Stepbrother Charming(13)

“Huh? We're neighbors? In this huge of a house?” She croaks, and I half expect to see her wither right in front of me. “Jesus Christ.”

Surprisingly, she takes it in stride, and I watch her sashay angrily down the steps. She pulls open the door to the lower floor and her footsteps are softer, fading 'til it's hard to believe she was really right in front of me at all.

I don't follow her down there to my room because I've got to shower and wrap up some other shit.

It's a little too warm in the house. I need to find Joan to make sure the temperature controls are set just right. This place is so fucking big it always takes an adjustment or two when the seasons are shifting.#p#分页标题#e#

For the first time this year, I'm actually looking forward to summer. Having Claire behind my wall's gonna make it a lot more interesting.

The next day, I'm the first one in the dining room. Don't have a damned clue what time our parents got home.

Shit, parents. Plural.

It's been so fucking long since I've thought about that word. It's alien to everything I know. And whatever the hell happens, the prissy Congresswoman Dad married for reasons I'll never understand will never be my ma.

She died skiing on the slopes outside Olympia before I barely knew her. There's never been anybody but Dad, busy CEO and father-of-the-year. Or at least that's the way he presents himself to the smiling reporters.

The real Gary Sterner raised me. I respect him the way a peasant pays respect to a hard ass tyrant.

Whatever. It's his right, I guess, and it's not his new lady's fault that she saw something in my old man. I swear I'm not gonna give her too much shit as I wash up and head down to the dining room.

I've got Claire for taking the brunt, after all. And you'd better believe I want to give her a whole lot more than total crap. I want to give her everything I got, hard and deep and raw. I want to fuck her breathless, fuck her 'til she's biting my shoulder, slam into her tight wet cunt 'til my dick's so numb I can't even feel it.

I stop and lean on the staircase's banister for a moment. Gotta collect myself. This thinking's dangerous, and I know it.

Wish I could figure out what the hell it is about this chick that keeps lighting me on fire. Every time we're in the same room, it's like there's a storm building underneath my skin, thunderheads so fierce and primal I'd be scared if it didn't make me tingle so damned good.

Love at first sight? Fuck no.

I don't believe in that shit. Lust at first sight, on the other hand, just might have some serious truth behind it.

My lungs pulse relief when I get downstairs and see she's not there yet. It's just Dad, sitting on his throne at the head of the table like he always does, and a dark haired lady at his side I can only assume is Amanda Frost.

No, Amanda Sterner. My new step-mom. Shit.

“Tyler!” She stands up when I come in like I'm the damned President or something. I wonder if it's the same way she bolted up at the State of the union   speeches back in DC. “We've been waiting for you kids. It's so good to finally meet you!”

She puts her hand out. Dad's watching me like an eagle about to swoop in on its kill.

I skip the handshake and give her a hug. She clings to me tight, pleasantly surprised by the gesture. I hope like hell my father's just as pleased – maybe he'll lay the fuck off and cut me some slack. It's gonna be hard as hell behaving myself with Little Miss Perfect due any time.

“Pleasure,” I say. “How was Denali?”

“Ty, why don't you sit down and grab a plate?” Dad cuts in, before she can answer my question. “We don't need to stand around gabbing like rednecks when we've got this wonderful spread. Have you seen Claire?”

“I met her yesterday,” I tell him, dropping into my seat. “She was tired. Seems like meeting you was a lot for her to take in.”

His lips twitch. I smile, wondering who the fuck's really bottling shit up the most and practicing their best behavior. Not just me, apparently.

“Oh, I should've gone down myself to check on her,” Amanda says. “Maybe I should anyway, just to make sure...”

She starts to get up, but Dad lays a protective hand over hers. “Nonsense, Mandy. I'll send Joan to give her a wakeup call. I don't blame the poor girl for sleeping in. She's been under a lot of pressure.”#p#分页标题#e#

Dad's about to tap the button for the intercom on the wall behind him to call our housekeeper, when Claire comes trotting in. She looks neater today. She's wearing some fresh shit her mom must've picked out and stashed in her room.

It's a nice white summer dress. I'll be fucked if it doesn't make her tits look like heaping scoops of vanilla ice cream. My dick's been reasonably well behaved this morning 'til now.