Tempting Adeline

23

ADELINE

Jules, Bridget and I were cleaning and sanitizing the cages at Wag and Whiskers, a local pet shelter located near the gallery which kind of makes it easier for me to attend because I also love animals. I just don’t have the funds to have and maintain one.

Jules and Bridget were big on animals and have been attending since sophomore year. Bridget was allergic to cats which was why they needed more hands in the shelter. No one could oppose that this shelter was Jules’ baby. She came twice a week without fail, even though her father was a senator and a mobster.

I glanced behind me. Croix was helping out by moving the cat feed and bird feed from the truck. I can’t help but feel guilt from last night. Our eyes collided when he caught me sneaking out of his room. He was holding a wet towel in his hand. It appeared he wanted to clean me up.

We haven’t spoken to each other since then.

Jules cleared her throat bringing me back. The smirk on her face told me she caught me staring at him. “So, you like a certain somebody?”

“I’ll be back. The milkshake is not to my taste. I’m allergic to nuts and almonds.” Bridget stood to her feet and left the table leaving Jules and me alone.

“You and Croix would be a perfect match, you know.” She said, taking a sip from her cup. “I caught you gawking.”

“Nope. We are siblings but I can’t deny how attractive he is.” I countered. “Besides, I have a boyfriend.”

That seemed to surprise Jules. Her big eyes widened and her jaw dropped open. “Really?”

“Yes, his name is Wesley.”

“Okay so do you love said boyfriend?” She asked wistfully.

“He’s a great guy and he has potential. We are working on it though.” I opened my purse and took out my banana bubble gum and began to chew.

Jules gave a nod like she understood and went back to sipping her tea, not asking me further. Croix was done with the lifting and stood at the corner watching me. I stifled a smile at the sight of Josiah eyeing a parrot with suspicion. Apparently, Wags and Whiskers don’t deal also with cats and dogs but they have their own little bird section.

Josiah wasn’t scared of birds per se. He hated them saying they reminded him of giant flying rats. Jules seemed amused and took pictures of him and the bird.

“Are you all right, Sigh?” Jules asked in her light, soft tone.

“How long do we have to stay here? I’m seconds away from frying this bird.” He

grimaced.

“Ooh, yes! Spank me, master!” The parrot squawked.

Jules and I burst into laughter. Obviously, the parrot’s previous owner has been active sexually...and kinky. Its actions today were tame compared to previous days when we had to separate him from the other parrots.

My phone pinged and I took it out to read. It was a message from George.

Our photoshoot is today.

I took my purse and kissed Jules goodbye hurrying out of the shelter. I needed to be right on time to catch the bus to his place.

CROIX

I watched her leave, saying her goodbyes to Jules. At the same time her phone pinged so did mine. I looked up from my phone to her. She was going to see that puny bastard. Apparently, my glares didn’t scare him away. She wants to do a photoshoot.

I trailed behind her. I already have her destination to heart so I watched her leave. Five minutes after she left, I left too.

My mind raced at the possibilities of what they could be doing. It was a breach of contract but as a good brother I made sure to check the bastard’s background details and he has been in police custody as suspect for r**e cases. He wasn’t charged with it but a suspect still and that’s enough to get into my bad books.

I pulled onto the street where said friend’s house was located and parked. I exited the car and banged an impatient fist against the front door. It swung open revealing a skinny guy with glasses and confusion stamped on his face.

“Uh, can I help you?”

“Where’s Adeline?”

“She’s upstairs but who...” I shouldered my way past him which wasn’t hard considering I weighed more than him.

“Hey! You can’t go in there. They are in the middle of something.”

A dangerous pulse throbbed in my head. If they were having s*x, I swear to... I opened the door all the way and froze. No, not s*x but something even worse.

I ignored the pounding steps of spectacles who kept blabbering that I shouldn’t be here when I’m already here. Before me, George had his hands on her thighs and she looked uncomfortable.

“What is going on here?”

Adeline stood in the middle of the room, clad in a skimpy bikini outfit huddled next to a guy with spiky blond hair showing them the pictures and George apparently trailing his fingers up her thighs. I could clearly read the discomfort in her gaze.

It wasn’t a question. I knew what was going on here. The rumpled bed, the setup, the outfits...they were all in the middle of a photoshoot with Adeline as their model. It looked like something out of a porn magazine except clothed.

The strappy thing that she wore barely covered her necessary bits. It looped around her neck, baring her shoulders and plunged down to her navel in the front. The high-cut bottom left her legs and her ass bare, and other than the place that covered between her legs and her breasts, it showed more than covered.

I haven’t seen her like this. The made-up face with smoky eyes and red gloss across her plush lips, and her curves etched into my memory forever, everything just stands out. I was caught with disturbing lust and she was my step sister for f**k’s sake. I thought the title will finally quench the desire but instead, it heightens.

Her eyes widened with alarm when she spotted me. “Croix? What the f**k are you doing here and how did you find me?”

“I tried to stop him.” Spectacles panted behind me.

“You are not seeing the pictures.” I grounded out. “No one is seeing those pictures.” I pulled the blanket and covered her body with it.

“You told me that he’s your brother.” George pointed out clearly distressed. I glared at him. What I had planned for him for touching her like that was brutal enough.

“You can’t tell me what to do, Croix. You’re not my father or my brother. Well, technically you are but you have no say in what I do with my free time.”

“We’re leaving, Del and you wouldn’t want these guys to bleed because of you. Your conscience can’t handle it.” I whispered in her ears. “Or you want to stay and watch me gut these bastards alive. I would be happy either way.”

“We had a deal, Croix. No interfering with my business.” She gritted out. Clearly her bleeding heart won’t allow these fuckers to die because of her.

“Rules are meant to be broken.” I smirked. “We can take this the easy way or the hard way.”

Our faces were inches apart, our words so soft no one could hear. There were two ways to threaten someone. First, to attack them directly or attack the people they care about but me, she shouldn’t be caring about these fuckers. She should make this interesting and play hard to get so I can have a reason to gut them alive.

Her mouth trembled. She believed me, as she should because I meant every word of it. Partnering with gangs and doing dirty work has earned me my fair share of influence and tricks on how to blackmail. “You are an asshole.”

“That I am. And you shouldn’t forget that.” I said as she walked to the bathroom. Actually, she stumbled to the bathroom.

I then walked up to the blond guy and George and took the camera from them with a smile on my face of course. They gaped at me like the devil himself had appeared into their house. I finished deleting the photos and shoved the camera into George’s hands. “Nice fingers. It’ll be a shame if I had them cut off.” My frown deepened instantly like I hadn’t been smiling a minute earlier. “Don’t tell her to take these pictures again. Don’t call her and don’t text her anymore.”

“But this is just art. It’s Boudoir. We edit it so that the shadow covers her face and they wouldn’t know it’s her.” George muttered.

His statement pissed me off even more.

The audacity to even justify himself angered me. I grabbed his chin, and then looked to check if she was coming. Luckily, she is not coming so I pulled hard on his front tooth, taking it out from the root using a cloth to block his screams.

He whimpered, pulling away and I felt incredibly satisfied with what I did. The anger in me is coming to a halt. She stepped out of the bathroom fully dressed in her clothes then walked past me.

I chuckled lightly following after. I regret nothing but not smashing Blondie’s camera.

“You want a red velvet cookie?” I asked as I opened the door for her.

She looks adorable when she’s angry. And I want to see more of it.