by C. M. Steele
My mother’s in the room with my new stepfather, and they see us together with a smile on their faces.
“I’m surprised you two made it here without killing each other,” my stepfather says.
“It was a close one. I’m going to grab a coffee. Mom, do you want to come with me?”
She can see that I’m upset, but that’s because she knows me well. “Sure.” She looks between us apprehensively. “Roman just needs a moment alone with his dad.”
“Oh, okay.” We go down to the coffee station and she asks, “Is that it?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Because tension’s radiating off you both. Did you two fight?”
“Well, you know how it is. He suddenly feels the need to tell me what to do like he’s really my brother.” Not exactly like a brother, but I’ll stick with that story.
“Yes, his father did ask him to look after you.”
“Did he?” Great.
“Yes.”
“I am an adult,” I remind her.
“I know, but we worry about you.” Then they should keep my sexy stepbrother away from me.
“The jerk took my phone from me last night because I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”
“That’s a smart thing to do. Did you hurt yourself?”
“No, I ran into the back of him. I guess his highness doesn’t like to get bumped.”
“Well, please be good until he goes back to New York. I don’t want your stepdad upset. He loves Roman very much.”
“I’m not sure why,” I scoff.
My mother just rolls her eyes and throws her arm over my shoulder and whispers, “Because you love your children so unconditionally, even if the other parent pits the child against them.”
“Is that what happened?” I don’t know his full story, but I’m dying to learn why he is the way he is.
“Something like that, but that’s not my business to share.”
“Well, that doesn’t give him the right to be an asshole to everyone.”
“You’re right, Amelia.” I nearly jump out of my skin when he pops his head into the small vending room. “I’m sorry. I’ll see you both next week.” He walks away without another look. He’s sorry? He’s not supposed to tell me he’s sorry. The lousy prick.
“Oh goodness. He heard us,” she whispers.
“Oh well.”
“You really don’t like him, do you?”
“He’s an arrogant prick who tried to keep me away from Jake,” I complain, knowing damn well that’s not why I’m pissed in the least. Grizelda is why I’m pissed. Inga’s why I’m pissed.
“I’m sure he was just trying to make his father happy.”
“Speaking of, I better go say hi.” We walk over to the room and make small talk, while in the back of my mind I’m planning all the ways to piss Roman off.
Chapter Five
Roman
I stayed and listened to them even though I probably shouldn’t have because I sure as fuck didn’t like what I heard. It’s cute that she thinks he’s ever going to approach her again. Fuck, he has another thing coming. I fucking seethed as she smiled at her phone, wondering what the hell was so fucking special without coming off as a jealous boyfriend. I’m neither jealous nor her boyfriend.
A part of me knows I’m only lying to myself, but I can’t fall into that trap. I couldn’t stop myself today, could I? I pressed her onto the cold surface as I teased an orgasm out of both of us, leaving my seed close to her womb. The only thing stopping it from making my baby is her barrier. I wanted to stuff my cum inside of her. It’s insane how territorial she’s made me. Even more of a reason to stay away. I’m losing my mind. Amelia’s making me want more in life than work, and that’s dangerous territory.
In all these years, I never learned to trust women. I lived with one woman for twenty-three years, and she’d pushed me so far away from liking women that I hated to even be around them, which sucks because women make up fifty percent of the population, so I pretty much became a recluse. I did what I could to never hire a woman until the day I walked into that party and reunited with my father. Years wasted, hearts broken, trust destroyed—all for a selfish woman.
Now, Amelia enters my life and she’s not selfish—at least not with her body when it comes to me. She gave me what I needed even though I’d been cruel. I shouldn’t even be allowed near her, but she gave in as if she couldn’t resist the pull either. “Staying away is the best thing for me,” I say as I pull onto the tarmac.
The flight home is a long one, filled with doubt and a pain in my chest that I can’t explain. My head throbs by the time I land in New York where my driver is waiting. The ride to my home only adds to the ache in me. As soon as I exit the car, my driver goes to get my bag, but I don’t need the help; I need to be alone. “Have a goodnight, Johnson.”
“You too, sir.” He nods and climbs back into the car and drives off. I enter my secured lobby and head over to the private entrance to my personal elevator. Many don’t know it’s here intentionally.
I step inside and punch in my code. The door closes, and I’m alone. It’s been several hours since I saw Amelia, and I want to see her again. I shoot a text to the man I hired back in Madison to keep an eye on her until I return.
The sound of the ding drags my attention and I enter my penthouse. It feels cold, lonely, and for the first time, I hate coming home. I have to make do, though. I can do this. I can push her out of my head for the rest of the week. Just as I make that resolution, my hired security calls. “Mr. Edwards, she had lunch with her mother, then she went home with no added movement.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
I go into my bedroom and pass out on the bed. Tomorrow, I’ll feel better. Tomorrow, I won’t be obsessed. It’s only because she makes me horny. She’s forbidden. The lies pile on, but by morning I know that none of it is true because as soon as my eyes close, I see her face.
****
I enter my office first thing in the morning and carry on with my schedule, doing my best to push thoughts of Amelia away. That lasts until lunchtime when my assistant comes in and hands me some documents I’d filled out for the acquisition.
“Are you okay, sir?”
“Yes, why? What’s this about? Did I miss a signature?”
“No, but you left a sticky note on page three.” I flip it open, and there’s where I handwrote Amelia Edwards with a fucking heart. Holy shit. What’s wrong with me?
“Sorry.” I peel it off and toss it in the trash.
“You need a therapist. Whoever she is, she might be the one to make you happy.”
“I should fire you for that.”
“Yeah, well, I could have sent that out as is and you’d look like a lovestruck fool, or maybe Mitchem would find this Amelia and steal her for himself. He is a bit of a womanizer.”
“He can’t have her.” She just stares at me with that I-told-you-so look. “Do you know where I can find a therapist?”
“I’ll get you a number today.”
“Make it your priority.”
“I will. And I can’t wait to meet her.” She smiles before turning and walking out of my office with a pep in her step.
I swipe open my phone and check out her images. God, she’s gorgeous. “What am I going to do about you?” I whisper, staring at her sweet smile.
By the end of the workday, Inga has scheduled me a six-thirty session with Dr. Russell Eames. Luckily it’s only a mile from the office, so my driver makes it there with good timing. After passing the security check, I’m led to the bank of elevators and told to go up to the fifth floor. My palms are sweaty, and my heart’s racing so much that I’m tempted to turn back around and say fuck it. Then, Amelia’s face comes into my mind. I need to be a better man for her, even if she wants nothing to do with me.
I enter the main lobby where a woman sits at her desk. “Hello, I’m here to see Dr. Eames.”
“Yes, you must be Mr. Edwards.” I nod. “Please have a seat. He’s
finishing with his last patient, and I need you to go over these. Your assistant emailed them over, but we need for you to verify the information is correct and that you understand your rights as a patient.”
“Thank you.” I take them from her, chanting Amelia’s name in my head to keep myself seated and not bolt out the door. I make it through the forms when a woman comes out followed by the doctor. “We’re still on for next week. Have a good night, Ellen.”
“Thank you, Dr. Eames.” She waves at the receptionist. The man doesn’t address me until the woman has exited the office.
“Hello, you must be Roman Edwards.” I nod, and we shake hands. “Please come in.”
“What about these?”
“Oh, I’ll take those,” the receptionist says. I hand them to her and then step into his office where he closes and locks the door.
"Roman, please have a seat."
I nod and take a seat opposite from his chair and say, "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."
"I'm glad to fit you in. Would you care for something to drink?”
“Some water would be great.” He hands me a bottle of water from his cooler and then takes a seat in his chair. “Your assistant said it was urgent. What brings you to see a therapist for the first time?”
"Yes. I have feelings for someone." I’m not sure how these things work. The internet isn’t a lot of help in this area because so much stuff is confidential and every doctor has a different method.
"And...do you care to elaborate?"
"The thing is, I normally don't have feelings for anyone.” I pause for a moment, thinking about my business getting out into the world for someone to use against me. “Everything said here is confidential, correct?"
"Of course. Unless you intend to cause someone bodily harm. It was all in the papers. My assistant will make copies to take with you.”
"Harming? There is one little fuck that if he doesn't stay away from her...I digress. See...I'm a virgin." I don’t think I’ve ever told another soul that before. It’s not something easy to admit, but from the look on his face, he doesn’t seem too surprised.
"Surprising given your age, appearance, and status, but frankly not uncommon. I'm guessing there's an underlying reason for it."
"My mother, or as I prefer to call her, Anna.”
Now it’s his turn to nod. "Well, go ahead and start talking because I have a feeling we’ll need more than a few sessions. I want you to tell me about Anna."
"She's evil, cruel, and a crazy bitch who should be in prison,” I bite out. Again, something I don’t share with others. I avoid personal conversations at all costs.
"Was she always this way, or did she become this woman you detest?"
"She might have always been this way, but it wasn't until I was thirteen that I felt her venom, or maybe I no longer had my shield."
He nods, waiting for me to continue.
I close my eyes and think back on that terribly painful memory. The day itself is semi-distorted because I’d been on some painkillers, but the effects and the words that she uttered were crystal clear. "She took me away from the only man I knew as my dad. She packed us up while he was on a fishing trip. I was supposed to go with him, but I broke my arm falling off my bike. It was our annual trip with a couple of my dad's friends. I was devastated, of course, but by the time he got home, we were long gone. She told me that he had this crazy notion in his head that I wasn't his son and wanted nothing to do with me. From that day, I didn't see him again until I was twenty-three and set in my ways."
"I suppose he didn't say those things."
"Yes. I'm guessing that's a common problem with women."
"Not all the time, but I have seen it before. I'm guessing they had a fight before he left."
"Yes. I heard him say to pack her shit, but I had no idea at the time what he was telling her. She could leave, but he wanted to keep me even though I wasn't his. He said I'd always been his."
"You had a strong bond with him before she took you away?"
"The best. We played sports, watched the Bears even though we lived in Wisconsin, fished once a week during the summer. Father-son things. It was great."
"Was that all she did, or is there more?" That, in my eyes, had been enough, but I know he wants all the facts on how I’ve become the man I am.
"More. I learned the truth of my parentage a couple of months after she took me away. She lied about being pregnant, and that's why my father married her. She had been cheating on him with a married man, and he's the sperm donor. We moved away and she changed my last name to his, attempting to get him to leave his wife."
"Did he?"
"No. He didn't have to. She mysteriously died."
Chapter Six
Amelia
I can’t believe he’s really been gone a week. I haven’t heard a word from him and since the day he left; I haven’t heard anyone mention his name at all. It’s as if I made him up. I let it go because I don’t have time to dwell on a man who’s a jerk and only enjoys using women. He used me, but I let him. It scares me because I might let him do it again. Something about him pulls at my heart, and I know it’s more than a stupid crush.
“Amelia, how are you?”
“I’m good, Theodore.” I don’t call him Dad because I don’t know him that well. He’s a great man and my mom loves him, but we don’t have that close of a bond. He’s a good guy, and I was heartbroken when he had a heart attack.
“You’re not okay. Are you anxious about going to college?” Yes, but it’s your handsome jerk of a son that has my stomach doing flips.
“Yes. It’s not the same as being here. I’m going to be all alone in a big city. I wish my friend hadn’t decided to pull out at the last minute.”
“Isn’t that what your friend’s husband didn’t do?” he jokes.
“Yes,” I say with a laugh. My bestie got pregnant right away, but she couldn’t be happier.
“You be careful, or you could end up the same way. Boys are notorious for thinking with the head between their legs. I know I’m not your father, and he’s been gone a long time, so if you ever need someone to talk to about it, let me know.” Theo’s a really good man, and I’m grateful my mother met him.
“Thank you, Theodore. I’m not worried about falling for any guy enough to let him knock me up. In fact, Mom has scheduled an appointment with the doctor for me just in case.” Actually, I’m worried. Roman could knock me up. Maybe it’s for the best that I get on birth control.
“She told me that. What about Jake? Are you two going to still be dating?”
“Dating?” A deep rumble comes from behind me.
“Roman,” I blurt out, turning to see him staring at me. It’s an intense look, but I can’t decipher the meaning.
“Son,” Theodore says, walking around me and pulling Roman into a hug.
“Dad. How are you?”
“Good. Having a father-daughter talk that I never got to have before.”
“Good. She needs to stay away from these little boys.” He has no right to be jealous, and I shouldn’t enjoy it as much as I do. My body floods with excitement, adrenaline pumping.
“See? You’ll look after Amelia when she’s in New York.”
“I don’t have the time to babysit her.” And there he goes, playing hot and cold.
“Great, since I don’t recall needing a babysitter. As it is, I wouldn’t want to cramp Roman’s style. I’m just a kid to him.” I need to create distance, and he gave me my out.
“How long are you back for, Son?” I walk to the sink and rinse my glass.
“I have another couple days, and then I have to head back.” Of course. He just couldn’t stay away until I left.
“That’s wonderful. I’m glad I’ve got you for a couple of days. Do you want to go fishing with me tomorrow?”
Does he even own regular clothes? I’ve seen him in his business suits and his birthday one, but that’s it. “Sounds good to me. Although, I’ll have you kno
w that I haven’t been fishing since we went last time, and you know how terrible that went.” He grimaces, and I wonder what happened.
His dad gives a full belly laugh. “Yes, a boat full of bikini-wearing women showed up and wouldn’t stop flirting with you until you jumped into the water and swam to the shore.” I giggle, imagining him diving into the water to avoid getting close. I wonder how old he was.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“It’s fine, Dad. I’ve grown out of running from women.” He glares straight at me, and I know damn well he has.
“Good for you. Do you want a cookie?” I tease, holding out a tray of them.
“Did you make them?”
“Yes, it’s what us little girls learn to do.” I wink at him and then bite my lip before walking out of the room. Seeing Roman again didn’t have the effect that I hoped it would have. I’m still pissed off at him for using me and then calling his mistress, or whoever she is, like he didn’t care I could hear. Or maybe he did it on purpose. Either way, I’m going to use every excuse under the sun to stay away from him because I’m a sucker.
Chapter Seven
Roman
Against my better judgement, I came back to Madison. It was the longest week of my life. God, she looked so fucking pretty, but with my Dad there, I didn’t get to ask her who the fuck she was dating and why she was dating anyone. As soon as I get to my room, I call my guy. “What the hell? Why is she dating anyone?”
“She isn’t, sir. Unless she does it solely on her phone, she doesn’t go out much and when she does, I know who she’s with.”
“Okay. Keep tabs on her. I’ll be gone all day tomorrow, so she’ll need to be protected.” I know I’m nuts for having someone watch over her. She’s made it eighteen years without needing protection from me, but the thought of someone hurting her would kill me. I’m fighting the feelings she created in me, and I know it’s a lost cause.
I’ve missed the hell out of her. She’s heading to college not too far from me in less than a week. It’s just about twenty minutes away. She hates me, though. I pushed her too far, nearly fucking her on the counter like she’s a toy for me to use at my disposal. She seemed fine until I walked away, and then I knew I’d ruined any chance with her to see me as anything more than her asshole stepbrother. Today proves it.
