by Lara Swann
Oh yes, I’m the devil here. And something in me can’t stop digging deeper…
“Bella, it’s so good to see you again.”
Before she could do anything to stop it, I’d swept her hand up to my lips, bowing lightly over the top of it while I brushed just the faintest impression across the back. My powerful gaze met hers as I came back up and she snatched her hand away from me, glaring back. I knew they couldn’t see our expressions, but I could almost feel her father’s frown at her rudeness and let the corner of my mouth curve in a smile at the small one-up on her.
Why the hell am I doing this?!
But I knew why. I was angry as hell, and while I may no longer have the crazed, explosive reactions, that violent response was still beating hard under all of this. And the Navy had taught me something far more dangerous in the controlled, disciplined attack of cold rage. As for Bella…well, she was just in the blast zone. And such an easy target.
I turned, ignoring her impotent anger without another glance.
“Shall we go on to dinner? I believe I’ve kept you all waiting.”
I didn’t bother to apologize, but no one seemed to notice as Terence latched onto that as a good idea and escorted my mother out of the room. She gave me a suspicious glance as they walked past, my unpredictable behavior instinctively setting off alarm bells. As it should do. But it was her own fault - she was the one who’d invited me here. To stay, even.
The sudden reminder of what I’d only moments before agreed to had discomfort flicker inside me for a moment. But then it was forgotten, emotions locked down, in anticipation of the battleground ahead.
I gestured in front of me and gave Bella an innocent smile.
“After you - sis.”
“Fuck you.”
Her quiet response lit something in me that it shouldn’t have, and I found my smile growing, eyes dancing with amusement as we moved back into territory that was almost familiar. It had a sharper edge now though, the emotions behind it far more deadly.
“You already did, baby.”
Her startled look darted immediately to our parents, but we were far enough behind they hadn’t heard the softly murmured response.
She looked about ready to slap me, but we were already at the entrance to the dinner room and they were both waiting for us at the table. Instead, she turned and walked away from me as quickly as was possible without looking overtly rude. Her escape attempt failed as soon as she realized we’d been placed next to each other, opposite our parents.
I took a moment just to look at the room, the large table spanning the width and covering only one half of the room, looking as though it could seat a good 12 people. If it were on a raised dais, I could almost take this to be a small banquet room from something out of a medieval story.
I shook my head at the fancy notion and moved up to the other place waiting at the table, seeing them all looking expectantly at me.
“Nice room.”
It was clear my mother couldn’t tell whether my flash of a smile was mocking or not, but regardless of what they thought, Terence decided the best option was to take me at face value.
“Thank you. I hope you’re hungry - the food is more than ready.”
The subtle reminder of my tardiness only made me smile, but my amusement at Bella’s inability to escape twisted as I realized it offered me a similar problem. With her on my left, it was hard not to let my eyes linger on the exposed skin of her neck joining shoulder…I could taste the light scent she used in the air, even with the tempting smells of marinated meat that was quickly set down in front of us. If I hadn’t been distracted I would have probably formed an opinion about having people to cook and bring us food.
I kept my hands studiously above the table, knowing unless they were in plain sight it would be far too tempting to run them down the skirt she was wearing, tease that place the hem met skin the way I had so many times before, and let just a finger slip underneath. That was all it took to drive her crazy - I could remember that plain as day - and the dime-a-dozen women I’d known since had only appreciated the attention to detail that Navy SEAL training had added.
“What?”
Bella’s voice drew me out of the completely illicit fantasy and made me realize I wasn’t the only one wrapped up in thoughts that left me with no clue as to where the conversation was.
“I was just asking whether you were alright with the lamb - you mentioned something about going through a vegan phase at school?”
The question seemed badly timed, considering the food was already cooked and served, but Bella was eating it without complaint - and from the closed off expression on her face, without tasting it either.
“Oh, yes, it’s fine thank you. And it wasn’t a phase - it was a challenge. Just wanted to see whether I could do it for 60 days.”
“If you say so.”
The condescension there irked me, but apart from a momentary frown, Bella ignored it. To my surprise, it was my mother’s voice that spoke up.
“I can understand that - challenging yourself to do new, different things. I’m sure Seth does too - isn’t that one of your SEAL mottos, hmm?”
Not the way you say it.
Ever since I’d gained that badge of honor, my mother had become obsessed with it - quick to parade my service out in front of anyone who would listen, and I couldn’t stand it. She had no clue what it really meant to be who I was, to serve as I did. A few maxims and quotes weren’t enough to understand. Constantly challenging, training, learning, pushing…that was as much a part of my life as breathing. So yes, I could understand Bella’s motivations - she was the kind of girl who could fit into that same life view, after all. But I sincerely doubted my mother did.
Instead of launching into that tirade, I just shrugged and grunted, brushing it away as I always did with those comments.
I focused on pushing away the distraction of her presence right there at my shoulder and tried to turn my attention back to the man my mother was planning to make my step-father. My initial optimism had died as soon as I’d realized just whose father he was, and with it most of my interest, but I could at least try to be polite. Whatever got me away from the awkwardness of this meal quicker. And away from the tempting siren next to me.
Unfortunately, he brought the conversation right back to the same place again.
“Ah yes, your mother mentioned you were in the Navy SEALs. Quite an accomplishment - is it as hard as they say, the training?”
I felt Bella startle at that, shooting me a sidelong glance.
The images flashed through my mind briefly - the freezing cold, the harsh surf as we lay in it for hours, the never-ending ache of fatigued muscles, constant stress and pressure and haranguing to quit…it was the worst thing I’d ever done. And the best. And I never wanted to do it again.
“Harder.”
He asked me a few more questions but I didn’t elaborate much beyond one word answers. I tried to care about being pleasant but found myself failing spectacularly. I hated this line of conversation - almost like I was some novelty on display. I’d never found anyone outside the force that I could stand talking to about this stuff. And those within didn’t talk about it - they didn’t need to.
The conversation died away after a few more moments, and I was glad to just focus on my food. My mother kicked it off again just as the silence started to feel heavy, evidently giving up on me.
“What about you, Annabelle? Your father mentioned you’d graduated with a 3.9 - that’s seriously impressive! What are your plans now?”
Bella shifted beside me, and I could read her discomfort instantly. My eyes watched her closely at that, curiosity overcoming even the desire to run my hand up through her hair and unpick the clips that held it restrained. There was something wrong about my need to feel it tumbling around me, my hand caught in it as I pulled her head back for a kiss that would take her breath away…
OK, maybe curiosity didn’t quite overcome that.
Bella cleared her t
hroat and glanced at her father, before taking a breath in a manner that spoke of a practiced action.
“I’ve been thinking about that, actually.”
Terence gave her a quick look, his face unchanged as he answered for her.
“You were thinking of attending a med school near here, weren’t you? So studying for the MCAT soon, I imagine.”
She looked back at him evenly, but her body language made me feel she was preparing herself for what she was about to say.
The dynamics between the two of them were fascinating - Bella’s controlled, almost emotionless manner had been a big part of her reputation at school. Personally, I’d never quite seen her that way - but then I’d made it my purpose to goad her out of it. Looking at them both right now though, I had a feeling that this was who it was for.
“Yes, that’s one of the options. But, you know, we’d discussed taking some time to think it through after graduation, and I’ve also been getting really interested in forensics. I was thinking it might be worth pursu—”
She was cut off by a slight laugh, and my eyebrows shot up as I looked back to her father, who was shaking his head with a small, tolerant smile.
“I think you’ve been watching too much CSI, my dear.”
Bella tensed for a moment beside me, before forcing herself to relax and shrugging.
“It’s just something to consider - maybe we should talk about it another time.”
“I don’t think there’s much to talk about, Annabelle. It’s not a good idea.”
His response made my blood boil and I was ready to snap at him, but glanced to the side and waited for Bella to do so - she wouldn’t appreciate me fighting her battles. And it wasn’t like it was my place to anyway. But to my surprise she just slunk further into her chair and pushed her food around the plate.
This was the girl who had never once failed to find a come-back for one of my jibes?
It took all my effort not to stare at her. For some reason, her attitude just made me even angrier - with her or him, I couldn’t tell. Maybe both of them. Maybe just the world for this whole fucked up situation.
What did I care whether she did medicine or forensics, anyway?
Except that I couldn’t stand to see her treated that way.
Says the guy who was taunting her a few minutes ago…
My reaction made less sense than her behavior and it was all irritating the hell out of me.
The air was tense for a minute, until my mother picked up the slack again and rattled on about some conversation she’d had out shopping today. If I wasn’t so irate, I would have been impressed with her sudden social graces.
Bella asked to be excused a few minutes later, when a couple of people came to collect our plates, saying she had a headache and wasn’t feeling like dessert. Her father just nodded and she turned to my mother.
“It was good to meet you, Cora…Seth.”
She didn’t look at me as she turned and left, and it took more willpower than I would have expected not to watch her go.
Great. And now I’m all alone with them both…
Not that that mattered when my only thought was of her - the way she’d looked, dejected and defeated in the face of her father’s comments. A direct contrast to the spark of anger and outrage I’d provoked earlier tonight, the familiar game that was now tinged with an uncomfortable edge. The way I could still remember her body, skin against skin as we drove each other to heights I’ve never seen before or since.
God damn!
I could almost feel her against me again, hearing her cry my name as I was taken with the way this somewhat shy, innocent girl could become such an intense wildcat when provoked. That was what had enthralled me, I’d known from the first instant. And seeing the opposite tonight had provoked me almost beyond tolerance.
I wanted to go after her, to change whatever had just happened between her and her father - even knowing most likely I could only make it worse. The sporadic conversation between Terence and my mother almost drove me up the wall as I sat there debating whether to storm up after her or stay away. I knew what the sensible thing to do was. I knew what was right.
And I wanted to damn it all to hell.
It was a terrible idea. But there was so much between us…so much left unsaid. And now that our parents had hooked up, it wasn’t like we could avoid each other forever.
But we couldn’t have anything else either. Even if I hadn’t gone out of my way to push her away tonight, my mother had ensured she was firmly out of reach. I just wasn’t conditioned to accept that.
There is no “can’t”. Will or will not, that’s your only choice.
Dale’s oft-repeated phrases seemed meaningless in the face of this. She was about to become my step-sister - what could be more impossible?
And even if she wasn’t, it would be hard enough, with what I’d said tonight…with what lay between us three years ago…
I tried to tell myself the disgust and anger I’d seen in her eyes was a good thing - it would keep me away, stop me doing anything rash - but it ate at me anyway, even if I had invited it.
I’d committed to seeing her tonight - to explaining myself and at least setting things straight between us. It sucked balls that this was how I’d seen her, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t set the past right.
Perhaps that was all that was left to me now, and once I was done I could finally put this obsession to bed. I’d hurt her once - I’d seen that in her expression tonight - and we were brother and sister now. I wouldn’t hurt her again - but after all this time apart, I needed a few moments with her in private.
I finished dinner with a few questions to Terence, asking him about his business and acting like I was thinking about anything but his daughter’s fair, pretty skin writhing underneath me. He seemed only too happy to comply, regaling me with tales of the tech industry and how his company was poised on the edge of overtaking some new innovation. It sounded mind-numbingly boring to me, but he was obviously pleased with it.
When we were finally done, my mother offered to take me up to the room she’d had prepared for me. The idea of staying here now twisted my gut in knots, but I’d agreed - and even as frustrated as I was, I could see this was good for her, so I didn’t say anything. I could always change my mind another day. For tonight, there was the promise that Bella would be only a few rooms away - and the burning need still to see her. So I took my mother’s directions and even managed a moderately polite goodnight.
Then I set off in search of Bella.
Chapter Three
Seth
Resting my shoulder against the side of the door, I knocked and waited as I heard my new step-sister moving inside and coming to answer. The rooms were stupid big in this place.
As soon as she saw me, her expression closed-off and I could see the obvious temptation to slam the door in my face. Not giving her a chance to think about it, I gave my casual smile and walked easily past her and inside.
“Hey!”
As she spun to face me, I couldn’t help how much I adored the way outrage had always puckered up her pretty, delicate features.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
So, yeah, not welcome.
It was expected, even if I wished it was undeserved.
I just raised my eyebrows and gave her a long look, wanting the door closed before I said any of what I’d come for.
“I thought you’d prefer to talk in private, hmm?”
She caught my meaning immediately, flushing and closing the door with a quick glance outside before coming forward to glare at me. Such strong, passionate eyes when she was riled up. I couldn’t help enjoying it just as much as I had at eighteen, my body’s reaction showing me that the time apart hadn’t done anything to diminish her effect on me.
I cursed the fact she was off-limits yet again - this would be so much easier if I could just push her up against the wall and show her just how much I’d missed whatever that brief thing betw
een us had been.
God damn.
I ignored that and took a breath, finally having her alone and in relative privacy and wanting to at least explain the last three years…and try to discuss the mess we were in now.
“About before—”
Her eyes flashed and back straightened, that stubborn set of her chin making my body heat all over again.
“You can’t tell anyone about that - my father would never forgive me! As far as I’m concerned, it never happened.”
That was all it took to turn my conciliatory plan to anger, my mouth opening instinctively, unable to accept that she cared more about what her father thought than what had happened between us.
“Still chasing Daddy’s approval, I see.”
Her body tightened but despite that small indication, she stayed where she was, in full disdainful control.
There were a few officers who would have been impressed…
“It was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made - don’t make it worse now, asshole.”
Damn it, but this woman knew how to provoke me.
My good intentions disappeared in the face of anger and need, and I sauntered towards her stiff body, enjoying the way her eyes immediately turned wary. I stepped up close, invading her personal space, but with the way our eyes held each other she didn’t move. My mouth curved at the evidence of what I was sure was running through her body as deeply as it was mine and I tilted my head, my breath brushing her lips while I kept myself moments above her. Inches away from every kiss we’d ever shared. My heartbeat thudded in my ears, something akin to adrenaline surging as I felt her caught like this - under my gaze, my body.
Electricity jumped between the narrow space separating our bodies, the tingle of what could be there almost stronger than if I’d actually touched her. Her eyes widened with it and gave me just a glimmer of what I was looking for, lips parting just a little as blood shot to my cock. I let the smile bloom full and deadly as my hand finally broke the distance between us, curling in the strands of her hair that were at last loose from the bob she kept them in and tilting her head towards me.
