Aria Maxwell's POV,
Mum is going to have my head tonight.
Maybe not literally at least, but I'm definitely going to get more scolding than an average girl of my age.
Why? Because I'm out past 12am. For a fucking party, even after she strictly told me to return before then.
Well, at least, I enjoyed myself. Besides, in what world does a nineteen year old girl and her movement gets controlled?
Mine, of course.
I scoff and shrug at the same time, then push the front doors slowly, my heart racing as I step inside the mansion. The house is dark, save for the faint moonlight streaking through the windows as it falls on the marble floors.
When my vision adjusts to the dark and I close the door behind me, I exhale in relief.
Glad she isn't awake. I might just tell a lie in the morning that I returned earlier than expected.
With the thought in mind, I slip out of my heels and pick them in my hands, adjusting the strap of my bag before heading towards the stairwell by instinct.
However, just as I'm about to take the first step, the lights come on immediately, and my heart skips, followed by the deep, familiar, sound of his voice.
"Care to explain why you're out late by this time, Ari?"
Fuck.
It's Kade Calloway. Mother's husband, and my step father.
Great.
Ignoring the prickling sensation at the back of my neck as shivers travel up my spine, I turn slowly, the sound of my heartbeat loud in my ear. And that's when my gaze meets his cold, grey ones.
Kade is dressed in the same work dress as this morning, a black shirt and pants, except the top two buttons of the shirt are open now, and the sleeves are rolled up his forearms, all revealing skin and the hair underneath it.
Fuck.
I swallow and drag my gaze back to his own, and I force a smile on my face, then take a step forward.
"Oh," I begin. "Hello?"
His gaze drags over my petite form, taking in the crop top and flail skirt I'm wearing that stops mid thigh, my bare feet, and the heels in my hands, before meeting mine again.
He raises a brow. "What time is it, Ari?"
"It's almost 3 am," I reply, shifting uncomfortably.
"And?"
"I know I shouldn't have been out by this time," I say, awkwardness biting at me. "But look," I begin again. "I had no choice. I wanted to enjoy my time out there."
"There are other ways to enjoy your time outside than partying almost all night like some reckless teenager," he says, taking a step closer to me. "Your mother was worried about you."
"I know," I say immediately, trying to rein in the sudden anger creeping up my neck at how much I'm being policed. "But this is my life too, you know? I need to enjoy."
Kade sucks in a breath, like he's speaking to a child before replying. "Again, Ari, there are so many other ways to enjoy your youth other than this. It's not safe."
"But I can protect myself!" I almost snap. "I don't need you all breathing down my neck for fuck's sake. I'm literally nineteen!"
Kade's eyes narrow. "Language, girl," he says, his voice now hardened. "I'm not one of your friends who you can speak to the way you like."
"And if I speak to you like that?" I shoot back almost immediately. "What are you going to do?"
He glares at me. "Aria..."
"What?" I ask, stepping closer to him. "What do you expect me to do? You can't blame me for spending time outside this late when I'm always policed. I'm past the age of being controlled by anyone! It's my fucking life."
I know I should keep quiet and apologize, but at this point, I'm far too gone to stop. I'm sick and tired of mum always trying to control my life.
"I'll be twenty soon, Kade," I continue. "Or would you guys want to control my sex life even after - "
My words die on my tongue when his hand reaches out and wraps around my throat before he pulls me closer.
"Enough with the attitude, Aria," he says, his voice now deadly calm. "Stop throwing a tantrum."
My ears buzz at his words, but instead of feeling angry, a searing, hot zap shoots straight to the middle of my legs, making my knees feel like jelly as my nipples harden against my top.
What? No.
I thought I already managed to deal with this strange attraction to my own step father after putting space between us for weeks now, but clearly, one skin contact is enough to lighten up that damn feeling.
It had started as a crush just when I was seventeen, right after he married mum. When she told me she was getting married then - after living as a single mother since my own father died - I'd been so happy for her and expected to meet someone around the age of dad.
Turns out, I was wrong. Because Kade is just forty-one, two years older than her.
And sadly, I've been having fantasies of him ever since then. Always imagining him doing unthinkable things to me.
"People your age don't do that."
I'm momentarily pulled out of my thoughts by the sound of Kade's voice, and I purse my lips into a thin line, then glare at him.
"You think this is a tantrum?" I ask. "It's not. I just want to live like a normal teenager!"
"You have the life any teenager can ever ask for, Aria," he lets me go and takes a step back. "Go to bed. Good night."
Then, he turns.
"You know what, Kade?" The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them as he takes a step. "Fuck you."
Kade freezes in place, and when he turns immediately, his gaze dark with an unreadable look, I just know that I've fucked up.
Because he looks real pissed.
"I - "
"I've always warned you against those profanities, girl," he growls, marching towards me. "Seems you need to be punished."
I open my mouth to protest, but the world tilts around me before I can, and I'm hauled over his shoulder, my heels and bag falling onto the floor.
"Drop me."
"No," Kade says, walking towards the living room. "I'm not dropping you until you get your proper punishment."
I flail my hand and leg in the air, careful not to wake mum upstairs while fighting, but none of that seems to bother Kade. If anything, it pushes him faster, and only after he settles on one of the couches in the living room does he drop me, only to put me on his thigh instead.
Except, it's my ass facing him, and I'm looking down at the floor.
"This is wrong!" I whisper-yell, trying to move away despite the wetness suddenly pooling between my legs. "Let me go, you - fuck."
My words on a whimper and an almost-scream when a sharp sting registers on my ass, and I realize, with startling clarity, that this man just raised my skirt up and spanked me.
"Time to discipline you."
