17. Ally
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ALLY
I used to think I was a little fucked in the head, enjoying the thrill of sneaking around with my stepbrother behind our parents’ back. Now, I realize I’m a whole lot fucked in the head. Dan called me a slut and instead of being repulsed, my pussy fluttered like it was a compliment. When he took advantage of me by tricking me into that promise, I found it hot he would resort to such measures to keep me for himself.
I’ll do whatever I want to you, whenever I want, and you’ll let me.
My God, I am seriously fucked up for being turned on by whatever leaves this man’s mouth. He’s punishing me for how I fled to Paris, and I’m embarrassed to admit how much I like my punishment. He’s already started taking advantage of this arrangement between us, video-calling me every night this past week, telling me to pleasure myself while he watches and instructs me through it. I obey without hesitation and enjoy it to no end.
Each day after, I feel guilty and struggle to look at Mom, especially Josh, knowing the performance I’ve given their son. How am I supposed to face any of the family today at this welcome home lunch Mom and Josh are throwing for me?
My earphones are in, playing Mahler’s Symphony Number 1 as a means to soothe my nerves while getting dressed for lunch. It’s wrong of me, but I keep applying makeup Dan has previously complimented me on. Now that I know how much my “cutesy” fashion gets under Dan’s skin, I’ve styled my hair in soft curls for him and tied it half-up with a ribbon he bought me. I’m wearing a baby pink dress with a large bow that sits over my ass.
From the corner of my eye, I catch sight of a Porsche parking in the driveway. Removing my earphones, I step up to my bedroom window, noticing a whole bunch of cars are parked in the driveway, including Dan’s Aston Martin. My chest hollows. He’s here already yet hasn’t come upstairs to greet me.
Daxton steps out of the Porsche, looking fit for the beach in flowing pants and a shirt half-buttoned, showing off his tattoos. “Hey, Uncle Dax!” I shout down to him as he opens the front passenger door.
He lifts the sunglasses off his face, props them on top of his dark head of hair, and smiles up at me. “Hey, kid.”
Daxton might be the one person in this family I can face without embarrassment. Well, him and his fiancée. It’s kind of pathetic, but Daxton—fifteen years my senior—was my best friend before Dan came along. Without a father, Daxton has always been a big part of my life, taking care of me and my mom when she needed help escaping her ex. We video called a lot when I was in Paris. In middle school, when I struggled most with the bullying, he took it upon himself to learn the piano and would challenge me to who could play piano scales faster. He always lost, of course. But it was fun, and I always enjoyed his company.
His fiancée, Jordan, exits the car and greets me too. She’s the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen, a famous burlesque dancer and looks like a pinup model from the 1950s. Her hair is always styled in long, black, finger waves. I don’t think I’ve ever caught Jordan without red lipstick and cat eyeliner. She has a sleeve of colorful tattoos. Together, Jordan and Daxton make one attractive couple, both in their thirties.
They head inside the house. I count seven cars, which means everyone is here and I need to find the courage to face the family.
With a deep breath, I adjust the top of my dress and leave my room. Downstairs, everyone is mingling in the living room. I instantly spot Dan with his shoulder slanted against the far wall, mid-conversation with Felix.
His eyes flick to me despite no one else noticing my arrival. He checks me out, his gaze dipping down the length of my body for a split second, then he glances back at Felix with the slightest traces of a smirk. Heat creeps up my neck, pleased that he likes what he sees but nervous over being in the same room as him and our family.
“Here she is,” Josh says, and everyone turns to face me—the good little daughter I am, sister, and niece. Yet I have this secret none of them know about except Dan, and it makes my skin itch.
Felix rolls his eyes and mutters something to Dan. Whatever he’s said, I know it’s a comment about Josh and not me. The dynamics between Josh and his sons is always a bit tense at these events, but they generally all manage to behave.
Daxton and Jordan are the first to greet me, each giving me a hug. I say a quick hello to Killian. Our morning runs have been awkward this week, with him and Violet asking about the date I went on with Liam, and me trying to focus on something other than how I got naked in front of our brother.
Next, I move onto Tyler and his girlfriend Harper. They’re a year younger than Felix, twenty-five, and have been dating since forever. They’ll get married one day, I’m sure of it.
“Hey, Ally.” Tyler gives me a quick hug.
Out of all my stepbrothers, he’s the one I’ve spent the least amount of time with. We’ve never lived together. When Josh stepped down from developing luxury hotels, he passed the reins to Tyler. For as long as I’ve known Tyler, he’s worked like a dog, trying to fill the shoes of his father, and is constantly stressed. He doesn’t have the same easy-going nature as his brothers. There’s also some issue between him and Felix I don’t understand. Harper has some issue with Felix too. I asked Dan about it once and he didn’t have an answer for me other than a personality clash. The pair stay away from Felix, and considering Dan and Killian are closer with Felix, they rarely get the chance to see Tyler.
“How have you been?” I ask.
“Oh, you know. Same old. And you?”
“Oh, you know. Same old.”
“Funny.” He says the word without humor. I can tell it’s not out of rudeness. This is just Tyler. I never see him smile or crack a joke. He looks older than his years from all the stress of his job. More like his father than the youth of his brothers.
I hug Harper next .
“Love the dress, Ally. You look gorgeous.”
“So do you.” Harper is always stunning with her strawberry blond hair and pale complexion. She’s friendlier than Tyler, though I haven’t spent much time with her either, due to her busy dance schedule in the New York City Ballet.
Once we’ve shared a few words, I’m left with only Felix and Dan to greet. Neither of them approaches me. Felix, I understand, considering his issues with Tyler and Harper and how I’m standing right beside them. As for Dan not greeting me, perhaps he’s trying to keep our public interactions limited so no one suspects anything of us. But everyone knows we’re close. Staying away from him today isn’t an option.
“Baby sis.” Felix winks at me, nodding me over.
I press my lips together, bracing myself and decide to just get this greeting over with. While everyone continues chatting among themselves, I hug my oldest stepbrother. Before letting go of Felix, I catch Dan staring at the ribbon in my hair. We make eye contact, and I see a glimpse of the heat within him I witnessed in the backseat of his car. Satisfaction ripples through me, though this is hardly the time or place to be pleased about toying with Dan.
“Hey,” I say to Dan as soon as I’ve let go of Felix, not sure how to approach him.
Amusement plays in Dan’s eyes and on his lips as he watches me, making my stomach do a somersault. “What, everyone gets a hug except me?”
“Of course you get a hug. I just haven’t gotten the chance to hug you yet.”
I lift up onto my toes and wrap my arms around his neck, planning to make this a quick encounter. But Dan’s arms slip around my waist, pulling me flush to his warm body and holding me for a beat longer than socially acceptable.
“Cute dress. You wear it for me?” he whispers.
I squirm out of his arms, praying no one saw the hug.
“Good week?” he asks, still with a hint of something smug in his voice. It takes me a beat too long to realize the meaning behind his tone, that he’s referring to the phone sex, and I go completely red.
“What? Oh, um, yeah. Busy week.” I angle my body away from Dan, scanning the living room for onlooking eyes. Felix is occupied with his phone. Everyone else is in deep conversation. Thank God. “And you?”
Dan chuckles behind me but gives no answer. His finger hooks around my pinkie, the contact so understated and hidden in plain sight for the entire family to see. Gooseflesh rises on the back of my neck at his warm touch. I shake my hand free and fold my arms, earning another soft laugh from Dan.
Jordan steps up to me with a glass of champagne. “Hey, gorgeous. You look a little off. Everything all right?”
Crap. She’s noticed. Has everyone noticed?
I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “I… have a date tonight that I’m nervous about.”
“A date. That’s so exciting. Who’s the guy?”
Though I can’t see Dan where he stands behind me, I hear the slightest groan in response to mention of my date.
“Ah… it’s… this guy called Liam,” I tell her.
“Nice. What does he do?”
“He’s a jazz musician.”
“Extra nice. And what kind of date is he taking you on?”
It’s not unusual for Jordan to ask me such personal questions. From the moment we met, when she first started dating Daxton, she’s treated me like one of her girlfriends, despite the ten-year age gap between us. She’s always felt like more of a friend than an aunt to me, and I suppose she feels the same way since I’m one of her bridesmaids. What would be unusual is for me to not share details with Jordan. So, I tell her the truth, all while Dan listens to every word.
“He’s making me dinner at his place.”
“So romantic.”
Thankfully, Mom dings a knife against her champagne glass, gathering everyone’s attention. “Lunch is about to be served on the back veranda. Let’s all make our way out there.”
I make a move to follow the flow of everyone, eager to get away from Dan, but he holds me back, behind all the family, and whispers in my ear. “Did you not understand the rules? You’re mine. Or are you just being a brat, trying to make me jealous? Trust me, you’ll be punished.” He grabs my ass and I work hard to not yelp.
“I understood perfectly,” I whisper in return, pushing his hand away from my backside. “No form of sex with Liam. I can still kiss him and go on a date with him. I can let him watch me please myself, just like you taught me to.”
“Sounds like you want to be punished.” He walks ahead of me before I can ask what his idea of punishment is. I swallow hard, a little fearful, mostly turned on.
A long table, decorated with floral centerpieces, awaits me as I join everyone out in the back of the house.
“Mom, this is beautiful,” I tell her. “You shouldn’t have gone to this much effort just for me. I thought this was supposed to be a casual lunch. You’ve got the fundraiser tomorrow night you’re meant to be focusing on.”
Both she and Josh have been running around like mad all week, organizing the next benefit for Forever Families, held in the gardens of this beach house.
“Don’t be ridiculous. We’re all so excited to have you back from Paris. It’s worth celebrating.” She speaks up for the family to hear. “There are name tags on your assigned seat.”
Everyone spreads around the table, searching for their name.
I wait behind with Mom. “Isn’t a seating plan a little intense for a family lunch?”
Her voice drops to a whisper. “I didn’t want to risk Josh and Dan sitting next to each other and getting into an argument. I wanted Felix away from Tyler and Harper too.”
Fair point.
“Ally,” Dan calls out. I look in the direction of his voice, finding him already seated in the middle of the table. “You’re next to me.”
Mom places a hand on my back, guiding me toward Dan. “Yes, I’ve got you two kids next to each other since you’re always attached at the hip.”
I suck in a breath of embarrassment over her words. Dan laughs under his breath as I obediently take my seat.
“Bro, you down for a game tonight?” Felix asks Dan from across the table.
“Yeah, count me in.” Beneath the tablecloth, Dan’s hand slides to the inside of my thigh, brushing against my panties and making a statement—a claim on his territory in front of our family and a reminder that I belong to him, regardless of my date.
I’m instantly rigid. His hand should not be there while we’re surrounded by family, yet I can’t make myself push it away. Dan side-eyes me, doesn’t speak a word, but from the smug expression, I can tell he’s felt how wet my panties already are.
“Killian, you keen?” He continues conversation with our brothers like it’s nothing unusual to have his hand between my legs.
I’m out of my mind when I tilt my hips forward into his hand, adding pressure to my clit.