Tyrant Twins (Tyrant Dynasty 1)

Parker is stewing in his anger because she’s so busy lately. I don’t tell him shit, and June doesn’t, either. He complains that she must have a boyfriend and tells me how he’ll beat him into a pulp when he sees them together, some weird mix of a protective brother and a jealous fuckboy.

Bring it on, brother, I think angrily, still mad about his lies. Let’s see which one of us gets the girl this time.

But most of the time, I manage not to think of Parker. I’m too lost in June to think about my twin.

We spend so much time together, but our physical interactions are few and far between. She lets me kiss her good night but breaks it off before I can get what I want. She lets me stroke her hair, but when my hand moves downward, she laughs and runs away, waving me off. I live for the horror movies she likes to watch because she lets me hold her when she’s scared, and I’d do anything to feel her soft skin on mine. She wants to take it slow, and it’s killing me. Especially now that I've already tasted her.

Every night ends with me jacking off, thinking of June and only June. And I know I won’t be able to hold back much longer. I’ve never in my twenty-five years had sex with someone who meant this much to me. I’ve never tried this hard for a girl. I love it, but I need more, more, and more every day.

The PG-13 stuff is okay, but I’m an R-rated man.

And today, my darling June is having a bad day. She’s wrapped up in my arms—for once—crying her heart out.

“I want to tell people,” she sobs. “But what will everyone think?”

She wants to go public, and my panic grows with every one of her sobs. Plus, there's really nothing to say yet. We haven't slept together yet... And besides, we can’t tell anyone, because I need to deal with Parker first. I need to tell him the plan is off. June is mine. And if I know my brother—and I do, like the back of my hand—I know he will not take it well.

I can feel the eyes of the patrons in the coffee shop staring at us, so I scoop June up. “Shhh,” I say softly, stroking her hair. “Let’s get you home.”

She lets me take care of it all, dialing her driver, getting her in the car, covering her up with a blanket on the back seat. I’m about to kiss her goodbye when she pulls me back. “No,” she pleads. “Come with me.”

Looking at those big, round, and pleading eyes, I know I don’t have a choice. I get in the car and let her snuggle against me as we start driving.

I guess today is the day I battle my demons.

Thirty-five minutes later, the car pulls into the driveway I know so well. I fight hard to keep walking straight, to keep my emotions at bay as we stop in front of the beautiful building. It was different the last time we were here—I was half-drunk.

The driver opens the door for June, and I get out on the other side, taking in my past home. It’s majestic—an enormous dwelling surrounded by trimmed grass and flowers in bloom. The sun is setting behind the house, coloring the sky in vivid watercolors. It’s like a fairy tale here, and as I look at June, I wonder how she stays in this place all by herself. She must be so fucking lonely.

I take her arm, and we walk in without saying a word. The driver goes to his quarters after I promise to take care of June for the night, and the housekeeper has left some dinner in the oven. I inspect the mac and cheese she made for June.

Take care of yourself, Miss Wildfox! says her writing in cursive on a note in the kitchen, and I wonder if June has ever had a person who didn’t want to take care of her like she was a little girl. Sure she has, my mind reminds me. Parker just wants to fuck her over.

I ignore my inner voice and set June down at the counter. The dining room has an enormous table, and I think she’ll feel safer here, close to me.

It bothers me that I know this kitchen like the back of my hand. I know exactly which drawer to open and exactly which button to press on the coffee machine. The unfairness of having to leave this house behind still hurts like hell.

I warm up June’s dinner and bring it to her, watching her eat and calm down simultaneously.

“Why are you staring at me?” she asks with a full mouth.

I laugh at her and wipe the corner of her mouth with my finger. “Because you’re beautiful,” I answer simply.