Wanting by Lynn Burke

Gideon

During the quiet affair at the courthouse, I stared at Addilyn in her hideous dress rather than watch our parents exchange vows and rings. The color didn’t do much for the princess, but beyond that? Drop. Dead. Fucking. Gorgeous. White-blonde hair in long ringlets clear to her ass…I wanted to fist those strands while she swallowed my dick. Gagged at my girth, her gloss-slicked lips leaving remnants on my length. She’d glare up at me with all the spitfire I lusted to see in her eyes.

Every adjustment I made to my dick in my dress pants caught her attention, but she didn’t give me more than a side eye. Guess I shouldn’t have been too quick to spout off my brutally honest thoughts over her bridesmaid dress. But I’d never been one to mince words or lie. She had to know that.

At least I hadn’t called her out for the jealousy that had been radiating from her like an August sun off fresh tar when I’d flirted a bit with Jenny. The little princess had clenched her jaw, narrowed her eyes—glared at me with those icy blue orbs I wanted to see lost in need for release.

That, more than anything, was what had me hard as fuck.

And knowing my flirting pissed her off? Easiest and best way to fuel the fire.

Once school started back up, I’d take advantage of that shit. Create a crack between the two girls, the kind that ripped apart with time, the type that would destroy their friendship rather than draw them closer.

Ruin the snob. Bring her down from the holier than thou pedestal she’d put herself on, show her she was flesh and blood like her best friend. Hot for dick—specifically mine, one she saw as below her station.

I gave Addilyn my attention as Dad slid a ring on Ingrid’s hand in my periphery.

Pointed chin lifted exposing my official stepsister’s neck. Nose aloft, ignoring me…

The pulse thrummed in her carotid. Her nipples hardened beneath that god-awful dress. I wanted to put my hands around her neck and feel the pump of blood beneath my fingertips…

Smirking and chubbing up, I turned back toward the JP as Dad kissed his bride.

Within the hour, we dined in some country club, just the four of us, like a happy little family.

The lovebirds sat beside each other at our table covered with a white linen cloth, real fucking china, and crystal goblets for our water and Ingrid’s wine. They discussed their honeymoon down in Cancun they’d leave for in the morning while Addilyn and I ate in mostly silence, her contemplating who the hell knew what—probably still pissy at me for hating her dress and flirting with Jenny—and me thinking about having the house all to myself with the little princess beneath my care for two fucking whole weeks.

Dick swelling at the thought of stalking her ass for a few peeks—fucking perv—I shifted to relieve the ache in my groin. A dip of my hand beneath the linen tablecloth took care of the problem, but I brushed my knee against hers. Intentionally.

Her breath caught in a quiet gasp, and I gave her a side eye of my own, my thoughts going straight to licking her parted lips where traces of peach gloss still clung.

Dad pulled Ingrid close to whisper in her ear, and I took advantage of that shit, running my knuckles along the side of Addilyn’s thigh as she reached for her water.

Her hand wrenched to the side to stop me—and her goblet went flying across the table, most of the ice-cold water splashing over her mom’s chest.

Ingrid shrieked, pushing back from the table, her eyes hard as fuck, face red as a cherry. “Addilyn!” She hissed as Dad grabbed a napkin to blot at her cleavage.

“Sorry,” Addilyn whispered, shrinking down in her chair as two waiters hurried to our table to help.

“You careless, bumbling…” Ingrid seethed, shoving Dad’s hands away to wipe herself up. “How many times have I reiterated proper poise? It’s my wedding day, and you’ve ruined it,” she continued, her low, hissing voice so damn degrading even I cringed. “Of all the selfish, petty things to do… Your cell is gone for a month, you jealous little bit—”

“Ingrid, darling,” Dad cut her off, closing his hand over hers and offering Addilyn a pitying smile. “I’m sure it was an accident.”

I sat in silence, and my gut clenched up tight, Addilyn’s trembling beside me hitting like a smack across my face. “It wasn’t her fault,” I lied, clueless as to why I’d spout off that sort of nonsense.

Dad glared at me as Ingrid whipped her focus my way.

In for a penny… “I bumped her arm as she was reaching for her water.”

“Perhaps you should take a bit more care,” Dad stated, his voice firm, gaze stern. “Do you see what you’ve done?”

No, enlighten me, I wanted to tell him with the sneer trying to break free from my lips.

Face still red and splotchy, Ingrid tossed her wet linen napkin onto the table and stood to take stock of her wedding gown. “The silk is ruined.” She all but wailed her whisper while peering at Dad.

He shot me another glare. “You’ve been testy since we moved here, Gideon.” He snapped at me, and I knew what was coming even if I didn’t deserve it. “If you don’t get your act together and accept your fate for the next couple of months, I’ll send you home on your eighteenth birthday without a dime to your name.”

I wanted to spew that he didn’t have a goddamn cent of his own to give me anyway, but I bit my tongue, letting his words help pacify the bitch in white so she’d leave Addilyn alone.

A tear slid down Ingrid’s cheek, and Dad turned his attention on her, making shushing noises and promising they would escape soon for two weeks of uninterrupted bliss. Selfish pricks—the both of them. Unfit for parenting.

I glanced over at Addilyn to find her eyes wet with unshed tears. Our gazes collided—and so did something else inside. A connection of recognized shared pain as she peered at me with those big blue eyes.

All animosity blinked out, and I simply stared at a young girl whose heart had without doubt been broken over and over. Same as mine—but I’d become hardened, accepting of the fact I’d never be good enough or live up to my dad’s expectations. I was nothing more than a jackass according to her, not letting anyone in, not trusting. Jealousy and anger ruled my mind and actions.

But she…

Addilyn’s heart remained soft in areas she kept closed off.

In that moment, I felt she allowed me a glimpse of the real her, allowed me inside because of our shared torment.

Her lips wobbled, but my princess offered me a first real smile with just one corner of her lips quirking upward. She didn’t say thank you—not that I’d expected her to. Still, I’d managed to see a piece of her heart.

I nodded in acknowledgement, my chest so damn on fire I couldn’t breathe.