Page 118 of Intolerable Bishop

“Why is she here? This is my birthday,” I said, pointing at Vicky. “You think I’ll enjoy my father prancing around a party dedicated to me with my ex?”

“Vicky will be your stepmother. Therefore, she will attend all functions that I deem important for her to attend,” he said. Vicky took his arm and smirked at me.

I marched across the room and held my door open as I gave them the universal symbol for, get the fuck out, as nicely as possible.

“Great, so it’s a birthday and a coming out party for the two of you. How sweet. This is going to be a great night. Now, if you’re done trying to ruin my evening, I’d like to finish getting ready.” I glared daggers at my father and wished that looks could kill. It wasn’t normal to wake up and hope your father had a heart attack or something else equally terrible in the middle of the night. All I knew was that if I found him half alive, I’d put a pillow over his face and have a celebratory drink to honor his death.

“Don’t be long, son,” my father said, stopping as he got to me. “We wouldn’t want people to think you stood them up when they came to celebrate you.”

“I’m sure you’ll find a way to make the party about you, but worry not, I’ll be there.”

He shook his head and walked out. As soon as they stepped over the threshold, I slammed the door behind them, and the force shook the frame. Balling my fists, I walked over to my bar fridge and pulled out the bottle of vodka. Cracking the seal on the lid, I took the cap off and downed a mouthful, letting it burn a trail all the way to my stomach. I followed it up with three more gulps just as the door opened, and Liam and Theo walked in. They stopped, looked at me, and then at each other as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

“Don’t fucking look at me like that, it’s my birthday. I can drink if I want to,” I said, putting the bottle back in the fridge.

“Pretty sure the song goes, I’ll cry if I want to,” Theo said, and I closed my eyes.

“I might just do that too,” I said.

“We saw Vicky on your father’s arm and thought you might need us,” Liam said.

“I need many things. A loaded gun, a clean shot, and a fuck load of support to remain in control, but needing you two to hold my hand to walk into my party is not one of them.”

“Easy tiger, we aren’t the enemy,” Liam said, leaning against the wall.

“I know.” Closing my eyes, I held my hands out and pinched my fingers in a meditative pose as I breathed deeply.

“What is he doing,” Theo asked.

“I think he’s wishing for a genie to bring him three wishes. Maybe if he rubs Ren the right way, one will appear.” Liam laughed.

I smirked. “Fuck you.”

“Look, just like that, he’s back,” Theo teased, smiling at me. “Come on, the sooner you get down there and get this over with, the sooner you can sneak away and get obliterated. Hell, we’ll even get drunk with you.”

“Fine, let’s do this,” I said, heading for the door.

When we got to the top of the stairs, the noise of the party and the guests filtered up to me. My father had opened the dining room, sitting room, and our library for guests to wander between. Food had been set up in all three, and the musicians playing classical music—which really screamed me—were set up in the foyer. The sound bounced around and could be heard from almost every corner of the mansion. I glanced down at the crowd already assembling in their fancy outfits and expensive jewelry and recognized them all. I’d memorized each face that was associated with my father, no matter how insignificant they might seem. I never wanted to be caught off guard by someone pretending to be an ally when they were really the enemy in sheep’s clothing.

Descending the stairs, I became someone else. I was the prince, next in line, the perfect representation of the family, and loyal to the cause. Smiling, I gripped the first hand extended toward me and greeted the person warmly. And so was the pattern all the way through to the dining room. By the time I reached the table, which was heavy with a wide assortment of food, I wanted to jump through the window and take off. This was not my scene, and it was an act that I’d been playing since I could walk and understand who my father was and what that made me.

Another handshake, a pat on the back, and congratulations. Over and over, they all spewed their love and adoration that was forced on them by my father’s hand. They all spoke like we were the best of friends when I’d never met most of them in person. But they were bound by the same strings that made me walk in here and smile.

It was so packed that I was feeling claustrophobic. The warm bodies brushing mine and the combination of perfumes and colognes that stung my nose were overpowering. Grabbing a small napkin, I took a couple of the puff pastry things and looked up. My heart stopped as I locked eyes with Ren.

She stood out from the crowd, not able to blend in if she wanted to. Her white hair was piled high on her head, with elegant strands hanging loose in curls. The dress looked like it had been poured onto her skin and shimmered in a soft blue that matched the sky and her eyes at the same time. It was cut low enough to have my mouth watering. Even though the dress touched the floor, the two slits that traveled up to her thigh teased a glimpse of her sexy legs that I’d been dreaming about wrapped around me since I’d seen her in the pool locker room. There wasn’t a single part of her that hadn’t been dusted with matching glitter, and as she tilted her head and smiled, it was as if her entire body sparkled. She looked every bit the princess I called her.

My heart didn’t just restart. It hammered out of control, and I stupidly raised my hand in a wave. Ren’s smile widened, and a blush spread across her face. No, no, no. This couldn’t happen. I couldn’t want her, and yet I watched her like a predator would a gazelle as she excused herself from the conversation she was having with…I had no idea who…and walked around the table toward me.

She weaved through the people, most of them getting out of her way as if sensing her and knowing they should move. As she got closer, my body burned so hot that I wanted to rip off my suit jacket and throw it away. Each step showed off the strappy heels identical to the dress, but it was her toenails with little gems on them that had me staring at her feet.

What the hell is wrong with me? I train with her every day. Get control of yourself.

My head snapped up as Ren reached me. With her hand on my chest, she rose on her toes and placed a kiss on my cheek. A shiver shot down my spine, and my hand clenched into a fist. I itched to pick her up, clear the table, and fuck her in front of everyone.

“Happy birthday,” she whispered, her soft voice cutting through the noise like no one else existed in the room.

My hand had a mind of its own and slipped around her waist as she went to move away, trapping her against my body. The cherry scent that followed her everywhere filled my nose, and my body—including my cock that would be noticeable in these pants—hardened. Fuck.