Chapter 4 #2
We also had a hot moment in the closet of his apartment where he fucked my face while I fucked my fist. I loved every second of it.
He allows me to release my sexual tension in whatever way I need.
It was exactly what I needed to reset the roaring hormones I’ve been feeling since I saw Rainbow Brite.
The problem is I don’t want anyone to have to deal with me when I’m a raging asshole, so I hide away in the slog of my schedule.
Pulling into my parking spot, I frown as I see the same SUV I noticed before. Turning off the car, I climb out to see my dad also just getting home.
Taking a breath, I decide to let him help me figure out what to do about this car because I can already feel myself starting to get irritated.
These spots are permit only for a reason, but the city hasn’t marked them as such, nor do they check them.
Watching as he gets out of the car, I wave at him silently and point out the vehicle. It’s a little after midnight, and I’m surprised he’s just getting home.
However, this isn’t the first time he’s gotten carried away with his assistant after hours. Just because he told me he had other plans doesn’t mean that he didn’t change his mind. My dad is notorious for doing this.
Dad’s eyes are on the car I’m pointing at, brow furrowed. Quietly closing the door, I start moving toward it with my dad approaching the other side. There are window coverings over each window and the windshield so I can’t see inside.
“Who covers their windows like this?” Dad mutters, staring at the car.
“Could someone be inside?” I ask softly. The snow has stopped falling, but it’s still too cold to be sleeping in a car. It’s something that I’ve been wondering about because this area is a mix of older people and students who live together.
Most of them wouldn’t have people over, or they would park in the correct parking spot instead of right in front of our house.
I’m beyond angry now and simply concerned someone might be in dire enough straits to have to resort to this.
Instead of responding, Dad swallows hard and nods. Lifting his fist, he cuts straight to the chase and knocks hard on the window.
“Hey, open up!” he calls out forcefully. “Is anyone in there?”
I hear a strangled scream from inside and know I was right. Fuck.
“Open the door!” I yell.
My heart is pounding now as I start to realize that there’s a girl inside. Rustling sounds occur before a window covering is pulled off and I can see the outline of a girl.
“We’re concerned it’s so cold. You can’t stay here,” Dad says.
There’s silence before the girl nods. She’s so bundled up in a coat that I can’t see anything else except the dark fabric. “Okay, I’ll go,” she says softly, moving to crawl into the front seat. I can’t see her anymore, and I’m moving to knock obnoxiously on the driver side window.
Something tells me she’ll move the car to a possibly less safe place.
“No, open the door,” I bark as she pulls off the coverings so she can drive.
“I’m going, get away from the car,” she says. There is a note of terror in her voice, making me close my eyes in frustration. Fuck, we’re scaring her.
“Come on, sweetheart, we just want to talk. I’m a professor at the university?—”
“Cooper?” she asks softly and the locks open. Dad looks defeated and sad as he stares at the door for a second.
“Why…” he seems to have lost his words as he pulls the door open. I can see blonde and pink hair and my stomach clenches. At least she has a winter coat now.
I put my hand on the car as I feel dizzy for a moment, only to find ice on the windows. She's been here a few hours at least.
“Can we get her inside?” I ask Dad. I still don’t know who this girl is, and I don’t know why she knows who my father is. Something tugs at my memories, but I don’t think I’m ready for whatever that is right now.
“Please come inside, Nina. It’s too damn cold. Are you seriously living inside of your car?” Dad asks rapid fire questions as I shake my head. This entire time that I’ve been obsessing about this girl, she’s really my step-sister? Ex-step-sister?
Fuck me. The world feels fuzzy and uncomfortable, and I’m not really sure how I should be feeling, but Dad is right. We need to get this girl inside because it’s too damn cold. It’s all I can smell, the crisp, clean scent of the world.
While in the comfort of a warm home, I can enjoy the beauty, but to this girl, it’s a death trap.
As I gaze at her, I can see from how slight she is that she’s an omega. Why do I feel so protective over her?
“Mom cut me loose over the summer and left me,” Nina says, her teeth starting to chatter.
“I have a scholarship, but housing isn’t included, and this is my only chance to get an education.
I’m not your responsibility, Cooper. I’m fine.
Let me just get the car de-icer and I’ll move to somewhere else. ”
“Nina,” I say, her name feeling foreign in my mouth. Her eyes finally glance over at me and I see shame in her eyes, her cheeks rising with color. “I did tell you I’d give you my name the next time we met.”
“Ethan?” she whispers. “I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you.”
“You guys met? Listen, it really is cold. Please, come inside? Even if you decide not to stay, at least you can get warm,” Dad insists.
Biting her lip, she nods, turning to reach into the back seat. “I got a battery operated heated blanket so I’m warm enough,” she explains as she turns it off.
“Grab your bag,” I tell her. I don’t care if she sleeps on the couch, she’s not sleeping in this damn car tonight. Fuck, it’s just unsafe. Too much could happen to her, and the rumors of people kidnapping omegas from the streets are rampant. I can’t imagine her ending up at an auction block.
How did a girl like this become homeless? I remember she tended to disappear, but whenever Vivian put her foot down, Nina would be perfectly dressed and walk out to the event like the perfect daughter.
“I really don’t?—”
“Now!” Dad and I alpha bark at her, making her startle and scream in surprise.
“No excuses,” I growl as she scrambles to grab a bag and jumps out of the SUV. I shut the door behind her, jutting my chin toward our front door.
“I really had no idea this was your house,” Nina sighs. She sounds like the universe is out to get her, downtrodden and sad. I don’t know what she thinks is about to happen, but I’m getting pissed off .
Why is coming into our house such a big deal? We used to be family, though that does feel like a long time ago.
“Inside is better than freezing to death or getting sick,” I mutter as I start to walk toward the house. Dad is at her back ensuring she follows us.
“I did some digging, and you have a full financial scholarship. How did you manage that with your family’s money? That scholarship is supposed to go to someone deserving,” Dad says.
I don’t think he’s thinking clearly, because no one with family money lives in their car willingly. Opening the door, I sigh as the heat of the house welcomes us.
“I have fifteen dollars in my bank account until I work on Saturday, and that’s if Mikey decides to open the bar,” Nina says softly as she walks inside.
“I had a feeling Mom would cut me off when she found out I wanted to go to the University of Lyons instead of a school in Europe, so I wanted to be prepared. I didn’t claim any income when I applied, and my grades are excellent. ”
“How did you get the car?” I ask, turning on lights as we walk deeper into the house.
“Mom wasn’t home when I left. She told me to get out or she would call the police, so I took my small savings, the car, and my laptop. I printed out directions to get here from Georgia,” Nina explains. “I shower at the school gym, I go to classes, I work at the bar. Rinse and repeat.”
“I’m having a really hard time believing your mom just cut you off,” Dad mutters, dropping into his favorite spot on the sofa. His nostrils flair, causing him to shudder.
What the fuck is going on? The cold has my senses numb right now, so I can’t tell what he’s smelling yet.
“Her new husband doesn’t have any interest in a daughter, and Mom wanted to hide me away,” she says softly. “Now I’m hidden and doing what I want.”
“You can’t be homeless and attend this school.” Dad winces. Nina’s face crumples and her lip starts to tremble .
“I’ll get another job, if I can work more hours then I’ll be able to apply for an apartment,” she whispers. “Please, please don’t tell the school.”
Glancing at Dad, I see a hard glint take over his dark brown eyes. I’m trying to ignore how hard my cock just got at the sight of Nina’s tears as they start to trail down her cheeks.
The begging is doing it for me too. Adjusting myself carefully, I take a seat in the armchair, waiting to see what my dad’s next move will be. The little ice princess isn’t in a position to make demands anymore. I’m content to see where we go from here.
Because it definitely sounds like we’re about to play a game and my step-sister will be an unwilling participant. Licking my bottom lip as I watch Nina begging my father, I wonder how far she’ll go to get what she wants.