Free Royal Prick (A Stepbrother Romance) by J.L. Beck Page A

walked down the hall with heavy footsteps, each one landing precisely against the wooden floor.  Air filled my lungs, each breath coming out in a pant. My vision blurred, and all I could see was the need for vengeance, a resonating urge to destroy everything in my path.
                         “Are you okay?” Noelle’s eyes were huge, and in them I could see worry. It stuck out to me more than anything else on her. I looked down to where it was she was staring. Blood dripped from my fist and onto the pristine white carpet. How didn’t I notice that before?
                         Oh shucks, I stained their perfect white carpet.
                         “Don’t you have something to do, princess? Maybe something that involves perfect grades and focusing on your studies…” I spoke to her the same way her mother did earlier.
                         Sadness filled her eyes as she straightened her back and tipped her chin up. That’s right, princess, make yourself look strong, make yourself look unbreakable, and I will tear down every single wall you build up. I’ll destroy you, and smile like the wolf I am the entire fucking time I do it.
                         “You’re nothing but a man with a big fucking daddy issue. A man that’s far too afraid to handle the past, a man on the verge…” I heard enough come from those full lips of hers. I took my bloodied hand and gripped her by the throat. My hold was loose but could easily be tightened in a blink of her eyes.
    I could hear her breathing spike, and the fear and panic that filled her eyes just added to the raging inferno inside of me.
                         I slammed her back against the wall, and looked straight into her hazel eyes. She seemed scared, but even more than that she seemed concerned. She seemed to care, and caring meant something that I didn’t want to explore.
                         “You know nothing about me.” I squeezed the soft flesh of her throat in my grasp as I spoke. “Don’t make assumptions, and don’t fucking assume it’s an issue I have with my father, when it could be an issue I have with you.” I had no idea where the last part of that sentence came from. Maybe I wanted her to think she was the reason I was angry, or maybe I just wanted her to know I had been thinking about her. I couldn’t even fucking understand the thoughts that were rattling around inside my brain.
                         “If it was me, you would’ve already made it known.” Her words were scratchy as she spoke against the hold I had against her throat. I could feel the thump, thump of her heartbeat against my palm. The erratic beat told me just how frightened of me she really was. Would I hurt her? I didn’t think so. Then again, I wasn’t myself right now and anything could happen.
                         An understanding flickered in those beautiful eyes of hers, and I looked down at the blood covering my hand. It was dripping down onto her pale white skin, a stark reminder of the person I was and how different we were from each other. I wasn’t made out for this world. I was carved out from a perfect picture. I had ridges and sharp edges that were made to cut if anyone got too close. I had to let her go, because if I didn’t I would end up hurting her.
                         “Watch yourself, Noelle, because next time I might not be so gentle. Next time I might hurt you without meaning to.” I released her with a shove knowing that there was nothing more for me to say. She was starting to understand things even I wasn’t ready to explore myself, and that frightened me.
    It scared the ever-loving shit out of me.
                  Noelle Weston scared me because she understood what no one else seemed to.

Chapter Eight
    -Noelle
     
    Fear. It