Page 13 of One Night Seduction (ONS #1)

Logan

My blurry eyes blink away sleep as I stare up at the plain white ceiling. I only had a few beers, but I feel gross, heavy. I think that had more to do with allowing Kelly to grind herself all over my lap than the alcohol, though.

I don’t know what it is. I used to think she was the most attractive woman on the planet, but the rose colored glasses were ripped away when I found her with another man’s cock inside her. Funny how that works.

Pushing myself to stand, I open the door and walk across the hall to the upstairs bathroom.

Soon, I’m climbing into the hot water, scrubbing every inch of her off my body.

I don’t know why I let her close to me. Maybe it was because I felt I had to, or maybe it was to distract me from Arianna going into that treehouse with my little fucking brother.

For a while, I just sat there, my gaze burning a hole into the side of the thing like if I stared hard enough, I’d be able to see what was going on inside.

Then the moaning began, and I lost my shit.

I damn near threw Kelly off my lap before taking two large steps towards the treehouse until I stopped.

What was I going to do? Barge in and beat the piss out of my brother for something that, as irritating as it was, is consensual?

Fuming, I stormed back to the house, Kelly quickly following behind, asking what was wrong.

I told her that I was tired, which she didn’t believe.

Then I made some bullshit about having a hard time forgetting what happened between us.

That shut her up quickly, a look of shame passing across her face as I stomped inside the house and to my room.

Surprisingly, Kelly didn’t try to come in to talk or anything else, and I was grateful because, for the hundredth time, I’m wondering what the fuck I’m even doing here.

Lusting after a woman who is twenty-five years younger than me, a woman who has made it abundantly clear she wants nothing to do with me. So, why the fuck am I still here?

Because what we shared in that club was something special, rare, and I’ll torture myself for years if that’s what it takes to convince her of it.

After my shower, I quickly get dressed and head downstairs to get some coffee. I’m taking my first sip when I look out the large bay window and see Tyson climbing out of the treehouse, pulling a shirt on over his head. Son of a fucking bitch.

I slam my mug against the countertop as I stand in place, watching as my brother swaggers up to the house wearing the biggest shit eating grin. When he steps inside, I’m on him instantly, yanking him all the way through the door and pinning him against the wall with my forearm to his throat.

His eyes bug out at me in surprise as he rasps.

“What are you doing?”

“What are you doing?” I snap, lowering my voice as my forehead presses against his. “What the hell do you think you’re doing with Arianna?”

Tyson’s eyes narrow before he lifts an eyebrow.

“I’m not sure how that’s any of your business. ”

“Goddamnit, Tyson. If you’re playing with her feelings, I swear to fuck I’ll?—”

“You’ll what? What are you gonna do, Logan? You haven’t seen this girl in years. Why does she get all of your loyalty so easily, and I’m just the bad guy?” he asks.

I waver at his comment for a moment.

“I know you. You leave a trail of broken hearts everywhere you go. You do whatever it takes to get women into bed and then?—”

“Seems like that runs in the family, bro,” Tyson says, leveling me with a hard look.

My eyes widen in surprise as I slowly lower my forearm from his throat, making sure to keep my tone quiet.

“She told you,” I say.

He nods. “She told me.”

“And?” I grit out, waiting for whatever comes next.

To my surprise, Tyson just shrugs.

“And nothing. She just wants to forget the night ever happened.”

“I can’t,” I admit, breaking our eye contact as I look at the far wall.

“Well, you should. She’s not interested in you, that much was abundantly clear to me last night.”

Rage ignites my entire body, and I look back to see that shit eating grin from before firmly in place.

“You’re gonna stay away from her,” I threaten.

“Fat fucking chance.”

I narrow my eyes. “Why?”

“Because I like her. She’s fun and beautiful. We have a good time together. Why would I throw that away because you accidentally fucked your stepdaughter.”

“Ex-stepdaughter,” I correct .

Tyson looks at me with intrigue as he tilts his head to the side.

“Maybe not an accident then,” he guesses.

“It was!”

The first time.

The second time, I don’t know what the fuck I was doing. It was like I had been possessed, like a carnal beast had taken over my body and was acting out of lust and desire instead of logic and reason.

“Uh huh, well, I think that it’s best if you forget it ever happened, move on. With Kelly or someone else, whatever. Just leave her alone.”

I’m rendered speechless as my little brother stalks off towards the bathroom. How the fuck did this go from me warning him away to him warning me away? As if I need it? As if I’m no good for her, like I could hurt her or?—

The back door swings open, and a sleep-tousled Arianna steps through. She’s wearing the same clothes from last night, though they look rumpled and her eyes sleep deprived. I tighten my jaw, attempting not to speak when she notices me.

“Morning,” she says.

“Morning,” I grit through clenched teeth.

She looks at me for a moment, like she’s not sure what to say.

I’m doing everything I can to keep my mouth shut because I’m about two seconds away from losing my shit on her.

I don’t give a fuck who she is related to, who we are, or more importantly, were to each other, and I don’t give a goddamn shit about our age difference.

She feels like mine, and I don’t share what’s mine, ever.

I’m trying to ignore the fact that someone who feels so undoubtedly mine just got fucked by my little brother in a treehouse not two hundred feet from me…

Yeah, I’m on the verge of losing my fucking shit.

Those bright blue eyes meet mine, sending my heart racing despite the boiling of my blood before she gives me a tight, awkward smile and heads upstairs to her room.

I don’t realize I’m still standing at the bottom of the stairs, staring at where she disappeared, until Tyson comes back into the room, his hair wet from the shower and somehow in a new set of clothes.

I look him over with a scrunched look, and he shrugs as he pours himself a cup of coffee.

“I left my duffel down here,” he explains.

I don’t say anything as I just stare at him. What is there to say?

I’ve been told I’m an intimidating man. In business, in my personal life.

I’m not overly warm or funny. I take my job seriously, and I take my life pretty seriously as well.

I don’t give a shit about everyone liking me, and I never take no for an answer.

The exact opposite of Tyson. So, when I stare at him like I want him to be incinerated right here and now, and he doesn’t even bat an eye, it takes me by surprise.

And not in a good way. In fact, he matches my stare with a lifted eyebrow, like he’s baiting me.

Little fucking shit.

Breaking up the intense moment, Marissa and Tom wander down sleepily, greeting us with a good morning before Kelly quickly follows. Her eyes land on me instantly, though she isn’t throwing herself at me like she has been. Instead, she approaches me meekly, quietly.

“Morning,” she says softly.

“Morning.”

She rolls her lips together as she glances around the room.

“Do you think we could talk?”

More than anything, I want to say no, but I also need to be away from my brother for now, so I agree.

Inclining my head, I gesture for her to lead the way to the living room. It’s not too far away, but it’s enough to talk privately. Folding my arms over my chest, I look down at her before waiting for her to begin.

She looks as if she’s trying to search for her words before she blows out a heavy breath.

“I’m sorry,” she says, catching me off guard.

I don’t let my reaction show, instead, keeping my gaze impassive as I let her continue.

Her brown eyes look up at me, filled with watery tears as her lip wobbles.

“I made such a mess of things. I ruined everything. I was so in love with you…I still am. I was stupid and lonely, and I hurt you. I’ll never forgive myself.”

Her apology seems genuine, but it’s missing some depth.

She knew who I was when she met me. I’m a workaholic, but I tried to make things work.

We took trips together, I tried to make it home as many nights as humanly possible, no matter how late it would be.

So, as heartfelt as her apology seems, it falls on deaf ears.

Still, her regret does make her a little more bearable. Though I’ve long gotten over her, groveling is something I’ll never turn down. Doesn’t mean they’ll get shit in return. Does that make me a cold son of a bitch? Maybe.