Bad Seed

by Rye Hart

  Still, as I pulled into the driveway, my heart raced. I took a deep breath and checked my hair in my mirror. I looked fine, but I knew that wouldn’t stop my mother from finding something to comment on. She worried about my health more than anything. I was either too skinny: “Are you eating enough?” Or I was too fat: “Honey, did you get that new workout I sent you? It’s supposed to help tighten your core.”

  She always meant well and, yet, I found myself dreading the visit as I pushed open my car door. Glancing at the house next door, I wondered if Andrea would be home for the holidays. Her parents still lived beside mine. I made a mental note to stop by and see them on my way out later that night.

  I stepped up to the front door and shook myself. It was insane that I felt so nervous. My parents would be fine. My sister would be amazing, as always. My brother-in-law would keep everyone laughing, and Layla would make sure the conversation never got too serious.

  I told myself everything would be okay as I grabbed the door handle and turned it slowly.

  “You’re here!” a shrill voice chimed from the living room. I lifted my eyes to see Bethany running toward me with her arms outstretched. I grinned and met her halfway.

  “Hey, sis,” I said as she caught me in a bone-crushing hug.

  “Ugh! I missed you so much!” She giggled and held me tighter, smoothing my hair down as she did so.

  Bethany and I were almost ten years apart in age. My parents had tried for years to have another baby, but after being disappointed enough times, they gave up. A month before Bethany’s tenth birthday, I appeared on the scene.

  “There she is!” My dad’s voice rang out from behind Bethany.

  I pulled away from my sister and hurried over to hug my dad. He gripped me tightly and then ushered me farther inside.

  “Julie!” Bryan said when he saw me. He gave me a quick, one-armed hug and ruffled my hair. “How you been, kid?”

  “Not a kid anymore, Bry,” I said with a roll of my eyes.

  “You always will be to me,” he replied.

  Bethany and Bryan had started dating when they were sixteen. I was in kindergarten at the time. Bryan had been around ever since. He was just as much my big brother as Bethany was my sister.

  “How’s work?” Bryan asked. “Any new scoops for me?”

  “Not yet,” I said. “I have a Skype interview on Monday morning with this new online journal. Keep your fingers crossed for me.”

  “You’ll get it,” my dad said brightly.

  “I hope so.” My stomach twitched again. The last thing I wanted to do was focus on work right now.

  “You will,” Bethany said confidently. “You’re the ultimate success story. You’ve never failed at anything in your life.”

  I rolled my eyes but didn’t say anything. Bethany, more than anyone, knew that wasn’t true. Still, it was nice of her to say so.

  “Don’t get her hopes up,” my mother said from the kitchen. I jerked my head up to see her watching me with reproachful eyes. “If she doesn’t get it, she’ll only be more disappointed.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I said without thinking.

  “I’m just being realistic, honey,” Mom said. “Someone has to be.”

  I nodded and looked down at my shoes. I’d only been in the house five minutes, and already, my mom was on my case.

  “Anyway,” Bethany said loudly. “How’s Ennis? I need to get down there and see your new house!”

  “You do,” I said, grateful for the subject change. “But before we talk about that, where’s my niece?”

  “She’s napping,” Bryan said. “She should be up soon, though.”

  “Ugh, can’t we wake her?” I begged.

  “Only if you want to deal with the tantrum that will ensue,” Bethany said with a laugh.

  “I’d rather not,” I said, laughing along with her. Bryan and Dad joined in easily, but Mom barely cracked a smile.

  “Can I help with anything?” Bethany asked. She hurried into the kitchen, but Mom shooed her away quickly.

  “Go entertain your sister,” Mom said. “Your dad can help me.”

  “I suppose I can,” Dad said. He squeezed my shoulder as he passed by.

  Bethany raised her eyebrows at me and linked her arm with mine. Without a word, she led me outside to the backyard. Bryan followed close behind.

  We stepped into the backyard and, immediately, my entire body sank. I sighed deeply and practically collapsed onto a patio chair.

  “What the hell was that about?” Bethany demanded, pulling up a chair beside me. Bryan followed suit.

  “Mom’s still pissed about my move to Ennis,” I said. “She thinks it was a mistake.”

  “Well,” Bethany said. “Screw her. You have to do what’s best for you, right?”

  I met my sister’s eyes. Her expression was a little too understanding. She knew all about my breakup with Joshua. Other than Andrea, Beth was my biggest advocate when it came to leaving Dallas. She knew just how much the breakup had torn me apart.

  Still, Joshua was the last person I wanted to talk about. I quickly changed the subject, asking questions about Layla until her sweet cry rang through the baby monitor.

  “She’s up!” Bryan announced, unnecessarily.

  He and Bethany both jumped to their feet, but I was faster. I shook my head and gestured for them to sit back down.

  “Let me,” I said. Bethany smiled gratefully as I hurried inside.

  I passed my parents quickly, not saying a word until I reached the back bedroom where Layla’s crib was set up. The lights were dim when I walked in, but I could still see her little face smiling at me from behind the crib bars.

  “Hey, you,” I said, brightly. I scooped Layla out of the crib and hugged her.

  “Aunt Juwee,” she said. Her hands went to my face. The smile that spread across her tiny toddler face melted my heart.

  This was exactly what I needed. I hugged her tightly again and rocked her back and forth. She was adjusting to being awake, and I wasn’t yet ready to return to the lion’s den. It wasn’t until I heard Bethany and Bryan come back inside that I knew it was time to rejoin the crowd.

  “Mommy!” Layla said when she saw Bethany.

  She wiggled to get out of my arms. I set her on her feet and watched her sprint across the room to where Bethany stood. My sister bent down to grab her daughter, a radiant smile on her face. In all my life, I’d never seen anything suit Bethany better than being a mother. She was amazing with Layla. I envied her so much.

  The rest of the day passed by easily. With Layla awake, everyone stayed distracted. My mother even forgot to comment on my appearance. By the time I left that night, she was in such high spirits that she actually wished me luck on my interview.

  “I’m sure you’ll do great,” Mom said with a smile.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  I was surprised, but I’d take it. We all hugged goodbye, and I hurried over to Andrea’s parents’ house for a few minutes. It was late, so I didn’t stay long. We caught up, and they made me promise to visit again soon.

  By nine o’clock that night, I was on the road back to Ennis. I’d been driving for about ten minutes when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced down to see a text from Michael.

  Grinning, I stepped on the gas. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait to get back home.

  Chapter 8

  Michael

  Julie and I spent all night texting. It took me a few hours to work up the nerve to send that first text. She didn’t answer right away, but once she did, we didn’t stop exchanging messages until both of us fell asleep. I don’t know whether I passed out first or if she did. All I know was I woke up on Sunday morning with my phone clutched between my fingers.

  Grinning, I pushed myself out of bed and jumped in the shower. Part of me felt ridiculous. I was a thirty-year-old man, acting giddy over a woman I’d only just met. On the other hand, I couldn’t help myself. There was something about Julie that just drew me in.
As much as I tried to distance myself, I knew it was no use. I would not be able to be my usual playboy self with her. She and I were connected. It happened fast, but now that it had, I never wanted to lose it.

  The hot water fell over my face, coaxing me into full consciousness and clearing my mind. I saw Julie’s face swim before me, and I grinned again. My dick twitched as I remembered how it felt to kiss her. I shook myself, grabbing the shampoo and squirting a glob into my hand.

  As I washed my hair, I tried to get a hold of myself. Every time I thought about Julie, I became a teenager again. She was just a girl, I told myself. Just a woman. There was no reason to get this excited over one person.

  Still, my body had a mind of its own. I daydreamed about Julie during my shower. My body reacted instinctually, remembering exactly how Julie’s naked skin felt beneath my fingers. By the time I was done, I was desperate to see her again.

  I shut off the water and climbed out of the shower. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I hurried back to my bedroom to where my phone lay on my nightstand. When I looked at it, I saw an unopened text from Julie.

  “Sorry I fell asleep last night,” it read.

  I smiled and immediately pressed the green button to call her. It rang three times before her sleepy voice filled my ear.

  “Hey,” she said. “Good morning.”

  “Morning,” I said. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Great,” she said. A small yawn slipped through the phone, bringing a smile to my lips.

  “Listen,” I said. “What are you up to today? I know you said you were free tonight, but I thought we could go for lunch. Interested?”

  “Sure,” Julie said. “Just let me shower first.”

  “Pick you up in an hour?” I asked.

  “Perfect.”

  We said goodbye, and I put my phone back on my nightstand. I felt like my smile would never fade. I didn’t know what was wrong with me.

  What was it about this woman that made me act this way? If she were another girl, any other girl, I would have moved on already. I wouldn’t have thought twice about sleeping with her and then never calling her again. But I couldn’t imagine not seeing her. The thought of letting her disappear from my life was unbearable.

  It wasn’t just the sex, although that had been life-changing. It was everything about her. From her pale blue eyes to her light brown hair to her undeniable intelligence and quick-witted personality. Julie Black was captivating.

  I dressed in a hurry, and soon, I was on my way to her house. When I pulled up out front, she was already waiting for me.

  “Hey there,” she said as she climbed into the passenger seat. “You’re right on time.”

  “I told you,” I said. “I’m a gentleman.”

  She laughed and fastened her seatbelt while I admired her. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, making her eyes even more striking than before. She wore a simple blouse and a pair of tightly-fitted jeans. My eyes raked themselves down her body, and I felt my breath catch in my chest.

  “Where are we going?” Julie asked, snapping me back to reality.

  “Just this little diner I know,” I said. “I think you’ll like it.”

  We drove through town, the conversation never faltering. Julie told me about her visit with her family and asked how my weekend had been so far. I was embarrassed to admit that I’d done nothing but work. Julie didn’t seem to mind. She kept up her end of the conversation effortlessly.

  “So,” I said. “Your mom really gave you a hard time?”

  “Not too bad,” Julie said. “She’s been worse.”

  “How so?” I asked.

  “My mother has a very specific idea about the way I should live my life,” Julie said. “And if I don’t follow that idea to the letter, she just has to throw her two cents in.”

  “I think that’s all moms.” I laughed. “You should have been there when I told my mom that I was going to open my company.”

  “She didn’t like the idea?” Julie asked.

  “God no,” I said, shaking my head. “She hated it. She was convinced I would fail and, being my mom, she didn’t want to see that happen.”

  “I’m the miracle child,” Julie said. “My parents had my sister, then waited ten years before I came along. They thought they’d never have another child, so, when they did, they pushed all their hopes and dreams onto me. As the miracle child, I can’t screw up.”

  “They worry about you more,” I said with a nod. “I get that.”

  “You do?” Julie asked.

  I nodded again. I understood more than she realized. We were almost to the diner and, as much as I didn’t want the conversation to end, I knew it had to. I pulled into the parking lot, and we made our way inside.

  An older waitress seated us, and we ordered lunch, picking up a simpler conversation than before. We joked and flirted through lunch, Julie occasionally reaching across the table to take my hand. Every time we touched, I found it harder to focus.

  By the time we were done eating, I was itching to get her alone. Julie’s eyes hadn’t left my face all through lunch. That same hungry look was staring back at me, making my stomach tighten and my palms sweat.

  “Any plans for the rest of the day?” I asked as we climbed back into my car.

  “Nope,” Julie said. “I’m all yours.”

  I grinned and gunned the engine. The tension between us mounted on the drive home, but I did my best to keep talking. The closer we got to Julie’s house, the harder it became. I just wanted to be alone with her, to have an excuse to kiss her perfect lips again.

  “Should I take you home?” I asked, hoping she would invite me inside.

  “Well,” Julie said. “You’ve seen my place. It’s only fair that I see yours.”

  “You’re right,” I said. I grinned at her and turned left at the next stop sign. “We’re not far.”

  Julie gazed out the window as I drove down the back roads. My house was right outside of Ennis on ten acres of open land. When I turned the final corner and the house came into view, Julie gasped loudly and leaned forward.

  “Holy shit,” she said softly. “This is where you live?”

  “This is home,” I said.

  Julie’s eyes flew wide as we pulled into the driveway. I was so used to the grandeur of my mansion that I almost forgot how huge it was. Looking at it through Julie’s eyes, I realized she’d probably never seen a house this big before.

  “It’s practically a castle,” she said.

  I laughed. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  “I would,” she insisted. “I half expected to see a moat surrounding the place.”

  “That gets added next year.” I winked.

  Julie rolled her eyes, but when we got out of the car, she begged for a tour. I happily obliged. My desire from earlier was muted as I watched Julie react to my home. Her face lit up with excitement as I showed her each new room. Her favorite, by far, was the library.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said. Her tone was hushed, almost reverent.

  “I thought you’d like this,” I said.

  “You did?” She raised her eyebrows.

  I shrugged. “You’re a writer.”

  “Fair enough.”

  She gazed around at the shelves of books, and I gazed at her. There, standing in the middle of my library, she’d never looked more alluring.

  “So,” I said. “I was thinking…”

  Julie turned to face me with a slight frown. I suddenly felt nervous, and I didn’t know why.

  “Yeah?” she asked.

  “My company is throwing a holiday party next weekend,” I said quickly. “On Saturday. I was thinking you might want to go with me?”

  Julie’s answering smile was sexy as hell. She grinned slyly and sauntered slowly over to me. When she stopped, she was just inches from my face.

  “As your date?” she asked playfully.

  “Of course,” I said. My voice was low.

  Julie’s lips we
re so close to mine that I could barely think straight. When we finally closed the distance between us, I felt my entire body react. It was a soft kiss, light and quick, but it was enough to make my dick twitch with need.

  “I’d love to,” Julie whispered.

  I grinned and pulled her back to me, my lips claiming hers as my own.

  CHAPTER 9

  JULIE

  Michael’s kiss was gentle at first. His lips slid easily over mine, teasing me and tempting me at the same time. When his tongue slid inside my mouth, I sank deeper into the kiss. We’d been here before, this moment where our desires overtook us and propelled us into bed together. Only this time, it felt different. I was calmer, more relaxed, not frantic with need. Michael seemed to feel the same way.

  He took his time with me. He kissed me slowly, taking time to taste every inch of my mouth and nibble gently on my lips. I moaned as his strong arms wrapped themselves around my waist. He held me tightly against his body, running his fingers down my spine and then back up again. I shivered at his touch, but it only served to pull me deeper in. I kissed him back with as much passion as I could muster, letting my mind go blank and my body take control. Soon, my heart jackhammered in my chest, and I could barely breathe.

  I wrenched my lips free from Michael’s and took a step back to catch my breath. Michael didn’t let me get far. He stepped forward just as I stepped back, pushing me across the room. He grinned slyly, and I giggled at his advance. We were seconds away from crashing into one of his bookshelves. When we did, he grabbed me roughly and kissed me again. My back collided with the books, making the shelf shake and my body fill with fire. Michael’s kiss was more intense this time, more insistent. There was a desperation in his hands that hadn’t been there before.

  In one motion, he lifted my shirt over my head and tossed it to the floor. His practiced hands unhooked my bra and slid it easily over my shoulders. It followed my shirt to the floor, and Michael’s hands caressed my bare breasts. He ran his thumbs over my nipples, pinching them gently at first. With each stroke, he got rougher and rougher. Soon, my moans were so strong that I was practically crying out against his lips. Michael’s tongue pressed farther into my mouth, tasting my tongue and undoing me completely.