Royal Prick (A Stepbrother Romance #2)(52)

He let me go, for whatever reason; maybe it was because he finally got what I was saying or he just knew I needed time alone. Whichever it was, I wouldn’t be turning around to say thank you, or to ask why.

No. I needed to get drunk and find someone to take care of me. If Royal didn’t want me like I wanted him right this second, then there would be someone else that wanted me just as much. Pushing all thoughts of Royal to the back of my mind, I walked out of the house and got in Jeep and headed toward the Falls.

The line was drawn in the sand. Royal was on one side, and I was on the other.

Who would be the first to cross the line?





Chapter Twenty-One


-Royal


She was so na?ve, and it was adorable yet extremely f*cking frustrating all at the same time. I needed to know what it was that she was doing, but I couldn’t intrude on her, not when she needed space like she did.

I had already staked my claim to her. She was mine, the alpha in me already possessed her body in ways that no other had. She was marked by me, and the fact that she was still a virgin after having finding out she had never once come before was a godsend. I wanted to unravel her in the darkest ways possible, but I held back because she deserved more than just a hard f*ck. She needed to be cared for, sipped on like a fine wine.

I feared for her, for us. She was shutting me out. Pushing me away because she didn’t think I wanted her, which was insane when all I could think about was her, and the things that we just did. The dilemma was that I couldn’t show her how much I wanted her without crossing the imaginary line that I drew between us.

I wasn’t ready to do that just yet. Not when I didn’t have the willpower to stop myself if things went too far. Being around her all the time was making that willpower slowly diminish, and soon I wouldn’t give a f*ck about breaking the rules and crossing lines. I would destroy the lines and Noelle in the process.

Still something about her scared me, it wreaked havoc on my heart. The things she made me feel were nothing like I ever felt before, then there was the explosiveness that was us. Every touch from her sent me over the edge, every glance she sent my way. I wasn’t afraid for her, but for myself. Noelle had the power to be my undoing.

I padded around my bedroom, my thoughts always drifting back to Noelle. I hated that she left and that I didn’t know what it was she was doing or who it was that she was with.

If she was going out tonight, I knew exactly who it was that I needed to talk to. I plucked my phone from my pocket. I had a text from Sasha asking me if I wanted to go to a party with her tonight.

I hit the ignore button and pulled up Jordan’s contact info, shooting her a quick text message. I shouldn’t have even let her leave, knowing that she was going out with Jordan after what happened last time.

Me: Noelle best be with you tonight.

I sat on the bed, waiting like a little boy for his dessert after eating all his dinner. The tone of an incoming text met my ears so I stared at the screen allowing the message to scroll across the screen.

Jordan: Whatever, Fuckboy. What are you going to do about it if she isn’t?

I couldn’t even hide my smile. Jordan was brave calling me Fuckboy after I told her not to, even braver to question me. I kind of liked her snark, and I liked it even more that Noelle had a friend that wasn’t afraid to push the limits.

Me: You must have a glaring death wish or something. If she isn’t with you, then you won’t want to see what happens.

I texted back, my fingers gliding over the keys agilely. I had just sent the text when another appeared on my screen.

Echo: Fight at Central Heights, you in?

I cracked my knuckles at the thought. I needed an outlet for the tension that I was feeling, and f*cking the shit out of Noelle was totally out of the question. I knew Jordan and Noelle would be hanging out together, and therefore she would be safe, or at least I hoped she would be. I could slip out, fight, bring home some cash, and no one would ever have to know.

Me: Fuck yeah.

The text was just been sent when Echo responded back.

Echo: 24 South Blvd. In the old Industrial park. Be here at 10.

Nothing could wipe the smile from my face. I was going to get rid of all this nonsense that was swimming around inside my body. I was going to unleash the demons tonight and pray that I could stuff them back inside myself before Noelle came back home. I was darker and dirtier after a fight, and I was never one to give up a good f*cking. I wanted Noelle, and if I didn’t rid myself of this darkness I would end up taking her in a way she didn’t deserve; in a way that would make me hate myself. When it came to her, I wanted to be better. I wanted it to be good.

A knock sounded on my bedroom door, coloring me shocked. If It was Viviana I would have no other choice but to cunt punt her. She would have a lot of f*cking nerve coming to me without Noelle here.

“Can you come to my office when you get a chance please?” Mark’s deep voice sounded on the other side of the door. I grunted out a yes before getting up from the bed.

What the hell could he possibly want?

By the time I got up and opened the door he was gone, having already entered his office at the end of the hall. My nerves were already shot to hell after everything that went down. There was no way I could handle a confrontation with him, nor could I walk away from a fight with him. A point had to be proven.

I barged into his office just as he sunk into his leather office chair; a glass with brown liquid in his hand. I could tell he was in his element; his sleeves were rolled up, and his demeanor was calm and relaxed.