Climbing out of bed, I shuffle into the connecting bathroom and take a piss. Wash my hands. Splash cold water on my face to wake myself up. My hair is sticking straight up, and I try to smooth it down with my damp hands, but it’s no use. I’m clad in only my black boxer briefs, and the water is icy enough to make my skin break out in goosebumps. The last time I saw goosebumps was on Hayden. Last night when we stood on the jungle gym, her hands loosening her dress, exposing gooseflesh dotted skin.
With her devilish smile and taunting words. The flirty skirt of her dress flapping in the breeze, dancing around her slender thighs. Her panties still crumpled in a lacy wad, left in the front pocket of my discarded trousers that lie crumpled on the floor where I abandoned them last night.
After everything that happened, how surreal the entire moment was, I could almost believe last night wasn’t real. Though I know it was.
Her panties in my possession are my evidence.
I walk out of the bathroom at the exact same moment my bedroom door swings open, and there stands Helena in the doorway, clad in a thin white silk nightgown with a matching robe that’s open. Her eyes go wide when she sees me. “Oh! I didn’t think you were awake.”
“You didn’t even knock.” I scratch at my chest, vaguely irritated my new stepmom barged into my room when I’m practically naked.
It’s like she walked in on purpose.
“Sorry.” She rests a hand on her chest, drawing my attention to her tits. They are plumped up nicely, the low neckline of her nightgown offering a delectable view. Though I’m not interested. “I was checking in on you to see if you wanted breakfast.”
“You’re going to make me breakfast?” I ask.
She laughs, and it’s a pleasant tinkling sound. Flirtatious. She’s far more flirty than she was last night. “No, silly. We have a cook for that.”
“Where’s my father?”
Her expression falls. Guess I wasn’t supposed to mention him. “Holed up in his office.”
“And my sisters?”
“Taking a nap. You slept in late.” She steps farther into my room, shutting the door behind her. “Did you sleep comfortably last night?”
What is this woman about? “Sure.”
“Good.” She stops right in front of me, and I can see there’s a lot of skin on display, though I’m showing more. She’s studying me with interest, and usually when an attractive woman checks me out, I feel a stir.
Nothing is stirring. Not at all. Thank fucking God for that.
“I just wanted to let you know it makes your father very happy that you’re here. That everyone he loves is under one roof,” she says, her voice low, her eyes glowing as she watches me.
“I’m sure he’s thrilled.” That’s all I say. What else is there to say? He just wants to control me. That’s the sense I got last night.
“I should warn you though,” she starts, then clamps her lips shut, her gaze unsure.
“Warn me about what?”
“Your father wasn’t happy when you left.” She tilts her head to the side, her dark hair spilling over her shoulder. “We didn’t know where you were.”
“I had to leave. That country club shit is stifling,” I say honestly.
“Who did you leave with?”
I remain quiet.
“Because I saw you get into a car with a certain blonde,” she continues.
Fucking hell. “It was nothing.”
“Sneaking off with Hayden Channing is a big deal to your father, Tony. He won’t be pleased.”
“I’m not here to please him.”
“You should be. He’s worth a fortune, and he wants to retire soon,” she says. “And he wants to leave everything to you.”