Page 6 of Veiled

“Zane was just asking how school was going and I was telling him you are at the top of your classes and training. You’re blossoming under my tutelage. I’m glad you finally started to be worthy of the Jacobs name,” Father rattled off. Zane had a soft smile on his face.

“I’m sure Zane is very interested in hearing how I’m not a complete and utter disappointment to you now that he has been gone, what? Five years now? Fascinating, Father. Please, continue. I'm sure you haven’t insulted me enough yet, don’t let me interrupt you.”

He sighed and narrowed his eyes. “That is not what I was doing, Hudson. Can I not just talk about how great you’re doing without the backtalk…” I waved him off and he turned bright red.

“That’s not how that works. You can say I’m doing well and leave it at that. Even though I have been at the top of classes since I was old enough to go to school. You don’t get to mix in an insult with a compliment and then have the audacity to think it's a good thing. Just say it like it is, Chancellor,” I sneered. “I just wasn’t the son you wanted.” I stood up from the table, no longer interested in the food. The staff looked away, used to me and Father arguing, and my mother looked up at me with vague interest in her eyes, or maybe that was the vodka. Zane’s eyes were full of some emotion, probably upset I was insulting Father. I rolled my eyes.

“Sit down, Hudson. Dinner isn’t over, and you are not excused,” Father yelled. I laughed. He is full of shit.

I pointed at Zane. “You see him? Him and you are the only two people you care about at this table.” I then pointed at the vodka bottle. “That bottle is the only thing your wife cares about.” I started to walk away but not before finishing, “Me? I’m the shiny toy you take out so you can remind people that if you have a kid, you may have a heart. No one here cares about me unless they can take me off the shelf and dust me off to show off my skills. In two years, I’ll be gone, and you’ll regret thinking money can buy love when all I wanted was the father I had when I was a little girl. So, FUCK you!” I ran up the stairs while everyone’s jaw dropped. I didn’t curse at my father; I may let a word slip but never towards him.

I stripped off the stupid sack and threw on another sack that was supposed to be a night gown and crawled into bed with the remote. I was so fed up tonight, this pony show was ridiculous and I’m over it. A few moments later and I heard the door slam and I’m sure they left to go to the stupid dinner. I’m glad I didn’t have to fake being sick because I would have had to punch someone if I was forced to go. I leaned back and put on Lucifer, it was a show I had started to watch, and I was infatuated with his accent. I wanted to be Chloe Decker so bad, I mean I was more of a Mazikeen type of badass, but Lucifer and I totally would be a match made in Heaven, or Hell. Whatever.

My door opened and I looked at the door in irritation when Zane walked in, wearing sweats and a tank top. I scowled deeply at him. “Don’t you have somewhere to be that isn’t around me? And don’t you knock?”

He smirked as he closed the door then flipped the lock and came to sit next to me. “I tried knocking last time and you didn’t answer, so I figured it wouldn’t make a difference. There is also a nice thing called a lock you could use.” He pointed at the now locked door. “I figured I should show you how to use one, being the prodigal son and all.” He smiled softly.

I scoffed. “Fuck you too, buddy. What if I had been naked?” Then he laughed. Laughed! As if me being naked was pure comedy. “What are you laughing at?”

“You have nothing I haven’t seen and get over yourself. You weren’t naked. I heard the television so I knew you were in bed. Relax.” He laid on top of the covers and watched the show silently with me. I was musing over his comment, nothing he hasn’t seen. Of course, he was off in university getting his rocks off while I was still here being a virgin. After a moment, I crawled on top of the covers to lay on my belly next to him, kicking my legs up and leaning my chin on my hands. He raised his eyebrow and looked back.

“You know, you are off doing big things, are there any hot guys outside this pony show?” He scowled at me. “What?! I’m just asking, I mean, take Lucifer for example. His accent is hot, he’s a sex symbol, and he can get anyone he wants. I want someone like that. Do they sell those at the university bookstore?” I giggled and pushed him when he glowered at me.

“No, they don’t. You don’t need to look for boys. I’m not having this conversation with you.”

I sighed, “Of course. Silly me thinking you came here to actually be a person and talk normal stuff with me.”

He sighed and turned towards me leaning on his arm, his body facing me. “This is normal to you?” I mimicked his posture and turned toward him as well.

“Well yeah, and… can I be serious for a moment and you can be honest and not a dick?” I bit my lip, wondering where I was going with this, but I just had to know. He is the only guy besides his friends that actually spoke more than a word to me.

He nodded his head, curious. “Sure. I know you may not believe me, but you can tell me pretty much anything. We may not be super close but that's not because I don’t want to be.”

“Okay… whatever that means… too late to play brother now… anyways… do you think I’m lacking in something?” He looked shocked for a moment.

“I mean like seriously, dude. You’re out there getting girls, doing God knows what with your life and I’m eighteen and I haven't been kissed yet. It’s frustrating. At this point, I’m going to make out with a teddy bear.” I flipped on to back in frustration, staring at the canopy over my bed.

We were silent for a minute and he laughed. No seriously, he is really laughing right now. Ugh, I shouldn’t have asked him at all. “Ugh, forget it, I’m sorry I asked.”

“You’re not lacking in anything, Hudson. You are the whole package,” he whispered, his voice tight. “The right guy hasn’t come along yet. But when he does, you’ll know.”

“How does someone know? Every girl my age has had a few boyfriends, I just want to be kissed for goodness fucking sa…” my words trailed off as Zane shifted and was suddenly on top of me, his body and his lips pressed against mine, heat and confusion suddenly flooded my body before I moved my head.

“What, what are you doing?” I stammered out, cheeks red. Zane looked at me with something I’ve never seen in anyone’s eyes. Desire.

“Showing you that you are wanted. You just didn’t see the right guy in front of you…” he whispered against my lips.

“But…”

“Don’t finish that. I’m not really your brother, Hudson, and you are eighteen years old, there is nothing wrong here.” He groaned. “Stop wiggling, Hudson. You’re driving me crazy and I’ve wanted this, wanted you, for a long time.” I didn’t realize my hips were moving back and forth. Apparently, they knew what they wanted. My brain just hadn’t caught up, still in a fog. I didn’t really want to think though, I wanted to kiss him again, it felt… right.

“Kiss me again… please.” He groaned and took my lips with his, quickly taking control and I followed his lead, opening my mouth while he teased my tongue with his. We kissed until we were breathless, and he hardened against me.

He pulled away, his breathing uneven. “Okay, we should stop now.” I nodded, as I threw my legs over the side of my bed and stood up.

“We should,” I sighed, but fuck that. I have no idea when I was going to get a chance like this again and I was feeling things I’ve never felt before and I wanted to explore more. I didn’t want to just stop. I lifted my gown over my head, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

“We should, but I don’t want to.”

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