Page 19 of Tainted Love
“She’s right,” I tell her with a wink.
Elias doesn’t say anything else, instead he digs into his food, the tension radiating off his hunched body. We all fall silent, and the only sound at the table is the clinking of cutlery against our plates. Attie keeps throwing nervous glances in her brother’s direction, but he doesn’t lift his head.
When we’re all finished, Roberta returns to clear the plates and Elias pushes his chair back as if he can’t get out of here quick enough. Dad clears his throat. “Do you mind, we’d like a moment.”
Elias’s fists clench at his sides and I wait for him to refuse, but Elena shoots him a pleading look and he flops backinto the seat.
“What’s going on, Dad?” I ask, a sense of foreboding settling over me.
“I’m leaving for a conference in the US tomorrow, so Elena and I are going to use it as our honeymoon. We’ll be away for about a month.” He smiles over at my new stepsister. “Attie will come with us, and you and Elias will need to fend for yourselves while we’re away.”
“Really?” Attie squeaks as my jaw drops.
“Wait, what?” I stare at my father like he’s grown two heads. “You’re leaving us here—alone?”
No, no, no, no. He can’t be serious.
“You’ll be fine, sweetheart. You’ve just spent the last twelve months on your own travelling Europe. We’ll be back before you even notice we’re gone.”
Except he’s leaving me here with Elias. Has he never watched a thriller movie? Is he not concerned about leaving me, his only daughter, alone with a strange man for the next thirty days? Elias could be a serial killer for all we know.
“But …” I glance at my stepbrother, hoping he’ll have some argument ready for why this is a terrible fucking idea. He just tips his chin and levels me with his calm, zero-fucks-given stare.
I close my mouth and stare at my lap. I can’t believe I’m going to be left alone for a whole freaking month with a surly rockstar who clearly hates me. What did I do wrong in a past life?
Chapter 10
Elias
MUM PULLS ME aside after dinner, right before I’m about to go back upstairs.
“Elias, I don’t need to remind you that Darren and Bea have been extremely gracious in accepting us into their home. And while I want you to think of it as our new home, I also want you to be respectful while we’re gone.”
I roll my eyes.
“I mean it, Eli. This is a big adjustment for Bea. Please, be nice to her.”
It takes a lot of effort to keep my expression neutral. I don’t want to be in this house with all the memories it dredges up, but suddenly this next month has got a lot more interesting. Bea’s going to wish I never came into her life. “Don’t worry about me, Mum. Enjoy your honeymoon. Bea and I will be fine.”
Mum breathes a sigh of relief at the fact I won’t fight her on the issue. “Thank you. And if you need anything, we’re only a phone call away.”
“We’ll be fine.” If Bea’s innocence can handle my level of fucked up, that is.
She pulls me in for a hug and I wrap my arms around her. Despite the darkness I suffered as a teenager, I love her and want her to be happy—even if it is with this rich prick. I can’t deny that Darren seems to care about her, and she deserves a good partner after Dad broke her heart. I swear if I ever see that man again, I’ll beat him to within an inch of his life for what he put her through. Death is too easy for him; he deserves to suffer the same way we did.
“Have fun, Mum. Don’t worry about us.”
I leave the dining room after Mum, only to find Bea hovering outside, her arms crossed across her chest drawing my gaze to her perfect tits. Mum glances between the two of us, but Darren calls out to her, and she heads upstairs. I slowly drag my eyes up to meet Bea’s, my lips curling into a smirk.
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s rude to listen in on other people’s conversations, Duchess?”
Her eyes blaze. “Let’s get one thing perfectly clear, Elias.”
My cock twitches at the way she spits my name. My mind fills with the image of me pushing her onto her knees and choking her on my cock until she’s begging me to fuck her. I tug my bottom lip into my mouth and arch an eyebrow.
She steps forward and shoves a finger against my chest, until I glance down at it in amusement. “I’m not interested in playing any of your stupid games. I will not be your little plaything, so don’t think?—”
I don’t give her a chance to finish the sentence, crowding her body with mine until she’s pushed up against the opposite wall. My hand is snug around her throat, and my thumb rests on her pulse point.
