Page 113 of A Foster Fling
“No. I used to also bathe you. Remember?”
“Please? I need to…do stuff.”
One part of me wanted to fight her on this. She was always shutting me out, even for the most mundane of things. However, I also knew she was young and not yet ready to share her bodily evacuations and ablutions with me. It was a pity. I really wanted to offer more aftercare, clean and pamper her. But the pleading in her eyes sealed the decision for me. It was hard to tell her no for something so simple, especially when I had been so hard on her the last couple days.
So, I took mercy on her. “I’ll be back in a few.”
While disappointed, I knew I needed to give in sometimes and compromise. I instead went to my room, showered real quick, and dressed for the ceremony.
I didn’t bother to knock when I returned to Salma’s room, I found my sister in her dressing closet. I watched in surreal fascination and utter annoyance as she slipped on a dress–sans undergarments.
“What the fuck,” I growled.
Salma turned. “What?” She batted her eyes innocently.
I glared at her, holding out my arm to gesture to the areas missing key articles of clothing. “Bra? Panties?”
My sister had the fuckingcojonesto shake her head at me. “Both will show through my dress. Beauty and comfort over decency and propriety. Always.” She twirled in a circle. “Don’t you like what you see?”
I did, but so would every other man in town. I swore she dressed like this to piss me off. True, I knew the white dress would be hidden underneath a blue cap and gown, I could literally see her dark nipples peeking through the thin material, and we had planned on a little get together to celebrate her day. There was no way she’d planned on wearing her cap and gown for that, and there was no way I’d allow her to wearthatdress without undergarments.
“If you cannot wear underclothes with that dress, then you will need to wear a different dress for tonight.”
She frowned. “No.”
“Yes. Change. You are not some whore. You are not going to run around town teasing every man who looks at you with aspects of your body that should only be shared with me. I will not allow it.”
My sister folded her arms across her chest. “I’m not changing, Raul. Deal with it. I’m eighteen now and can dress as I want. You don’t get a say anymore.”
I tapped her cheek with my hand. Not too hard, but enough that she understood the warning. “Lose the smart mouth, princess. Remember who you are talking to. As for the dress, just know that I couldn’t care less if you walk across the stage to receive your diploma or not. You will put on something appropriate, or you are not going. Simple as that.”
I could see the defiance glistening in her shining eyes, even as they welled with angry tears. “Still a Cartel man at the end of the day,” she whispered.
I nodded slowly. “I am who I am.”
“And who are you to me?”
“I’m your everything. Your brother. Your father. Your lover. Your god. I have loved and cared for you since you were born, when Papa wouldn’t allow anyone near you but me, and charged me with your care. And I will continue with that charge until my last breath. Nothing has changed.”
“Everything has changed.”
I cleared my throat. “Are you going tochange? Or do I need to cancel your celebration?”
“Fuck you,” she spat and tried to storm past me.
I took her by the hair again, something that was becoming too frequent for my liking. The silken tresses were still a bit damp as I tangled my hand into the locks at the nape of her neck, thus constraining her to me.
“Another lesson so soon, Salma?” I jeered. “This has to be a record.”
“If you don’t let go of me, I’ll scream,” she declared, clawing at my wrist. “I’ll show Papa the things you do to me.”
Her threat made me see red. I was tired of her mouth. Tired of her rebellion. Tired of her piss-poor attitude when I knew for a fact I raised her better. I just wanted to return to our easier relationship when she looked at me like I was her everything. I just wanted my sweet princess back.
“I have a better use for your mouth than making idle threats and talking shit. I guess I’m already claiming my third hole.”
“You’re going to make me suck your dick?” She narrowed her gaze. “Well, I’ve already done that before, so there.”
I froze, feeling ice run through my veins at her lewd confession. And just as quickly, the ice turned my blood lava hot as rage tightened my muscles and shook my very bones. My mind conjured images of some stranger fucking her sweet mouth, and I couldn’t pull back from the imagery. Seething, I didn’t dare move out of fear I might lose my shit and seriously beat her ass.