Stepbrother Charming(48)

Fuck. How do they know? Did Joan see Ty bring me in? I can't believe the housekeeper would willingly rat on us, even if she did see something she shouldn't have.

Some seriously bad stuff went down, and I've got a feeling it has everything to do with Gary making threats. Hell, if he's ready to turn his own son out, why wouldn't he threaten the older woman's livelihood?

I didn't like the man Mom married before, but this seals the deal. I fucking hate him.

And he's still droning on about how it's all Ty's fault. Something about how he couldn't get over losing his mother, despite the billionaire's best efforts. He makes himself out to be such a martyr.

I can't seriously believe Gary ever gave a shit. Not with this tone.

“It's a good thing our kids are grown. Well, yours is, anyway,” Gary adds, fueling the angry heat simmering in my blood. “I think we'll have to agree to disagree about our parenting styles. Ty's my son, Mandy, and having him out of our hair really is the best thing for everybody. Claire doesn't need his bad influence. Neither does your campaign, and you'd better believe I sure as hell don't. I've put up with it for more than twenty years, and I'm done.”

That's it then. Exile.

Christ. How long do I have left with him? He could be gone by the end of the week for all I know. Gary's crazy and cruel enough to do it.

I can't take it anymore. I walk into the kitchen and rip the huge stainless steel fridge open, making sure Mom's kefir and kombucha bottles clang together.

Their voices stop. I pretend I'm looking for my breakfast as Mom trots in, concern lining her face.

“Oh, Claire. I didn't know you were awake. I would've had Joan set something up for you...”

“I'm good with cereal, Mom. Hey, are we out of milk?” I'm so flustered I don't see it.

A large hand reaches past me, deep into the second shelf, and pulls out a tall glass bottle. Creamy white and all organic. What else? Everything in this house has to perfect, especially when it's run by the asshole staring at me.

“Here you go, Claire.” Gary's smile is so fucking fake it makes me want to spit in his face.

We lock eyes. I can't hide the dark anger undoubtedly swirling in mine, and I'm sure he can see it. He gives me a sharp look, like he's on the verge of chiding me, but then he purses his lips and scurries out between us.

“Sorry, everyone, I should've left for Seattle half an hour ago. I'm going to be exceptionally late if I don't get out the door now.”

Mom takes a long step after him like he's forgotten something. Probably her kiss goodbye. Gary keeps going, and doesn't look back before he's out the door.

I feel bad for her. But I'm not sorry I missed seeing their gross morning kiss under these circumstances. She turns back to me, brushing away the worry pulling at her features with a big, politically correct smile. Diplomacy's in her blood.

“You'd better rest up today, honey. I'm surprised you were out so late after losing your first Saturday to overtime.”

I shrug and bite my tongue as cereal crashes into my bowl, followed by a generous splash of milk. I've got to admit, the food in this household isn't bad, even if it's as guarded and selectively picked as everything else here.

“There's got to be some time for fun in the career world, right?”

My mom belts out an anxious laugh, and then quickly catches herself. “Oh, of course! Don't let work consume you, Claire. Seriously. It's okay to let loose a little.”

She gives me a stern look. I give her nothing more than a shallow nod. I still can't believe the utter shit I overheard.#p#分页标题#e#

I'm not in the mood for taking any motherly advice. Not today. Sure, she offered a little resistance to Gary, but nothing that would put teeth into him for screwing over Ty.

Why do the assholes always have to get away with it? Why?

Funny, I realize I used to think of Ty as Prince Asshole less than twenty-four hours ago. But I guess I've been wrong all along. There's more of Prince Charming than I thought in him, and I've been overlooking King Dick the entire time.

Mom mutters a few more bits of small talk my way. I mostly shrug and don't respond.

She finally gets the message and heads somewhere else. I eat my breakfast slowly, nursing my stomach after the rough night.

It's a miracle my body didn't collapse after the drunken bender. Not to mention what went down in his car later that night.

God damn it.

Just thinking about it makes me tingle. I remember how hard his hands squeezed my ass, how he pushed his face between my legs with such reckless abandon. We were so close to going all the way too, if only my exhaustion hadn't ruined it.

His mouth was amazing. How incredible would his dick feel inside me? Would he fuck me hard and fast, or would he fill my pussy with deep, long strokes?