Текст книги "Bastard: A stepbrother Romance"

Автор книги: Coco Cadence

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Chapter 6

Chris

A few days later

“No, for the last time, I’m not fucking interested, okay?” I say, as my brother forcibly drags me across the street.

“I don’t care what you say. We’re doing this.”

“Why? Why do you fucking care so much?” I growl.

He turns his head toward me. “Because she’s our mom and she won’t be here forever, so I suggest you enjoy what time you still have with her.”

“She makes it impossible to enjoy anything. Everything near her shrivels up and dies a quick death.”

Leo laughs as we walk into the café. “You make her sound so charming.”

“You know as well as I do how annoying she can get.”

“Yes,” he says, frowning. “But she’s also still our mother. And if she’s annoying, then so are you.” He taps on my chest.

“You think?” I laugh, trying to shove him, but he evades.

He walks up to the counter and orders three coffees. “If I were to believe Emily, then you’re more than just annoying. She practically wanted to kill you back at the tracks.”

“Yeah, well, that’s thanks to Mom,” I say. “She couldn’t shut up about that PR thing for just one second so I could at least celebrate my victory with my family in peace.” I sigh. “Why does it have to be so complicated all the time?”

He hands me a coffee. “Shouldn’t have fucked up in the first place, Chris. Then you wouldn’t need a PR person to begin with.”

I frown at him as we walk to our table and sit down. “Don’t talk to me about media fiascos, Leo, you know too much about them. We’d be talking for weeks.”

“Ha-ha, at least I’ve solved my problems. Can’t say the same about you.”

“My shit can’t be easily solved,” I say, taking a sip. “Fuck, that’s hot.”

The barista glares at me when I swear, but I don’t give a crap. They can look all they want, and I’ma swear as much as I want. I’m not changing for them, and if they want me as a customer, then they’d better not speak a word to me about it.

“Not used to the heat, huh?” my brother jokes while drinking his coffee.

“Fuck you; you know I hate this shit.”

“Well, Mom likes ‘this shit,’ so too bad for you.”

Before I can reply, the door opens again and in steps a curvy redhead with a coat that looks like she just killed a fucking rabbit. Samantha King, aka, his ex-secretary.

“Samantha, you’re here, too?” I say.

“Hey,” she says, giving us both a kiss. “God, I almost didn’t make it in time. Steph just wouldn’t shut up.” She giggles.

She gives Leo an extra peck on the cheeks, and they share a moment, which I just don’t want to see. Like at all. Fuck, it’s so awkward.

“You came here voluntarily? Do you have a death wish?” I ask.

She looks at me as if she doesn’t know what I’m talking about. “No, I just thought it’d be nice to chat with your mother. You know, a little family get-together.”

“Oh, boy …” I say, sighing and laughing at the same time. It’s not actually a laugh of enjoyment but more of pity and misery.

“What?” she says, as she sits down.

Leo slides her the extra coffee he bought. “He doesn’t like our mother.”

“Who does?” I inquire.

“Well, she doesn’t seem that bad to me,” Sam says, taking a sip.

“That’s because she doesn’t show her evil side to you. She likes to keep that hidden until after … it’s become official that you’re part of the family.” I look at her finger, which has Leo’s ring on it, and let my eyes glide down to her stomach. That same moment she covers her belly with her hands and blushes.

“I’m sure it’s not that bad,” she says, clearing her throat.

“Oh, it’s bad, all right,” I say.

“Chris … do we really have to do this now?” Leo says.

“What? Tell Sam what she’s really getting into?” I pick up my coffee and sit back in my chair. “I think she has a right to know.”

Leo frowns at me disapprovingly, almost telling me not to go there. Oh, but I am going there. I’m definitely taking it there now.

Chapter 7

Chris

Age 16

“What!?” I scream as my mother swallows away her pride. “Is this a joke?”

“No, it’s not …” She sighs. “I’m sorry, I know how you must feel.”

“No, you don’t¸” I snap. “This isn’t funny, Mother.”

“I know it isn’t, but this is real and it is happening.”

“You’re really doing this, aren’t you?” Leo says, grabbing my hand to support me, as I’m about to explode in anger.

“Yes.” She rubs her lips together. “I’m sorry, boys.”

“No, don’t say you’re sorry,” I say, shaking my head. “You don’t get to say that word.”

“I have to follow my heart,” she says, blinking away a tear.

“What about us? What about father?”

“He and I … well, you know, we’ve been growing apart.”

“No, he said you were working on it,” I say. “Together.”

“Hmm …” She nods absently. “Did he say that?”

“Don’t tell me this is happening. You, out of all people … you’re the one to call it quits?”

She looks up at me with sorrowful eyes that split my heart in two. “I’m sorry, Christopher. What your father and I have … had … it’s not what I want anymore.”

“So you’re just going to leave?” I say, making a face. “How could you do that?”

“I don’t have another choice. I can’t stay here when there is no…”

“What?” I growl. “Say it. Say it out loud.”

“No,” she says in such a resolute way that it makes me sit back and look at her in disgust. “I will not discuss my private relationships with you. What happens between your father and me is our business.”

“Oh, so breaking his heart and ours is not my concern?” I grind my teeth.

I’m so close to bursting, Leo physically has to hold me back.

“I’m sorry …” she says again.

“That doesn’t change a thing,” I growl. “Whatever I say won’t stop you, will it? You’ve already made up your mind. You already knew what you were going to do the moment you stepped into the house. No wonder you were gone for all those days. Thinking about how to rip out our hearts and crush them with your bare hands?” I yell. “Did you spend all those nights in a hotel? Or is there some other reason you suddenly want to leave us motherless? Because there must be a good reason for this. Have you met someone new you like better, huh?”

“Enough, Chris,” Leo says with a calm tone, gazing at me with a stern but understanding look.

He’s the only one who understands what I’m going through right now, but I don’t get why he’s just sitting there without responding. How can he listen to this and not react?

“You don’t agree with this, do you?” I say.

“No, of course not,” he says, looking back at his mother. “But if you were unhappy, I think you would do anything to be happy again.”

“Thank you,” my mother says, wiping away a tear.

“Don’t you fucking cry,” I say.

“Watch your language, Christopher,” she says. “I might be bringing bad news, but I am still your mother.”

“You’re not my mother if you’re running off with some other guy!” I yell, getting up from the couch.

Nothing can stop me now. I’m a loose cannon, ready to fire. Leo gets up too, trying to hold me back as I lean forward to shout at her. My blood is boiling, and it feels like everything is turning red in front of me.

“You want to be with your lover so badly?” I scream. “Go on then.”

She looks shocked as she holds her hand in front of her mouth.

“What? You didn’t think I’d notice if you ran off with him? I saw you at that restaurant, mother; you can’t hide the truth from me. You know I always find out.”

“You … you knew all along?” she whispers.

“Yes, I know what you’ve been up to behind my father’s back. Behind everyone’s back.” I spit on the floor. “Disgusting.”

More tears spill from her eyes. “I’m sorry.” She shakes her head. “It’s not what you think.”

“Yes, it is. Stop covering it up and own up to your behavior. What kind of example do you want to set? Because, right now, all I see is a mother who doesn’t love her kids enough to stay with them.”

“Stop,” Leo says. “Stop before you say something you’ll regret.”

“Too late,” I growl. “She already did that for all of us.”

She gets up from her seat and walks out of the room.

“Yeah, you run from us, like you always do!” I yell.

Leo grabs my arm, but I jerk free as I walk after her.

“I’m sorry. I can’t do this anymore,” she says, grabbing her bag.

“You’re going now? Running off to him?”

She suddenly stops in her tracks, spins on her heels, and glares at me, screaming, “My happiness means something!”

I swallow away the pain that fills my throat, but it doesn’t help one bit. When she takes a deep breath and starts walking again, I yell, “Go! Get the fuck out of here!”

Leo’s behind me, grabbing me and holding on to me so I don’t go after her.

A part of me wants to follow her to the place of the man she’s going to for comfort and beat the living shit out of him, but Leo won’t let me. I know he’s right, even if I don’t want him to be right.

I didn’t ask for any of this and neither did he, but now we’re stuck with a father who won’t stop his wife from running into the arms of another man.

All I can do is watch and feel my heart crumble when she closes the door.

Chapter 8

Chris

Present

 

 

I hate her more than I hate myself for what I did to Emily.

“Oh, wow …” Sam says, biting her lip.

“Chris … really? You had to bring that up again?”

“Hey, I think she had a right to know, okay?” I say, taking another sip from my coffee.

“But your mother was in the house when I came to that dinner with you. They were together … or not ‘together’ together?”

“Oh, they were together, yes,” Leo says, looking my way with a stern face. “It’s complicated.”

“So your father knew about all of it?” Sam asks.

I reply quickly before Leo has time to intervene because he already has his mouth open. “Oh yes, he did, but he decided to turn a blind eye to it.”

“Oh, man … I can’t imagine. That must have been really hard on him,” she says, biting her lip.

“Maybe, maybe not.”

“What do you mean?” she asks.

Leo frowns. “Let’s not go there, please.”

“Let’s just say that our father isn’t really in touch with his feelings,” I say.

“Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean he doesn’t have them,” Leo interjects.

“I don’t know. That’s just what I think, all right? I’m talking from my own experience.”

“All right,” Leo says. “Well, that was my experience. Father just found it hard to cope, so he never spoke about it, but he still felt it, deep down. I’m sure. I could tell from the way he looked at me and sighed. Not his normal sigh but more of a careless, wistful sigh.”

I shake my head while muffling a laugh. “Whatever.”

“I’m serious,” Leo insists. “He was hurting.”

“Well, then I guess that only makes what she did worse, doesn’t it?”

“Wow, I feel some tension around here,” Sam jokes, waving with her hands.

I shrug. “A lot of time has passed between then and now. They split up then they got back together again. I guess my father forgave her. The end.”

“But you didn’t forgive her,” Sam says.

“Nope. Still hate her.”

“Chris …” Leo cautions.

“What?” I lean back in my chair.

“Please don’t ruin this.”

I roll my eyes. “Whatever. If you wanna pretend our family is perfect just so you can ease her into it, then be my guest.”

“It can’t be that bad,” Sam says.

“Maybe,” I say. “That depends on how well you get to know her.” I take another sip. “I suggest you keep some distance to protect your heart. She stomped on mine, that’s for sure.”

“Chris, can you please just shut up?” Leo says.

“Fine.” I sigh and look away, but then I notice the door to the coffee shop opening and my mother stepping in. Oh, fuck. Here we go.

“Mother,” Leo says. “You’re here.”

“Hello,” she says, walking over to us to give us a petty hug and fake smile. She kisses Sam on the cheeks. “Sam, you look so puffy,” she says, grabbing her cheeks. “Don’t eat too much of those muffins they serve here. They’re bad for your blood sugar, too.”

“Um, thanks for the tip, I guess.” Sam smiles awkwardly.

My mother sits down beside me, so I scoot over a bit, which makes everyone look at me as if I’m the devil.

“What?” I exclaim, feigning ignorance.

They quietly stare at me before returning their attention to each other. Good. I prefer not to be involved in any of this. Instead, I focus on that last drop of coffee that tastes so goddamn bitter.

“Mother, we actually have something to tell you,” Leo suddenly says between their light conversation. I wonder what’s up, so I look at them and see Sam anxiously twiddling her thumbs. Oh fuck, something’s up. Raising my eyebrow at her only makes her more twitchy, and a smile grows on my face.

“Oh …” I muse, grinning. “Is this what I think it is?”

“What?” Tricia says, looking back and forth between my brother and me.

Leo puts his arm around Sam as they huddle together, and then he places one hand on her belly. “We’re expecting.”

My mother’s jaw drops open, and my eyes widen. No wonder he wanted everyone to meet here.

“You’re pregnant?” my mother utters.

Sam nods with a big smile on her face.

“Yep,” Leo says.

My mother squeals, and then she jumps up to hug Sam.

I’m still a bit fazed. When he said he had something to say, I knew this was coming, but I still can’t believe my ears. My brother is becoming a father? Holy shit.

“Jesus,” I say, laughing a bit. “No wonder you wanted us to come here. This explains everything.” I get up and give my brother a bro hug. “Congratulations, brother. Or should I say … daddy?” I wink.

He smiles. “Don’t be ridiculous, but you sure did push me to say it earlier or things would’ve exploded before I got the chance.”

“Sorry,” I say. “You know how good I am with family get-togethers.”

He nods. “That I do.”

I give Sam a hug, too. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you,” she says.

“Why didn’t you invite Adrian and your father?” my mother suddenly says. Of course, she has to go and play mediator again, thinking Leo would leave them out when hearing the good news.

“I already accidentally spilled the news to them this morning, hehe.” Leo blushes a little bit. “I tried to keep it together, but it kind of just slipped out.”

“Yep …” Sam huffs.

“Oops.” I laugh.

“Right. But you know now, and so do you.” Leo looks at Tricia again, probably seeking her approval. She’s always so quick to judge.

“Well, I’m happy that you’re expecting a tiny King now. I can’t wait to hear if it’s a girl or a boy.”

Our mom hugs Sam again, and she can’t seem to let go. I’ve never seen her this happy, and that says a lot.

I look back at my brother and give him a playful elbow jab. “Seriously, you, a father? This is so weird.”

“Why?” he says.

I shrug. “I don’t know. I guess I just didn’t see you as a father figure.”

“Excuse me?” he says, raising his brows.

“Oh, I didn’t mean it as an insult. I’m just really blown away. In a good way.”

“Yeah, right.” Everyone starts laughing a bit except for our mom. She just gives me this look … the same one she uses whenever she secretly thinks of killing me. It makes me chuckle.

“Or maybe because I’m your brother, and you’re seeing babies and marriage in front of you, thinking ‘how the fuck could I ever do this?’”

“Maybe,” I muse, rubbing my lips together. “Who knows.”

My brother shoves me. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“All right, all right, yes, I can’t fucking imagine all of this happening, especially not to me. I’m not even sure I’m going to be a good uncle to him … or her?”

My brother smirks. “Hey, I’m not telling you that yet.” He places a hand on my back. “But you’ll be a great uncle, of that I’m sure. If it isn’t for the rides on your back, then it will be for the rides on your motorcycle.”

“Hey!” Sam folds her arms, and we both laugh a bit because I know my brother is only trying to get under her skin. I know he would never let his kid ride on my bike. Me, on the other hand … Let’s just say that I’m not very responsible.

Especially when it comes to the people that I care about. Emily knows all about that. I can’t be trusted with anyone’s heart.

Which is why I won’t become a dad anytime soon.

Chapter 9

Chris

A few days later

I pull the handles on my bike, revving the engine, the roar a boost to my vigor. I’m racing along the tracks, pushing the limits of this bike as far as I can. I have to be better, faster, and more agile than last time because I have to win. Now that I know she’ll be watching me, there’s extra pressure to win. I can’t lose in front of her. Maybe that’s just my insecurity, but it’s the only thing I have going for me. I need to do this for me. I have to show her my worth.

She’s watching me from the stands, checking a few newspapers as well, and probably looking through the articles in search of news about me, but sometimes she looks up to gaze at me. When she does, I can’t help but smile. I love seeing that spark of curiosity in her eyes. Even though she tries to hide it, I know she wants me to succeed.

I hope that one day she can look at me without feeling ashamed.

Sweat drops trickle down my forehead as I burst through the sand, my legs aching as I drag my kneecaps along the ground for a quicker turn around the corner. The pads provide good protection, but I can feel my muscles burning, which means I have to work out even harder to maintain my strength. I have to stay on top, have to be the best, have to show her that I’m worth it. That I’m worthy of her love.

I know she hates me and rightfully so. However, now that she’s in my life again, I won’t give up the fight to reclaim her heart. Not ever again.

After thirty minutes of practice, I stop in front of the bleachers she’s on and flip my visor open. When she looks up, I give her a wink. For a second, I think I spot a flush on her cheeks, but then it disappears just as quickly. Too bad, because it looks so fucking good on her. It makes me wonder how red she will be when I fuck her senseless.

Once, a long time ago, I heard her moan from my touch. It’s been so long that I barely remember the sound, but I’ll never forget the way she felt in the dark. I couldn’t see a thing, but I know she liked it, and so did I. It was such a shame it had to end.

One day I’ll make her scream my name again.

***

Age 16

I’m sitting behind Emily in class, and I can’t for the life of me concentrate on the teacher. Ever since I bumped into Emily, I can’t stop thinking about her. That cute giggle, that bright smile, those sparkling eyes. There’s just something about her.

This is strange because I’ve never been hung up on a girl like that before. Most of the times, I just kiss ‘em, maybe bang ‘em if they’re good looking, but otherwise, nothing else. I’ve never felt anything like this before.

It’s like I … have a crush.

Well, fuck me.

Shaking my head, I laugh at myself, which makes the teacher look up at me with a frown.

I stay quiet for the rest of the class, but I can’t stop myself from staring at her and smiling whenever she raises her hand. She’s so freaking smart. It’s as if she always knows the answer. Or she likes to be a know-it-all. It doesn’t matter to me. I find it all funny, and if it makes me laugh, I like it.

I just like her.

So much so, that for the last few days I’ve been trying to get her attention. I’ve been throwing her glances, winking at her, even licking my lips, but she just doesn’t seem to notice. That, or she doesn’t want to.

Maybe she’s afraid. All the more reason for me to pursue it even further.

I like it when a girl plays hard to get. I enjoy a challenge from time to time.

Especially this time, when I actually want her to talk to me and go out with me, instead of just hooking up. It’s exciting not to know how she’ll react. I’m tired of having it easy, and Emily definitely doesn’t seem easy. I kind of like that about her.

She’s like my polar opposite, and yet so completely intriguing.

I want to get to know her better.

If she doesn't accept my advances, then I’ll have to play this game a little differently.

I have to bring us together in a way that she can’t refuse. And I know just the thing.

Time to ask my parents for a study buddy. They’ll probably think it’s their idea, but that’s okay. As long as I get to be with her.

***

Age 16, a few months later

She sifts through my book, looking for the chapter I’m supposed to be working on, but all I can think about is being close to her. I lean in to catch her scent, pineapple and some other fruit that fucking riles me up. My fingers almost reach for her, wanting desperately to touch her, but I know I’m not supposed to.

She’s my study buddy, after all—selected by my parents for her outstanding efforts in math. Meanwhile, I’m the degenerate not capable of forming one correct sentence. According my parents, I fail at pretty much anything except sports, which is what I love the most, but that’s the last thing they had in mind for me. My parents think Emily can teach me how to do my homework more efficiently, as if that’s going to help me be anything other than myself. Although, I do love that they actually listened to me when I told them to pick her as my study buddy. Not that it’ll do much good. I’m not interested in learning; I just want her by my side.

Not that it matters, because I wasn’t good at learning anyway. I mean, let’s face it; I’m just a muscled jock. I’m good with my hands but not much else. Of course, these hands can also be used for other things … like massaging the girl lying on her bed.

I crack my knuckles and work her shoulders like a pro. She’s not protesting, so I guess she doesn’t mind. I know she’s here to help me, even though she didn’t want to, so I have to give her something in return. After all, my buds weren’t that nice to her. They call her a nerd, but I don’t see it as something negative. I still want to make her feel comfortable around me, though.

I massage her back too, and I think I hear a soft moan coming from her mouth. Fuck me, that sound is hot. That’s it; I’ve lost my self-control. I told myself that I wouldn’t touch her because I can’t stop myself when I’m around her. All I want is to show her that I’m more than what she thinks of me and that I find her intelligence sexy. I can’t wait to see her every day at school and smile like crazy when she’s sitting next to me. I can’t stop thinking about the next time we’ll study together.

“Did you do this chapter yet?” She turns her head and looks at me as if I’m supposed to know what she’s talking about, but all I can think about are those luscious lips moving and her tongue licking them at the end of her sentence.

Fuck me; I can’t handle this shit anymore.

“Uh … what?” I say, totally flabbergasted.

I don’t even remember what she said. I’m completely zoned out, focusing on her sparkling eyes, her mouth, and the way she smiles when she notices that I’m not paying attention.

“C’mon, Chris, this is important. Your parents are counting on me to help you, so let me help you.” Her face is so radiant. Even in the dark night with only the lamp above to light her, I can’t stop looking at her.

“Yeah, I know,” I say, taking a breather. “No, I don’t think I’ve done that chapter yet. I want to close it the moment I see those numbers.”

She giggles, which makes my body rigid because all I want to hear is more of those sounds. They make me want to pounce on her like a beast … It makes me want to ravage her.

Yep. It’s not the studying part that I like but mostly just being around her. She has something about her, something I admire. The attention she gives me makes me feel good, which is what I need right now, considering my situation at home.

My parents aren’t exactly on good standing, to say the least. Things have been rough these last few years, so having her close to me as an outsider really helps.

Maybe I’m just losing my mind. Or maybe I’m falling in love.

Weird, since that’s just so not me.

I only ever toyed with girls, experimented with them, and kissed them whenever I saw fit. I wanted to be the man, the macho, the one who got them all. But none of that seems to matter anymore when I’m around her.

It’s as if all I can think about is kissing her.

I move in closer and stroke the back of her neck, sliding aside her soft brown hair. She’s lying on her belly, her elbows supporting her as she flips through the pages. Her eyes sometimes shoot my way, flashing me a look that says ‘what are you doing?’, but she hasn’t asked yet. I get the feeling that she’s afraid of the answer because I feel the exact same thing.

What will happen if I do this?

I lean in further, my hand cupping her jawline softly, and her body arches toward me, waiting for me to make a move. So I move in and press my lips to hers. She’s sweet, delicious, just like I expected, and it’s the best kiss I’ve ever had. Not because she’s good or experienced, but because I actually feel something for the first time in my life. I’ve kissed plenty of girls but never like this. I never wanted to lash on and hold her forever.

Her mouth welcomes me, warm and enticing, and she gently kisses me back. Her body is right beside me, and it’s turning me on just to kiss her. Damn, I’ve never been this excited to get my hands on a girl. But this is no ordinary girl. She’s all I ever dreamed of.

Desire quickly takes over as I wrap my arm around her and pull her close, locking her body against mine. Her kisses turn more desperate the rougher I get, almost as if she’s been waiting for this moment to happen. One minute I’m kissing her, and the next I’m crawling on top of her, taking over her body completely.

I have to have her, whatever it takes, because I know forever won’t last, but tonight is more than enough for me.

***

Present

Thinking about it tugs at my heart, but I can’t change the past. What’s done is done. I gotta look at the future and work to regain her love. It’s all I can do, all I want to do, and all I’ll fight for. Her.