Page 13 of Fueled Fury

I must’ve dozed off because the next thing I know my chair is shaking vigorously as someone yells, “Earthquake!” Jumping out of the chair, my eyes dart around before stopping on my jackass of a stepbrother. The abrupt wake-up call was enough to startle me even though I know there is a very slim chance of an actual earthquake occurring.

“How old are you?” I ask as Matt plops down in the chair I was just sitting in. My favorite chair.

He pats the top of his thigh, motioning for me to have a seat. “Come here, baby. I’ll rock you back to sleep.”

My stomach turns at the nickname combined with the thought of being anywhere near him much less on him. “You’re so fucking disgusting.”

Grabbing my bag, I look on the ground for my book only to find it in his hand as he studies the cover. “Frankenstein. Figures you’d read freaky shit to relax.”

“It’s for school, dumbass.” And by far the most appealing choice the professor had on the list to pick from. It was nice to allow the students to decide which we’d like to do an in-depth analysis on this semester.

Matt holds out the book as I reach for it. Not surprisingly, he yanks it back just before I’m able to retrieve it from his nasty clutches as he asks, “How bad do you want it?”

Standing still, I look at him without reaching for the book again as he holds it out. I know he’s just trying to drive me insane but I’m sick of his childish games. “I’m not doing this shit with you. Give me the book. Now.”

He stands from the chair, a cocky smile on his face as he holds the book in front of him. As I reach for it, he moves his hand to the side, releasing the book so it drops into the pool. When the water splashes, every part of me wants to hold his head under the same water until the idiotic gleam goes out of his eye.

“You’re going to pay for that.”

Matt chuckles, his head falling forward as he reaches into his back pocket, pulls out a wallet, then flips through a wad of cash. He holds out a few bills as he says, “Any chance I can get a show for this too?”

When I said he would pay, money wasn’t what I had in mind. I couldn’t give a damn that I have to replace the book, I’m furious that the microscopic serenity I thought I’d escaped to for the weekend is utterly shot.

When I don’t make a move, Matt laughs and shakes his head. “Come on, baby. It’s just a joke. This will more than cover the cost, so let’s call a truce.”

Yes, the money will buy another book, but it’s still not enough. Giving him a tight smile, I nod. “You’re right. It’s just a book.”

His guard is down, thinking I’m gonna let it go that easy. Has this cretin not learned anything over the last eight years?

As I step forward, I reach like I’m going to grab the money but instead grip both of his biceps as my knee comes up, slamming into his crotch as he lets out a pained wail.

“Now, we’re even.” The smile on my face isn’t forced as I enjoy the satisfaction of his agony.

“You crazy bitch,” he yells as his hands remain on his crotch. “I’m gonna …” his voice fades out as he looks around, his pain getting the better of him.

“All you had to do was give me the book.” But that was too simple. He wanted to play games and his prize is holding his throbbing nut sack.

Grabbing my messenger bag, I jerk the strap over my shoulder as I turn to head to the house.

Halting, I stand staring into a smiling face. Austin. He looks around me at Matt, then back to me. “I was about to come to your rescue, but I see you have it handled.”

If only Austin was as easily handled as Matt. I couldn’t even get a clear kick in for Austin. “What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk,” he says, the humor fading from his tone.

“No, we don’t.” I clutch my bag against my body as I push past Austin and hurry up the stairs leading to the back door of the house before I turn to warn him. “My mom is here.”

“When has that ever stopped me before?” he asks, his voice smooth as his tongue slowly moves across his lips. My stupid, traitorous eyes automatically dart to his mouth.

Ugh. The things he can do with that tongue. “Keep it in your mouth. You look like an idiot.”

He wraps an arm around my lower back pulling me to him as he whispers in my ear, “Then why are your cheeks as red as Lucy?”

“Go away, Austin.” Shoving away from him, I step into the house as his hand stops the door from shutting behind me.

“I can’t.”

“Of course not. That would be too easy.” I release the door, walking away. There’s a good chance he won’t follow me since my mom hasn’t allowed him in the house since we were kids. Shirley and my mom have never been close, but she always managed to find plenty of time to inform my mom about how much trouble Austin caused her. It didn’t stop me from sneaking him in more than a few times, but he’d never outright walk in the house with her here. I’m not sure why, but he listens to her more than most. Or maybe he just wants to avoid her. I can absolutely relate.

“If it were easy, it wouldn’t be worth it.”

My shoulders tense as I look back at him. “I never wanted easy. I wanted the impossible—you.” Turning, I hurry away but not before I hear his strangled tone.

“You’ve always had that in your possession.”

What a joke. Though it’s not half as funny as Matt’s infantile gag of tossing my book into the pool. Because Austin isn’t toying with my belongings, he’s toying with me. And it’s evident that I’m still under his ownership. Why else would I look back, longing to run to him and beg him not to hurt me again? Thankfully, I make the safe, smart decision to escape his presence. It doesn’t feel like enough though because he still lingers inside me … on a soul level. How do I evade his grip when it’s been there so long it feels like part of my being?