Chapter 7

Audrina’s POV

I couldn’t believe this.

After last night, Ethan had been avoiding me.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. The word looped in my head as I pushed my way down the hallway toward his study. I should have left it alone. I should have.

I didn’t.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

He was at his desk, eyes on his monitor like nothing in this house had shifted.

“Are you avoiding me?” I asked.

He looked up slowly. That easy grin sat on his face like everything was normal .

“Audrina, I’m busy.” He turned back to his screen. “Can we talk later?”

“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what I did wrong.” I said.

My gaze flicked briefly to the portrait on the wall—my mother and Ethan, frozen in something that suddenly felt fake.

“Will you keep your voice down?” he asked quietly. “Your mother is in her room.”

“I don’t care.”

His jaw tightened.

“I expect you to control your emotions. Aren’t you an adult?” he continued. “Your mother is my wife. She is in her room right now. Show some respect.”

"Don't do this to me," I snapped.

"Why not? You are my daughter,” he said.

"I am a stepdaughter. We are not blood," I corrected. "Daddy, I am old enough to decide who I want to be with."

"Old enough?” He let out a short laugh like this was all some kind of twisted joke. His grin flashed in the light, something obviously telling me he was pushing me to keep begging for his attention, which only made me boil.

“My little BABY, choosing me over Max," he said, leaning back in his chair, completely at ease.

My brows pulled together. “I’m not choosing you over Max. Where did you even get that from?”

"We had sex,” he added, his voice dropping an octave.

"So? Doesn't that mean you have chosen me over Max? You gave me your virginity instead of giving it to Max. Max, who is your boyfriend. Max, who should taste you first. Max, who thinks he can steal you."

"Take your hand off me!" I snapped when his fingers brushed my arm.

His grip tightened slightly.

“Or what?” he murmured.

“You enjoy this, don’t you?” I fired back, my chest rising and falling faster now. “ You enjoy pushing me, ignoring me, then acting like nothing happened. What game are you playing?"

Ethan chuckled. "What are you going to do about it?"

I stood there, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The room felt smaller, the dark wood of his study closing in on us like a cage. He didn't move; he just watched me with that infuriating, calm expression that made me want to scream. The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy, filled with the things we weren't saying. I could feel the heat radiating from him, a constant reminder of the night before, of the way his hands had felt on my skin. It was a physical ache, a longing that warred with the sudden, sharp flash of anger in my chest.

"Is this what I am to you?" I whispered, my voice trembling. "Just a game? A way to prove you're more powerful than a boy like Max?"

He stepped closer, the scent of his expensive cologne filling my senses. It was a familiar smell, one that usually made me feel safe, but now it felt like a threat. He reached out, his thumb grazing my jawline, and I hated the way my body instinctively leaned into his touch. He knew exactly what he was doing. He knew the power he held over me, and he was using it to pull my strings like I was nothing more than a puppet.

"You're so much more than a game, Audrina," he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "But you need to learn your place in this house. You need to understand that choices have consequences."

"The only consequence I see is you breaking my heart," I said, pulling away from him.

The look in his eyes shifted then, something dark and predatory flickering in the depths of his pupils. He didn't like it when I pulled away. He liked the control. He liked knowing that no matter how much I fought, I would still be under his thumb. I turned towards the door, my heart hammering against my ribs. I had to get out of there before I did something I would regret.

"Don't walk away from me," he warned, but before I could process it, Ethan yanked me forward, slamming my back against the desk. A gasp flew from my lips, his nose grazing the sensitive skin of my neck, his breath hot against my throat. My body reacted before my mind could catch up.

I hated that.

I hated that he knew it.

A soft moan spilled from my lips.

“You claim you’d choose Max over me. What changed?”, he murmured, his lips ghosting over my pulse. “Yet, you are begging for my attention, seducing me. Isn't that hilarious, sweet BABY?

His tongue flickered against my skin, and I whimpered, my back arching. A flood of pleasure washed over me, making my nipples rise. His teeth scraped over my collarbone, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Every touch sent shockwaves through me. His left hand slid down, cupping my ass possessively.

Ethan knew that we had just had an argument. He didn't care. It didn't stop him from this pleasure.

“I want your hands over my dick. Don't make me wait,” he said.

Fuck. I watched as his length dropped painfully against my pants. He was hard, just like he always was.

“Oh…Ethan. I moaned as his tongue reached my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

“Take me, daddy”.

“Say my name,” Ethan commanded.

“Take me, Ethan.” I widened my eyes in pleasure. His hands fell to my waist, his tongue grazed the nape of my neck. The sound that escaped from my lips only turned him on more and more. He bent to his knees and placed his fingers on my clit. I squirmed, my back aching to push more of my pussy into his fingers.

“You’re killing me,”he groaned, his cock now fully erect.

You're so fucking wet, he rasped. He hovered inches away from me and showed me a seductive grin. He jerked me up and wrapped my legs around his torso. Fuck, you are so sweet, he rasped.

Another moan escaped my lips and for the very first time, the feeling of betraying my boyfriend with my stepdad hit my chest like a physical blow.

Fuck, his right hand cupped my breast while the left dug into my pussy.

“Oh fuck, Ethan ! I am fucking coming!”

Just as my legs shook, right on the edge of coming, he pulled away.

“You will not come today, BABY GIRL,” “Not until I say so.”