Page 9 of The Tangle of Awful

Words that should be sweet and benign are anything but. They tease at the shadowed parts of my mind, molding them and mutating them into something they’re not. Something they can’t ever be.

She’s my stepdaughter.

Young. Gorgeous. A rebellious little angel.

Certainly not anyone my cock should even think about reacting to. I clear my throat and release her warm hand, opting to clasp my fingers together, hiding my thickening cock that’s beginning to push against the zipper of my slacks.

“I missed you too, Love.”

Her glossy pillow lips part like she might say something more, but then she bites down on the bottom one, stopping her words. Finally, she says, “Is it okay if I hang out here until you get off work?”

Having her in my office while I try to do anything will prove to be impossible.

“Nah,” I say with a smile. “I’m taking the rest of the day off to spend time with my girl. When’s the last time you had that shitty pizza from that place near PMU?”

She groans happily. “Two years, Hugo. Two long years. Can we really go to Gerri’s Pizzeria?”

I wink at her. “Anything for you, Love.”

Her blush is back, and this time, I let the blood flow straight to my cock, selfishly stealing a moment of forbidden bliss… just this once.

Aubrey

Dad was right.

I’m a beacon for trouble.

That’s the only explanation for how I’ve behaved since stepping foot into Park Mountain not even two hours ago.

Antagonize stepbrother. Check.

Vandalize a luxury vehicle. Check.

Flirt with stepfather. Check.

I’d come here for a fresh start. Find Mom. Make amends. Try and finish my last year of high school with at least Cs rather than the Fs I was pulling in last year in LA. Stay far, far away from tattooed men with fast cars and dirty mouths.

I may have left the trouble I was knee-deep in, but I’ve already landed myself into a new heap of trouble.

“What have you been up to the past couple of years?” Hugo asks before sipping his soda. “I feel like there’s so much to catch up on.”

I try not to let my stare linger on his lips, but in my defense, it’s difficult. Hugo has a mouth that’s often curled into a genuine, welcoming smile. His teeth are white, perfect, and probably cost a fortune. I can’t help but fixate on his lips—light red and full. They look so soft and kissable.

A burst of heat burns down my spine, coiling in the pit of my core. Why am I this way? I’m forever lusting over what I shouldn’t have. It’s a personality trait I’m not proud of.

“Not much,” I say, choosing to turn my focus on a breadstick, dipping it into the homemade marinara sauce I’ve been dreaming about for far too long. “Trying and failing to stay out of trouble according to Dad.”

Hugo chuckles, his voice deep and warm. It sends a buzz tickling over my flesh. My skin feels hot and I hope like hell I’m not blushing. “You’re a good girl, Love. At least you always were for me.”

My eyes lift to his and I meet his smile with one of my own. Hugo was definitely one of the things I missed about Park Mountain. He always said the right things to make me feel better about myself. When Mom was being her usual distant self or when Spencer was being a dick, it was Hugo who easily cheered me up.

Is that why I’m suddenly crushing on him?

I blame hormones. Not long after I left to go live with Dad, it’s like my hormones went wild. It felt great to be wanted and adored, even if only for a night or a weekend. The men in LA didn’t care about my age or the fact I lived in a shitty apartment with my dad or that my grades were a nightmare.

They just wanted to fuck.

To whisper all the right things as they touched me in all the right places.

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