Page 22 of Corrupt Idol

“Mom wants us both here. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can come back and enjoy ourselves.”

“Enjoy?” she choked.

His eyes narrowed. “You’re stalling.”

Hell yes, she was stalling. She was trying to get away from him, not have him invade more of her life than he already had. “You aren’t—”

He shoved her against the wall before he pinned her there with his body.

“Get off,” she hissed.

“I’m going with you,” he said, voice equally low. “You can throw a tantrum, but Mom and Dad will back me up. You’re not doing that long drive by yourself.”

She glared up at him. “You’re trying to take over!”

His eyes moved over her face and then focused on her lips. “You can give in or we can fight. Either way, I’ll win.”

Motherfucker. No matter how she resisted, he always triumphed. Circumstances hemmed her in, but he couldn’t win every battle. Eventually he had to leave and she would move on with her life. She held his gaze as she tossed his phone. He didn’t move a muscle as they listened to it tumble across the carpet. She lost this fight, but she didn’t intend to lose more if she could help it.

“If you insist,” she drawled.

“I do,” he said, eyes still on her mouth.

“Suit yourself.” If he wanted to book the tickets, he could pay for them and she could give her credit card a breather.

“Mid-morning?” he asked, voice low and gravelly.

“Yes. Now, back off.”

For a moment, he didn’t move. She could hear the TV in the living room and the faint sound of Lynne’s snores drifting from her parent’s bedroom. She couldn’t read his expression, but she felt his erection between them. She silently dared him to make a move. She would castrate him if he touched her with their parent’s present.

He reached out and fingered her hair. “Your STD test will come back negative. I wouldn’t put you at risk like that.”

Before she could digest that, he turned from her to retrieve his phone.

“I’ll book the tickets.”

She slipped out of his room, went into her own, and locked the door. She leaned against it, put her hands over her face, and stifled her scream.

Four

“This must bea nice break from the cold,” Dad said. “Two years in Alaska? I don’t know if I could do that.”

“It wasn’t too bad,” Jesse said. “But I’m glad to be home.”

They were on their way to the airport and despite the early hour, Dad and Jesse were way too fucking chipper. She woke with a headache that was getting worse by the second.

“I’m glad you’re here to help Violet with her move,” Dad continued. “I would have gone to help her if I could.”

“No problem. I don’t mind,” Jesse said easily.

She glared at the back of his seat. Jesse was always winning brownie points while she came off as ungrateful. Mom and Dad were clearly relieved that Jesse was accompanying her on this trip. She’d been hoping to regroup in Utah and now her plan was in ruins. She spent most of the night examining her situation from all sides, trying to find a way out, but there was none. She was half-expecting Jesse to sneak into her room last night. Their parent’s presence hadn’t stopped him in the past, but wonder of wonders, he stayed on his side. Couldn’t he have given her a head’s up so she could get a decent night of sleep? She tried to drift off, but the sound of Jesse’s voice kept her awake.

When Dad pulled up to the curb, she stepped out and slammed the door with more force than was necessary, not that anyone noticed. Dad gave her a one-armed hug.

“Wrap it up and hurry home.” She gave his waist a squeeze and was about to step away when he added, “And don’t give Jesse any hassles.”

Her head snapped up. She opened her mouth to argue, but Dad ignored her and clapped Jesse on the back.

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