Craving Daddy's Little Bride

Something In His Look.

A warmth spread across my face as I forced a nervous smile while my hands tugged at the zipper of my bag, watching my step-son—obviously older and insanely cute—draw closer, hands in his pocket.

"Nia Whitman." He called my full name, reaching out to brush away a stray strand of hair that had slipped into my dress at the neckline as he offered his hand.

The moment his hands reached my neckline, my stomach dropped. Wasn't he supposed to have some boundaries or respect at least? I wondered if I was reading too much into nothing—or maybe I was far too caught off guard by his magnetic aura.

"Julien Hawke," he said, with a tone so confident it could make the world pause. His dark, unreadable eyes and that dangerous tilt of the lips were both cute and threatening at the same time. I didn’t seem to understand.

"N-nice to meet you," I murmured, giving a small, uncertain smile while my pulse raced at the way he watched me.

"Always working, huh?" His eyes flickered towards Edward, standing in the glass-enclosed sunroom, absorbed in the call.

I blinked, glancing at Edward, whose attention was somewhere else, focused entirely on the phone, and he didn’t even realize that I’d been standing, waiting.

"You see that?" He pointed at Edward. "It’s never gonna end." Then he offered me a hand again, like he was daring me to refuse. "Let me take you in, come on."

With the way his gaze raked over me, like he was searching for something no one else in the world knew, I couldn't tell if I was supposed to feel safe—or terrified. Instead, a shiver ran down my spine. His smirk didn’t make any sense, neither did the pull I felt towards him—even though I hated to admit it.

I blinked at him for a moment, eyes flickering between the mysterious sweetness in his expression and the hand he reached out, then back to Edward. "Inside?" My voice was barely a whisper when it finally came out, confusion getting the best of me. No, I wouldn’t just step inside without Edward. I knew he wanted to do this himself; besides, it isn’t proper to enter if Edward hasn’t shown me in.

"Oh—umm, maybe I should wait," I said quickly, glancing at my husband as I shifted nervously.

His head dipped slightly as he let out a scoff. "Wait for who?" He took a quick look at Edward, like I had just said something ridiculous.

Meeting Edward's only family, since his son's mum was divorced, should make me happy—I mean, this should be a family moment. A happy moment. Why did I feel this way? Maybe I was stepping into a role bigger than I had imagined, or maybe bigger than I could control.

"I love me a wonderful time," Edward cut in, chuckling. "Seems like someone's already enjoying company."

A subtle shift cut through the space, and we both straightened, heads turning towards him immediately.

Edward arrived at my side, and I felt his hand grip my waist until I was pressed to his side.

"Well, well, what do you think of your new stepmom?" Edward beamed, glancing between us.

"She is—" he paused and let the silence stretch, almost like he was searching for the next word to say, confidence carved into his posture, eyes as he stared at me like he had all the time in the world.

Again, those liquid brown eyes like molten bronze unsettled the st out of me. Why were Julien's eyes dark, harsh, and predatory at the same time, yet every bit of it seemed to draw me in regardless, making me almost forget that I was here for my husband, and my husband alone?

"Cute," he tossed the word casually, then flashed a grin in the most sinful way any human ever could, at me.

I blinked too rapidly, clinging tightly to my husband, holding on for my dear life. Oh heavens!

"Hope you've learned how to make time now." He drawled, eyes locked on me. "Your pretty little darling won’t like that part of you."

"I did, Julien. M-maybe not in the way you wanted," Edward shot back, voice cracking with volume.

"Birthdays, graduation, high school graduation? College graduation, events, parties… when do you ever show up? When do you ever show up?"

"Everything I did back then made you who you are today," Edward responded, tone low, like he was already defeated.

"Of course," Julien replied, tone calm, dripping with mystery, hands in his pocket. "You've got a cute little damsel, by the way."

My breath hitched at those last words of his.

"Alright, uhmm, let's not do all that," I cut in, fed up with the father-son drama already.

Edward drew in a long breath as he forced himself back into composure, like he hadn’t been pissed just a few seconds ago, dragging Julien to his side, one arm draped over his shoulder. "This is what matters." He turned to him. "Family," patting at his back. As soon as the word family was mentioned, there was a shift in Julien's posture—a taut grin spreading across his face, his eyes unreadable as they flickered towards me. But what I didn’t quite understand was why my gaze flickered towards him as well. What was he looking at? Sure enough, he was taking a look at his new "family."

Edward reached into his suit pocket and brought out a ribbon-tied key, and I couldn’t help the small gasp that escaped me as I watched the silk covering the car slide automatically, a soft hum thrumming through the driveway, revealing a gleaming Lamborghini Urus SUV. A new whip indeed!

I had lost count of how many car gifts Edward had given me ever since the first time he showed interest in me. It was like every occasion called for a gift—and not just any type of gift—he always went for over-the-top, jaw-droppingly luxurious kinds, and he was never going to stop because lavish gifts and surprises were how he expressed love. I found myself questioning why anyone would walk away from him when maybe, just maybe, his generous acts of love could have made the love stronger.

Now, Julien, on the other hand, leaned casually against the driveway rail, hands in his pockets, legs crossed, his eyes never leaving me—but it was just the curiosity that made me flicker an eye toward him when I should have been focused on the new car in front of me.

I let out a shy smile, realizing I was being watched by the most bewitching eyes ever.

"Go on, get in. It's all yours," Edward laughed, his hands on my waist, gesturing me toward the car. I tucked my hair behind my ear nervously, aware of how Julien's eyes raked me attentively while I walked toward the car, heels clicking against the driveway.

Seeing my hesitation, Edward stepped forward, smiling knowingly, thinking I was enchanted by the luxury in front of me—and perhaps, him too. But I wrapped my hands around him instead, pretending to be overwhelmed by the car, though really, I just wanted to escape his stares. "Thank you so much, babe," I said, voice trembling as I snuggled up to my husband, cheeks warm with emotion, still sneaking glances at Julien—not when those molten brown eyes held me like they already knew some secret about me.

But hell, it sounded very ridiculous to call a man way older than I am “step-son” when I was just twenty-one.

I wanted to bond with my stepson the way I thought every girl should, but why did his gaze unsettle the st out of me, like something was wrong and I was the only one unaware?

Edward glanced at his watch and sighed. "I need to leave, meetings starting soon." Before I had the chance to speak, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to my lips before heading to his car, needing no interruptions.

I stood rooted on the spot, blinking rapidly as I watched him drive away in his own car, like he would miss wherever he was rushing to if he had done it the proper way. How could he leave like that after… that? I didn’t know whether to laugh, scream, or cry.

"Well, you handle surprises… perfectly!" Julien said, voice warm and intoxicating.

I could feel my cheeks warm under his gaze—a new tension was stirred in the pit of my stomach and I just wished the ground would swallow me.