Getting Mine: A Stepbrother Romance Read Free

hotel in Manhattan.
    Slowly wiping the scotch off my hands and onto my jeans, I walked over to Val. She looked away, that cracked smile was gone. I hated that the sight of me made her eyes sparkle with old pain. I understood why. I did exactly what I said I'd do. I abandoned her.
    “I don't trust Arsen.” She leveled a hateful stare at me that made my chest tighten. “How could I?”
    I'm sorry, Val. But I knew an apology would never be enough. Was that why I really came back after all these years?
    “I know you better than anyone, Val.” I may not be a good person, but I'd keep her safe. That's all that mattered. “Hate me all you want, but even Hugh knows that I'm your best shot at protection.”
    “Valentine, you must think of the Dawson legacy.” Hugh tapped his cell phone then put it to his ear. He stood up to make a call that was obviously more important to him than discussing his daughter's safety. “Now calm yourself and accept it, before you embarrass us both.”
    The manservant returned with his drink, but Hugh's hands were full with the phone and his cigar. As opposed to even mildly inconveniencing himself, Hugh simply waved two cigar clutching fingers for the man to follow him into the study. And with that, Hugh Dawson was done with us.
    Leave it to an actor to make a grand exit.
    After a short silence, my mother finally spoke up. “Your father is right, dear. At least in the sense of you needing protection.” She was soft spoken, but always sincere. When my mom said the word 'dear', it held compassion and warmth, as opposed to the patronizing indifference that came out of Hugh's face whenever he said the word.
    My mom always had a graceful way about her. My father used to say that she never walked anywhere, she just floated. She had a pronounced nose, a brilliant white smile and she was where I got my black hair from. Her years with Hugh had stolen some of that fire in her eyes, that always kept me in line growing up. Of all the things that changed, that fire was what I missed most about her.
    “I know you two have had your differences,” Mom walked over and put a hand on Val's shoulder. Val's seething anger at the whole situation immediately started subsided. Mom smiled, nostalgia twinkling in her eyes. “But I remember a time when you two were very close. Almost inseparable, really.” 
    Val glanced at me then turned her back to me to speak with my mom in quieter tones. They were still close enough to hear, but barely. “I can't, Pam. It's been too long, there's too much history there. I need to focus on my career, you know how hard I've worked to get here.”
    My mom squeezed Val's hand and whispered something to her. No matter how hard I concentrated, all the while looking like I wasn't interested, of course, I couldn't make out what she said.
    Val nodded.
    “Thank you,” Mom said, releasing Val's hand. She smiled to Val, then to me, then walked from the room as well.
    Val stood alone, thoughtfully, before the massive floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the NYC skyline. I barely noticed the buildings in the distance, my eyes were too busy tracing her body. Her lean, but full, hourglass figure silhouetted against the setting sun and skyscrapers. Her beauty put the scenery to shame.
    Not that I’d tell her that, obviously. I was hired to keep her safe, that was all. The last thing either of us needed was to rekindle old flames.
    Somebody was bound to get burned.
    With a body like hers, my cock didn't give a shit about the fires of reason and logic. The whole scene played out in my mind. I'd come up behind her, she'd be hesitant, but willing to finish what we started all those years ago. I pull that dress up, or tear it right the fuck off and slam her against the glass. Her palm's leaving prints over all of NYC as I fuck her till the glass breaks.
    You're a fool, Arsen. I had to keep my eyes off the prize. Not even two hours since I started this and I'm already slipping into old fantasies.