“I know you, son. We all do.” Her eyes go to Jett’s, then back to me. “This is not the time to get stubborn and do something just because we all think you shouldn’t. Listen to your brother, for heaven’s sake,” she snaps, her smooth face marred only by her frown as she passes, which is somewhat of a miracle since she’s been using fillers since she was forty.
I wait for her to walk out onto the patio before I turn back to Jett. “I appreciate your concern, but I can handle this.”
He snorts. “Really?” Walking into the kitchen, he steps over to the counter where a bottle of bourbon sits.
“I do.” Folding my arms, I lean against the doorframe. I’m trying hard not to call him on all his shit, but if he keeps this up, who knows.
“So what you’re saying is that you’re willing to risk everything for her?” He pours himself a large glass of whiskey and shoots it.
“I’m saying it’s none of your business.” My voice holds a warning because he’s my brother, but he’s got fucking balls right now.
“You made it all of our business bringing her here.” He points the bottle at me as he pours himself another.
And that’s it. I push off the doorframe and walk into the room. “Jett, you fucked your fiancée’s daughter.” It’s a cheap shot because I hated his bitch of an ex and love Raven, but he needs to stop pushing.
Pouring the bourbon, he smirks, then looks up at me as he puts the cap back on. “You’re right, I did. But I had already made my mark. You…” He takes a sip. “You are right at your moment of greatness. The Nobel Prize nomination, youngest head dean, the fifty-million-fucking-dollar project, are you really gonna throw it all away?”
And all I can think of is my fist connecting with his nose and smashing it because I don’t need this shit right now.
“Again, you don’t have anything to worry about.” My voice remains tight.
“Spoken like a true Powers.” He sets his glass down. “Look, you’re my brother. I’ll always support you. Just think with your head. You’re gonna get caught and lose everything, man.”
My eyes narrow on his. I get what he’s saying, but this is not what he’s making it out to be. I’ll tire of her, like I always do, and that will be that.
“Jesus Christ.” He shakes his head. “Fine. You do it your way. I’m not saying another word.” He takes his drink and rams his shoulder into me as he passes.
“And don’t ever say anything about my wife again. I risked it all for her.” He walks back out onto the patio, and my jaw clenches. Jett just has to get the last word in.
I walk out and look over at Alex and Raven sitting together laughing. I don’t need to look at anyone else in my family to feel their disapproval.
“Alex?” Yes, I’m interrupting them, but I don’t care. I need to get her out of here.
“Yeah?” She smiles up at me, then frowns.
“Let’s go,” I demand as my mom reaches for my arm.
“But sweetheart, you haven’t had pie.” She looks at me pleadingly, but I’m done. This was a mistake.
“I have pie at my house,” I growl as Alex stands and follows me, calling over her shoulder that it was nice to meet everyone. I swear I hear Raven say she’s gonna call her. If I wasn’t so pissed, I’d laugh.
“Everything okay?” Alex looks up at me, eyebrow raised.
I grab my key fob off the table in the foyer and hold the door open for her as we walk out.
“Yes.” Walking around to hold her door open, I let my eyes dip to her long legs. Fuck Jett, I’m not done. I sink into my seat, start the car, and back up, briefly glancing at Alex who sits staring at her feet.
“I can call an Uber…” Her voice drifts off as my hands tighten on the steering wheel.
“Why?” I snap.
“Because you look angry,” she snaps back. “And clearly your brother and parents disapprove of me.”
“I don’t give a fuck what other people think.” Looking straight ahead, I accelerate onto PCH.
Alex takes a breath and reaches up to grab onto the oh-shit handle. She watches me zigzag around cars but stays silent. I’m wound up too tight. She’s right. I am angry, and it’s not even at Jett; it’s at myself. I just had to push the boundaries, dare anyone to confront me. Well, much like I’m not impressed with Jett, I guess the same could be said about him. I pull into my garage and turn off my car.
“You might want to get your stuff and let me take you home.” I look over at her. She puffs out some air, her lips slightly open as she nods and swallows.
“If that’s what you want.” Her hand reaches for the door handle, but I grab her arm.
“What I want?”
She looks at me, her breath coming in small pants that makes my cock throb with need.
“I want your ass. I want to be in every fucking hole you have,” I hiss.
She tries to swallow, her eyes locked onto mine, and that need that’s eating me up is mirrored in hers.
“Okay.” She pulls her arm away and steps out.
BRETT
“Okay.” My eyes follow her as she climbs out of the car and starts toward my door. This is when I tell her no. Just pick up her stuff, take her arm, and dump her off at Skylar’s. Instead, I’m unlocking the door and dipping my head to smell her addictive scent as she passes. My eyes narrow as I adjust to the dark room. Alex spins on her heels, the moonlight finding her and caressing her form as I submit to my demons.
Fuck, maybe Jett is right, and I’m losing it. Because my cock is leading this madness, and tonight I’m gonna take what’s mine.
Mine.
Alex slowly peels off her dress, then shimmies out of her G-string, tossing both items onto the floor as she walks toward the bedroom. My eyes focused on her tight ass.
Adrenaline spikes through me. I grab a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and follow her, then stop at the entrance. The lights are on, and Alex sits on the end of my bed, naked, with nothing on but her heeled sandals, waiting for me like the fucking downfall she very well may be.
I unscrew the bottle and toss the top on my dresser. When I take a swig of the spicy liquid, the sting makes my dick harder as it goes down my throat.
“Come here, Alexandrea.”
She swallows and nods, preparing to stand.
“Crawl,” I demand, submitting to my darkness. This craving that’s eating me up like a disease will be cured tonight.
She hesitates, then slides to her knees, getting on all fours. Power surges through me. My pulse pounds as she slowly places one hand after another. Her ass… fuck, her ass almost teases me while she moves toward me on all fours.
“Do you trust me?”
She’s taking short breaths. Her hair, which she’s let down, falls on either side of her like a dark waterfall. Reaching down, I caress it, then jerk her up to a kneeling position. Leaning her head back, she locks eyes with mine.
“Yes.” Her voice is almost a whisper, but I don’t need to hear her, to feel her own darkness needing to be freed.
“Drink.” I take another swig, then place the tip at her lips. She allows me to give it to her. “We need to work on this.”