I’m so attracted to Jake? And, seriously, is it really that wrong… to… just keep fucking him?
Hunter looks at me - as though on cue - and winks.
My phone vibrates.
Make a choice right now. You either come into the bathroom and let me fuck you or I come into the dining room. Trust me, you don’t want me in that room.
I swallow hard.
I’m so turned on right now.
I hurry to text him back.
Don’t come in here, Jake. Don’t make things worse. Please
It hasn’t been good at all with Jake. He’s so angry at his mother and he has a wildly growing anger for my father. Yet he won’t talk to me about either. Sometimes I think he’s jealous of Hunter. And when I think about it, it turns me on. Because if he’s jealous of Hunter that means he wants me.
Now I’m blushing.
I’m horny. I’m wet. I’m blushing. At the dinner table.
If Jake comes in here and ruins a business meeting… I almost fear what will happen to him.
My phone vibrates.
I’m not fucking kidding. Bring me that sweet pussy of yours right now. Or else I’m coming in there. I’ll drop my pants and make you stroke me in front of everyone. I’m counting to ten… 1, 2, 3
I read the text and hurry to grab for my bag.
Then I freeze.
Am I really doing this?
Going back, again?
We made a promise. A deal. A… whatever. We weren’t going to fool around anymore. It was too risky and way too wrong.
I grip my bag and start to stand.
Risky? Wrong? Jake?
Fuck… why did it all feel so right?
I nuzzle my nose into his neck. I’m sort of awake, sort of lost in a memory turned dream. My tongue flickers for a second and my body is on fire. I taste something bitter and my eyes pop open. Tastes like cologne. I lift my head and realize I’m still in the backseat with Hunter.
He turns and looks at me, his eyes wide.
He touches my cheek again.
The car is silent, almost soothing at the soft rumble as we travel.
My memory is flickering to life, but I’m in the moment with what is right in front of me.
A second later, Hunter and I go at each other. Our lips touch and then our tongues flirt. I know Hunter has always wanted to make out with me. I mean, we had kissed before, okay? A little peck here and there after our first couple dates. We even slipped a tongue here and there. Hunter grazed over my shirt at my breast once and kissed my neck.
But right now, it’s almost wild.
I hold his shoulders as our mouths open and close. Our tongues battling and swirling. Part of me is waiting for something else to happen. Like, Dude, here’s your moment… make a fucking move on me.
Hunter doesn’t make any other moves. He just keeps kissing me. His left hand slides to the back of my hair and digs. His other hand caresses my cheek. I’m not in the mood for fucking romance right now. What my body wants and needs is just really good sex.
OMG, who am I?
I was basically a virgin before I met Jake. Now after a few times with him, it was like I broke through some kind of barrier. Now I know what I want and what I fucking need.
The memory of Jake flickers away even more and I suddenly start to come to reality. And reality is not so cool. I’m in the backseat, making out with Hunter. Like full on going at him. Wanting him to touch me.
I blame the vodka for sure.
I stop the kiss and slide my hands to his chest to keep him away from me. Just in case if he finds his balls and wants to do something.
“Sorry,” I whisper.
“Why? Shit, Jade…”
He moves at me and I keep him at bay. “I’m so tired, Hunter. I just want to sleep.”
“Okay,” he says. “Get some sleep. You’re just drunk right now.”
I want to say something back to him. Maybe something that wouldn’t come out when I’m sober.
But I shut my eyes and seek out his shoulder again…
The next morning hits me hard.
I have a very vague memory of walking from the SUV to the hotel. Getting into the elevators. Getting to the room. Getting into bed.
Into bed with Hunter.
The first thing I do is sit up. I pull the covers to my chin. I move the hair out of my face. My mouth is bone dry and my head hurts. I’m just dehydrated. Not hungover.
I slowly open the covers and take a peek. I’m terrified I’ll be naked. Or I’ll be in different clothes. Which would mean Hunter dressed me.
But I’m in the same dress. He did nothing but put me into the bed.
I look to my left and the other side of the bed seems fine.
Christ, he probably didn’t even sleep next to me.
It’s all so damn confusing.
I get out of bed and make a line for the bathroom. I hurry to drink from the faucet, lapping up water like a dog. But it tastes so good right now. I look at myself in the mirror and I look like death.
I fight with my hair for a few seconds, my fingers tearing at painful knots. I scramble to wash my face and then go to the closet to get a change of clothes. Better yet, I go to the dresser and take out PJ’s. I strip out of my dress, my eyes on the door, hoping Hunter doesn’t walk in on me.
I put on matching pants and a shirt. I make damn sure I have a bra on, which I would never do with PJ’s. What’s the point of sleeping in a bra?
I try to play off how shitty I feel and leave the bedroom.
I figure I’m going to find Hunter reading the newspaper. Sipping some coffee. You know, a normal morning after a dinner party.
Nope.
Hunter is in a full suit standing at the counter in the kitchen. Across from him is my father, dressed to take over the world. Two feet to the right is Rebecca, wearing another gorgeous dress.
And here I am, dressed for sleep, looking like death.
I panic (again), now because I fear that I slept all morning.
“Good morning,” Hunter says and grins.
My father looks over his shoulder. Then at his watch. “Almost good afternoon.”
I swallow hard, feeling two inches tall.
It’s ten minutes until noon.
But we didn’t get settled until after two in the morning.
“How long…”
“I’ve been here for two hours,” my father says. “We had a conference call.”
“I’ve been up since six,” Hunter says.
“Oh. You could have woken me up.”
Hunter shakes his head. “You were sleeping soundly.”
“Too much vodka?” my father asks.
Rebecca touches my father’s back. “Oh, Thomas, she was so excited last night. And nervous. It’s okay. I’m sure nobody saw a thing.”
“My drunk of a daughter?” my father growls.
“It was a party,” I whisper.
&
nbsp; “Not a college party!” he snaps.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “Nobody woke me up. I’m fine right now. The bed was so comfortable.”
“You know, Jade…”
I’m waiting for it now. My father to just lay into me. He’s maybe comfortable enough now in front of Rebecca and Hunter to go after me. To break me down with his cruel words. The worst is when he says something about my mother. And his ideas why she left us. Which, of course, are all my fault.
“Excuse me, Thomas,” Hunter says. “Did you see the trading activity on AshLinde Corp?”
My father’s head snaps around to Hunter. “What?”
“The activity. I’m really wondering about their new patents…”
Just like that, I’m not longer the target.
My father and Hunter are lost in conversation again.
I slowly turn and start to walk away.
“Jade,” Hunter says.
I look back. “Yes?”
“Our flight is leaving in an hour. Please be dressed and ready.”
I nod.
I walk to the bedroom.
And for some reason, my eyes fill with tears.
I’m pathetic.
But at least I get to go home. And see Jake.
__
4.
(Jade)
It’s such a long day. Flying private is one thing, I get that, but it’s still flying. Hunter was involved with business calls and meetings and whatever the entire time. I had nothing to do but sit there, looking at the clouds, wishing my head would stop hurting.
The hours of flying, the three hour time change, it all adds up.
By the time I walk through the front door of the house, I’m totally spent. Hunter is off and away on his own. He kisses my cheek at the door and leaves. There are people in the house, making noise. From cooking to cleaning, to the business side of the house where I assume my father is.
I keep my cool, but half to admit I’m sort of excited when I see Jake’s car in the long driveway. He was told to stay the hell away from the trip. I half expected him to fly to New York just to be a pain in the ass. I really don’t know why he sticks around. He could go anywhere he wants without anyone looking after him. He’s so free that it actually makes me a little angry. Maybe I should be disgusting like him. Drink like a fish. Smoke. Get into fights and curse a lot. Fuck anything that walks.
BAD HEART: A Stepbrother Romance (A Step Over the Line Book Book 2) Page 2