Royal Prick (A Stepbrother Romance #2)

“Cunt? Did your mom not teach you an ounce of respect you little delinquent?” Viviana spoke the words over Mark’s shoulder, her eyes clashing with mine. She was only saying it because she could hide behind my father and feel protected.

“Didn’t your mom teach you not to be a no good lying whore?” I slammed my shoulder into Mark’s trying to get to her. I just needed to get a little closer. Just one touch and I would bring her ass to the ground. I didn’t usually lay a hand on women, but then again I didn’t really see this bitch as a woman. She was scum. My mother deserved that retribution, and I would be the one to give it to her.

“Mark…your son is making a scene. Whatever is he talking about?” she said, scooting further and further away from me as if she knew the second I got my hands on her I would end her.

This bitch was rich thinking that I didn’t know what kind of person she was and the lies that she told to break of my family. She might’ve had my dad under her thumb and she might be able to break Noelle down, but there was no fucking way that she could tell me what to do or try and demand my respect. To me she was nothing but a disgrace to the world, a pitiful fucking excuse of a human, and one of the biggest mistakes my father’s ever made.

“No worries, Daddy dearest, I’ll show myself out. I wouldn’t want to make a bigger scene than I already am,” I mocked, shoving away from Mark while giving Viviana a shrill look. The bitch could rot in fucking hell for all I cared.

I scampered from the waiting room they had placed us in, and headed in the direction where they were holding Noelle. I wanted to scream in anger and frustration as I saw her lying there on the cot-like bed, IV’s hooked up to her body. She looked so small and fragile lying there in the bed, completely out of it.

This was Viviana's fault. All of it. She was toxic and needed to pay for all that she had done. My fingers reached out, circling around Noelle’s. My touch was gentle against her skin. Her hand felt so small in my large one, her skin was warm against mine.

I couldn’t stop the thoughts from entering my mind as I stared down at my beautiful princess. Was it possible that I loved her? I didn’t even have a real taste of her yet, but I loved the person she was, and I craved her touch when she wasn’t near. I could feel her presence from across a room and seek her out in the middle of a crowded place.

“She will pay for hurting you, princess. She will pay for all the damage she has caused you,” I whispered the words as I placed a soft feather light kiss against her forehead and then to her cheek. That sunshine-colored hair of hers was a disastrous mess, and she smelled like a mix of alcohol and the antiseptic stench of a hospital. Still she was the most beautiful fucking woman in this entire place.

Quite possibly the entire world. That and she was all mine.

I placed my ass in the uncomfortable blue chair right next to her bed, patiently waiting for her to wake up, my eyes never once leaving hers not even when the seconds seemed to turn into hours.

A nurse came in and administered some drugs into her IV and asked me if I wanted anything to eat or drink. I shook my head no, vowing not to leave Noelle’s side until she woke up. I wanted to be the first thing she saw when she finally opened those beautiful hazel orbs of hers. She would know that I was here for her.

I wouldn’t let her mother twist my image, or make Noelle think that I didn’t care enough to be here for her when I did. I sat in that chair for almost an eternity. My ass hurt, and my arms were stiff, but it was worth it. I would sit here for the rest of my life if that’s how long it took her to wake up. My eyes drifted closed, too heavy to stay open any longer. I was merely trying to catch a breath of sleep when a soft squeeze awoke me.

I blinked my eyes open, the feeling of joy and relief coming over me, my eyes meeting Noelle’s big ones. I reached my arm over to the small stand by her bed grabbing for the water that the nurse placed there, and offered it to her without hesitation.

“Everything is okay, babe, you’re going to be just fine.…” I reassured her bringing, the straw up to her lips. She took a small gulp of water and then another before releasing it back to me. I waited eagerly for her to say something. Anything, almost wanting to beg her to speak right this second.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice was coarse, and it seemed to take her some time to get the words out.

“No, baby, don’t be sorry. I wanted to be here for you when you woke up. You didn’t do anything wrong.” A frown marred her beautiful features, and I wanted to take my thumb and wipe that sad look away. Her brow furrowed as she started to speak again.

“Are you okay?” Her eyes were missing that twinkle they usually had and that caused a pang of sadness to creep into my chest.

“I’m fine, babe. Perfect. A million times better now that you’re awake.” I smiled. I couldn’t have her thinking any of this was her fault.