He turned and looked at me harshly, grabbed my hand again, and said a harsh whisper, “Don’t ever do that again.” At once I felt two things, fear and excitement. Fear of the unknown desire and emotions running through me and excitement at his anger; it really was turning me on. I hoped I wasn’t a closet submissive. Nope, I couldn’t be, I don’t really like pain.
I was meeting his family. What the heck? We just met and here I am meeting the O’Connell family, one of the wealthiest families in the state. I am used to meeting wealthy people, my parents used to take me to functions all the time. At the time I didn’t know I was on the seller’s block. It was that night that I found out. This was different too, because I wasn’t just another guest. I was his date. Like Brady had told me, I need to let it go and move on.
We pulled up to their mansion on the outskirts of town. I was about to open the door when he shook his head and said, “No”. He turned to Claire, and tilted his head to tell her to get out. She jumped out the back and ran in the house, with a smile on her face.
“Look babe, you don’t have to be nervous.” I tried to front like I wasn’t freaked out, but he read me like a book. “Don’t deny it. I can feel it; your pulse is racing. They are just like everyone else, just with more money. I will say this, you are the first woman I have ever brought home. So, they may go a little crazy, making correct assumptions about us.” Wow, he didn’t have a slow button. Great, add to the pressure why don’t you? I didn’t tell him it sure as hell wasn’t his family driving me bananas it was him.
He kissed my hand, then helped me out of the truck. All the sudden I was hit with fear that they wouldn’t like me. His father was a successful business man that practically ran this town. His mother was a skilled lawyer, but took a case here and there. Rumor has it, it was because he didn’t like her working, and I am a teenage girl, who works at the mall, with parents who were willing to sell me to some old guy.
Overall the night went well, but I had moments of anxiety when the father looked at me with suspicion. I was tempted to say something, because I have very little tolerance for assholes, but his mom was glowing when she looked at Rick and me together. Plus Rick always seemed to be touching me, whether it was rubbing my back, or holding my hand under the table at dinner.
It was right after dinner that his father asked to speak with on a business matter that couldn’t wait. I had a feeling it wasn’t a business matter, but a personal matter, concerning yours truly. We all had a good time talking, his brother was a cool and another handsome fool. He looked a hell of a lot like Rick, but there was something about Rick that called to me. I had seen throughout the whole night that Rick looked ready to fight with his brother because he was talking to me. Silly, did he think I would just jump from one guy to another? So far, Rick was the only man to have gotten a real strong reaction (both good and bad) out of me. Yes, I found a lot of guys attractive, but I hadn’t wanted more.
Chapter 5: Rick
I knew Claire had already told them about her, but they were still shocked that I actually brought Samantha home with me. Everything was going well until my brother arrived. Ethan was four years younger than me, but we were practically twins, in appearance. The boy even had grown in the last few months, filling out in the muscle department.
For some reason, I didn’t like the way Samantha and Ethan were getting along. He seemed like a better catch. I knew it was just insecurity talking because she seemed to talk to him a lot more than she did me. She was making me doubt my ability with the ladies. I needed to reel that shit in. I was a catch and a half and any woman would be lucky to be with me, but I wasn’t sure Red saw it that way. To her, I was just a handsome pompous ass, but I wanted to be her world, as she was fast becoming mine.
My dad called me into his study for a little conversation. I knew it had to do with my girl. Business my ass; I saw the way he looked at her all night.
“Son, do you know who you brought into my house?” I had never gotten angry at my father, but right now I was very close to knocking his ass out with that snide and rude comment.
“Son, that young woman was to be your uncle’s wife.” I looked at him like had fucking lost his mind. He had already poured me a drink and handed that shit to me; which I downed in one fucking gulp.
“What the fuck? That is the biggest bullshit I ever heard. She’s just about to turn eighteen.” He sat down in the chair across from me. I just couldn’t wrap my head around that ridiculousness.
“Last year I had gone to see your uncle when he was sick. I had seen the contract from the Lakes to him promising her to him in exchange for two-hundred thousand dollars. At first I thought he was buying a horse, but I saw her name on their and knew that wasn’t a horses name. I asked him about it and he told me what had happened. When he went to go meet her, she had run away. The thing is son, he hasn’t found her yet and he already gave them the money. He said that he had to wait until she was eighteen before he could claim Samantha, herself, or whack her parents” My father rubbed his head in agitation.