Royal Prick (A Stepbrother Romance #2)(24)

“Were not f*cking, Jordan,” I corrected her, heading down the road that lead to Sasha’s house. You could see the dim glow of lights from her house way off in the distance.

“Whatever,” she scoffed. “You have his name as Fuckboy in your phone. Clearly something is going on, and I’m not in the loop about it.” I didn’t know what to tell Jordan about Royal’s name being Fuckboy in my phone because I didn’t see an issue with it. Just because his name had the word f*ck in it didn’t mean we were automatically f*cking.

“There is nothing going on, I promise. He f*cks with me which is why I call him that,” I assured her, watching my speedometer rise as I placed my foot heavier against the gas pedal. The whiskey I drank earlier was finally starting to settle into my bloodstream, the warmth of it radiating throughout my body. I focused on getting to the party and nothing else.

Ten minutes later we pulled into the Master’s estate. A long, paved driveway led up to an enormous house set up on a hill. You could hear the loud pounding of the music from the start of the driveway.

“House, more like mansion,” I muttered to myself, turning into the driveway and heading toward the house. There were cars parked every which way, some even sideways. I wasn’t quite sure where I should park.

“Why exactly are we here if Fuckboy said not to come?” Jordan questioned me. I couldn’t exactly tell her I knew he was up to something and I wanted the deets on it, so I just told her a half truth.

“I’m tired of being tied down and told what to do by other people. My peers, my mother, Royal aka Fuckboy.” I snickered. “I’m done being controlled by others.” I slammed on the brakes just in time as a couple that was just making out ran in front of the car.

“Keep it moving!” Jordan yelled out the car window at them. They flipped her the bird and kept their lips locked on one another, ignoring the fact that they were almost ran over by a car. The grip I had on the steering wheel was almost painful. My heart raced inside of my chest. I just needed to park the car, take a deep breath, and figure out why Royal didn’t want me at this party.

“Are you okay?” Jordan’s voice was soft, and I could feel her hand on my shoulder trying to comfort me. Tonight I broke a lot of rules; rules that weren’t set by me, but by the law and by my mother. I almost hit people because they were being reckless and careless, but so was I. Reckless and free. Did I even know how to act those two words out?

It was all kinds of f*cking scary, but it was also exhilarating. I never broke the rules, not until Royal came along, shaking up my entire life. He flipped everything on its axis, turning my world completely upside down. It was in that view that I finally felt like I could see everything for what it really was.

“Noelle?” Jordan said my name again, her hands cupping my cheeks and forcing me to focus my attention on nothing but her face.

“What?” I finally got the words out, swallowing past the fear that was lodged in my throat. I could do this. I could explore and go beyond my boundaries.

“Are you okay?” The worry in her eyes was blatantly obvious, and the concern in her voice matched it. My best friend was worried about me, all because things were changing; all because I was changing.

“Never been better,” I revealed. Jordan didn’t look convinced, not even a tiny bit. I pulled my face from her hands and reached for the car door handle.

“I don’t believe you.” She was hurt. I knew she felt like I was keeping something from her. I wasn’t, and I didn’t know how else to explain what was going on inside of me.

“Then I’ll show you,” I warned, knowing that showing her was the only way I could get my point across. I was cracked wide open, the old Noelle slowly dissipating into the air; the new Noelle growing to life right before my eyes. Now if only to show Royal what he did to me. To prove that change could come for all of us.





Chapter Eleven


-Royal


The beat of the music pounded throughout the mansion that Sasha called home. I watched the crowd sway with the tempo of the music from the top of the grand staircase. Everyone’s movements were jerky and liquor induced. Half of them wouldn’t even remember what they did tonight or tomorrow morning.

“If you come with me back to my bedroom, I can make your time here worth the while.” Sasha’s manicured hand landed against my chest. Her voice purred against my ear. I could practically see her digging her claws into me, laying claim when there was no claim to be laid.

“You know that’s not what I came here for.” I ignored her advancements. I could f*ck whatever girl I wanted, when I wanted. Things with Sasha were out of pure boredom and nothing else. Tonight I wasn’t bored, instead I was ready for a fight, one that she promised to have here. Her bottom lip jutted out in a pout, and her nails raked across my chest. I could feel the tips of her razor-sharp nails through my t-shirt.

“I’ve kept my promise, Royal. Dom is already here, and he’s ready for a fight. The bets have been placed, and the place is packed….” There was a but part of this sentence that she hadn’t spoken yet, I could feel it, and that alone caused irritation to prick at the surface of my skin. I grabbed her hand, shoving it out of my space, and removing it from my chest.

“You knew what this was about long before I asked you to set this fight up.” I narrowed my eyes at her, gesturing between us. “This isn’t going to happen. I don’t do relationships… I just f*ck…” I lowered my voice at her, hinting at a warning. I didn’t want to have to explain myself to her a million and one f*cking times, and I knew she was smart enough to understand what was occurring between us. It wasn’t my fault she wanted it to be more than it was.